Talking Dog- Francine Prose

I think that this was a very well written short story. In my opinion, the author was able to grab the readers attention with the title alone. When I first saw the title, it grabbed my attention and made me want to read on because there obviously arent dogs that can really talk. So I was definatly interested to see what this piece was all about.

Prose also did a very good job with characterization. She created very distinct characterisitics between all of her characters. With her abilitly to do this, we were able to see how big a change came over the narrators sister once Jimmy dies. In the beginning she seemed to be a laid back, fun person who idolized another person with the same qualities. Once Jimmy dies, we see a drastic change and she goes from driving out onto the lake in a car to not even wanting to get out of bed to answer the phone. I found it intersting that in the middle of the story, the narrator is convinced that her sister has forgotten about Jimmy simply because she got married to someone else. I dont think that this was the case at all. I think that after something that tragic happens, and the grieving is done, you reach a point where you realize that things arent ever going to go back to the way things were, and you have to move on with your life... as hard as it may be. Sometimes there is no use dwelling on what could have been. The narrators sister just moved on with her life. However again because of the characterization that the author created, we were able to see the change in her that occured not only once Jimmy died but also after she got married. Her happy , fun loving side was gone and in its place there was a very serious person, who just kind of went along with things. I think that that in itself should portray how she still at that point was not over the death of Jimmy.

Theres that saying that you always want what you cant have and I think that this idea is what the narrator was portraying in regards to Jimmy. on the last page of the story. It was clear that she had a very big crush on him, but then , she says " For a fraction of a second, i thought that I might still want him. But I didnt want him. I just didnt want her to have him forever. I was shocked to be so jealous when death meant that it could never be fixed. I didnt want it to be that way, but that was how it was." p.512. How selfish is it that she would rather have her sister dead, than see the two of the together.

The narrator was convinced that her sister had forgotton about Jimmy, but after reading the story and seeing the outcome of the situation ... would you agree? Do you think that the love they share for one another is true love??