Well, I've had this on my shelf for so long I thought it was about time to read it. This is a sort of tongue and cheek book about depression. Yep, you read that right. Winston Churchill famously referred to his depressive episodes as his "black dog". In this book that black dog, Black Pat, rents a room from a woman, commutes to Churchill's home, Chartwell, and depresses everyone in his wake. It was amusing and creative. It was even an interesting take of a famous figure's psyche. But it honestly wasn't anything like what depression is like. While I know that's personal and different for everyone, Black Pat managed to be more nuisance and annoyance. And, don't get me wrong, depression is really annoying, but it's really so much worse than that.

I applaud the very original concept. The book tackled a very serious matter in a way that was a little diverted and filled with some lighter whimsical touches. However, it isn't an entirely engrossing story. I didn't feel the pull to continue on until the book was 3/4 finished. I also felt that more specific details rather than vague references would have played better.

That it took me 12 days to read a 242 page book should be some clue as to how bad this one is!

Rebecca Hunt's debut novel takes on depression in a creative way. While I appreciate that creativity, as well as the compressed time of action, I did not always appreciate the sentence-level writing, which felt clunky at times. I will look for her future books, though, as I believe she has great promise!

Unrealistic, listened to it on Radio 4 and gave up after 2 episodes.

3 1/2 stars. churchill referred to his depression as a "black dog" and in this book, hunt brings that black dog to life. the metaphor is well placed, and the story is very relatable to anyone who has suffered from depression. but i just wanted a bit more out of the book.

To turn something tragic like depression into something entertaining seems impossible, but Rebecca Hunt manages to do just that. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Even the horrible Mr. Chartwell, aka Black Pat, was a pleasure. (I feel the need to learn more about Winston Churchill after reading the book though!)

The 4-star ambitiousness of this first novel brings my rating to three stars even though my enjoyment of it was more like 2.5.

Winston Churchill described his debilitating depression as a black dog. The premise of the novel is to make that black dog, Black Pat, a character in the book. I knew that before I started the book, as most readers probably do. What I didn't realize is that the book is not about Churchill. The dog is not a literary device to allow a different view of Churchill. The books is really about the Dog. Churchill's known relationship with the Dog simply provides the starting place of common knowledge. Then the novel follows what happens when the Dog inserts himself into someone else's life. Churchill's relationship with the dog is the backdrop against which this drama plays out.

When I began the book, I accepted that the Dog was Depression personified. When the dog knocks on Ester's door, I felt like I was watching SNL Land Shark skit. (Candygram.) I wanted to warn her of the dog's bad intentions. But soon I started arguing with the author in my head... "Depression wouldn't act like that." Depression wouldn't dig up the yard or drool on the carpet. I found the dog conformed much more to my notions of depression when he was with Churchill. In retrospect I think this turns out to be the point. While I have entertained Black Pat for a while (Like most people, I think.), the visit is different than for someone with hereditary depression such as Churchill. I found this aspect of the book the most interesting.

Unfortunately having the Dog as a character created a number of problems that ultimately made the book unsatisfying. On the one hand, the dog seemed to me to have the most dialog and the most personality of anyone in the book. The main characters seemed to revolve around his whimsy. And by comparison, Winston and Ester also seemed quite flat and unremarkable. Perhaps it was the pulling out (and dogifying) of one part of them, that made them feel incomplete?

And since, as their depression, Black Pat is actually part of these characters, he can't have independent motivation. Despite his charismatic dialog, I can feel he can only be described as a force--chaos or confusion--or maybe a presence. While at times. he tortures our characters, he isn't allowed the ambition of a villain--or really any emotion. Throughout the book, various characters tell him to go away. He responds that this is his job and therefore he can't. He expresses regret and yet he doesn't seem to feel it. This is very confusion and it sets up a very odd ending when the Dog moves out of Ester's home. I was left feeling that (as much as I was glad it happened) something wasn't quite right.

Even though don't think Hunt quite succeeded with this novel, I'm glad she wrote Mr. Chartwell and I'm glad I encountered it. I will look forward to more from her.

Churchill always characterized his depressions as a "black dog." Rebecca Hunt's novel makes it a literal black dog--like Harvey, if instead of a rabbit, it was a seven foot tall, foul-mouthed, Machiavellian Labrador.

I adored this book! When I started, I was a little thrown off by the talking dog and wondered about continuing, but I'm thrilled that I did. The development of the characters and the interaction with Churchill at the end were fantastic. I highly recommend this book!