Eight Dogs Named Jack by Joe Borri - Review & Giveaway
If you’re looking for a series of short stories that will completely absorb you, the kind that keeps you up later than you intended thinking “I’ll read just one more,” then I’ve got your book.
Eight Dogs Named Jack is filled with everything from street rats and made men to hardworking honest people. Set in the contrasting locations of wooded Northern Michigan and the city of Detroit, all the stories are held together with fascinating characters. Large Italian families fill the pages with lingo that makes one misty-eyed over the loss of The Sopranos. You can’t help but start using words like “mamaluke” or “Maddon” or craving Italian sausages grilled with a little beer dumped on for good measure. The author, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year finalist Joe Borri, seasons his writing with fantastic metaphors and similes. One of my favorites? “Tighter than an accountant’s rosebud.” No one talks like that in my neighborhood. What a pity.
My biggest surprise in this book was how Borri could take stories anywhere from a tough Detroit setting to the remote and beautiful wilderness of upper Michigan and back, and make it a perfectly cohesive collection. His singular voice pulls all the stories together in a unified group, yet each plot is unique.
And let’s not forget the artwork. Each story contains drawings by the author that I really enjoyed, reminding me of the sort of art I often see in my favorite mystery magazines or pulp fiction novels. The subjects vary as much as the story topics, and it adds to the book’s appeal.
Overall, Eight Dogs Named Jack is an absolute blast to read. Giving you everything from on-the-edge-of-your-seat mob thrills to tear-jerker tales about man’s best friend, this book has wide appeal. So take a copy to your favorite outdoor chair and break out your best cigar. Because if you miss this one - well, fuhgetaboutit.
I’ve got one hardcover copy to give away thanks to Momentum Books, so leave a comment telling me what you find intriguing about the book. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you’re automatically entered to win this and all book giveaways here. I’ll select a winner on 03/15/08, 12noon EST. Check the Giveaway Rules for more details and another shot at winning. Don’t be a mamaluke - just enter.
A carp(e) libris goldfish award book.
Posted in Book Review and Giveaway, Goldfish Award Books
March 12th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I love the artwork on the cover- the northern lights are wonderful. And the book sounds like a great read.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
The Title
March 13th, 2008 at 12:17 am
well, that you gave it the goldfish award…that intrigues me (in a good way), so I’d like to read it!!!
March 13th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Diane,
Thank you for not only the nice, well thought out review, but for the Goldfish Award. I really appreciate that. Hey, if you go to my blog, http://www.eightdogsnamedjack.blogspot.com , you’ll see a post about the contest, but ironically, your name appears above a caricature I did of Nicole Kidman! Check it out. Best regards, Joe
March 13th, 2008 at 1:38 am
i love the sound of this book, all the different varieties of stories and the fact that they have illustrations that correspond to them, sounds great!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I think the theme of a Detroit Italian family sounds like a recipe for amusement!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Please pick me
March 13th, 2008 at 2:59 am
this book sounds exciting.
I wonder if the author wrote a series of books before this?
please enter me in this giveaway.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:25 am
This sounds like a fun book to read! Hope I win!
March 13th, 2008 at 4:04 am
I would love to have this book, it sounds like a great read!!
March 13th, 2008 at 6:37 am
looks like a fun read.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I like different types of short stories that hold my attention like this - thank you for the contest
March 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
i love the title,it grabs your attention.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I was one of the lucky dogs who got to read these stories in manuscript and said, “This guy’s gonna get there!” He actually made the trek all the way to Northport and did a reading at Dog Ears Books, too. Now I want a new reader for his stsories to be lucky in turn and win the book giveaway.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:49 am
The title caught my eye and short stories tha keep you interested wasthe other. sounds great.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Oooh I love anything to do with Italian culture! Even the watered down American kind!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Catchy title.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:15 am
[...] Where: carp(e) libris reviews [...]
March 13th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Wondering if the “Northern Michigan” is the northern section of the Lower Peninsula or “dah” actual U.P.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I like the variety of short stories, plus, who could resist a book of that name. Please include me in your contest.
Thanks.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:01 am
The locations.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:05 am
sounds good to me
March 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I find the large Italian family intriguing. I would also like to find out what mamaluke means.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Sounds like a great read!
As always, I’ve posted this at my book review/contest blog - A Book Blogger’s Diary. Thanks!
~aBookworm
March 13th, 2008 at 10:46 am
This book sounds enthralling, and fascinating reading. Love the cover artwork and the fact that Italian families are featured is a bonus. BTW, mamaluke is Italian-American slang for a family member or relative who does something foolish or silly, the male species.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am
It sounds like what’s not to like about this book?! The fact that he has his own drawings with the stories intrigues me!
Also, the stories sound so varied in setting and theme. I would love the dog stories. If you gave it your “fish” of approval, that is more than good enough for me. Please enter me in your book drawing. I really appreciate it…..
Thanks,Cindi
March 13th, 2008 at 11:43 am
We’d love to have a copy!
I added you on prizeatron
http://www.prizeatron.com
March 13th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I’ll wait to see if I’m a winner. If not, I’m going shopping. This book sounds right up my alley.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’m an animal freak and would love to know more about all these dogs named Jack
March 13th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
your recommendation and review make this sound like a wonderful read……I love the subject matter…….and miss the Sopranons!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Have you ever read a book that you can’t put down and when you finish it you are actually a little mad because you want more? I am an avid reader and in the masses of books I have read in my life I have come across 2 like this. I am a little worried that based on your wonderful description this book will make that #3. If that is the case I am tempted to tell you to keep it…I don’t need that kind of torture! However if it is that kind of book I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to read it and share another great read with my friends. Those other 2 books I mentioned ended up being gifts for about 20 people because I loved them so much!
Plus I am a big fan of mafia stuff. One of my favorite sites online is ganglandnews.com because it is all mafia related. For whatever reason the whole idea of the mob just intirgues me to no end. It is much like my unusual love of Sumo Wrestling! So as you can see, much like this book my taste runs over a wide range. I really think I must have this book!
Oh and I am dying to see the artwork in this book after visiting his website! His portrait of Obama had me in tears and stitches.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
The title
March 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Diane,
Hello there. I’ve been reading all these wonderful comments and just wanted to thank everyone who has shown interest in my work. If I may, I’d like to invite the folks listed here to check out my website at http://www.joeborri.net
On the home page there’s an icon where they can read an excerpt from the title story and further in, can see the facing page illustrations which are considerably different than those caricatures on my blog (www.eightdogsnamedjack.blogspot.com). Please keep me posted on the winner of the contest, and I thank everyone else who is considering the book as well. God bless,
Joe Borri
March 13th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I would love to read this book!
March 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Your statement of :
“I’ll read just one more,”
I always have a hard time putting a book down. This sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
March 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
First of all I am a huge fan of short stories so that in and of itself is a big draw. But I am also really interested in the drawing in the book. Especially that they are by the author.
Thanks for offering this give away.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I’m a huge fan of short stories of all types.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
checked out Joe’s website and his page of the illustrations, very nice. I would love to win and read his book
March 13th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I find anything about dogs intriguing! And this book just seems awesome from the cover to the discription.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
My husband is Italian and he loves The Sopranos so I would love to win this for him. It sounds great! Thank you!
March 13th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
if it is being compared to the “sopranos” than I must have this book
March 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I’m a big fan of short stories. Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
March 13th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Very intriguing title!
March 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
the cover’s artwork–as well as the title…
March 13th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I’m a big short stories fan and this sounds like a winner.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I adore short story collections. This one sounds like a great one. Please enter me in this giveaway, and thank you for hosting it!
March 13th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
As you say in your review it sounds like
an absolute blast to read… Alan
March 14th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I like short stories and this sounds like a great collection.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:59 am
The title itself is intriguing. And, the characters sound vitally alive and varied. (Plus, I enjoy colorful short stories.)
March 14th, 2008 at 2:35 am
The title is really intriguing
March 14th, 2008 at 3:14 am
“…everything from street rats and made men to hardworking honest people.”
Sounds most intriguing, as many before me have noted.
cheers, g
March 14th, 2008 at 4:20 am
just to cool
March 14th, 2008 at 4:38 am
sounds good!
March 14th, 2008 at 6:09 am
The story format really intrigues me, count me in please!
March 14th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Doubly intrigued after reading the authors comments above! I would really like to win this book!
March 14th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Short stories is all my attention span can handle. smile
March 14th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Wow! “Eight Dogs Named Jack” by Joe Borri sounds like a terrific read! Growing up in the exact area, I can most definitely relate. Literally, I originated from Detroit and have parents that purchased a ‘cottage’ up north…five hours away from the dusty streets of Detroit. So thrilled were us ‘kids’ (at the time!) to be away from the city, it was as if we were another planet. I’d love to be considered for this book give-away!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:19 am
i love short stories, it’s great how there are illustrations to go with the different stories. The stories sounds really interesting, they’re about family, but that’s something we can all relate to.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Love the title
March 14th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I’m a voracious bibliophile and would love to add this book to my collection.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
The title and cover…can’t wait to open book!
March 14th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I used to live in Alaska so the cover reminds me of the Alaska winters and I would love to add this to my book collection.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
awesome!!!
http://s3.excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=3241
March 14th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I like that they are short stories and the artwork has me intrigued!
March 14th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
would love to read this.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
enter me please, thank you for the contest
the title - makes me curious
March 14th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
need to read more.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
A curious sounding titlte…
March 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
A curious sounding title…
March 14th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
i enjoy reading all types of books. This book seems to contain the things I like. Mystery, family, and otherrs are a few of the genres of books I read. I just finished Into the wild, which to me is a book about family, mystey, self discovery and many other things. This new book just sounds very interesting to me. Thanks
March 14th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Diane,
I’m blown away at all of the interested parties that have entered the contest. I want to again thank everyone out there who has visited my website and found the book intriguing enough to poke around. Hope you’ll give it a chance. I certainly appreciate the support.
Best regards,
Joe
March 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
the artwork is amazing!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
An excuse to read an adult book–with pictures? Count me in!
March 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
looks great - love it
March 15th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Very cool book!
March 15th, 2008 at 12:27 am
We would love to have a copy!!
I added you on prizeatron!
http://www.prizeatron.com
March 15th, 2008 at 12:45 am
this sounds like a very unique and interesting book; love the title and if the stories are tied into one theme that in itself would make it a great read; i wish i could write; i know i have a story in me, but i just don’t know how to get it out; cudos to the author
March 15th, 2008 at 12:49 am
the artwork looks great
March 15th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I certainly don’t want the mob after me for not reading this book! Thanks for the chance to win!
March 15th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I love short stories and I love to read about cultures and how
their work impacts their lifestyle.This would be so exciting please enter me
March 15th, 2008 at 5:48 am
pretty cover
March 15th, 2008 at 6:27 am
The setting in Michigan sold me.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:25 am
AVID READER UNIKE TITLE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW BOOKS AND AUTHORS
March 15th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I love the sound of a book that can make me be scared and sad. I love a roller coaster ride. The short stories sound great!
March 15th, 2008 at 9:30 am
The title made me want to find out what this book was about.
Sounds very interesting!
March 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I like the fact that it is a story of blue collar men..and their struggles
March 15th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Trying to get back to reading more. Best of luck to all who enter.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:13 am
The diverse cast of characters in the large family intrigues me.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I find the different story topics intriguing.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I don’t have a lot of time to read these days, so short stories fit my bill to a t. thanks for the chance
March 15th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I love the idea of short stories that have a similar theme. I just don’t always have time to read a long book.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Sounds very interesting and I love to read.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I would love to have the time to read in the short stories in between drag the kids all over and waiting for them in my car. The short stories get read for me that way
March 15th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I was born in Michigan and would love to read a book with descriptions of it,it probably would bring me back to my beloved home state.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Interesting title
March 15th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Take me home.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Stories about dogs are irresistible. Reading this collection would be a real literary treat. Thank goodness there are authors who do appreciate man’s best friend.
March 16th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I love the artwork on the cover.
March 16th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I am the owner of 2 dogs named Jack, they were both adopted and came with that name, just by coincidence.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Read it in English…but looking forward to the French version, just to make sure i got everything
March 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
[...] week I reviewed Joe Borri’s short story collection entitled Eight Dogs Named Jack. Due to the fantastic response in that review and giveaway, I have a special follow-up interview [...]