Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: fiction, loss, dogs
Paperback, 278 pages
Book Source: from my shelves, but originally from a friend
My Rating: 85/100
From Goodreads:
Rocky's husband Bob was just forty-two when she discovered him lying cold and lifeless on the bathroom floor . . . and Rocky's world changed forever. Quitting her job, chopping off all her hair, she leaves Massachusetts--reinventing her past and taking a job as Animal Control Warden on Peak's Island, a tiny speck off the coast of Maine and a million miles away from everything she's lost. She leaves her career as a psychologist behind, only to find friendship with a woman whose brain misfires in the most wonderful way and a young girl who is trying to disappear. Rocky, a quirky and fallible character, discovers the healing process to be agonizingly slow.
But then she meets Lloyd.
A large black Labrador retriever, Lloyd enters Rocky's world with a primitive arrow sticking out of his shoulder. And so begins a remarkable friendship between a wounded woman and a wounded, lovable beast. As the unraveling mystery of Lloyd's accident and missing owner leads Rocky to an archery instructor who draws her in even as she finds every reason to mistrust him, she discovers the life-altering revelation that grief can be transformed . . . and joy "does" exist in unexpected places.
1.)Reasons you chose this book
A friend had given this book to me quite some time ago and it's been sitting on my shelves. I'm reviewing the follow-up to this novel, Picture This, in June, so I thought I better read this one first. Plus the story features a dog.
2.)Reasons you liked or disliked this book
I have mixed feelings about this book. First the good feelings. Rocky is a great main character who drives the whole book. What she goes through with her husband's death is so raw, revealing, and unimaginable. Rocky eventually comes out of her depression and finds purpose again, although it's not an easy road. But once Lloyd came into her life, it becomes easier.
The title of the book Lost and Found, applies to everyone in this story. I see all of them as lost until Lloyd comes into the picture is and is able to help them find themselves, hence found. Dogs have a sense and presence that helps us humans deal with the tough things in life. They are unwavering friends, there to stand by us through thick and thin. Dogs can read our behavior, and act accordingly. Lloyd has this healing effect on everyone he meets. Being a dog lover, I totally get that and believe in it.
Another enjoyable aspect of the story was the small island town. The friendliness, the smell of the sea, the quiet, I want to be in that kind of place, so the setting really sucked me in as well.
Now for the bad feelings. While I liked Rocky and could never imagine going through the things she went through, it was the secondary characters that were a bit meh for me. Several characters are dealing with an issue, and Lloyd the dog helps them to overcome said issue. But these stories just felt like they wrapped up too clean or I flipped a page, and poof the problem was gone. I guess the one that bothered me the most was the young girl Melissa. Her issue is quite weighty, and I had difficulty that it could resolve that quickly. On the other hand, this book is a quick and relatively light read, so to expect in-depth characterization or resolution is probably foolish on my part. Some parts just felt too neat and clean.
Another enjoyable aspect of the story was the small island town. The friendliness, the smell of the sea, the quiet, I want to be in that kind of place, so the setting really sucked me in as well.
Now for the bad feelings. While I liked Rocky and could never imagine going through the things she went through, it was the secondary characters that were a bit meh for me. Several characters are dealing with an issue, and Lloyd the dog helps them to overcome said issue. But these stories just felt like they wrapped up too clean or I flipped a page, and poof the problem was gone. I guess the one that bothered me the most was the young girl Melissa. Her issue is quite weighty, and I had difficulty that it could resolve that quickly. On the other hand, this book is a quick and relatively light read, so to expect in-depth characterization or resolution is probably foolish on my part. Some parts just felt too neat and clean.
3.)Reasons for recommending
I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for light quick reading. It would make a great beach read, or curling up in a chair when it's raining outside. If you are not a dog person, don't worry, you don't have to be. It's the relationship that animals have with their people that is explored here.
I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for light quick reading. It would make a great beach read, or curling up in a chair when it's raining outside. If you are not a dog person, don't worry, you don't have to be. It's the relationship that animals have with their people that is explored here.
For more information about the author, please visit her website:
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