THE DOG

O'Neill's novel is a seriously philosophical and absurdly funny work. It's heavily laden with its protagonist's monologue, which Erik Davies delivers in a monotone in an obvious effort to portray the narrator's feelings of isolation and resignation. While Davies's approach works well for those emotions, it downplays the character's humor, at times giving what should be funny a sense of tediousness. However, during the less frequent dialogue exchanges, Davies shines as he gracefully delivers a wide array of accents and intonations. The humor in these conversations carries a stronger impact and is more engaging. This title is likely to have select audience appeal. Those with an interest in it will find Davies's narration worth listening to. J.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2014]