BOOK REVIEW

BILL MCCARTHY Who ever heard of a cowboy called Phil. This is the only ridiculous bit in this gritty dark and complex novel set in Montana in the early 20”s. There are so many themes running through the story it is hard to know where to start. Two brothers, Phil, a natural cowboy, clever, talented with a vicious bent and George the plodder is both single and live for the ranch and their stock. When Phil abuses the town Doctor, it sets in motion events that will change their lives. The Doctor dies and George, to Phil’s disgust, marries the widow. Phil begins a campaign to destroy the marriage but the son becomes the angel of vengeance in a most unlikely way. Tautly written, with unexpected turns, this psychological thriller will keep you engrossed to the end. MARY BARBER I found this book slow and atmospheric. There was plenty of tension between Phil, the silent nasty brother-in-law and Rose, George’s new wife. I had some sympathy for Rose as the newcomer to the lonely ranch. The book surprised me. Phil had his devious schemes, but other characters had better hidden schemes of their own. I was totally surprised by the ending. Despite the slow start, it’s a good read.

SUZI HIRST That Thomas Savage wrote this book in 1967 and the story set in 1925 is quite remarkable. I googled Thomas Savage and would think that the Power of the Dog is partly biographical. The repressed homosexuality and the intolerance of the masculine west towards homosexuals. Two brothers set in their ways. The older brother who has it all looks charm and intelligence, and George the younger brother, the plodder, who he bullied relentlessly. The book from the first paragraph through to the twist at the end in filled with dread and the tension builds with each chapter. The book is very well written, the characters so well portrayed, I shall read it again after I watch the movie now available on Netflix. 10/10

THE POWER OF THEPOWEROF THE DOG Thomas Savage

First published in 1967, Thomas Savage’s western novel about two brothers. Phil and George are brothers, more than partners, joint owners of the biggest ranch in their Montana valley. Phil is the bright one, George the plodder. Phil is tall and angular; George is stocky and silent. Phil is a brilliant chess player, a voracious reader, an eloquent storyteller; George learns slowly, and devotes himself to the business. Phil is a vicious sadist, with a seething contempt for weakness to match his thirst for dominance; George has a gentle, loving soul and there iies the tension. TONY HARRINGTON This book is a powerful story of a rich cattle family set in Utah 1924. Now resurrected as a literary masterpiece it was not popular with the general public initially because of the theme of repressed homosexuality. The principal characters are two brothers, Phil, a clever closet homosexual who viciously taunts and humiliates his “fatso” brother George and his wife Rose. Phil is a super macho cowboy trying to mask his hidden homosexual tendencies. Rose’s young son, Peter, from a previous marriage comes to visit the ranch. He is an unusually bright and feminine boy who arouses Phil’s homoerotic tendencies. The character studies are well crafted as is the life and times on an emerging modern cowboy ranch. This is a story of different and difficult family relationships and one of revenge for hurtful behaviours. An excellent read. 9/10

JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT This book is a very different kind of western that contrasts two brothers Phil and George the wealthy owners of a ranch in Montana in the 1920’s. Deep sensitivity to the characters is cleverly offset by the harsh authenticity of the language. The strange dynamics between the brothers is engaging and the highlight of the book. Phil lives in the past, is intense, a natural leader and talented in all that he does while George is easy going, at times slow but living in the present, Their very different ways to live collide when George marries Rose and introduces her young son Peter, the antithesis of all that Phil believes. Well worth the time to read.

JO BOURKE This book takes the prize for the most misleading title ever! Certainly not a happy dog story! The graphic castration description sets the scene for the tough and huge cattle ranch existence run by two brothers who couldn’t be more different but have shared the same bedroom for 40 years! Really? In a huge house!! No wonder the arrival of George’s wife was never going to work.

Hard to believe this story was written 50 years ago based on the author’s own life experiences. The imagery is incredibly vivid and the characters seep into our minds as we read. The coldness in the big house is nothing compared to the unrelenting coldness of Phil towards George’s wife, Rose. No wonder she succumbed to alcohol and no wonder her ‘different’ son Peter was aware and determined to rescue her.

It is a complex and bleak story now a Netflix film nominated for many awards. From the trailers it looks like the actors have been well chosen. It seems the movie covers only one-third of the book so hopefully the release of the movie will attract more readers.

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