Books and dogs: A Tail’s Tale
Books are fun, but books about dogs are better. Fiction and dogs go together like you and your best friend Roofus. Here are a list of five fiction novels with phenomenal dog characters.
1. The Call of the Wild: First up, the dog books of Jack London. His classic The Call of the Wild is a novel involving, much like White Fang, a dog of the North. The dog, Buck, ventures into the hands of different owners. Lost in the heat of the Alaskan gold rush, he then must decide to respond to the call of the wild, or stay among humans.
The novel sweeps you away into the beauty of the Yukon region and reads from the perspective of Buck. This voice makes for an original read, allowing the reader to take on the mind of a dog. If you’re looking for a quick novel with a tale of the unbreakable spirit Call of the Wild is what you’ll need.
2. Where the Red Fern Grows: Wilson Rawls writes a beautiful story of a boy and his two hunting hounds in the pages of Where the Red Fern Grows. A coming-of-age story about a boy who dreams of having two dogs of his own. Billy works hard to finally afford his two pups, Old Dan and Little Ann, and when he does adventure ensues.
You will get lost in hunting raccoons in the Ozarks with Billy. The spirited bunch will set your mood alight, finding yourself reliving your childhood fears and longings. It is a story that captures boyhood and tenacity of the soul.
3. Shiloh: Another story of the hunting community and its dogs is that of Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Winner of a Newbery Award, this book delivers with a straightforward story of love and hardship set in the rural Appalachians. Shiloh, a beagle, follows Marty home one day. Marty discovers that he belongs to a harsh neighbor, and he does everything in his power to take Shiloh.
As the story unfolds the tale of a boy and his love for “his” beagle will make you remember the first time you fell for your dog. Lose yourself in this tale of a boy and a dog, and find yourself in the backdrop of family matters in West Virginia.
4. Clifford the Big Red Dog: A children’s book has to make this list. One particular character that always sticks out in our minds is Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell. The main character, Emily Elizabeth Howard, is a sporty girl who loves to go play with her charming, and oftentimes clumsy, best friend Clifford.
Due to his massive size it’s hard not to smile upon his various misadventures. These books are a great read, even for adults. It will have anyone dreaming of excursions upon a house-sized dog.
Next: Introducing your newborn to your dog
5. Cujo: Lastly, comes a story of another caliber. Cujo is a title from horror genius Stephen King. The story surrounds a mother and son under attack by a rabies-ridden St. Bernard. Does it sound terrifying? It should, because it is.
This book pulses with fear. It will have you worried about any sizable dog you don’t know. Keep a bottle of water handy, for some reason you’ll come up from this book feeling thirsty. Read it and find out why.
Cuddle up and pick up any one of these good reads. For those of you without a dog, this post just is enough premise to have your own puppy story.