Rose in a Storm: A Novel

I put this book among the top classic dog books of all time. I place it as one of my top favorites. The summary of the book and others will give you the details of what the book is about, I will try to talk about what I love about it. I wish my writing skills were up to speed as the author to be able to eloquently say this is a great book that I feel every lover of classic dog books should read.

The book switches from Sam’s human perspective to that of Rose the dog’s perspective. and does both with great insight. I agree with what others have said, that no one seems to speak the language of canines better than Jon Katz. He at times takes the dogs thoughts perhaps a little too far, on what the dog sees in other animals or in what lies show more at the end of life but I want to believe and just enjoy.

The challenges and ways the dog overcomes them are masterful. As Katz lays out the thinking of the dog, you work it out with Rose at the same time and you feel like you are in the passenger seat on the whole trip. As the snow piles up as well as the challenges Rose is faced with, you will not want to put the book down.

My only difference in opinion in the way the author takes the story is how he gets the dog out of the last big challenge. I would have preferred the challenge or the solution was different and something Rose could have solved on her own. I won’t give that part away by giving specific details but would be interested in seeing what others think. It was not enough for me to knock it out of my small list of favorite dog books.

This book is written so well, I will want to read it again. Here is a couple of examples of writing that I really enjoyed:

This was her place, in front of her sheep, guarding the flock, keeping them safe to the end. This was her work, her destiny, the point of her. Katie flashed into her head, her calm, sure voice. Rose, too, felt calm and sure.
To get them to pasture, to give them time to eat, to protect them. To keep them from ravines and gullies into which they could fall, streams in which they could drown, woods in which they could wander and become lost. To get them home before dark. She did this for them, and to serve the humans her kind served, who had worked with her line all the way back through time.
She kept them safe. She would do that now, whether Sam was here or not, whether it was possible or not. – Jon Kantz, Rose in a Storm

Had Sam been in the farmhouse and looked out, he would have been amazed to see this solitary dog, covered in a coating of white, staring up the hill, giving eye to the wind, the snow, the coyotes, to life and the world, to her choices and her duty. He would have marveled at her responsibility, her loyalty, and her bravery. Rose had never run, never backed down, never failed to get it done. He had said that about her so many times – he bragged about her like she was his child, although never in her presence. It would have been patronizing, even insulting, to praise Rose so much to her face. Work was her reward.
But there was no one to see this dog on the hill, and no human would ever know what was about to happen there. – Jon Kantz, Rose in a Storm show less

I have to respond to the reviews who just couldn't find this book "realistic". Once an interviewer told Robin Williams that his movie wasn't realistic. He responded by saying "It's NOT real, it's a MOVIE". This book isn't non-fiction. It is fiction. And as fiction it is a wonderful story about courage and responsibility. If you allowed yourself to enter Rose's world it was a moving story, full of drama and fulfillment. An excellent story.

This is a perfect book for a dog lover. Katz is very disciplined about maintaining Rose's narrative voice and it rings true. I like how she puzzles out her changing circumstances as the storm moves in and how she figures things out by watching her surroundings. I love the detail about noticing the types of shoes humans wear so she can figure out what's next - my dogs wait at the bottom of the stairs to see what shoes I'm wearing when I come down - are we going on an expedition or hanging around the house? There are some elements near the end which seemed forced but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book.

Sam is facing a huge winter storm on his farm for the first time without his beloved wife Katie. Since her death, he has not been the same. No one has noticed this more than Rose, his loyal working dog. Rose misses Katie, too – she keeps looking for her, confused as to why her scent is everywhere and yet, Katie is nowhere to be found. Without Katie, Sam and Rose have only each other to depend on, and as the first huge flakes begin to fall, accompanied by a steep drop in temperature and a howling wind, their loyalty to each other begins to deepen.

At these moments, he would sometimes look at Rose, who was always watching him, watching the farm, ready for anything, and he thanked God that he had her. He’d thought at first that he was show more getting just a dog. Now he understood only too well that she had become something else, something more. He did not even want to think of being on this farm alone without Rose. – from Rose in a Storm, page 75 -

Rose in a Storm is narrated almost entirely from the perspective of Rose – a border collie who is completely defined by her heart for her job. her person and the animals she is tasked with protecting. Rose senses things before Sam can possibly be aware of them – the scent of coyotes on the wind, the struggle of a ewe about to give birth, and the ferocity of a storm that will change everything.

Jon Katz has written a novel which is tender, bittersweet, and deeply perceptive. This is a book about a dog, but it is also a book about the relationship between animals and people. Anyone who has loved a dog, will recognize the power of Rose and Sam’s friendship.

Working dogs are not like other dogs – this I know from experience, and Katz aptly describes the mindset of a dog who lives to work. Rose is fierce, loyal, perceptive, intelligent and highly motivated – all traits that characterize the best working dogs. Katz also gives Rose a sensitivity and philosophical outlook that almost humanizes her.

Had Sam been in the farmhouse and looked out, he would have been amazed to see this solitary dog, covered in a coating of white, staring up the hill, giving eye to the wind, the snow, the coyotes, to life and the world, to her choices and her duty. He would have marveled at her responsibility, her loyalty, and her bravery. Rose had never run, never backed down, never failed to get it done. He had said that about her so many times – he bragged about her like she was his child, although never in her presence. It would have been patronizing, even insulting to praise Rose too much to her face. Work was her reward. – from Rose in a Storm, page 179 -

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel which explores themes of loss and grief, aging, and the special bonds between humans and the animals with whom they share their lives. This is a short, quick read that had me captivated from beginning to end. Readers who love stories about animals, or those who have experienced a special bond with a dog, will find Rose in a Storm a warmhearted and enjoyable read. show less

I absolutely loved this book! Unlike many animal stories, there was nothing sappy or maudlin about this story of Rose and her passion for her work and the farm she loves. Told mainly from Rose's point of view, she is not overly anthropomorphised. Her thoughts are clearly dog thoughts. There is an element of mysticism, a sort of "dog religion" you might say, but for the most part, this is the story of a real dog living on a real farm with real sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, cats and one old donkey. Katz gives us a beautiful picture of the daily life of a working dog, a dog who has a purpose in life and takes that purpose seriously. When a terrible storm descends on the farm and her "boss" is badly injured, Rose must take charge of the show more farm. Her motives are plausible; she knows what her job is, and she does her best to do it without the assistance and guidance of Sam, the farmer. show less

I put this book among the top classic dog books of all time. I place it as one of my top favorites. The summary of the book and others will give you the details of what the book is about, I will try to talk about what I love about it. I wish my writing skills were up to speed as the author to be able to eloquently say this is a great book that I feel every lover of classic dog books should read.

The book switches from Sam’s human perspective to that of Rose the dog’s perspective. and does both with great insight. I agree with what others have said, that no one seems to speak the language of canines better than Jon Katz. He at times takes the dogs thoughts perhaps a little too far, on what the dog sees in other animals or in what lies show more at the end of life but I want to believe and just enjoy.

The challenges and ways the dog overcomes them are masterful. As Katz lays out the thinking of the dog, you work it out with Rose at the same time and you feel like you are in the passenger seat on the whole trip. As the snow piles up as well as the challenges Rose is faced with, you will not want to put the book down.

My only difference in opinion in the way the author takes the story is how he gets the dog out of the last big challenge. I would have preferred the challenge or the solution was different and something Rose could have solved on her own. I won’t give that part away by giving specific details but would be interested in seeing what others think. It was not enough for me to knock it out of my small list of favorite dog books.

This book is written so well, I will want to read it again. Here is a couple of examples of writing that I really enjoyed:

This was her place, in front of her sheep, guarding the flock, keeping them safe to the end. This was her work, her destiny, the point of her. Katie flashed into her head, her calm, sure voice. Rose, too, felt calm and sure.
To get them to pasture, to give them time to eat, to protect them. To keep them from ravines and gullies into which they could fall, streams in which they could drown, woods in which they could wander and become lost. To get them home before dark. She did this for them, and to serve the humans her kind served, who had worked with her line all the way back through time.
She kept them safe. She would do that now, whether Sam was here or not, whether it was possible or not. – Jon Kantz, Rose in a Storm

Had Sam been in the farmhouse and looked out, he would have been amazed to see this solitary dog, covered in a coating of white, staring up the hill, giving eye to the wind, the snow, the coyotes, to life and the world, to her choices and her duty. He would have marveled at her responsibility, her loyalty, and her bravery. Rose had never run, never backed down, never failed to get it done. He had said that about her so many times – he bragged about her like she was his child, although never in her presence. It would have been patronizing, even insulting, to praise Rose so much to her face. Work was her reward.
But there was no one to see this dog on the hill, and no human would ever know what was about to happen there. – Jon Kantz, Rose in a Storm show less

First of all, I need to say that I am truly a fan of Jon Katz’s non-fiction/memoirs about his animals and his life at Bedlam Farm. So much so that I struggled through the first half of Rose in a Storm just trying to separate the real Rose from fictional Rose and the real Bedlam Farm from the fictional Granville Farm. Several other animals on the fictional farm also had the same name as their real counterparts in Katz’s books and I found that distracting.

Things got more interesting when the storm kicked into high gear and Rose was left to fend for herself and the other animals (the title is pretty self-explanatory). But then the action just started to get unbelievable and a deus ex machina resolution was just too much for me.

Less show more mysticism and less overall conflict would have been better as Katz obviously put a lot of effort into realistically portraying the actions of a dog facing such a huge trial. A straight-on, smart dog survival story would have been a more satisfying read. show less