Arlo

[pen21]

I look forward to the scenes in the book with Arlo in them. I haven't decided if Arlo is a type of protection or a more typical familiar. I hope Arlo appears more in the last section of the book.

[emmagrace]

eadieburke wrote:

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I think the dog from the 1600's and Arlo from the 1900's are the same dog. Therefore Arlo is the spirit of Dog because Arlo seems to disappear and appear at different times in the book.

Jonas in the prologue remarks that he did not notice the dog at first. Arlo seems to find Connie while coming out of a bush. When Liz and Connie arrive at the Milk St. house, Arlo seems to disappear into the shadows and finds the gate. Mercy just happens upon Dog while in her garden picking peas. While Connie and Sam are swimming, Arlo is guarding her towel and then Arlo seems to fade to the pale moonlit color of the fog. Arlo seems to be Connie's protector too. He is in the house while Sam is there and disappears while sitting on the bed. He also appears and helps Connie fight off Chilton. Dog was also with Mercy at the time of Deliverance's hanging. Then at the end of the book, a dog is seen sleeping next to a headstone with a faint letter D as the first letter of the name and suddenly the dog disappears.

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Well said!

[Tarri]

I had no idea that dogs were (are) familiars along with cats. 

To my mind Arlo was a special dog, but I don't know if he was more than only a dog.  As to Arlo coming and going and always being there for Connie, I have two dogs and if they escape from their fenced yard they will be gone and then they will come back.  They are there for me if I need someone to talk to and they are always happy to see me.  My dogs like to explore and they like to dig thing up and bring them in the house as Arlo did by finding the gate and bringing in the mandrake plant.

[thewanderingjew]

I had never heard about a dog being a witch's familiar but then, I don't know much about witches. I do think that Arlo sometimes seems more like a cat than a dog although he is pretty affectionate and comforting, at times. Many of my cat lover friends, however, swear that their cats are affectionate just like dogs.
Arlo appears to be a very quiet dog who seems even thoughtful at times. Sometimes he just  kind of slinks around her legs or rubs his head against her and that seems more like a cat's behavior to me too. He certainly isn't a watchdog! He even suddenly appears, seemingly out of nowhere, which makes him almost magical too.

twj

[pjpick]

I should say first that I've already finished the book so this may contain a spoiler.

I'm not sure which poster recognized very detailed points regarding Arlo possibly being somewhat of a ghost/protector dog but bravo! I'm such "big picture" reader that I miss those small details (like Arlo disappearing into the mist). From the beginning I started to think that possibly he could be more than "just a dog" when he found Connie and followed her home like he'd known her forever. I also liked the references to the dog in the other time periods. Initially I wanted more with Arlo than KH gave us (maybe some more hints or instances that he was anything but just a dog) but I was satisfied with the nice touch at the end with the small dog laying at the headstone. I'm just a big ole mushy dog lover so anytime someone can insert a dog into a story I'm happy.

[Deltadawn]

I agree. I felt that there was a connection between Arlo & Dog and that they may be one and the same.

[MSReader]

I love having Arlo as part of the story.  It is intriguing that he sort of 'found' Connie and that he is meant to be a part of her life.

It seems that Arlo and Dog could be one and the same...

I wonder what the name Arlo means and if that has any significance.

As for the familiar, I was surprised to hear of a dog, since I have always pictured witches with cats on their broomsticks.

Guess since the Salem 'witches' did not fit the description of the Halloween witch, it makes sense that their familar would be different as well...

[aprilh]

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hookedonbooks09 wrote:
I keep picturing Arlo like Eddie from Frazier!  All perky and all-knowing!  And very tolerant of the slow-on-the-uptake humans. <grin>

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Now that you mention it, that's exactly the kind of dog I was picturing in my mind! Great comparision!

[aprilh]

I love the character of Arlo the dog. He is just as important to the story as any one of the human characters in my opinion. At this point in time I'm convinced that Arlo and Dog are one and the same. The similarities betweeen the two are uncanny from the way they are described. Arlo as being "an indistinct, dingy color something between mud and leaves, which changed and shifted depending on the sunlight and season." Dog as "some dingy color between brown and tan." The fact that both dogs seem to disappear and reappear a moment later in another spot seems almost "magical" to me. Also, I mentioned this in last week's chapter threads but it is still on my mind: if Dog was with Deliverance at the beginning of the novel when she attended to Martha Petford (Mercy was a young girl at this time), then how is it possible that Dog was still with an elderly Mercy napping under a tree (page 183) unless there was some sort of "magic" about him? If he were any normal dog, surely he would have passed away long ago.

[TRJ4SQ]

We've now gained a lot more information about who Connie is.

1. What do we really know about Arlo?

Judging from the author's inference, Arlo is a chameleon or shape shifter dog. All we know is that he "pops" in and out at will and has the ability to blend in with the background. He also shows up when Connie is in distress but that isn't really anything unusual for a dog.

2. What about dog?

We know even less of Dog as the interludes are much shorter though he doesn't play any lesser of a role. We do know that he was an important part of the households because he was important enough for Prudence to mention him in her dairy. Why does she specifically mention in her dairy that the dog stayed in the bed. Too weird but it must mean something.

3. Were you surprised to hear that a dog was thought to be the "familiar" to a witch?

It wasn't a surprise at all. I've read that familiars can be any type of animal. I've also read that it's possible for them to change shape or form to fit the needs of the situation.

Here's the Wiki link for a few more reading tidbits...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar

Wonder if this is where the dog person/cat person question originates from?

[TRJ4SQ]

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CathyB wrote:

Speculation has been that they are either the same 'dog' or of the same line. At one pooint, I agreed with this; however, my imagination is getting the better of me and I am thinking that 'the dog' is actually a male figure (father or grandfather) that has past away.

CathyB

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Wow CathyB, Great thought! It reminds me of a book/movie from the 1990's called To Dance With The White Dog by Georgia & Terry Kay. It's an awesome story (Hallmark Hall of Fame) about a white dog that shows up at an elderly gentleman's house not long after his wife passes on. I'm sure they have it here on B&N.

Here's the Wiki link for a synopsis....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Dance_with_the_White_Dog

[DSaff]

Neat link! Thanks, TRJ 

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TRJ4SQ wrote:

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CathyB wrote:

Speculation has been that they are either the same 'dog' or of the same line. At one pooint, I agreed with this; however, my imagination is getting the better of me and I am thinking that 'the dog' is actually a male figure (father or grandfather) that has past away.

CathyB

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Wow CathyB, Great thought! It reminds me of a book/movie from the 1990's called To Dance With The White Dog by Georgia & Terry Kay. It's an awesome story (Hallmark Hall of Fame) about a white dog that shows up at an elderly gentleman's house not long after his wife passes on. I'm sure they have it here on B&N.

Here's the Wiki link for a synopsis....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Dance_with_the_White_Dog

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[TRJ4SQ]

NP! There's actually quite a bit of reading on "The White Dog" theory. Another mystical realm to delve into!

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DSaff wrote:

Neat link! Thanks, TRJ 

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TRJ4SQ wrote:

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CathyB wrote:

Speculation has been that they are either the same 'dog' or of the same line. At one pooint, I agreed with this; however, my imagination is getting the better of me and I am thinking that 'the dog' is actually a male figure (father or grandfather) that has past away.

CathyB

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Wow CathyB, Great thought! It reminds me of a book/movie from the 1990's called To Dance With The White Dog by Georgia & Terry Kay. It's an awesome story (Hallmark Hall of Fame) about a white dog that shows up at an elderly gentleman's house not long after his wife passes on. I'm sure they have it here on B&N.

Here's the Wiki link for a synopsis....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Dance_with_the_White_Dog

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[CathyB]

Thanks for the link TRJ4SQ!  I will check out the book!

CathyB

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TRJ4SQ wrote:

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CathyB wrote:

Speculation has been that they are either the same 'dog' or of the same line. At one pooint, I agreed with this; however, my imagination is getting the better of me and I am thinking that 'the dog' is actually a male figure (father or grandfather) that has past away.

CathyB

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Wow CathyB, Great thought! It reminds me of a book/movie from the 1990's called To Dance With The White Dog by Georgia & Terry Kay. It's an awesome story (Hallmark Hall of Fame) about a white dog that shows up at an elderly gentleman's house not long after his wife passes on. I'm sure they have it here on B&N.

Here's the Wiki link for a synopsis....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Dance_with_the_White_Dog

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[RNLana]

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LoBugs wrote:

Arlo doesn't come into Connie's life until just before Grace asks Connie to take care of Granna's house. I think that Grace sent Arlo ahead a generation to protect and guide Connie in her place. I came to believe that Arlo passes himself down to the head woman of the family.  Just before Deliverance is being taken away Dog is in her lap and seems to understand he will be loosing his mistress. Then while the event is happening he disappears and only reappears when he is now found at Mercy's feet, there to comfort yet a new mistress.

The descriptions of Dog and Arlo's color, size, and mannerisms are all the same, leading me to believe that they are indeed the same dog. I thought that a dog was the perfect familiar due to there unconditional love, loyalty and protectiveness.  If only my dog could live as long!

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You read my thoughts exactly!  Arlo disappears and reappears wherever and whenever he is needed.  I find him a comfort, just reading the story. 

[RNLana]

Just for fun, I looked up the meaning of "Arlo":

Greek- Strong, brave, courageous  one. A form of Andrew.
Latin

Spanish meaning is "Barberry tree"

I love the idea of Arlo meaning strong, brave and courageous.  To me, that is exactly what his character is like.  He is always strong for the women in the story and courageous enough to protect them like when he attacked Chilton to protect Connie. 

I am not sure about the barberry tree.  I didn't find anything relevant there.

[ponie]

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TRJ4SQ wrote:

We've now gained a lot more information about who Connie is.

1. What do we really know about Arlo?

Judging from the author's inference, Arlo is a chameleon or shape shifter dog. All we know is that he "pops" in and out at will and has the ability to blend in with the background. He also shows up when Connie is in distress but that isn't really anything unusual for a dog.

2. What about dog?

We know even less of Dog as the interludes are much shorter though he doesn't play any lesser of a role. We do know that he was an important part of the households because he was important enough for Prudence to mention him in her dairy. Why does she specifically mention in her dairy that the dog stayed in the bed. Too weird but it must mean something.

3. Were you surprised to hear that a dog was thought to be the "familiar" to a witch?

It wasn't a surprise at all. I've read that familiars can be any type of animal. I've also read that it's possible for them to change shape or form to fit the needs of the situation.

Here's the Wiki link for a few more reading tidbits...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar

Wonder if this is where the dog person/cat person question originates from?

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Yes, I see Prince Rupert had a familiar, a DOG, credited with supernatural powers.

[ponie]

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TRJ4SQ wrote:

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CathyB wrote:

Speculation has been that they are either the same 'dog' or of the same line. At one pooint, I agreed with this; however, my imagination is getting the better of me and I am thinking that 'the dog' is actually a male figure (father or grandfather) that has past away.

CathyB

---

Wow CathyB, Great thought! It reminds me of a book/movie from the 1990's called To Dance With The White Dog by Georgia & Terry Kay. It's an awesome story (Hallmark Hall of Fame) about a white dog that shows up at an elderly gentleman's house not long after his wife passes on. I'm sure they have it here on B&N.

Here's the Wiki link for a synopsis....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Dance_with_the_White_Dog

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I remember watching this years ago.  Very touching. 

[PiperMurphy]

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RNLana wrote:

Just for fun, I looked up the meaning of "Arlo":

Greek- Strong, brave, courageous  one. A form of Andrew.
Latin

Spanish meaning is "Barberry tree"

I love the idea of Arlo meaning strong, brave and courageous.  To me, that is exactly what his character is like.  He is always strong for the women in the story and courageous enough to protect them like when he attacked Chilton to protect Connie. 

I am not sure about the barberry tree.  I didn't find anything relevant there.

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How cool! I'm not sure about a Barberry tree, but a Barberry bush is a very hearty bush with little prickly thorns. I can tell you from personal experience that a row of those bushes are definitely protective.  I think the definition fits.

[RNLana]

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PiperMurphy wrote:

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RNLana wrote:

Just for fun, I looked up the meaning of "Arlo":

Greek- Strong, brave, courageous  one. A form of Andrew.
Latin

Spanish meaning is "Barberry tree"

I love the idea of Arlo meaning strong, brave and courageous.  To me, that is exactly what his character is like.  He is always strong for the women in the story and courageous enough to protect them like when he attacked Chilton to protect Connie. 

I am not sure about the barberry tree.  I didn't find anything relevant there.

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How cool! I'm not sure about a Barberry tree, but a Barberry bush is a very hearty bush with little prickly thorns. I can tell you from personal experience that a row of those bushes are definitely protective.  I think the definition fits.

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True!  I never thought of the prickly spines as protective, but that definitely fits Arlo throughout the ages.