4 out of 4 stars
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Joan Maredyth’s Dance on the Head of a Pin is an emotionally charged and relevant tale. Five pit bull pups born in a junkyard are separated from their mother at a young age. The nervous pups quickly find themselves separated from each other as well. Alone, scared and hungry, the fate of each pup is dependent on the treatment they receive from the people they encounter. Tay, a local deputy suffering from depression; Edna, his high school crush; and Mildred White Owl, a retiree new to the community, all play major roles in the survival of the five pups. Rich with imagery of the Arizona desert, Dance on the Head of a Pin attempts to redefine breed stereotypes while also tackling major themes like depression, abuse and child neglect.
The novel has a surprisingly intricate storyline. The book follows the five pups, their mother, Bella, and the various humans who cross paths with the canines. Though the book follows the pups individually (with the exception of one pair that stick together), their stories were easy to follow. Similarly, the human characters were seamlessly introduced and had engaging stories of their own. The multiple canine and human plotlines are masterly interwoven, creating a continuous and unified story. Though the hardships faced by the pups are inspiring, it is the added human element that solidifies the novel’s success.
The author’s prose is bursting with imagery and emotion. The Arizona desert is vividly drawn throughout the narrative. Descriptions of textures, sensations, and aromas further aid the reader in believing the perspective of the pups as such descriptions accurately embodied the acute awareness of a canine. Similarly, through her prose, the author masterfully forces the reader to experience the fear, frustration, disappointment and hope the pups undergo throughout their journey.
Notably, each pup has a clear, distinguishable personality. If you have ever had a canine companion, you will relate to these loyal, brave and loving characters with ease and revel in their differences. Similarly, the human personas are just as interesting and developed as their canine counterparts. The humans involved face obstacles and emotional decisions related to the pups, but themes of abuse, child neglect, depression, familial conflict, and small town politics are all laced into their narratives, adding to their complex and realistic personalities. On the surface, this is a story about five abandoned pit bull pups, but deep down, it is truly a story about life, love and human nature.
This novel successfully brings multiple relevant topics to life in a heartfelt and emotional manner. The canine point of views and the complexity of the human characters make this story hauntingly realistic. If I could rate this book 5 stars I would; since that is not an option, I readily rate Dance on the Head of a Pin 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone with a soft spot for animals or an interest in animal rescue efforts will easily relate to, and enjoy, this work. I do not recommend this book to a younger audience because of the mature nature of some of the topics discussed. Lastly, according to the book’s Amazon page, 10% of proceeds from book sales are donated to dog rescue groups; I commend the author for this generosity!
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Dance on the Head of a Pin
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