The pain of loss can be overwhelming and there are many ways to cope with your grief and learn to heal. What better than inviting a dog into your lives! The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson is one such story.
Book Review of The Dog Who Danced
I love books where a dog is the main character or protagonist. However, being a mom to a doggo, it tugs at my heartstrings whenever I read books centered around these four-legged furballs. I have read books like ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ and bawled my eyes out. I get emotionally involved with the story especially when the story is narrated from the dog’s perspective. And nothing of that sort happened while reading this book.
Plot:
Justine Meade is on her way to visit her dying father. Her dog Mack, a Sheltie is with her and she manages to find a shotgun seat. Due to her stupid decisions, Mack is dognapped (kind of!) by the trucker and abandoned at a roadside. Needless to say, Justine is heartbroken because Mack has been an integral part of her life, even her dance partner.
Justine isn’t new to loss. She lost her mother at a young age, her father married their neighbor and life was nothing short of a Cinderella story with her stepmom and stepbrother. Except, there wasn’t any Prince Charming to rescue this damsel in distress. Adelle, her stepmother, made sure that Justine wasn’t loved by her father anymore. Justine left home at the young age of seventeen, got married and had a son. But life wasn’t rosy even then. She left her husband, took her son, moved cities and changed jobs frequently only to have an estranged relationship with her son. And now, Adelle expects her to be by her dying father’s bedside.
While she struggles between her bitter feelings with her family, an old couple, Ed and Alice picks up the dog. They’ve suffered a terrible loss in their lives and it takes a while to know exactly what happened. However, Mack instantly wins their hearts.
Will Justine be able to find her dog?
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Review:
First of all, I thought Justine was stupid in leaving her dog in a truck where the driver wasn’t ready to wait for five minutes for her. While he was intent on meeting his deadline and making it to his destination, she not only dawdles for five minutes but decides to take a shower for about 10 to 15 minutes before showing up. Being a dog mother, I cannot imagine ever doing that! She was reckless and irresponsible, to say the least.
I didn’t quite understand Justine and the many internal conflicts she had. That said, I didn’t like any characters of the story and could barely get through some parts of the book, except maybe, those portions where the story was portrayed from Mack’s perspective. There were too many moments in the story where I was pulling my hair apart in frustration.
To conclude, The Dog who Danced had great potential with respect to the storyline but was terribly executed!
3 Paws on 5!
That’s all for now!
Which are some of the books with a dog as a protagonist that you’ve read? Don’t forget to share!
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Read for #ReadingWithMuffy 2020 Monthly Reading Challenge | Prompt for January: A Book with a Dog on its cover/title/Dog as a protagonist
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Hey, I too read The Art of dancing in the rain…twice…and cried both times!
As far as this story goes, I too found it stupid of Justine for leaving her dog with a stranger. I mean, who does it??
I remember I would rush through my bath if Chikoo would be waiting outside, by the door. At times, I would allow him inside when I had to go to the loo and if he was too anxious to sit outside! Hehehehe…I know, some people will find it horrid getting the dog to accompany you inside the washroom, but how could I leave him out alone? *Smiles sheepishly**
I wouldn’t read this book, for sure.
I too love reading books where the dog is the protagonist. Even if a dog is a tiny character, I love to read the story, or watch the movie. And, I hate it if anything happens to the dog. I mean, I care a damn if everyone in the film dies, but nothing should happen to the dog, right? I am sure only you will understand what I mean, Shalini. 😛
<3
Exactly! I couldn’t bring myself to like the characters at all. And that is a first! Psst..psst..I completely understand about the washroom! Muffy is no different 😛
Hwehehehe…see, I knew you would understand! 😛 Our babies!!!
Shilpa Gupte recently posted…My Word of the Year for 2020 – WELLNESS.
Aw! Have you read Racing in the Rain? How’s Mufasa by the way?
Damyanti recently posted…What is Your Word for the Coming Year?
Yes, I have. I have mentioned that above. Mufasa is amazing! 🙂
You’re right about the fact that this one had such potential for a great story. It’s really sad when a book doesn’t pan out the way you expect it to. To most dog-parents their doggies are as precious as their children are and I would never think of leaving my baby in a truck while I have a leisurely bath. So I get what you said about Justin being careless and annoying. Not going for this one.
Obsessivemom recently posted…I am writing. Again.
Not having any pets in the family, I’m hard pressed to read novels where they’re the central character in the first place. After your review, I won’t feel I’ve missed out on this one! I almost hope she didn’t get her dog back; it sounds like the people who “took” the dog cared more!
Holly Jahangiri recently posted…Asibikaashi #WednesdayVerses
Yep, I can see from your review the book was a bit meh! I agree that she was a bit off for leaving the dog when the driver was not supportive…he might have thought she left the dog intentionally!
Have you read Marley & Me? If not please do, you will love it and cry by the end of it! Awesome book!!
Inderpreet Uppal recently posted…NEW YEAR 2020
Okay, I am not picking up this one. But yes, I hear you. Never been around pets but my apartment’s guard’s pet has stolen my heart. I love her.
So I am going to pick up some book you recommended.
Parul Thakur recently posted…#ThursdayTreeLove – 79
I’m sad that this book didn’t live up to its promise, Shalini. Now, based on the recommendation of you and Shilpa, I’m getting The Art of Racing in the Rain!
I guess I am not going to pick this one up.
Jyothi Nair recently posted…Puma: A Soldier’s Dog – By Richa Kashyap