A Dog of Many Names by Douglas Green ~ a Review

by MK French

Rascal was the runt of the litter, devoted to the daughter of the family who bred her. Discarded when the family has a financial crisis, Rascal was thrown away with only a few pieces of kibble to help her survive the night. She had to survive in the mountain wilderness of Northern California, meeting various families that gave her different names. All she wants is one family and one name.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

July 2021; Circuit Breaker Books; 978-1953639042
ebook, print (180 pages); literary fiction

I remember reading books like this when younger, and scenes from those novels still stick in my mind long after I've forgotten the author names or even the title. Sometimes the imagery and the emotion are just so vivid, they leave an imprint, and I remember them now because A Dog of Many Names is the same way. 

The reader knows more about what happens to Rascal at each stage along her journey, from the financial problems of her first family, the illegal status of the second, the potential reasons for wanting to make her fight in the third, and then life in the wild. She sought to survive, no matter what, and the abuse she lived through left her in fear of people that looked or behaved in similar ways. 

A Dog of Many Names is the author's way of explaining a potential path his dog had taken before she came to him, and he imbued Rascal with the emotions and drive that any main character would have. She's a defender of the less fortunate, having been one herself, and is quite an endearing dog.

Buy A Dog of Many Names at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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