My book club is reading an excellent novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and it has led me to ponder quite a few things about dogs, of all things. You see, this book is told through the eyes of a man's dog, with all of the thoughts and opinions that any dog might have with what he sees from his master on a daily basis.
I begin to ask myself if dogs really do wonder what's up with us. Do they understand us possibly better than we understand ourselves, and yet can't give us the advice that maybe they would like to? As the dog in the book laments, "If I just didn't have a flat tongue and could make the sounds that I would like to, I could tell Denny (his owner) my thoughts and help him out a great deal."
I sometimes have my students write an essay from the point of view of a fish swimming in an aquarium. I always get interesting feedback on that one. But dogs seem so much more human. You hear so many stories about dogs saving people's lives, predicting epileptic seizures, and of course helping the blind. Studies have been done about the calming presence dogs have on the lives of those in the hospital or nursing homes. What is it they possess?
While reading through this book, I recall many instances when our favorite dog, Nick, was as much a part of the family as any pet could be. What he must have thought of us, six crazy people in one family, chasing him around the yard, loving, feeding, and caring for him! I miss him. I wonder what kind of book he would write.
3 comments:
Lucy might just have to read this book. It sounds interesting! Maybe after her nap.
And I miss Nick, too! He was a darn good dog.
PS: Has your book club read Water for Elephants? You should. It's the best book I've read in the last several years.
Yes we have. It was good, but not as good as some I have read. I think we've read just about every book out there.
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