Brian Beker

Well, that didn't take long.

I feel misled by the description of the book and all of the rave reviews. Maybe it's my fault, because I'm not in the habit of checking a book's page count before purchasing. I expected a full narrative, not a pamphlet about a couple of weeks in the life of a foster dog.

Beker has talent as a writer. On page 30 (more than halfway through the entire work), he delivers an evocative description: "The first week with Roo was like a time-lapse film of a flower blossoming. Her ragged coat gained luster and thickness. She carried her head higher and perked up her ears. ... The look of a cornered prey animal began to alternate with the smile of a puppy."

I commend any author's effort to self-publish a book, and I love stories about rescued dogs. However, this story describes the very early days of Roo's time in Beker's home. He transitions from (spoiler alert) a setback in the form of an anxiety attack to: "Roo is not healed... She is mending fast, but some of the scars from her scarred puppyhood run deep." And the story pretty much ends abruptly there.

I would have preferred for the author to wait for more material from Roo's life so he could publish a book that truly tells her story. This effort is hastily assembled, from the writing to the design. Pictures of Roo are scattered throughout, but they don't help tell the story.
… (mehr)