Emma Pearse

Being an animal lover, I find it hard to resist a book like this as I pass by it on the library shelves - despite knowing that more often than not, the best part of the story could be told in a magazine article. This book proved no different. Though Sophie's story is moving and almost miraculous, there just wasn't enough here for a book. I'm glad the author set the story straight about Sophie and her owners - who were maligned in social media because of hyperbole and outright lies, but this would have been a stronger story without so much of the maudlin stuff that served no purpose other than to fill enough pages to warrant a book. It begins with a teenage girl convincing her parents to buy a puppy that she's been eyeing through the window of a pet store - something that surely happens every day (while other well-deserving and wonderful dogs die or languish in shelters, by the way). I'm sure Sophie's family is nice and they clearly love dogs, but the very ordinary stuff like this before Sophie was lost at sea, just didn't interest me. Sophie, however, did. Her scrappiness, wits, and determination -- especially for such a young dog -- were unbelievable. I can't imagine many dogs having been brought up in a loving home without ever having to give a thought to food or shelter, not only surviving, but coming through it with virtually no ill effects.… (mehr)

Well I am amazed. I actually liked this book by the end of it.

The first part of the book was awful: most of it was ordinary boring chit-chat about a family - who *thought* they were a dog family but weren't even close ( they kept all their dogs outside... yeah, right, that's a real "dog family" for ya... hmmmm) - raising a cattle dog. And then hearing how the dog was lost... oh my gosh... that was almost unbearable - here's this real "dog family" putting their dog on an ocean boat without a life jacket- come on! It was excruciating listening.

But then, finally, after a half a book of painfully obtuse family discourse, the meat of the story was incredible. It was a great read after that. I found myself desperately wanting to get to a (hopefully) good ending. What this dog went thru was truly impressive.

Summary - horrible first half, fabulous 2nd half.

Oh, and one very frustrating "hanger"... did they ever take Sophie back on the HoneyMae?!? What an obvious question and, unless it was one sentence and I missed it, I don't think they ever answered that . Very disappointing.… (mehr)