"The Dogs of Babel."
Saint Louise Was Listening On
3:39 a.m. || 2004-06-27
I just read the most amazing book called "The Dogs of Babel." Anyone who knows me should pick this up and cry a little. I know I cried a lot, and read it all in one night.
Synopsis:
Paul and Lexy have been married for a few years, and they have a gorgeous dog: Lorelei. Lexy acidentally falls out of the apple tree in their backyard to her death... Lorelei is the only witness.
Paul narrates, and believe me, his pain is immense, he loved her to pieces, and the tale is interwoven with everything from their first date to their married life.
Only thing is, Lexy was depressed, and Paul wanted children, Lexy didn't. (hrmmmm) and his head was filled at times with the emptiness of wondering what life with a child might hold for them and the pain of knowing it would just be the two of them unless she changed her mind.
Knowing their dog is the only witness, and noticing a strange ammount of strange things that were different on the day she died, he begins to think perhaps he can teach Lorelei to "speak", he is after all, a linguistics teacher.
EVERYTHING BEYOND THIS POINT IS A SPOLIER>
Ok. So, and there is some actually nonfiction research on this I've found, he studies some text on people who have tried to make dogs talk, including a man who did greusome experiments on dogs, surgically altering the larynx and jaw/snout structure etc, and ended up, big suprise, in prison. After some correspondance and a meeting with his "followers" he finds they are indeed mutilaing dogs and that the hideous things these animals have become do not really speak, but they do steal Lorelei.
Ok, well, this little myster part of plot aside, we have a tale running about an old poem "Tam Lin" about Tam Lin and how the elf queen steals him away from his love, and when she rescues him finally, there is a beautiful quote, which between Lexy and he has become a special thing. The day she died she rearranged the books in their bookcase, and with no plates knives or forks had pan fried a steak, and then died. (weird thinks reader.)
Then it all becomes clear.
SUPER PART OF SPOILER HERE>>>>
Lexy was pregnant, never told Paul, and killed herself two months along. She organized the books so that they would spell the message of Tam Lin to him once she was gone, and then cooked Lorelei a steak so she could fall from the apple tree to her death.
Heavy and revelent, I've cried all night.