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Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
- An African Childhood
- Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
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Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
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Publisher's Summary
Critic Reviews
- Book Sense Book of the Year Award Winner, Adult Non-Fiction, 2003
"A classic is born in this tender, intensely moving and even delightful journey through a white African girl's childhood." (Publishers Weekly)
"This was no ordinary childhood, and it makes a riveting story thanks to an extraordinary telling." (School Library Journal)
"In this powerful debut, Fuller fully succeeds in memorializing the beauty of each desert puddle and each African summer night sky while also recognizing that beauty can lie hidden in the faces of those who have crossed her path. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)
"An honest, moving portrait of one family struggling to survive tumultuous times." (Booklist)
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What listeners say about Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sara
- 12-10-15
An African Childhood of Harrowing Proportions
This story of English ex-patriots living in a variety of countries in southern Africa with their children is amazing, bizarre, gruesome, violent and filled with disease. Most surprising to me was the fact that even one of them survived. At times, the details of the food and living conditions are so nauseating and disastrous that the title of the book--Go To The Dogs--seemed redundant. By this, I mean that it would be difficult for life to deteriorate further than the story presents. One war torn, drought ridden, broken down and hungry farm after another.
Through all this runs the strong and endearing voice of the author as the child "Bo-bo". Fuller's writing pulls all the loose ends, pain and disaster together and weaves a story of growing up in Africa. This story embodies her deep and visceral love for the place, the smells, the people and the creatures that inhabit that world. At one point in the writing she refers to her life as a child as a "terrifying unhinged blur". Believe me--she captured it in this book.
The narration was fantastic. It continually drove me forward--never allowing me to even consider giving up. This was my first book narrated by Lecat--but it won't be my last. Excellent reading--that added immensely to the whole experience.
Listening prompted me to do research about this time period in Africa's history. I read about each of the countries where the family lived--trying to make some sense of the choices and the reasons behind the decisions they made. It was not until the last hour or two of listening that I understood that all this didn't matter. It wasn't a book of African history--but rather a book of a family's history.
36 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Cynthia
- 15-01-04
Captivating
I couldn't put this book down, and now finding it on tape is a delight. The narration is engaging and entertaining. The author writes in an almost muscical style, it's like listening to narrative poetry in parts. The richness of the language and detail is truly luscious. I am usually struck by how "thin" many modern novels read, like eating the most basic and bland meal, with no spice or flavor. This novel is like a feast, rich and robust, filled with a symphony of tastes, smells, sights, and sounds.
17 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- D. Littman
- 28-01-04
A fabulous book, destined to be a classic
This is a wonderful, "coming-of-age" story, a nonfiction story, that is destined to become a classic. Perhaps not a major classic (e.g., Jane Austin or James Joyce or F Scott Fitzgerald) but certainly a minor classic (JD Salinger, etc.). The story is episodic, sounds very true, characters painted well above the usual caricature level in the usual lower quality works. The verbal narration is really good too ... so good in fact that the book may come across better in audio form than as a book (sound effects, exclamations, singing & so forth are part of the text). I know that on Amazon & elsewhere this book has sometimes been criticized for "missing the black experience" in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in the same period. Something that had to be equally, or more harrowing frankly. But the author can't be faulted for writing about her own experience, can she?
12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 16-01-04
Moving echos from history
This is a wonderful book. Touching and tragic covering a pivotal point in Rhodesia?s history. It tracks the life of a white family trying to cling on in Africa. They defended themselves from armed insurgents (terrorists or freedom fighters depending on your viewpoint) in a typically British way.
What gives it its power is that it is viewed through the eyes of a young girl with one foot in the colonial past and one in the future, whatever that was to become. Her powerlessness to control events but being forced to watch sums up much of the fate of Southern Africa and it?s people. There are also plenty of poignant moments where her life reaches out across the racial divide showing that everyone involved in those turbulent times were just human beings trying to survive.
Having been born in Rhodesia I am emotionally involved but nevertheless would recommend this title for its honest portrayal of a small part of this now forgotten conflict.
11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jon
- 15-02-04
A Rare Glimpse.....WELL DONE!
I agree with previous reviews....this is a brilliant,rare gem of a book. Having lived some years in Southern Africa....it brought back the feel Rhodesia/Zimbabwe....truly a rare glimpse into a world unknown to most of us.
The reader IS EXCEPTIONAL! This is one of those books that is BETTER in AUDIO...due to the narration. She has the accent's down pat!
Get it....your world view and heart will be the fuller for it!
10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Judy
- 18-10-11
Wonderful memoir of a childhood in Africa
Thanks to Lisette Lecat's spirited narration, this is a book that may well be better listened to than read in hard copy. Fuller remembers the richest of childhoods, led during a time of struggle and war in Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe, and later in Malawi and Zambia. Her mother could be dismissed as a bitter, depressed racist, and a drunk. But no! this woman was Alexandra Fuller's mum. And she has an intense of love of family. The book is timely touching and funny: truly out of Africa. Beautifully written and told with wit and wisdom. Spend some time with this one.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Shannon
- 27-03-06
Difficult, but worthwhile
To begin with, this was a fascinating book. The author (who must now be in her 30s) grew up in several countries in Africa.
Her (white) parents, who were unashamedly racist, moved the family from one country to another when the white ruling classes were overthrown.
The author ("Bobo") describes the ordinariness of training children to apply tourniquets, bandage war wounds and insert and monitor IV fluids, all skills that were needed in the wars against various freedom fighters. In addition, Bobo talks about life with her severely alcoholic, bipolar, animal-loving and native-despising mother, her perenially unsuccessful father and her beautiful older sister.
The first part of the book, which concerns her young childhood, was very sad, but the second half, which describes the great beauty of Africa, and Bobo's experiences in non-segregated society, is fascinating and filled with her obvious love for the continent.
It wasn't an easy listen, but it was a truly illuminating one.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- 21-02-04
Wonderful
A wonderfully funny and heart breaking story of growing up in Africa. The author did not glamorize but shared her life without apologizes. The woman who read the book did a wonderful job of capturing the characters personalities.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- New England Lamb
- 09-12-11
Superb, writer and narrator
This is a gorgeous, sad, hilarious, very moving memoir. Fuller's parents are amazing people, and their situation is Africa is beyond imagining. Then add in Lisette Lecat and you will not be able to stop listening. This narrator is extraordinary. I generally avoid all but the authors reading their own books, but in this case I have to say I can scarely imagine even the author improving up Lecat. She must be South African, right? I mean, she has the voices & accents just pitch perfect. This is a great read. Oh, sure, it culminates in the narrator's wedding, which reminds you of just how young this writer still is. But give it to her. She's a remarkable writer--her restraint as impressive as her descriptive powers.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Christine
- 20-06-08
This is similar to my life
I was born in Papua New Guinea in early 1970's to a Papua New Guinean mother and Scottish father. I could relate to alot of the issues and some incidents in the story - the racism, the colonist attitudes, hurt parents and the richness of the country.
I got a good sense of Africa (and I havn't been there).
Really liked the story. Olivia died by accident, it wasn't anyones fault.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Kunde
- 14-02-18
Post-colonial memories of a British girl
The story is extremely interesting and the narrator is absolutely brilliant including the noises she makes imitating the animals that the author encounters. It is someone's memory so it does come with a little judgment but it makes the story even more authentic.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laulan
- 26-02-15
Fantastic tale of a life spent in Africa
Exceeded expectations and perfect narration almost felt like I was there with the family
Highly recommended for anyone else who found Africa a spiritual place to visit
3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- F112
- 07-01-18
Decent book, but cut short
really good story including some of Zambia and Zimbabwe's history. it seems it cut off the last minute of narration however.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- janine Kennedy
- 11-09-16
Beautifully written
The story is so well written that you can see, smell and touch the scenery. However the storey itself wasn't captivating and ended quite sharply in my opinion. Worth listening to none the less
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- HMBach
- 11-01-23
Very interesting living history
Growing up in the UK its difficult to imagine that, at the same time, someone was growing up in Africa in such different circumstances.
This was such an honest and eye opening story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bronwen
- 16-07-22
Fav.u.lous. !
my heart is full. wow! yes! if you southern African. listen! it's dis once rating but awesome.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kate
- 20-06-22
I was back in Africa and I yearned for it
“Work harder, Work harder” cry the Cape Turtle doves. I relax as soon as I hear them. Having lived in SA for 6 years and travelled through central and east Africa this book evokes such wonderful, and yes at times bitter sweet, deeply felt memories. The birds, animals both domestic and wild, the different peoples, languages, food, superstitions, eccentricities, landscapes and dry heat. It says a great deal about a continent that despite such terrible, devastating, brutal and cruel tragedies one’s heart can be so touched by a place that one could kiss the earth arriving back there. Africa is deep in all our souls. What a brilliant, often wonderfully absurd and humourous, poignant, beautifully written memoir. Yes I felt that I was there. I downloaded the sequel “Cocktails under the tree of forgetfulness” as soon as I finished. Thank you Alexandra for sharing your incredible childhood and for evoking such touching memories. I will always think of you as that gutsy nine year old left alone thirsty in the bush on her horse, wondering what it felt like to be shot. Wonderfully narrated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 04-05-22
Funny, tragic and evokes memories
Absolutely loved it. A hugely gifted narrator. Adds to it that she has an African accent. It evoked chuckles, laughter, tears and own childhood memeories. A good book is one that is too short. What an author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- 22-04-22
Just read it, it's brilliant.
Read the book 20 years ago and the audio version doesn't disapoint. It's a beautifully descriptive story of family life in a changing world. Touching, funny and often painful, it captures the struggle and the humour of rasing a family in country that gives and takes, sometimes in equal measure. Ones of the best books on the Audible site.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dr. J. Lane
- 18-09-20
cracking childhood
Reminded me of my childhood spent growing up in Africa. Great book. A piece of history
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 22-10-22
Wonderful
Brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and life in Africa where my heart remains so deeply seated. thank you for the story.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chantelle
- 14-09-21
A walk down memory lane
An honest look at living in Africa. The narrator does an excellent job. Give yourself time to get settled into the book, it's worth it!