A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron

Author : W. Bruce Cameron
Title : A Dog's Way Home
Published : 2017
Publisher : Pan
Pages : 336
Genre : Contemporary Fiction

     When Lucas Ray rescued his puppy Bella he knew his life would change forever. Smuggling her into his building isn't easy, particularly with his prying neighbors, and Lucas decides to risk taking her to work. The joy on the faces of the veterans in his hospital as Bella distributes her unique brand of comfort makes it all worth it. But then Bella is picked up by animal control and Lucas makes the heartbreaking decision to send her away. Lucas hasn't understood Bella's feelings, though. There might be hundreds of miles separating them but Bella wants her master and she is coming to find him.

     Two years ago I first came to this author with his book A Dog's Purpose, It was a story that captured my imagination and brought back a lot of great memories of my own dog.  He has a way of capturing how we would love to believe our dogs see us. A reflection back of the love we show them. But his books go further than that for me they work as great adventure stories, the length we are prepared to go for, for the ones we love.  I can't say that I have read many books from a dogs perspective. When it comes to the second book you read by an author you always hope for it to spark the same feeling in you, never wanting to be let down by the book.

     With A Dog's Way Home we get a shift away from the previous book, while set in the same world this time it only deals with one life that of Bella. This is a dog that starts of life with a distinct disadvantage. But all Bella longs to be is a good girl and in finding Lucas she gets a chance at just that. The bond the author writes about in his book are always so heartwarming to me. This longing for a connection and in finding one that asks for nothing in return. This is a book that touches on so many emotions as you pass by its pages. And while the title may suggest a lot of heartbreak on the way, it also gives a lot of humor to its narrative.  With this book there is less human interaction than  in his previous which means you are left in the mind of a dog for more time. Despite the hardships, Bella must face she breathes life into every action and has a distinctly mischievous and naughty side to her. 

     Once again placed into the first person narrative the author knows exactly where his strong point lye. He has found a way to place us in the body of a dog and make every interaction feel like it's real life. From confusion to the human world to the way in which our heroin interacts with other animals. I also like the way he doesn't magically have different species of animal magically be able to talk to one another. While I realize that there is a great deal of fantasy involved in this book he still manages to maintain a sense of reality to his books. I have seen time and again the lengths dogs will go to for there owners. One of the major differences for me with this book was the sense of adventure and space given. With a Dogs Purpose with each life it was contained to the human's life, here Bella must travel a great distance to complete her game of Go Home. It's is a book that brought a smile to my face more than once, it made me feel good reading it. And what more could I ask for in such a book?

     If you where a fan of a Dogs Purpose I feel this book will be like visiting an old friend. There is so much love and warmth to enjoy within the pages. An in Bella you can find a heroine that you will root for from the begin.  It gave me everything I was hoping it would, so if you are looking for a book to make you feel good and have a great adventure along the way this will be the book for you.