Fiction Pick of the Week: One Good Dog

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson 2010

Looking for a light summer read? I picked up One Good Dog by Susan Wilson last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it while sitting on the patio out back. It is a lovely story about a man and a dog; two unlikely characters drawn together by circumstance. One character has been emotionally damaged while the other suffered physical abuse. Adam has lost his high-powered job due to a sudden loss of control. He finds himself divorced, estranged from his daughter and facing community service in a homeless shelter. He soon meets up with a dubious character; a runaway pit bull who has escaped a confined basement where he has been caged all of his life and only let out to fight. Their relationship is wary at first but develops into a loving and healing experience. Wilson’s writing style is interesting as she alternates chapters between Adam and the dog. It was quite amusing to read from the dog’s perspective. The story highlights the power of human-animal relationships and the ability to overcome past trauma. Great choice for animal lovers.