Mr Bones is a dog about to face the ultimate canine tragedy, the death of his master Willy, a likeable failed poet, reformed drug addict and alcoholic who loves his pet and fears for his future. Auster began his literary career as the cool, clever author of The New York Trilogy (1987) which looked more towards the French than US literary tradition. Coincidence and literary tricks seemed to mean a great deal too much to him. With time and books such as his road novel The Music of Chance (1990) and the offbeat thriller Leviathan (1992), his works became less self-consciously clever, culminating in the dazzling picaresque of Mr Vertigo (1994). Okay so I'm a dog lover but this beguiling quest-yarn, balancing pathos and humour is far more than a sentimental cartoon. Its genius lies in its third person narrative voice which is candid, kindly and colourfully New York, combined with the fact that Mr Bones is no Lassie, just an ordinary, loyal little mutt in a crisis.
