Book Summary and Reviews of Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller

Book Summary

An atmospheric coming-of-age story about a young man's transformative year on his family's struggling Icelandic cattle farm as he falls in love, discovers the purpose he's been missing, and seeks to connect with his stoic father, who remains haunted by a tragic past.

Growing up on his family's cattle farm in western Iceland, young Orri has gained an appreciation for the beauty found in everyday things: the cavorting of a newborn calf, the return of birdsong after a long winter, the steadfast love of a good (or tolerably good) farm dog. But the outer world still beckons, so Orri leaves his no-nonsense Lithuanian Jewish mother and his taciturn father, Pabbi, to attend university in Reykjavík.

Pabbi is no stranger to cycles of life and death, growth and destruction. He is pursued by the memory of a volcanic eruption and its aftermath, and so many years of hardscrabble farming have left their mark. Jaded, and no longer able to find joy in his way of life, Pabbi falls into a depression soon after Orri goes away to school. Orri, feeling adrift and aimless at the end of his first semester, comes home.

For the first time, Pabbi allows Orri to help him run the farm. Despite their conflicting attitudes, Orri and Pabbi must learn to work together. Meanwhile, Orri meets a kindred spirit on the internet: Mihan, a part-time student. Over time—and countless texts and phone calls—their connection deepens. By year's end, Orri must decide whether he wants to—or should—return to university, and what a future with Mihan would hold, if she'll have him.

With his signature blend of humor and tenderness, Nathaniel Ian Miller's Red Dog Farm is about the bonds forged and tested between family, friends, and lovers—and the act of building a home, together.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Early on, Orri reflects: "I was young. It seemed that farming could be simple. It certainly seemed that it could be beautiful." How does his view of farming change after he comes home from university, and why does it shift?
2. Pabbi holds particular views on farming, often to his own detriment. Why does Pabbi insist on farming in his own way? Why does he refuse to allow tourism on the farm?
3. "Pabbi resented springtime even more than winter. Its false promise was a personal insult." Why does Pabbi hate springtime? What does this reveal about how he views and experiences the world?
4. As we follow Orri during this year on the farm, we see nature in all its beauty—and tragedy. What moments were most impactful for you? ...