We're not sure exactly what the dog saw

             Our discussion group was a bit disappointed in "What the dog saw" when we met on Wednesday evening. We knew this was a book of essays going in, but what seemed to be the sticking point was the lack of a unifying theme. This seemed to be a "greatest hits" collection: the best of his writing from The New Yorker according to the blurb on the inside cover. The author's purpose and writing style, in his own words "does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you..." The problem is, it really didn't do that for us. True, some essays were better received than others, but the overall effect was "meh". Essays are not really long enough to give insight or "motive" to the subject's thoughts, words or deeds. But I think a good essay should leave the reader wanting more...and these did not, at least for this group of readers.