“Charlie Keefe is not just your typical dog lover –– he’s a world-famous dog painter, a.k.a. “The Picasso of Pooch Portraits”. Unfortunately, Charlie’s beloved muse, Pete, his lovable Jack Russell terrier, has just died. And he’s totally grief-stricken by the loss of his furry best friend.”
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“It’s Just A Dog is for anyone who has ever lost a pet –– and learned to love again. “
This book is NOT just for dog lovers, let me repeat that, this book is NOT just for dog lovers.
It’s also not exactly what you would think. It’s not the “oh no I don’t want to read this book because I am going to be sad” kind of book. Yes, there ARE some sad parts, in fact, a number of them. But the MANY humorous aspects of this book outweigh the sad.
Guess what? I didn’t lose a dog, (thank, God, not yet), but I DID lose a beloved cat, aka my “Soul Kitty”, Bobo, in 2007 who I shared my life with for 18 years. I STILL cry and mourn his death.
Author Russ Ryan does a superb job of describing the drop-to-your-knees pain that is felt when a beloved pet passes on. Even when the passing doesn’t come as a surprise, there are emotions that must be worked through see the (7 Stages of Grief). Russ Ryan covers each of these emotions through the use of candor, humor, raw human emotion, love, and with the knowledge that can only come from HAVING LIVED THROUGH IT.
“What if your dog died and then came back as a ghost…that could talk? Would you welcome him back with open arms, or run away scared to death?”
“This is the premise of IT’S JUST A DOG, a humorous, heartwarming new novel about love, pet loss, and one man’s ghost dog who rises up yapping from the grave as a talking dog.”
What would I have done if my beloved cat had come back and SPOKE to me? I don’t know.
I probably would have initially thought I was nuts, as Charlie did, then I would have found it to be comforting. If Bobo could talk, what would he have thought and told me when he discovered that I had adopted my second cat, Cody? His words and feelings would probably have been similar to the feelings that Pete had when Charlie adopted the beautiful and oh-so-huggable “Brownie” a few months after Pete passed.
Ghost Dogs and Ghost People coming back to Earth?
Now, do not call the men- in- the- white- coats when I tell you that I DID have this happen with a beloved friend who took his life when I was in college in the 70s. I had sunk into a deep depression that I thought I would never get myself out of. One night, a few days after his funeral (which I wasn’t able to attend), I dreamed, (that is what I tell myself) that he came back. He was sitting on the end of the bed and told me to “please don’t cry, I HAD to go, I am OK and I want YOU to be too.” He reached out and gave me a hug…and LEFT. I woke up from my “dream” energized, feeling HAPPY for the first time since I learned of his passing. What I needed to hear was that HE WAS OK, once I heard that, and HEARD IT FROM HIM, I felt relief wash over me that I have yet to experience since.
The mind possesses enormous power. Author Russ Ryan knows this. He lived through the pain. When Pete, (Charlie PREFERS to call him Pete, NOT Petey!) comes back and TALKS, that is where the “fun” begins! There are laughs and lessons learned, there is relief, there is at last…CLOSURE. Charlie is relieved of his guilt, he is FINALLY able to move on, just as I was after my “dream”.
It’s Just a DOG is heartbreaking/hilarious, relevant, touching, endearing and is written in a warm and conversational style. You will want to reach out to Charlie and wrap your arms around him in a giant bear hug.
It’s Just a DOG will do that to YOU, it’s 177 FAST READING pages will reach out and hug you like a welcome friend who would NEVER say upon hearing of your dog’s having passed, oh well, “It’s Just a DOG.”
Russ Ryan “gets it”, why? Because he LIVED it and shows us that you CAN live through heartbreak of gargantuan proportions and you CAN and WILL love again. And you know what? It will be OK!
Author Russ Ryan and his late dog Charles Dickens.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: RUSS RYAN has written and developed screenplays with several Hollywood producers, including the makers of American Pie, Final Destination, and Fireflies in the Garden.
He is also the creator of Meansheets.com, a vintage movie poster blog that focuses on the greatest artists and illustrators from the 1940s-1980s.
Visit his website: http://www.ItsJustADogBook.com
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I was not compensated for this review. I was mailed a copy of It’s Just A DOG” for my honest review purposes and to share my honest opinion.