Book Review of W. Bruce Cameron's 'A Dog's Purpose' by H. Laxmi Priyanka

BOOK REVIEW

A DOG’S PURPOSE BY W. BRUCE CAMERON

Review by H. Laxmi Priyanka

Touching and heartfelt in equal measure, W. Bruce Cameron’s “A Dog’s Purpose” is an ode to the love shown by our canine friends to their owners or to the ones who take care of them, all of it told through the canine’s point of view. The writer’s puppy protagonist takes the readers on a journey through its multiple lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life’s most basic question — Why are we here?

The book starts with the pup being born as a stray that has his first interaction with humans in a dog hoarder’s yard. There he learns how to love people but his happiness is short-lived when Animal Control arrives and deems the stray puppies “unadoptable”.  After being euthanized, he is surprised to find himself reborn as a golden-retriever named Bailey, the beloved pet of eight-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures together, Bailey not only risks his life to save Ethan but also learns the satisfaction of being a “good dog” and after years of devotion to this boy, he is sure of having fulfilled his purpose. But when he awakes again in a new female-canine body, she realizes that she still has a long way to go in her journey.

W. Bruce Cameron’s exploration of the world through the eyes of our canine friends is very beautiful and clever in its humorous touches – Bailey’s conclusions that cats cannot be trusted and horses are completely unreliable, etc., are hilarious in their own ways. This novel forces the readers to reflect on their past pets and the time spent with them, but its greater triumph may lie in changing the way readers think about their current pets.

Lastly, I would like to say that having read this amazing book reminds me of the times I spent with my last dog Locket, who died of cardiac arrest, only to be reborn and come back to me in the form of Maya, my current dog. What a gift!

A Dog’s Purpose is definitely a beautiful celebration of our four-legged friends with big hearts.