Genre: Animals, Adult Fiction, Drama, Death, Contemporary Literature
Published by: Center Street, Thorndlike Press, Playaway, Hachette Audio
I don't know if you've ever read a book that has made you change the way you look at the world, or what you see when you open your inner eyes to the world, but I think that for me this book really was a life-changing experience. A true masterpiece, with stardust and pure wisdom all over it.
I won't say anything about the plot, because I want to leave it raw and unexplored for your eyes and your hearts. Saying something about how things eventually turned out and how the characters felt or evolved won't be fair, because this book is so deep in its life-lessons, that I don't want you to have formed an opinion beforehand. I loved each and every one of the characters, even the known "evil" ones. All of them hided respectful reasons behind their actions, and I liked how they gave birth to life-changing decisions, that affected both themselves and everyone around them.
I adored Neil Abramson's writing and I dare saying that I just included him in my top 5 favourite writers of all time. The way he described emotions and thoughts throughout the book was mesmerizing. I swear, at some parts, I not only felt my heart breaking, but I also got overwhelmed by the love and hope and life that was radiating out of the pages. I cherished every word of the book. So, yes, EVERYONE must read this book, regardless of their age, their book taste, emotional stage and so on. It's magnificent. It will open your mind and heart to the bottomless world of animals' wisdom and it will make you wonder about -and wander in- the depth between humans' and animals' true communication and understanding. Like a character said somewhere in the book, there is a distinction between "unspoken" and "unsaid". Just because animals can't talk, it doesn't mean that they don't have something to say. And, often, they have something richer and purer to say than people do.
So, 5 out of 5 stars, even though this rating can't be 100% representative of the flawlessness of this book. It will make you cry, hope, smile but, above all, it will make you realize that death and grief can give birth to hope and life only if you believe that all creatures -both human and non-human- are interconnected. I'm convinced that as more and more people read books like this one, the world will become better and better, fairer. To all, not just to humans.
P.S I loved the idea of a garden dedicated to all those pets that led short lives. "On the pages within are those who came before; those who shared their lives with us all too briefly. These are the lives we honor. These are beloved angels that have returned to God." I adored this quote, I must write it and put it on my wall, it's so damn beautiful. I wish, one day, as a successful veterinarian, I'll be able to look back on all these animal lives I'll have saved, feel proud and loved, and hope, that somewhere else, these animals that I'll be forced to take their lives away, will forgive me and love me back. I'm counting on Helena's knowledge. Amen.
