A Dog’s Purpose

My mother and I were chatting the other day and I asked if she was still using her kindle Fire.

“Oh, all the time!” She said. “It’s how I read all my books now. Speaking of– you should get A Dog’s Purpose.. Have you heard of it?”

“No I haven’t.”

“Oh- it’s so good! Sad, but good! It was a New York Times best seller. Check it out.”

So I did.

Let me just say, if you have ever had a dog or other pet and do not want to become emotionally compromised and bawl like a baby in public (say on a plane, perhaps) do NOT read this book.

Oh. My. God. I had to ask the Flight Attendant for a heap of cocktail napkins because I was such a wreck.

“Are you ok?” She asked.

“Oh yeah– this book is just so damn beautifully sad.”

Without spoiling it, I’ll just tell you it is the story of a dog who gets reincarnated several times, and each time he learns more about his/her purpose in life.

As you can imagine, the endings of each life are a bit… difficult… to read. Especially if you’ve ever lost a beloved pet.

But the overall story/message is just so damn good. What the dog learns each time, and how it helps in each subsequent life is wonderfully linked. And the way it ends just ties everything together so well….

I highly recommend reading it. And I highly recommend having a full size box of Kleenex handy.

I did crust my mother this weekend for recommending it.

“Jesus, mom! I bawled! ON THE PLANE!!”

“Well, I did warn you it was sad. But good. I know I definitely look at my dogs differently now.”