Customer Reviews

A Dog's Purpose

5 star:		(628)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I received a publisher's advance copy of W. Bruce Cameron's first novel, "A Dog's Purpose". In a word? Magnificent. OK, two words. Brilliant. Actually three. Soul.
Bruce Cameron has brought forth a magnificent, touching piece of a soul's journey through life in search of purpose and meaning. At times hilarious and yet other times heart breaking, Bruce brilliantly weaves a story of a dog and its quest that is told with such heart and humanity that anyone who has ever had a dog (or any pet , for that matter) feels that this truly is how they see us and the world in which they live.
The humor is real and effortless. You will find yourself laughing out loud. You will also cry. Real tears born out of your life's memories of pets past and the essential intertwining of souls that exists in no other relationship.
That bond (from the dog's perspective) is what brings the true love in this novel to life.
Though many dream of writing that one great novel, the difference here is that Bruce Cameron has done it right out of the gate and I have a feeling that there is plenty more where that came from. An essential, five star must read.

Dog lovers will absolutely love this book. The author masterfully captures what many of us would imagine to be the thought processes of our dogs, and makes the reader think about the role we play in our pets' lives, for good and for bad. While the book has its uplifting moments, make sure to have some tissues nearby as there are many, many tearful moments in the story of this dog's numerous lives. Lest anyone think that this is yet another book in the growing dog channeling genre, rest assured that this book is much more than that. This is a book that will make you think not only about the purpose of a dog's life, but the purpose of life in general.

A Dog's Purpose is one of the most fantastic, wonderful books I've ever read. Many have tried to write from the animal's perspective, but Bruce Cameron has hit it head on. I've never experienced so many emotions while reading one book. I laughed, I cried, I cheered.

Put in the context of what is going on in my life right now, I was just waiting for A Dog's Purpose. My son and his wife had to have their 15-year-old golden retriever put to sleep after a long and full life, a short time ago. Even though I was 1,300 miles away from them at the time, I went through the pain and the grief. Right now I'm visiting with him and his wife and we started talking about them getting another dog. Initial reluctance moved on to checking out rescue web sites to starting to make a list of potential new puppies. And then they found THE ONE. And so while I was reading A Dog's Purpose, Tucker came to live with my son and his wife. I can see in Tucker's face the knowledge, the understanding and the love that is embodied in A Dog's Purpose.

My son is reading A Dog's Purpose right now and I know he is finding comfort in his old friend's passing in those pages and joy in the new, exuberant life that has joined their household.

I read a borrowed copy of A Dog's Purpose and absolutely loved it. I decided to buy it for a friend of mine who recently had to put her dog down (once you read this novel you will understand why it is a great gift under those circumstances.) When the book arrived, I re-read the first couple of pages... and then wound up reading the entire story AGAIN. I've had to buy my friend yet another copy (which I promise I won't even LOOK at.) You should RUN to get this book, it is simply one of the most amazing novels of all time. I've never read a book in my life where I am so immediately sure that 100 years from now people will still be talking about this book, it is the "To Kill a Mockingbird" of our time, the novel that will define what literature could be and was during the first years of this century. The plot sounds simple: a wonderful dog has successive lives, reborn again and again, certain that the reason it keeps having new lives is because it has some purpose to fulfill. I say "it" because the dog is both a female and male during its lives, but by the end you will become so attached to the character of this canine, so fascinated and enthralled and in love with him/her, you will wish this book didn't have to end. But it isn't simple, anymore than life is simple: this is a rich, deep, complex story, a story that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page. Disclosure: I loved "Marley & Me" and I love "The Art of Racing in the Rain," so obviously I like dog books. But this is no ordinary dog book. It completely redefines "dog book" and goes where neither of those two books ever went--into the soul of the dog, into the heart of the dog. I'm worried I'm not doing this book justice. But I'm not THAT worried, because the great novels of history always prevail and this is one of those. Other dog books eventually fade away, but A Dog's Purpose is forever. I probably will read this book at least once a year for the rest of my life.

I starting reading this book when it arrived on my Kindle yesterday and never put it down. The story made me laugh and occasionally put a lump in my throat remembering past pets of my own. I was relieved the ending was not sad. This pup's opinion of life and humans is so easily and beautifully explained from his point of view. I finished the book last night knowing it takes so little to have a profound and positive effect on all who surround our lives. Animals and humans alike, have feelings that can so easily be altered with a simple smile or kind word. The ASPCA should headline this book in it's next newsletter! I hope the book is a huge success and a fun read for all.

This is an amazing book. Who would think that a dog could be reincarnated? W. Bruce Cameron did. Who would think a laugh with the first sentence would lead into the life of a dog, who begins his multiple lives as a puppy? What is his purpose? He tries, with many amusing events to do what humans are telling him. It is a Bit Dangerous, though. My daughter walked into the room, picked it up, read 2 pages and asked "May I borrow this?" Plan your holiday gifts now, defend your copy and enjoy a fantastic journey!

I started this book last night, planning to read just a couple of chapters before going to sleep. I ended up reading it all before I put it down. If you are a dog person - I have six - you must read this book. I was afraid it would have the typical sad ending, but instead it is uplifting and comforting. Yes, there is much sadness, but there is also much laughter and joy. You won't be disappointed!

This book is amazing! Once I started, I had to finish and didn't put the book down till I did. Through his canine narrators, Cameron tells one of the greatest love stories I have ever read. If you love dogs, please read this book.

A dog does not choose his circumstances. He accepts whatever may come his way. Born to royalty or on the side of a road; he doesn't question his lot. He makes the best of it. Cameron spins one of the most interesting and beautiful novels on how a dog sees the world.

When some people say that dogs don't have a soul....look into those eyes and know that it is impossible for that to be true. True love and vast wisdom exude from those soulful eyes. Eyes that may have seen many lives.

This is a novel of acceptance, loyalty,survival and greater than anything....true love that never ends.

Scientific research has told us that a dog does not remember, that we humanize them to serve our own needs. The research also breaks down every behavior into a rational explanation. All well and good. Science has its place, but can't explain why the Tornado dog from Alabama, separated from his family dragged himself back to the site of his destroyed house towing 2 broken legs.

Read this book more than once, buy as many copies as you can get, and give one to each person who knows that a dog is much more than the sum of scientific research.

I bought 10 copies and plan on buying more.

Sit down in a comfortable chair with your best friend next to you, and don't get up until you have finished this most touching story. Then give your best friend a big hug, his favorite treat and a good long belly rub.

Marcy Blume
Midlothian, VA 23113

First, I'm a dog lover and secondly a Lab lover at that. I was driving to work the other day and heard the author being interviewed on CHUM FM here in Toronto and thank goodness for traffic jams as I downloaded his book right away to my kindle. I stayed up until 3 this morning laughing, crying, cheering and wanting more. I think a lot of writers have tried to write from an animals prespective in the past but nobody has captured it as much as Bruce Cameron did. I saw each of my dogs in all of the ones that were portrayed in the book. I'm trying to write a review that isn't all about the comparrisons of my dogs to the ones in the book and it's hard. This is not a book just for dog lovers, this is a book for anyone. I think this should almost be mandatory to all new dog owners to read as you will never experiance the love of anything like a dog's love and Bruce captures that over and over again.