Eva Hornung

I can't stop thinking about this book. It picked me up, made me cry, made me cringe, made me laugh, made me so happy I read it. The final scene often comes back to rattle my brains. We've all heard of dog boys and Russia probably comes to mind. It makes a fine novel when you think: "Wait... did this actually happen?" If it did, it would happen this way. Love is abandoned in despair and constantly sought by those abandoned. I don't know if I wanted Romochka to continue his life with the dogs show more or be "redeemed" by caring humans. It's been a few months now and I still can't decide. show less

This is a truly original book by an Australian author. Inspired by the true story of Ivan Mishukov, it takes you into the world of Romochka, a 4 year old Russian boy who, having been abandoned, follows a street dog to her lair and is accepted into the pack. He lives with the dogs, becomes a dog, for several years before being captured and brought back into human society. I thought this story was beautifully written and totally convincing, while at the same time brutal. Beware - the show more descriptions of the society of dogs, and humans, can be quite confronting. show less

Hornung has created a book that examines the frightfully tragic lives of the poor in Moscow, the nobility of dogs, the joy of leading a dog-like life and the inhumanity of humans. The book opens when Romochka aged 4 or 5 has lost his mother for some unexplained reason. His drunken uncle, who should be his loving guardian, steals whatever of his possessions he can dispose of and abandons the boy in his apartment, somewhat like people these days abandon their pets in a foreclosed home. show more Romochka wanders the streets of the slums of Moscow where no one bothers to help lost, starving children. This is a harsh society where almost everyone cares only about getting what they can for themselves and leaves the poor to live or die however they can. A small clan of wild dogs finds little Romochka and offers him the humanity that the humans won't. Hornung writes this story in such a believable way that you can see how Romochka could survive and how he could identify as a dog. There are two parts - the love and joy of the dog world and the fear, hatred or or indifference of the humans. A few people meet the humane standards of the dogs, a few have canine strength and dignity, no one but Romochka possesses the characteristics we humans would like to think are our own. show less

The residents of the separatist enclave of Wahrheit have their idyll shattered by the news of a murder-suicide by community member Matthias Orion. They are a group of German immigrants who have gathered together to await their Messiah, and are quick to blame Matthias' contact with the outside world for this shocking news.

The community lives by the Book of Seasons: prescriptions from their founder about what they should be doing at all times of the year, in order to be prepared for the show more coming. The founder's son, Pastor Helfgott, continues to preach to his flock but lacks his father's zeal.

Matthias' son Benedict, who discovered his dead mother and father, begins a slow descent into madness. He moves from the house to the barn, lives with the animals and neglects the farm and the strictures of the Seasons. The community avoids contact with him because they cannot deal with the enormity of what happened. Benedict subsumes his need for human contact by looking after his horses and ceases to speak. Pastor Helfgott continues to visit him and worries that his madness may become worse. But Helfgott has a deeper worry: is Benedict some sort of harbinger of the Messiah that his father foretold? And what would that mean for Wahrheit?

This is a splendid book. Parts of it reminded me of Equus in the portrayal of Benedict's relationship with his horses. It is beautifully written, with bucolic descriptions of the changes in the countryside, the farming activities and the cultural events as the seasons shift. It also captures an important element of the immigrant experience; farmers from the other side of the world adjusting to a new reality. Finally, it tells a thoughtful story of religious doubt and the blights that can hide even in the gardens of paradise.

The Last Garden has been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, and I think it would be a worthy winner. show less