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Book Review of Even the Dog Knows by Jason F. Wright
Have you ever looked into your pet’s eyes and wondered what he or she were thinking? We had a dog many years ago. He’s since passed on, but I remember wondering what he was thinking when he ran after a ball or played with my kids. It was obvious he enjoyed those activities, but I would have loved to have known what he was thinking. Even the Dog Knows by Jason F. Wright is a great people and pet watching book. It gives you the chance to see glimpses into the mind of a dog.
Blurb:
A family’s old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his humans find forgiveness and healing.
Meg Gorton finds herself alone and lonely in Florida. Three years earlier, she had packed what she could fit into her sister’s car and asked her estranged husband, Gary, to take care of Moses, their beloved black Labrador. Things between Meg and Gary hadn’t been the same after the loss of their only daughter many years ago. Even after raising their grandson, Troy, it was clear that if Meg wanted a new beginning, she would have to do it alone.
Haunted by the tragedy of his daughter’s death, Gary is stuck in his life in Woodstock, Virginia. He still owns and drives the bus for their hometown minor league baseball team, and he still thinks about the day his wife drove away.
Everything changes when Meg contacts Gary with a request to bring Moses to visit her one last time before the old dog passes on. Gary is reluctant, but Troy thinks it’s an excellent idea. They could even travel together in Gary’s bus. Along the way, Gary takes a detour to visit Troy’s ex-girlfriend, Grace. Gary might not know how to fix things with his wife, but he knows he doesn’t want Troy to make the same mistakes he did.
Although Moses is just a dog, he’s very observant. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out they are going on to see Meg. He knows he’s an old dog and that his time is near, but he also knows his family needs his help.
Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.
My Book Review:
I enjoyed this book! As I said in my introduction, it’s a good people watching book. What do I mean by that? Well, have you ever been at the mall or at the beach or at a theme park? One of my favorite things to do while I’m at any of those places is to people watch. Not in a creepy way, of course. You’re sitting on the bench eating an ice cream cone and you just watch the people as they go by. It’s so fun to see all the different people! This book gives you a taste of that when you get to sit back and watch the people in this story.
The characters in this story make the book! Meg, Gary, Troy, Grace, and Moses are such interesting characters. I loved learning more about each one of them and getting to know them. Wright’s character development brings these characters to life right on the page. Each character has a unique voice and personality. I love the relationships between these characters, as well.
Most of this story happens on a journey. I think the journey not only occurs physically, but mentally as well. As they travel physically, the characters also progress emotionally. Although the many things that occur on this journey add some action and provide for growth, I felt like it was too much. I’ve traveled long distances over the course of many days, and I’ve never seen that much action. For me, it felt unrealistic and like a stretch. Knowing the dog’s feelings was also a bit unrealistic, but I thought it was a fun touch to the story.
Overall, it’s a good story with great characters and lots of people watching. It’s a good, entertaining read.
Content Rating: PG-13 (There’s no profanity or “intimacy” in this book, but there is some violence and some heavier themes.)
Recommendation: 14+
My Rating: 3.5/5
Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.