the dog

by David Paul Kirkpatrick, Steven James Taylor

To help her son grow strong, a mother finds a rescue dog to be her thirteen-year-old boy's companion. Set in a small New England town during the post-war years of WWII, the dog is more than a story of a boy and his best friend. It is a celebration of the love every dog brings into a family as he transforms a house into a home. Like all dogs, Shadow is filled with miracles. In the tradition of The Yearling , and Born Free , the dog carries an epic punch. Funny, insightful, and heart-wrenching, the dog has overwhelmed readers with the transformational beauty of its heartbreaking conclusion.

180 pages, Hardcover

Published November 13, 2018

About the author

David Paul Kirkpatrick is an author, award winning movie-maker and speaker. Most notably, David is the former President of Paramount Pictures and the former Production President of both Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures.

He is the Emmy Award and Golden Globe Winning producer of "Rasputin, Dark Prince of Destiny" for HBO. He is co-author and co-director of "Be Still", a program on meditation featuring Max Lucado, Beth Moore, and Dallas Willard which was released by Fox Faith.

The "New York Times" chronicled David's faith journey with a Sunday Arts feature entitled " A Once Feared Kingmaker Returns to a Different Battle". He has been featured on CNN, CBN, CBS, the 700 Club and other outlets.

David is the recipient of the first "David" award for lifetime achievement from Regent University. He holds a Bachelors' degree from California Institute of the Arts. His education was underwritten by the Walt Disney Foundation and the Peter Stark Foundation. He is a member of the Writers Guild Of America, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America.

David is devoting much of his time to writing and speaking. His latest novel, the dog, will be published in October, 2018. He has been writing a Merlin trilogy for the last six years.

Reviews

[Haley Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

the dog is a modern classic. I've not read anything written in the last fifteen years that matches this book. Dogs are magical, and this book showcases the power of a dog to transform a boy and his family. This tale explores the concepts of love, loss, family, prejudice, faith, and character. Prepare to both laugh aloud and cry as you read, but when you put the book down, it'll be with a warm heart and a smile.

[Caitlin Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

the dog is one of those rare books that I'm still thinking about long after I finished it. Having grown up in the area where the book is set (Cape Cod), the world is both familiar and magical at the same time. The language is wonderfully evocative, instantly placing me into the action as an observer to the journey of Theo and his dog.

Every time I pick it back up to read a favorite passage, something new and beautiful jumps out at me. It takes away the sting of not being able to experience reading it again for the first time!

[Carol Rogero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with heart, soul, and love, this timeless tale weaves the rhythms of life and the exquisite beauty of our natural world, with the purest of our relationships, that with man, woman, and child's best friend, the dog. You'll be willingly swept into the story of the Snow family, who like us all, suffer harsh seasons and situations, but if we're lucky there are loved ones, both human and animal, to see us through.

[Charlie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book so it was not final-final. I was extremely moved by it. The perspective was split between several of the characters, including the dog, Shadow. I really liked the "voice" of the dog. Shadow was extremely appealing, funny, and profound. What distinguishes this from Racing in the Rain, and Finding Atticus (both recent books featuring dogs which I enjoyed), was it's emphasis on nature. For the first time in a long time I am able to look at nature with new eyes. The book not only made me want to get a dog but to have enjoyable adventures in the deep beauty of the natural world. I highly recommend this book. Someone said they thought it was a modern classic. It very much might be.

[Jv Stansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid tale of a boy named Theo who grows to manhood accompanied by the steadfast loyalty of a dog named Shadow. Theo trains his dog but it is Shadow who masters Theo's heart. The Dog is a somber, heart wrenching, spiritually redemptive story about love, family, rage and peace.

[Willow Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of the book. I found it a complete delight. It took me back to the world of nature, or as the book says "Nature with a capital N". For Nature is divine, sacred . . . holy. There are references to Walt Whitman, Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and their view of Nature. One feels the presence of New England in the text . . . the autumn leaves, the violent winters. For me it was not a YA novel, but a novel that read almost like a poem. I read one of the previous writer's novel, The Address of Happiness, which had the same lyricism. While the book dealt with racial prejudice, alcoholism, and domestic violence, it kept a steady, benign hand so the book never felt into melodrama. I hope the book finds its audience. It is with a publisher known for childrens literature so by writing this review, I hope someone might see it, and want to have a read. Someone said in the thread it is like no other book out there. It is very special. Perhaps, it is not for everyone. It is not Marley and Me I think anyone who likes Robert Frost or Mary Oliver will respond to this book. It really opened me up to the spectacular nature of Nature. I highly recommend this book.

[Eric Mull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried like a baby for the last two chapters. But it was exhilirating! It is not one of those sad dog books. I LOVED it. I have already put it on my Christmas list for everyone in my family who are all DOG LOVERS! Simply the best!

[Daniel Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read in awhile. If you are looking for a good heartfelt book this is the one. Dogs have been a large part of my life and this book brought so many childhood memories of growing up with my first dog. Highly recommend having a box of Kleenex near by.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story, I loved it

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t get past the first two pages of this. Thought it was just going to be a good book about a dog but the writing and story was lacking, and it seemed to have religious undertones.