4 out of 4 stars
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It’s not often that you meet someone who changes your life completely. It’s a great feeling when you find someone who can put a smile on your face by just walking into the room. It’s a great feeling to have someone whose very existence brings you a world of comfort and love. Sheila Hermel found that comfort in two individuals; her dad and her dog. In My Dad, My Dog, the author writes a passionate memoir of her memories with her father and her dog, Barney. She writes about the first day her father brought the dog home to her, the parallels between the two and the many life lessons they both gave her.
I was immediately drawn to the book because of the endearing cover. It was a soft and nostalgic image of the author with her father and Barney. When readers read the prologue of the book, it will draw such strong emotions that you’ll literally feel the overwhelming pride and love she has for the titular characters. I knew instantly that this was going to be a great story.
I was impressed by how well the plot flowed in the memoir. We start the story being introduced to the father and learning much about his background and character. The father then introduces the family to Barney, the lovable mixed dog who resembled a golden retriever. Throughout the plot, there is the main plot which spoke of Barney’s integration into the family and more about her father. There was also well placed background history that helped to provide more content to the main story. The background history gave further depth to the characters and gave readers a better understanding of them. One of the most interesting things that the author did in the story was draw many parallels between her father and Barney. She spoke of their kindness, easy-going nature and the hints of sadness they seemed to possess.
Even though it is a memoir, there is a lot that readers can take from this story. My Dad, My Dog is a feel-good story that is so rich in emotions, it’ll have you thinking of your own family. This is also a good story for dog lovers as you read about Barney and all his personality and feelings. Readers can also learn lessons from the author’s father and his many sayings. My favorite was, “You’ll get yours.” This means that everyone will get his or her own happiness in life.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The author really took me on an emotional roller coaster. In the story, I felt her happiness, her pride, her optimism and her sadness. She made me want to go and take my dad out to lunch so we could spend time together. She also made me want to get a dog who I could love unconditionally. She teaches readers the lesson that life is short. You need to cherish every moment you can with the ones who hold your heart. I would recommend this book to anyone as it can change your outlook on life. It’ll make you better appreciate life and the ones who are in it.
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My Dad, My Dog
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