Jesica's Reviews > A Dog's Purpose

Because failure isn’t an option if success is just a matter of more effort.

Before I start my review, I think I’ll post the picture of my four legged reading buddy, Mo, who often sit beside me as I read this book and enjoys being a front-seat dog as much as Bailey.



Let me ask a question. Have you ever think of what your purpose in your life? If not, well, you are beaten by a dog. This book tells of a dog who’s seeking it’s purpose in life through four lifetime. The story divided into four parts as the dog lived four lives. The first part it was born as a stray dog named Toby who then caught and hauled into a dog pound. In this first life, the dog learnt for the first time to live with humans. There’s not much human interventions in this life, whatsoever, the dog mostly learnt to live as dogs do, compete with each other for human affection and to dominate other dogs.

At the second life, and this is my favorite, he was born as a pure bred golden retriever named Bailey who lived with a family of ‘mom’, ‘dad’ and Ethan. His purpose in this life, he found out that his purpose was to be with Ethan. This relationship is the sweetest and heartwarming in the whole book. Ethan loved Bailey so much and Bayley loved Ethan more than his life. Bailey’s story is so wonderful full of laughter, fun, playing, snacking, playing and chewing. But it’s also the most touching part in the book for me since I have dogs myself and I mostly can relate the story with my own experiences with my dogs. Bailey is just sooo sweet. ^.^

I now knew why these creatures, these human beings, had so fascinated me from the moment I saw them. It was because my fate was inextricably linked with theirs. Especially Ethan—that was the bond of a lifetime.

The third life the dog was quite different. Not only the dog was reborn as a working dog, but also as a female German Shepherd named Ellie. As part of Search and Rescue K-9 unit in the police, there were not too much affections for Ellie. But still she learned a lot of things and took pleasure on finding and saving people like she (or he) ‘rescued’ Ethan from ‘drowning’ in the lake in the previous life. Ellie was pretty wonderful and bright dog. The best dog in the department. She even made smart comment about her human partners.

Humans were capable of so many amazing things, but too often they just sat making words, not doing anything.

And the fourth and last lifetime… well, I won’t spoil this one except that he’s reborn as a black Labrador. I suppose he’s the dog peeking on the cover. It’s pretty sad. And that ending was just…(T.T)

It’s a beautiful, inspiring and touching story from man’s best friend filled with love, friendship and loyalty. The narration is wonderful, taking the dog’s POV and it’s innocently captivating. Now I know what it’s like to be a dog :p. I just fell in love with this book and with Bailey. I can’t wait to watch the movie too.