The Eyes and the Impossible

The Eyes and the Impossible is Dave Eggers’ best book yet.
We follow Johannes. He is a free dog inhabiting a park with other animals. And these animals are animals - not people, not symbols. and not real life animals,
The park has an equilibrium and each animal or group of animals have duties to perform.
The equilibrium is soon shattered and Johannes keeps us engaged by…running (his observations, fights with other animals, bonds with them).
The plot, characterisation, length, prose and art 5/5 stars.
It is a terrific idea to have added Johannes to the beautiful landscape paintings.
I am looking forward to sharing this with my child, and recommend it to everyone.
It will make a great gift too.

Short but moving, great animal perspective.

As the author is careful to note in his introduction - these animals are not metaphors for humans or anthropomorphised, they are animals being animals.

Though of course - they communicate in a language readers can understand. Probably will need to, or it would be a hard book to follow!

On an urban park near the sea, location unknown, Johannes runs free and has done since he was a puppy. Surviving and thriving by foraging, he's friends with lots of other animals who live in the park, and even tasked with being the Eyes on what's going on by the three Bison who have taken on the role of maintaining Equilibrium there. Johannes will look for new human buildings and litter, the Bison make sure the animals are safe. It works well.

This state of affairs would probably continue, but is interrupted when humans add 'rectangles' to a building there, full of colours and images that hypnotise Johannes into losing his concentration and letting down his guard. Getting a brush with humans and captivity leads Johannes to consider the fences and status of the Bison, and the story allows readers to watch the animals meet new species, plan to help their friends find freedom, and their friendships change as life takes a hold on each.

This was beautiful. I've read three Eggers before, and I actually find I prefer his children's books to those he writes for adults. I loved the animal eye-view, the way Eggers voices each and how they view the human-natural worlds that co-exist.

The pictures also intrigued - each is a real work of art with a dog-like Johannes added. Each could have been made for this story. What a lovely idea.

Lovely story, wonderfully executed.

For ages 9 and above. With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.