A Lonely Dog On Christmas (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I have always enjoyed books that were told from the viewpoint of animals and I find it disturbing as many web posts that we have that show animals talking in broken English that is mostly phonetically spelled. Instead I love the depth and details that many animal viewpoint authors use since I believe in a world that we cannot understand their language and we don't strive to learn theirs they watch us more than we can imagine while it is proven by many pet-lovers that animals can read us a whole lot more than we can imagine. This was definitely a short story and it was told pertaining for the most part to one subject - the issues of a lonely animal around the holidays. I feel that the author did a great job in actually detailing what a family life is like when it revolves around the holidays (as the dog says the Christmases that I have celebrated have never been like the television versions) and the sometimes forgotten pet who is forgotten within the chaotic mess that is part of the "special time". The ending was a bit cliché and it was a bit of a disappointment although it was cute in its own way. And I like how the wisdom of the world's experiences did open the eyes of the dog but still he shouldn't have been forgotten. The only other thing I didn't like about the book was the crudeness of both the dog and some of the other characters. It definitely added to the character of the book in a sense by making it human but it wasn't something I would have wanted to read. Definitely a good read though! Plain and simple, no way a short story with such a handsome cover model could be bad. I thought the finish was a little abrupt and unexpected, but Beckham was right in the end. I wouldn't consider this deep reading, just a lighthearted story about the craziness that is Christmastime in many families. In our house though, if there is a big meal being served, our dog is right underfoot and impossible to neglect, so perhaps Beckham should be a little less passive in his role. Granted, I doubt the family wants heaps of bulldog drool on the floor, but a subtle reminder here or there that he's feeling excluded would help.
What do You think about A Lonely Dog On Christmas (2012)?
Some crudeness without much humor. thankfully it was a free book.
—nick
