Review: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

What if our pets never died but were just reincarnated over and over again? What if each pet had a purpose and they could remember information from previous lives that they could use and reuse in their next lives? Would this information change the way you viewed and interacted with your pets? Would you try harder to understand and communicate with this pet?

"A Dog’s Purpose tells the story of a dog who finds himself reincarnated and decides there must be a reason, a purpose he must fulfill, and until he does so, he’ll continue to be reborn. The story is narrated by Bailey, a wise and funny dog who is very much...a dog."

This book is for anyone who considers themselves a dog lover, even a pet lover. Bailey, our protagonist dog and narrator, realizes as he goes through several incarnations that he has a purpose and he must attempt to fulfill his purpose even in the bleakest of circumstances. When Bailey is paired with Ethan, his boy, he knows that his purpose is to love and protect and in the end, to save Ethan.

Recommended by my daughter who bought the book with her own money, this story just touched my heart and it has made me view our dog, Muffy, differently.  I keep asking Muffy what she thinks her purpose is. I'm pretty sure that she thinks she has a few very important jobs: to clean our dinner plates, to bark at the neighbor dog, and, most importantly, to be the family PDA police.  Any time family members hug or kiss, Muffy runs in between our feet and whines. It is both very funny and annoying. Not one of her purposes in life is to be photogenic.  She faced the camera for one of six clicks and it was only because she thought she heard the neighbor's dog.

When I visited Bruce Cameron's website I learned that there is a sequel to this book, A Dog's Journey. Hope it is as good as the original. Enjoy!

Muffy, our Cardigan Welsh Corgi, on duty as neighborhood dog barker.

20 books in July Reading Challenge

1 / 20 books. 5% done!