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The Dog Who Danced
My name is Justine Meade and in my forty-three years there have only been a handful of people that I have loved. No, that's an exaggeration. Two. Two that I lost because of stupidity and selfishness. One was my son. The other was my dog.
If there's been a theme in Justine Meade's life, it's loss. Her mother, her home, even her son. The one bright spot in her loss-filled life, the partner she could always count on, was Mack, her gray and black Sheltie; that is, until she is summoned back to her childhood home after more than twenty years away.
Ed and Alice Parmalee are mourning a loss of their own. Seven years after their daughter was taken from them, they're living separate lives together. Dancing around each other, and their unspeakable heartbreak, unable to bridge the chasm left between them. Fiercely loyal, acutely perceptive and guided by a herd dog's instinct, Mack has a way of bringing out the best in his humans. Whether it's a canine freestyle competition or just the ebb and flow of a family's rhythms, it's as though the little Shetland Sheepdog was born to bring people together.
he Dog Who Danced is his story, one that will surely dance its way into your heart.
If there's been a theme in Justine Meade's life, it's loss. Her mother, her home, even her son. The one bright spot in her loss-filled life, the partner she could always count on, was Mack, her gray and black Sheltie; that is, until she is summoned back to her childhood home after more than twenty years away.
Ed and Alice Parmalee are mourning a loss of their own. Seven years after their daughter was taken from them, they're living separate lives together. Dancing around each other, and their unspeakable heartbreak, unable to bridge the chasm left between them. Fiercely loyal, acutely perceptive and guided by a herd dog's instinct, Mack has a way of bringing out the best in his humans. Whether it's a canine freestyle competition or just the ebb and flow of a family's rhythms, it's as though the little Shetland Sheepdog was born to bring people together.
he Dog Who Danced is his story, one that will surely dance its way into your heart.
314 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
135 people are currently reading
3989 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wilson
22 books574 followersBorn in Providence, RI, raised in Middlefield (Rockfall) Connecticut. Post High School Education, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT and Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and two grandsons - plus four step grands.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, ten published, one in progress. I frequently contribute to the on-line magazine, Stay Thirsty.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and two grandsons - plus four step grands.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, ten published, one in progress. I frequently contribute to the on-line magazine, Stay Thirsty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 584 reviews
November 29, 2014
As Justine Meade and trucker Artie made their way down the highway with Justine’s gray-and-black Sheltie, Mack between them, her thoughts were turned inward. The reason for this long and uncomfortable trip was to go home to her father – he was dying and though it was twenty years since she’d seen her childhood home, she had forced herself to make the journey. Hitching a ride across the country to Boston was the only way she could afford to get there…
But when Artie drove off from a rest stop and left Justine behind, in the middle of nowhere, her one thought was Mack. He was on that truck – she needed to get him back; but how was she going to do that? Torn between finding Mack and needing to get to Boston, Justine was grateful when a biker named Mitch gave her a lift on his Harley part of the way. Her grief over losing Mack; knowing he was getting further away from her; knowing he’d be confused and alone was devastating. Then there were the conflicting emotions about her father…
Ed and Alice Parmalee lived in Moodyville, a little town in Massachusetts – for the past seven years they had been drifting, together but alone. Their heartache was insurmountable; their grief a mountain they couldn’t climb. So the day they saw the hungry, dirty and tired gray-and-black Sheltie sitting by the gates of the cemetery, almost as if he was waiting for someone, was a day their lives began to change.
What was going to happen to Justine; to her father; to Mack? And what would happen to Ed and Alice?
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story about a very special dog and his humans. Told in the voices of both Justine and Mack, it is filled with despair, love, devotion, heartbreak and forgiveness. Mack is a wonderful character, smart, intelligent and loving. I have no hesitation in recommending The Dog Who Danced highly.
But when Artie drove off from a rest stop and left Justine behind, in the middle of nowhere, her one thought was Mack. He was on that truck – she needed to get him back; but how was she going to do that? Torn between finding Mack and needing to get to Boston, Justine was grateful when a biker named Mitch gave her a lift on his Harley part of the way. Her grief over losing Mack; knowing he was getting further away from her; knowing he’d be confused and alone was devastating. Then there were the conflicting emotions about her father…
Ed and Alice Parmalee lived in Moodyville, a little town in Massachusetts – for the past seven years they had been drifting, together but alone. Their heartache was insurmountable; their grief a mountain they couldn’t climb. So the day they saw the hungry, dirty and tired gray-and-black Sheltie sitting by the gates of the cemetery, almost as if he was waiting for someone, was a day their lives began to change.
What was going to happen to Justine; to her father; to Mack? And what would happen to Ed and Alice?
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story about a very special dog and his humans. Told in the voices of both Justine and Mack, it is filled with despair, love, devotion, heartbreak and forgiveness. Mack is a wonderful character, smart, intelligent and loving. I have no hesitation in recommending The Dog Who Danced highly.
February 7, 2018
Justine Meade is used to loss. As a result, she does not making lasting connections with too many people. There is her estranged son whom she loves and her four legged companion Mack. When, because of some mistakes of judgement on her part, Mack, her grey and black Sheltie, disappears, Justine is distraught. Meanwhile her stepmother Adele is expecting Justine to rush to her dying father’s side, even though they have not seen each other since Justine left home at seventeen. Justine is torn between what she feels she should do and what she wants to do. Will she get Mack back? Or has Mack despite all attempts to find him, gone beyond her grasp? Will she find closure and be able to forgive her father for what she sees as his betrayal?
This story is told from two points of view. One is that of Justine. The other is that of Mack. I loved reading Mack’s thoughts particularly when it seemed humans were slow in understanding his needs. To me that was one of the most interesting and entertaining aspects of the story. Mack especially has trouble at times convincing Ed and Alice, who take him in, to understand what he wants. Ed and Alice Parmalee are in grief over their fifteen year old’s suicide years earlier. Though they still live together, they never connect. Guilt and blame keep them apart. When Mack comes into their lives things start to change. But Justine still wants to find her dog and take him home. What will happen to Mack?
Mack was easily my favourite character. Without doubt he is the star of the show. Mitch was a really interesting character. Justine, I had trouble relating to as I thought she brought a lot of her troubles upon herself with self-centred attitudes and decisions. I felt sad throughout for Ed and Alice with the loss of their only child. I suspect people may have different ideas about the ending and may well have different ideas about the book as a whole depending on how they relate to the main characters.
It is more than just a dog story. As well as being about the effect pets can have on a person, it deals with choices and consequences, family relationships, forgiveness and the different ways people handle grief. It was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it despite not liking Justine.
This story is told from two points of view. One is that of Justine. The other is that of Mack. I loved reading Mack’s thoughts particularly when it seemed humans were slow in understanding his needs. To me that was one of the most interesting and entertaining aspects of the story. Mack especially has trouble at times convincing Ed and Alice, who take him in, to understand what he wants. Ed and Alice Parmalee are in grief over their fifteen year old’s suicide years earlier. Though they still live together, they never connect. Guilt and blame keep them apart. When Mack comes into their lives things start to change. But Justine still wants to find her dog and take him home. What will happen to Mack?
Mack was easily my favourite character. Without doubt he is the star of the show. Mitch was a really interesting character. Justine, I had trouble relating to as I thought she brought a lot of her troubles upon herself with self-centred attitudes and decisions. I felt sad throughout for Ed and Alice with the loss of their only child. I suspect people may have different ideas about the ending and may well have different ideas about the book as a whole depending on how they relate to the main characters.
It is more than just a dog story. As well as being about the effect pets can have on a person, it deals with choices and consequences, family relationships, forgiveness and the different ways people handle grief. It was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it despite not liking Justine.
May 16, 2019
“Bisogna perdere qualcosa per ricevere un dono ancora più grande”
La mia storia con questo audiolibro è bizzarra. L’ho scelto da un’apposita lista perché l’autore risultava essere S. Wilson. Come ho potuto credere che Sloan intitolasse uno dei suoi libri “La felicità arriva in punta di piedi”? Semplice, “Scandalo al sole” non è forse un titolo altrettanto improbabile? Il film (che io non ho visto) non ha fatto un buon servizio a quel libro, ricordo che molti lo snobbavano a causa della pellicola. Per me che trovai il libro in una cantina insieme ad altri Oscar Transistor fu un colpo di fortuna, quanto mi sia piaciuto lo dimostra il fatto che Wilson dopo tanti anni sia un richiamo paragonabile a Carver o Yates nello scorrere una qualsiasi lista di autori. S. però in questo caso non stava per Sloan ma bensì per Susan. Non bastasse, uno dei personaggi principali con un occhio nero e un occhio blu (*1) si è rivelato un cane. Una pubblicità negli ‘80 recitava
https://www.tecata.it/index.php/categ...
Io la potrei parodiare in “Mai avuto un cane in vita mia”
Le pagine in cui Susan Wilson trascriveva i pensieri canini e li interfacciava a quelli umani le trovavo seccanti. Poi c’erano le altre pagine, quelle in cui descriveva l’animale come un campione di Agility e spiegava i comandi e le acrobazie che essi generavano. Infine c’erano le pagine restanti, quelle in cui Justine (la padrona del cane) si stava spostando da Seattle a New Bedford per un drammatico ritorno al capezzale del padre morente. Un road book, ma anche un viaggio nel passato, nelle incomprensioni, nella catena di errori e fallimenti interrotti da rari momenti di fugace felicità. Erano queste le pagine che mi spingevano all’ascolto, mal sopportando le altre, ho deciso di saltare i capitoli in cui si parlava quasi esclusivamente del cane. Ne ho saltati un paio, poi mi sono reso conto che proprio perché non ne avevo mai avuto uno, la lettura mi avrebbe dato l’occasione d’immaginare come avrebbe potuto essere. Se dovessi parlare del motivo principale per il quale leggo, direi che lo faccio “per capire come è stato” e non certo per immaginare “come avrebbe potuto essere”, l’immedesimazione ha un ruolo determinante per me. Ho accettato di ascoltare il cane che faceva da psicologo agli umani, che li assecondava, che li influenzava e in cambio sono stato messo di fronte ad una delle peggiori esperienze che possono capitare al padrone di un animale: la sua sparizione. Justine smarrisce il cane mentre sta affrontando la traversata dalla costa ovest a quella est. Credo che avere la possibilità di ascoltarlo, anziché leggerlo, mi abbia aiutato a portare a termine il libro. Per me si tratta di una modalità nuova, sto imparando a gestirla cercando di sfruttarne le potenzialità e accettarne i limiti. È lo stesso atteggiamento mentale che assumerà Justine nel viaggio da Seattle a New Bedford, ma soprattutto in quello assai più difficile che sarà la sua vita da New Bedford in poi.
(*1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-436x...
La mia storia con questo audiolibro è bizzarra. L’ho scelto da un’apposita lista perché l’autore risultava essere S. Wilson. Come ho potuto credere che Sloan intitolasse uno dei suoi libri “La felicità arriva in punta di piedi”? Semplice, “Scandalo al sole” non è forse un titolo altrettanto improbabile? Il film (che io non ho visto) non ha fatto un buon servizio a quel libro, ricordo che molti lo snobbavano a causa della pellicola. Per me che trovai il libro in una cantina insieme ad altri Oscar Transistor fu un colpo di fortuna, quanto mi sia piaciuto lo dimostra il fatto che Wilson dopo tanti anni sia un richiamo paragonabile a Carver o Yates nello scorrere una qualsiasi lista di autori. S. però in questo caso non stava per Sloan ma bensì per Susan. Non bastasse, uno dei personaggi principali con un occhio nero e un occhio blu (*1) si è rivelato un cane. Una pubblicità negli ‘80 recitava
https://www.tecata.it/index.php/categ...
Io la potrei parodiare in “Mai avuto un cane in vita mia”
Le pagine in cui Susan Wilson trascriveva i pensieri canini e li interfacciava a quelli umani le trovavo seccanti. Poi c’erano le altre pagine, quelle in cui descriveva l’animale come un campione di Agility e spiegava i comandi e le acrobazie che essi generavano. Infine c’erano le pagine restanti, quelle in cui Justine (la padrona del cane) si stava spostando da Seattle a New Bedford per un drammatico ritorno al capezzale del padre morente. Un road book, ma anche un viaggio nel passato, nelle incomprensioni, nella catena di errori e fallimenti interrotti da rari momenti di fugace felicità. Erano queste le pagine che mi spingevano all’ascolto, mal sopportando le altre, ho deciso di saltare i capitoli in cui si parlava quasi esclusivamente del cane. Ne ho saltati un paio, poi mi sono reso conto che proprio perché non ne avevo mai avuto uno, la lettura mi avrebbe dato l’occasione d’immaginare come avrebbe potuto essere. Se dovessi parlare del motivo principale per il quale leggo, direi che lo faccio “per capire come è stato” e non certo per immaginare “come avrebbe potuto essere”, l’immedesimazione ha un ruolo determinante per me. Ho accettato di ascoltare il cane che faceva da psicologo agli umani, che li assecondava, che li influenzava e in cambio sono stato messo di fronte ad una delle peggiori esperienze che possono capitare al padrone di un animale: la sua sparizione. Justine smarrisce il cane mentre sta affrontando la traversata dalla costa ovest a quella est. Credo che avere la possibilità di ascoltarlo, anziché leggerlo, mi abbia aiutato a portare a termine il libro. Per me si tratta di una modalità nuova, sto imparando a gestirla cercando di sfruttarne le potenzialità e accettarne i limiti. È lo stesso atteggiamento mentale che assumerà Justine nel viaggio da Seattle a New Bedford, ma soprattutto in quello assai più difficile che sarà la sua vita da New Bedford in poi.
(*1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-436x...
March 29, 2022
Definitely in my list of top favorites. I have liked all the books I have read from Susan Wilson, and this may be my favorite of hers. It is sometimes hard to judge because the newest one shines brightest, and the story is different in each, but feels at least as great as her 'One Great Dog.'
I had also read recently A Dog's Journey, and in some ways this book had a bit of the same feel, for example the evil stepmother aspect, (the stepmother in A Dogs Journey was worse). Both books made me choke up at times, but I liked this one a lot better than that particular Cameron book.
I guess I am supposed to talk more about what I liked so much in the book. The main characters are people you wish you could make friends with. The dog is extra special, but not too far out of reality. The transformation of the characters feels like clouds parting and the sun coming out. Oh well, others can give you better reviews, I mostly just want to say it was a great book and it should go to the top of your to-read stack of books on dogs.
I had also read recently A Dog's Journey, and in some ways this book had a bit of the same feel, for example the evil stepmother aspect, (the stepmother in A Dogs Journey was worse). Both books made me choke up at times, but I liked this one a lot better than that particular Cameron book.
I guess I am supposed to talk more about what I liked so much in the book. The main characters are people you wish you could make friends with. The dog is extra special, but not too far out of reality. The transformation of the characters feels like clouds parting and the sun coming out. Oh well, others can give you better reviews, I mostly just want to say it was a great book and it should go to the top of your to-read stack of books on dogs.
August 5, 2012
I wanted to like this one, but the narrator was such a self-interested, self-pitying woman who seemed to make all her own problems as well as huge problems for her son, I found her very annoying. The reason she "loses" her dog is that, although she is riding with a trucker who is intent on making a deadline at his destination so he won't lose his job, she not only lingers for an extra five minutes over a meal, she actually goes to take a shower for 10-15 minutes although he has said he will wait five minutes and five minutes only.
The other part that was a bit difficult was how clever the dog was and how well he reasoned things out in English. I guess Shelties are pretty smart dogs, but still.....
And the people who found the missing dog and wanted to keep him -- I thought they were much more sympathetic as owners.
Justine -- the mother-comes-first narrator -- does finally see The Light toward the end, but it was too late to win me.
I did finish it.
The other part that was a bit difficult was how clever the dog was and how well he reasoned things out in English. I guess Shelties are pretty smart dogs, but still.....
And the people who found the missing dog and wanted to keep him -- I thought they were much more sympathetic as owners.
Justine -- the mother-comes-first narrator -- does finally see The Light toward the end, but it was too late to win me.
I did finish it.
September 8, 2015
This was a feel good kind of book. It was the perfect book for me today, since I've been sick for too long. Even though the title suggests that this is a book about a dog who dances, that wasn't actually the main focus of the story. This book was more about loss and the process of learning to move on. I appreciated that message.
The dog sounded pretty darn cute. I liked that the author told his side of the story from his own perspective. That was fun.
The dog sounded pretty darn cute. I liked that the author told his side of the story from his own perspective. That was fun.
September 29, 2019
I was confused at first, but the story made itself clear as you read along. I found it interesting that the book was written in multiple points of views and it has flashbacks to past events. With those flashbacks, the story is less confusing. I loved Mack. Who wouldn't want an obiedient, loyal dog like him!
January 2, 2012
They say some people handle grief in bad ways...I think this couple does. First, let me say this is a good story, not so much about a dog, but about handling grief and loss and a how a dog can help people heal.
Justine's dog is dog napped, basically and then abandoned. While she struggles with bitter feelings with her step family and her father dying AND searches for her dog, an older couple picks her dog up and replaces their lost daughter with the dog. The dog brings them together again. No longer are they sitting apart, but together in order to pet the dog who lies on both of their laps. No longer are they spending days trying to avoid each other, but bonding as they walk the dog, take the dog for rides..and so on.
My problem with this book was solely: I can't stand any of the characters. I thought the heroine, Justine, was irresponsible. I have three adorable dogs and I would never EVER leave them in the cab of some truck driver's truck, especially not a man I barely knew or knew from a bar. She also packed up her little boy and left her husband. Not a smart move. Wasn't like he beat her.. and she could barely provide for the kid.
The couple: The whole, "Let's not find his owner/let's place an ad but be half-witted about it/No, of course he doesn't have a chip.." stuff didn't fly with me. I get they loved the dog and I personally felt the dog was better off with them than Justine, but they struck me as so corrupt, I had a difficult time stomaching the whole situation.
Good book and well written, but I don't think it will agree with everyone.
Favorite quote from the dog: "Humans have this nee to express themselves through their mouths, and he supposes that this is because they are so poor with their noses." LOL
Justine's dog is dog napped, basically and then abandoned. While she struggles with bitter feelings with her step family and her father dying AND searches for her dog, an older couple picks her dog up and replaces their lost daughter with the dog. The dog brings them together again. No longer are they sitting apart, but together in order to pet the dog who lies on both of their laps. No longer are they spending days trying to avoid each other, but bonding as they walk the dog, take the dog for rides..and so on.
My problem with this book was solely: I can't stand any of the characters. I thought the heroine, Justine, was irresponsible. I have three adorable dogs and I would never EVER leave them in the cab of some truck driver's truck, especially not a man I barely knew or knew from a bar. She also packed up her little boy and left her husband. Not a smart move. Wasn't like he beat her.. and she could barely provide for the kid.
The couple: The whole, "Let's not find his owner/let's place an ad but be half-witted about it/No, of course he doesn't have a chip.." stuff didn't fly with me. I get they loved the dog and I personally felt the dog was better off with them than Justine, but they struck me as so corrupt, I had a difficult time stomaching the whole situation.
Good book and well written, but I don't think it will agree with everyone.
Favorite quote from the dog: "Humans have this nee to express themselves through their mouths, and he supposes that this is because they are so poor with their noses." LOL
November 8, 2025
Bello! Tocca il cuore. Riletto dopo tempo. Stesse emozioni. Voto: 8
December 10, 2011
I usually cry when reading a book about a dog. This time, tears were cascading down my face. Those were tears of happiness instead of sorrow. I don’t know how Susan Wilson did it, but she created the perfect ending!
In ‘The Dog Who Danced’, the dog, Mack has his share of telling the story but it is as the author could get inside the dog and know he perceives the world. Most importantly through the sense of smell and without the benefit of some abilities like place orientation, Susan Wilson excels at portraying a dog's thoughts.
I fell in love with Mack and wanted him to come out of the book and be my dog! I have always admired shelties. I have seen freestyle dancing with dogs in competitions but these books takes you inside what it means for the dog to do this.
This book is more than a dog book though; it is one of mystery, sorrow and forgiveness. There are two central women. Justine Meade is the first one we meet. She lost her mother at a very young age, so young that she couldn’t remember very much about her. Her father married the woman next door, the evil step mother and her life felt snuffed out from then on. She lost an emotional connection with her father; her father now loved Paul, her step brother. Paul was the son that her father always wanted and never had. Her step mother, Adele, was cold and demanding. She talked all the time but never said the important words that a step daughter craves.
Justine got married very young and had a son, Tony. She hasn’t seen him for years either. Why did this relationship fail?
When Justine gets a call that her father, who she had not seen for so long, is dying, she doesn’t want to go but her friend persuades her to go. Since she is broke, she cannot afford to fly there and pays $300 to a truck driver to go from California to her parent’s home out east. When she has to go to restroom to wash the dust out of her hair and body, the truck driver takes off. He has her dog, Mack in the back but he doesn’t realize it. Justine panics and is desperate to find her dog. Her dog is her only companion, her only close friend.
An elderly couple find Mack and though they didn’t intend that, established a bond with Mack who they called Buddy. Their marriage was lifeless. They had a daughter in the past. What happened to her? The description of their life is done through their actions and lack of actions. They really need this dog to help them learn how to continue with their lives. You will want to push this couple together as Mack/Buddy did.
Mack/Buddy is the sheltie that you will love. He is polite, gentle, intelligent and loving. He even knows how to dance.
‘The Dog Who Danced ‘is a page turner and emotional wringer, especially at the end. Who will live/love this book? Anyone who loves dogs has had a broken family relationship or enjoys a great story. This book will make you look at shelties with wonder and think about ways to heal broken relationships.
I received this book from Amazon Vine, but that in no way influenced my review.
In ‘The Dog Who Danced’, the dog, Mack has his share of telling the story but it is as the author could get inside the dog and know he perceives the world. Most importantly through the sense of smell and without the benefit of some abilities like place orientation, Susan Wilson excels at portraying a dog's thoughts.
I fell in love with Mack and wanted him to come out of the book and be my dog! I have always admired shelties. I have seen freestyle dancing with dogs in competitions but these books takes you inside what it means for the dog to do this.
This book is more than a dog book though; it is one of mystery, sorrow and forgiveness. There are two central women. Justine Meade is the first one we meet. She lost her mother at a very young age, so young that she couldn’t remember very much about her. Her father married the woman next door, the evil step mother and her life felt snuffed out from then on. She lost an emotional connection with her father; her father now loved Paul, her step brother. Paul was the son that her father always wanted and never had. Her step mother, Adele, was cold and demanding. She talked all the time but never said the important words that a step daughter craves.
Justine got married very young and had a son, Tony. She hasn’t seen him for years either. Why did this relationship fail?
When Justine gets a call that her father, who she had not seen for so long, is dying, she doesn’t want to go but her friend persuades her to go. Since she is broke, she cannot afford to fly there and pays $300 to a truck driver to go from California to her parent’s home out east. When she has to go to restroom to wash the dust out of her hair and body, the truck driver takes off. He has her dog, Mack in the back but he doesn’t realize it. Justine panics and is desperate to find her dog. Her dog is her only companion, her only close friend.
An elderly couple find Mack and though they didn’t intend that, established a bond with Mack who they called Buddy. Their marriage was lifeless. They had a daughter in the past. What happened to her? The description of their life is done through their actions and lack of actions. They really need this dog to help them learn how to continue with their lives. You will want to push this couple together as Mack/Buddy did.
Mack/Buddy is the sheltie that you will love. He is polite, gentle, intelligent and loving. He even knows how to dance.
‘The Dog Who Danced ‘is a page turner and emotional wringer, especially at the end. Who will live/love this book? Anyone who loves dogs has had a broken family relationship or enjoys a great story. This book will make you look at shelties with wonder and think about ways to heal broken relationships.
I received this book from Amazon Vine, but that in no way influenced my review.
March 14, 2012
An unexpected call has Justine Meade grateful for a shotgun seat on a semi heading towards a home she hasn’t seen since she left at seventeen because it means that her dog Mack is with her. Mack has been her salvation and made her look at life in a better way than the defeatist, betrayed way she used to when all she could think of was the loss of her childhood then later the loss of her son. The dog who learned to dance with her has been much more than a mere pet which is why she’s overwrought as she finds herself abandoned and dog-less by the trucker she hitched a ride with.
Ed and Alice Parmalee have been imitating life for the seven years since the death of their only child, a child that was prayed for then delayed until neither of them thought it was ever going to happen and then took away at fifteen, it was a tragedy that shook them to the core and that has been an invisible barrier between them ever since until the day a stray dog comes into their lives and puts color and connection back into their world.
In the midst of a family crisis Justine frantically tries to find Mack with the help of a few friends and many strangers while the Parmalees are reconnecting with the help of one small furry miracle and who know nothing about the dog’s distraught owner.
There are many dog stories out there, those who heal, those who protect, those who comfort, what makes this story different is the poignant way that Susan Wilson brings it to life with her words. Her characters are all three dimensional, so realistic that I could smell the earth at Stacy’s grave and could feel the wind in my face as she takes Justine down the highway on the back of a Harley. The dialogue is a mesmerizing string of monologues that took me into the hearts and souls of the narrator, that made me a fly on the walls of their worlds and that gave me insights that I wish they would convey to each other. And then there was Mack, who Susan gave a voice to as well and who’s expertise in translating dog really shines through, it was amusing, it was touching and it was beautifully penned. This is the story of rejuvenation of forgiving of unconditional love. It’s the story of one woman’s best friend and the lengths she’ll go to get him back and it’s the unconditional love that one dog has for his human(s).
This is my first foray into the writing brilliance of Susan Wilson but I guarantee it will not be my last.
Thank you Ms. Wilson for one of the most heartwarming and inspiring stories I’ve read for a while.
Be sure and check out my Q&A with author Susan Wilson - here on my blog http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
and here at my book club forum at B&N.com
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
Ed and Alice Parmalee have been imitating life for the seven years since the death of their only child, a child that was prayed for then delayed until neither of them thought it was ever going to happen and then took away at fifteen, it was a tragedy that shook them to the core and that has been an invisible barrier between them ever since until the day a stray dog comes into their lives and puts color and connection back into their world.
In the midst of a family crisis Justine frantically tries to find Mack with the help of a few friends and many strangers while the Parmalees are reconnecting with the help of one small furry miracle and who know nothing about the dog’s distraught owner.
There are many dog stories out there, those who heal, those who protect, those who comfort, what makes this story different is the poignant way that Susan Wilson brings it to life with her words. Her characters are all three dimensional, so realistic that I could smell the earth at Stacy’s grave and could feel the wind in my face as she takes Justine down the highway on the back of a Harley. The dialogue is a mesmerizing string of monologues that took me into the hearts and souls of the narrator, that made me a fly on the walls of their worlds and that gave me insights that I wish they would convey to each other. And then there was Mack, who Susan gave a voice to as well and who’s expertise in translating dog really shines through, it was amusing, it was touching and it was beautifully penned. This is the story of rejuvenation of forgiving of unconditional love. It’s the story of one woman’s best friend and the lengths she’ll go to get him back and it’s the unconditional love that one dog has for his human(s).
This is my first foray into the writing brilliance of Susan Wilson but I guarantee it will not be my last.
Thank you Ms. Wilson for one of the most heartwarming and inspiring stories I’ve read for a while.
Be sure and check out my Q&A with author Susan Wilson - here on my blog http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
and here at my book club forum at B&N.com
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
June 4, 2012
This is another rating that I have rounded up. The book was okay but it did make me cry at little at the end even though I wasn't heavily invested in or very sympathetic towards any of the characters. The characters were made up of a middle-aged woman trying to get to the east coast before her estranged father dies but she can't afford to fly and if she could she wouldn't be able to take her dog with her. The trucker who frequents the bar where she works who offers to take her and the dog. He then leaves her stranded because she slowed him down only to discover later that the dog was still in the truck. He then proceeds to dump the dog at the side of the highway. The grieving couple who find the dog. The men who come to the aid of the woman. And the dog who makes the best of the situation and tries to bring the grieving couple back together all while waiting for the woman to come get him. The story line of the woman and her estranged father and family didn't seem that important to me but I guess she had to have a reason for traveling.
It was pretty good but for a good dog story, I prefer "A Dog's Purpose".
It was pretty good but for a good dog story, I prefer "A Dog's Purpose".
June 1, 2013
The reason I gave this book 3 stars was because it was about a sheltie. Susan Wilson did an excellent job describing Mack. Every bit of personality she gave him was spot on. As far as the rest of the story...it was just alright. Take away the ridiculous amount of grammatical errors and you're still left with a rather unlikeable main character and a string of awkward events (i.e. the run in with Artie at the service shop). I didn't cry, or laugh at this book, I just trudged through it waiting for the moment with Mack reunites with Justine and even that was slightly lack luster. Oh and also, Moodyville MASS? WTF is that?
August 6, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but don't agree it was an "emotional wringer" and didn't think it was as good as most GoodReads readers did, nor as good as One Good Dog. It is the story of Justine (her emotional past and family history and the man she meets along the way as she searches for her dog Mack. Mack is inadvertently dognapped, then abandoned by the dognapper and found by a couple who adopt him. The plot was a bit contrived, but the characters are appealing and its worth a read. A good beach book.
June 1, 2015
I've always felt that it would be a better world if humans were more like dogs. They are the most devoted and loyal beings on the planet and The Dog Who Danced shows clearly shows why this is the case. A beautiful story about an amazing dog !
February 29, 2012
I won this book through a Goodreads first-reads giveaway.
I was so excited to win this book as anything dog-related is a huge plus for me. I just loved this story. It was about a 40-something drifter, Justine Meade whose only real companion, Mack, her Blue merle Shetland Sheepdog, was taken unknowingly from her during a cross-country trip from Seattle to Massachusetts. When she received a call from her stepmother, letting her know that her father was dying, Justine took a ride with a tractor trailer driver that she had met a few times from Seattle to New Bedford, MA. It was the only way she could afford to take Mack with her. She gets ditched in Ohio, with the driver unknowingly taking her dog with him. When he realizes that he still has the dog some time later, he leaves Mack on the side of the road. A couple who have been through their own tragedy, finds Mack and rebuilds their life with him. Justine desperately hunts for her dog, with the help of some kind-hearted people she meets along the way.
This story is about hope and love and loss. Dogs have an amazing effect on humans, even ones who have long ago given up on life. You will definitely need a tissue or two.
I was so excited to win this book as anything dog-related is a huge plus for me. I just loved this story. It was about a 40-something drifter, Justine Meade whose only real companion, Mack, her Blue merle Shetland Sheepdog, was taken unknowingly from her during a cross-country trip from Seattle to Massachusetts. When she received a call from her stepmother, letting her know that her father was dying, Justine took a ride with a tractor trailer driver that she had met a few times from Seattle to New Bedford, MA. It was the only way she could afford to take Mack with her. She gets ditched in Ohio, with the driver unknowingly taking her dog with him. When he realizes that he still has the dog some time later, he leaves Mack on the side of the road. A couple who have been through their own tragedy, finds Mack and rebuilds their life with him. Justine desperately hunts for her dog, with the help of some kind-hearted people she meets along the way.
This story is about hope and love and loss. Dogs have an amazing effect on humans, even ones who have long ago given up on life. You will definitely need a tissue or two.
August 19, 2012
Book #56 Read in 2012
The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson
Justine is heading cross country to visit her dying father. She has hooked up a ride with a trucker. Her baggage is just a few bags and her Sheltie, Mack. The truck driver ends up leaving Justine at a truck stop and he does not know at first that Mack is still in the back of his truck. He eventually figures that out and drops Mack off on the side of a major interstate. Mack is found by Alice and Ed, an older couple who have suffered a great loss and are really looking for someone or something to love, though they may not know it at the time. As Mack, now called Buddy, begins to bond with Alice and Ed, Justine is spending time with her dying father while trying to track down Mack. Will Justine and Mack be reunited?
This was a great read. It was obvious how much Justine loved Mack and also obvious as to how much Alice and Ed loved Buddy. All of the characters were ones that readers were sympathetic to and would care about their happiness. Mack/Buddy was a great canine character--smart, intuitive and full of personality plus. I enjoyed this book a lot.
I received this book to review through the Amazon Vine program.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson
Justine is heading cross country to visit her dying father. She has hooked up a ride with a trucker. Her baggage is just a few bags and her Sheltie, Mack. The truck driver ends up leaving Justine at a truck stop and he does not know at first that Mack is still in the back of his truck. He eventually figures that out and drops Mack off on the side of a major interstate. Mack is found by Alice and Ed, an older couple who have suffered a great loss and are really looking for someone or something to love, though they may not know it at the time. As Mack, now called Buddy, begins to bond with Alice and Ed, Justine is spending time with her dying father while trying to track down Mack. Will Justine and Mack be reunited?
This was a great read. It was obvious how much Justine loved Mack and also obvious as to how much Alice and Ed loved Buddy. All of the characters were ones that readers were sympathetic to and would care about their happiness. Mack/Buddy was a great canine character--smart, intuitive and full of personality plus. I enjoyed this book a lot.
I received this book to review through the Amazon Vine program.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
April 2, 2012
I've had Shelties since 1979, so I'll admit up front that I'm the target audience for "The Dog Who Danced" by Susan Wilson. It's about a Sheltie named Mack who becomes separated from his owner, Justine Meade. While she frantically searches for him across several states, he's found and taken in by a retired couple, Ed and Alice Parmalee.
Wilson captures the delightful personalities of Shetland sheepdogs perfectly. To call them intelligent is an understatement. She describes Mack as having not just genius, but "a Sheltie's proclivity for obedience, as well as a superior sense of dignity. He has always prided himself on being a perfect gentleman." They're very vocal, which means much more than barking, and Mack makes all the little noises and comments my four have done. (Mack also loves "stuffies," which, like my Drew, he shakes, squeaks and uses as pillows intead of disembowling. And yes, it is the cutest thing ever.)
Read the rest on my blog:
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/books/2012/...
Wilson captures the delightful personalities of Shetland sheepdogs perfectly. To call them intelligent is an understatement. She describes Mack as having not just genius, but "a Sheltie's proclivity for obedience, as well as a superior sense of dignity. He has always prided himself on being a perfect gentleman." They're very vocal, which means much more than barking, and Mack makes all the little noises and comments my four have done. (Mack also loves "stuffies," which, like my Drew, he shakes, squeaks and uses as pillows intead of disembowling. And yes, it is the cutest thing ever.)
Read the rest on my blog:
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/books/2012/...
March 18, 2012
Susan Wilson is brilliant!
We have all grieved through losses in our life. Justine seems to bring on some of this grief herself. The Parmalees are broken, going through their day to day existence. Mack is the common denominator.
Wilson is honest in revealing the faults of the characters in The Dog Who Danced. Like all of us, Justine is not perfect, she struggles with life decisions. She does what she thinks is best and yet it never is. Mack is anchor in her life. No story spoilers here though, I'll let you enjoy the rollercoaster of emotion this book brings.
It starts so dark that I almost felt troubled reading it. Stick with it, you won't be sorry or disappointed. This book is for everyone, not just dog lovers. It's about human spirit and inner strength.
We have all grieved through losses in our life. Justine seems to bring on some of this grief herself. The Parmalees are broken, going through their day to day existence. Mack is the common denominator.
Wilson is honest in revealing the faults of the characters in The Dog Who Danced. Like all of us, Justine is not perfect, she struggles with life decisions. She does what she thinks is best and yet it never is. Mack is anchor in her life. No story spoilers here though, I'll let you enjoy the rollercoaster of emotion this book brings.
It starts so dark that I almost felt troubled reading it. Stick with it, you won't be sorry or disappointed. This book is for everyone, not just dog lovers. It's about human spirit and inner strength.
July 13, 2016
Wonderful story. about a terrific dog named "mack" A sheltie that likes to dance with his owner Justine. when Justine "hitches" a ride to get to the east coast from Washington the scummy semi driver drives off with her dog { when they stop at a rest area} and tosses him out of the semi onto the interstate. Mack is found by a kindly couple going through a heart break of losing their daughter a few years ago. Mack brings happiness to their life and they call him Buddy. meanwhile Justine is trying to find her dog. since she has no idea where the dog was left this will take awhile. she is on the east coast to see her dying father. Mack/buddy is loved by both families. will not give away the ending. a very touching story. I love how a dog can change a person' life for the better. as Mack did.
March 22, 2012
My first time with this author--and it won't be my last! Loved this book from the first page and then found myself slowing down toward the end so I didn't have to leave these characters.
Told from several different points of view, this novel captured my imagination and emotions from beginning to end.
When I worry about the characters, when away from the book, I know I have a winner on my hands.
Thanks Goodreads! I appreciate the opportunity to get the sneak peek on this one!!
Told from several different points of view, this novel captured my imagination and emotions from beginning to end.
When I worry about the characters, when away from the book, I know I have a winner on my hands.
Thanks Goodreads! I appreciate the opportunity to get the sneak peek on this one!!
April 14, 2012
I enjoyed this very much. I have been waiting for her next book ever since I read One Good Dog, and I was not disappointed. My only problem is that I was very tempted to take a peek at the end to see what happens....I had to use all my willpower not to do that! I love her writing style, particularly the way she alternates voices of the humans and the dog. Excellent read!
April 9, 2012
I was attracted to this book because I have a Sheltie. However it was the accounts of people who face difficulties in their lives and how they work through them that made this a special book. The unconditional love of the dog for his owner(s) and the bond of the owner(s) for the dog was the icing on the cake for me.
September 20, 2012
I loved this book! I you love a sheltie, you must read this book. The sheltie who is the main character is spot on with sheltie character and personality. This is a touching story. Highly recommended to anyone, but sheltie lovers in particular.
May 27, 2017
I do love dog books, especially when the author is able to give the reader the dog's perspective. This book is about love and loss and grief and recovery. All things best shared with a loving dog.
August 8, 2019
I thought this book was just ok.
IMO none of the human characters were likable..... Mack was the best part of the book.
IMO none of the human characters were likable..... Mack was the best part of the book.
June 19, 2018
Love, loss and redemption are explored in Susan Wilson’s latest mainstream fiction. This book is the winner of the Maxwell Medal for Fiction--Dog Writers Association of America.
As a young girl, Justine Meade lost her mother. Her father quickly married Adele, a stepmother who disliked and mistreated Justine. At 17, Justine left home. She found work in Brooklyn, married the boss’ son, but then divorced and began an itinerant life, always ready to move on. Wilson writes Justine in first person, with back story reflecting her never-quite-satisfied adulthood, one fractured by her teenage son’s recent resolution to live with his father. With her own estranged father battling cancer, Justine has been summoned home. Justine lives in Seattle, tends bar and has one maxed-out credit card. So she pays a regular patron $300 to hitch a ride in his long-haul rig, taking along Mack, her Sheltie and one source of unconditional love. On the road, the trucker assumes Justine is willing to share a bed, but Justine refuses. Frustrated, he strands her at an Ohio truck stop. Only when he reaches Massachusetts does the trucker discover Mack in the cab’s sleeper. He dumps the dog. In Ohio, Justine reluctantly accepts help from Mitch, a one-legged biker who, belying his gruff exterior, is a symphony violinist. Mitch could only chase the big rig for a short distance, which left Justine in a frantic and uncoordinated pursuit while simultaneously attempting to reach her father in New Bedford. Mitch appears near novel’s end, but his likable character deserves more. Meantime, Mack is rescued by Ed and Alice, a couple mired in a miasma of despair over the suicide of their daughter. Instinctively, Mack begins to heal the rift between them. While not detracting from the story, there is predictable anthropomorphism, and Wilson readily relies on a Sheltie’s nature and behavior to drive the emotion-packed story to its somewhat too-easy climax.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, and my poor wretched heart can't take much more, but I really liked it on so many levels. I highly recommend.
As a young girl, Justine Meade lost her mother. Her father quickly married Adele, a stepmother who disliked and mistreated Justine. At 17, Justine left home. She found work in Brooklyn, married the boss’ son, but then divorced and began an itinerant life, always ready to move on. Wilson writes Justine in first person, with back story reflecting her never-quite-satisfied adulthood, one fractured by her teenage son’s recent resolution to live with his father. With her own estranged father battling cancer, Justine has been summoned home. Justine lives in Seattle, tends bar and has one maxed-out credit card. So she pays a regular patron $300 to hitch a ride in his long-haul rig, taking along Mack, her Sheltie and one source of unconditional love. On the road, the trucker assumes Justine is willing to share a bed, but Justine refuses. Frustrated, he strands her at an Ohio truck stop. Only when he reaches Massachusetts does the trucker discover Mack in the cab’s sleeper. He dumps the dog. In Ohio, Justine reluctantly accepts help from Mitch, a one-legged biker who, belying his gruff exterior, is a symphony violinist. Mitch could only chase the big rig for a short distance, which left Justine in a frantic and uncoordinated pursuit while simultaneously attempting to reach her father in New Bedford. Mitch appears near novel’s end, but his likable character deserves more. Meantime, Mack is rescued by Ed and Alice, a couple mired in a miasma of despair over the suicide of their daughter. Instinctively, Mack begins to heal the rift between them. While not detracting from the story, there is predictable anthropomorphism, and Wilson readily relies on a Sheltie’s nature and behavior to drive the emotion-packed story to its somewhat too-easy climax.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, and my poor wretched heart can't take much more, but I really liked it on so many levels. I highly recommend.
September 8, 2019
If you've read and enjoyed any of W. Bruce Cameron's novels or Garth Stein's, The Art of Racing in the Rain, you most surely would relish the emotional ride that Susan Wilson's, The Dog Who Danced takes you on! This little Shetland Sheepdog danced his way right into my heart.
I'll most definitely read more of Wilson's books because I very much enjoyed the way in which she intertwined the dog and human thoughts and behaviours. Wilson's ability to verbalize the emotions of real people in her characters and combine that with the "imagined" (if not real?) emotions of a dog is astounding and it's this combination that drives home the need that I think we all have to communicate and connect with one another.
I wasn't sure who to root for by the end of the book, the dog's rightful owner or the couple who found him but in the end I was satisfied with the way it eventually ran its course. I choose to believe that these 4-legged-furry-family-members have a unique way of bringing peace and love back into the lives of those who have suffered "the greatest loss that any parent could ever imagine".
I've since watched a few YOUTUBE clips of actual dog dancing competitions...did you know it's an actual thing...COOL!!!
The following link was one of the more interesting ones
https://youtu.be/SG73aWZbIaI?t=35
Fascinating how with only a few hand gestures and verbal cues, the furry member of the dance duo can get through such a long routine without forgetting their "steps"! Quite the performance!!
I'll most definitely read more of Wilson's books because I very much enjoyed the way in which she intertwined the dog and human thoughts and behaviours. Wilson's ability to verbalize the emotions of real people in her characters and combine that with the "imagined" (if not real?) emotions of a dog is astounding and it's this combination that drives home the need that I think we all have to communicate and connect with one another.
I wasn't sure who to root for by the end of the book, the dog's rightful owner or the couple who found him but in the end I was satisfied with the way it eventually ran its course. I choose to believe that these 4-legged-furry-family-members have a unique way of bringing peace and love back into the lives of those who have suffered "the greatest loss that any parent could ever imagine".
I've since watched a few YOUTUBE clips of actual dog dancing competitions...did you know it's an actual thing...COOL!!!
The following link was one of the more interesting ones
https://youtu.be/SG73aWZbIaI?t=35
Fascinating how with only a few hand gestures and verbal cues, the furry member of the dance duo can get through such a long routine without forgetting their "steps"! Quite the performance!!
October 28, 2017
A wonderful story about being lost and being found. About being unloved and loved. Devotion from Mack, the dancing Sheltie, is his priceless gift to the people he instinctively knows he's responsible for. This complex story of human struggles and challenges, disappointment and finally forgiveness is easy to recommend to anyone who likes a good read. It's a real page-turner.
April 2, 2019
I've lost my mind! I knew, knew, KNEW that this book would have my tears duct working overtime. I'm a sucker for animals, especially dogs. And this story about woman trying to get back home and looking for her dog and dealing with loss got me in the feels.
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