I just read a book that might be read profitably by all of us. It is certainly one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. The book, Etna (Scribner, 2026) by Paul Yoon is a short, exciting read that makes one think and sometimes cry about the state of humanity. Uniquely, the protagonist is a dog who narrates the story.
The dog, Etna, is a war dog trained by the Americans to fight and sniff out mines in an unnamed country against an unknown enemy. When the war ends, he is faced with a treacherous and inhospitable landscape laid to waste bereft of food and shelter. It’s his story as he tries to go home against formidable odds, facing chaos and hostility, but also kindness and friendship along the way.
Yoon writes with a spare pen and short sentences full of emotional feeling that helps the reader empathize with the moment. Etna’s experience addresses the big questions about life and death, questions about man’s responsibility, the sins of war and the ability to go home again.
This is not a story about a dog, it’s about us. But it is also a tale about the importance of dogs in our lives.
Postscript: If you love and respect dogs, you will appreciate the writer’s descriptions and insights about the behavior and mannerisms of dogs; it’s uncanny.