Alex Leslie – Author

BOOK REVIEW

“Dog Wearing A Bowler Hat” by Zachary Shatzer

I follow a lot of independent authors on social media. So I always have a steady stream of new books to read or, at the very least, add to my To Be Read pile. That’s how I came to discover Zachary Shatzer’s intriguing short story Dog Wearing A Bowler Hat.

I added it to my Kindle several months ago, then kind of got distracted by something shiny (as I am known to do) and simply forgot all about it. Last weekend, I was going through my Kindle looking for something to read on a cold Winter’s evening and discovered this strange little book with it’s enigmatic title and generic cover… and I immediately wished I had read it sooner.

Synopsis

Wilkins, a young man living in Victorian London with his wife and children, spends his free time at a local gentleman’s club enjoying brandy, cigars and comfortable armchairs. The serenity of the club is soon shattered, however, when the club’s owner decides to display his latest acquisition – a peculiar painting of a dog wearing a bowler hat.

Some of the club’s members find this hilarious. Others find the painting offensive and tasteless. Wilkins remains neutral about the artwork, finding it neither funny or inappropriate. With the club’s membership split down the middle, Wilkins finds himself being pressured to take a side. But soon, the controversial painting could divide more than just a simple gentleman’s club – and could in fact be the catalyst for the fall of society.

Review

I went into this not really knowing what I was getting myself into. Zachary Shatzer has a reputation for quirky titles and peculiar story concepts, so I was ready for just about anything. I soon discovered that Shatzer had constructed a very clever piece of absurdist socio-political satire that cuts straight to the core of many modern day conflicts, be them intellectual disagreements over ideologies or physical battles between nations.

The choice to use a piece of art as the trigger for the downfall of society is brilliant and entirely relatable. How many arguments on social media have we witnessed (or participated in) based on some viral video, book, film or television show that featured some controversial or possibly offensive topic? How often have those arguments spilled over into real life confrontations between friends or family members? What about political differences or ideological allegiances? How quickly can a simple disagreement turn into an all-out battle to the death?

Dog In A Bowler Hat is a quick read, but it is by no means forgettable. I found myself thinking about it days later, pondering its themes and asking myself about what seemingly innocent object or occurrence in my life could possibly trigger a war or a revolution.

Oh, and for what it’s worth – I think the painting sounded hilarious. Come fight me.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

eBook edition is available via Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.asia/d/0j4do0St