Sunday, March 26, 2017

Book Review: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Title:  A Dog's Purpose
Author:  W. Bruce Cameron
Genre:  Fiction
Release Date:  July 6, 2010

From the Back Cover:


A Dog’s Purpose—the #1 New York Times bestseller—is heading to the big screen! Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House RulesDear JohnThe 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Peggy Lipton, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Pooch Hall and Dennis Quaid. A Dog’s Purpose is produced by Gavin Polone (Zombieland, TV’s Gilmore Girls). The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media will be distributed by Universal Pictures. Screenplay by W. Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells and Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky.
Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.
Bailey's story continues in A Dog's Journey, the charming New York Times and USA Today bestselling direct sequel to A Dog's Purpose.

Buy Links: Amazon 
My Review:

Looking for something delightful to read?  Something that will make you smile and laugh out loud?  Something light and fun and heartwarming, yet has moments that will bring you to tears?  Then this is the book for you!  It will make you look at your dog in a whole new light!

I purchased the Audible version of this book after it was recommended to me by a friend one day as we walked our dogs.  I love audio books!  In addition to loving this book, I loved the narrator.  He was fantastic as he talked through Toby, Bailey, Ellie, Bear and Buddy, taking on each persona.

Speaking from the dog's point of view, Toby is a pup born on the streets and ends up in a shelter and eventually put to sleep.  He is reborn in a puppy mill, escapes and is picked up by a man who leaves him in a hot car only to be rescued by a lady who takes him home with her. Bailey, as he is then called, is a golden retriever who grows up with his boy, Ethan.  The love and devotion that develops between Bailey and Ethan is beautifully written and quite heartwarming.  His next life is that of a German Shepard rescue dog named Ellie.  And finally he comes back as Buddy where life has gone full circle and he realizes his purpose in life.

I loved, loved, loved this book!  It is beautifully written, the characters are well defined and the visuals in my head were as if I were right there!  I never saw the movie, and doubt that I will look into it.  There is no way a movie could compare to the delight I had in listening to this audio book.  I cannot say enough about the talent of the narrator.  He was absolutely FANTASTIC!

This book is heartily recommended to anyone who has ever owned a dog, and especially to anyone who has ever lost a dog.  When the story ended, I swooped up my little dog into my arms, patted her head and said "Good girl, Ming".  She wagged her tail.

My Rating:

About the Author:


W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times bestselling author of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, The Dog Master, and the A Dog's Purpose series. In 2011 he was named Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He lives in California.

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