One Good Dog: A Novel

I read this book two years ago and I still think about it from time to time. I read a lot, and it is a rare thing when a book stays with me this long. If you are a dog lover, this is definitely a must read!!!

A definitive easy to read story for dog lovers. Taken from the dog's point of view, it gives some insight to the much maligned pit bull terrier breed and the bond that forms when a dog is given food, warmth & human companionship.
Illustrates the benefits of owning a pet & the responsibility that is involved.

One Good Dog is very good and really makes the reader think - it is very interesting how the "One Good Dog's" experiences and relationships with other dogs and people are seen and thought of from his point of view. Its quite an adventure.

I enjoyed the book, it was good to see both dog and human triumph by helping each other find the good in each other. It is definitely a book of unconditional love and how paying it forward is truly rewarding.

Very well written. I am not an animal lover by any means but the relationship between the humans and the animals in this book remind us of closely we are all related and need each other. A great book to read if you just need a little uplifting of the mind.

I read this book for my book club. Everyone who has ever loved a dog will love this book. It was a favorite of the book club this summer. I did find the main character to be a bit selfish and unlikable at the beginning. It was a bit unbelievable to lose EVERYTHING so quickly. How about selling one of those houses? How about telling the daughter, "No!" The wife's family was wealthy and into the social status. Let them help out the grandchild.

Every now and then I read a book that I can't wait to re-read, and this was one of those. The insights in to this dog's life through the dog's eyes were both funny and heartbreaking. Definitely worth your time.

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this book, but was pleasently suprised at how interesting it was. The parts where the dogs was telling his story made it all the more interesting, as I am a dog owner and often wondered what my dog was thinking. At the end I had tears in my eyes.

Wonderful book. There are tears and sadness along with hope fora new start in life when all seems hopeless. Brings to light the cruelty of the dog fighting circles, hopefully more will learn of this and help to stop this.

One of the best books I have ever read!!! I loved the way it was written....some chapters from the "man's" point of view and some from the "dogs" point of view. I didn't want the book to end!!! If you love dogs and are looking for a good, easy read, this is it!!! Loved it!!!

This book met my needs and exceeded my hopes. It had an unusual plot, well-defined characters, and plenty of action. I had grown weary of cookie-cutter plots, so was pleasantly surprised that a book with little hype was so well conceived. Recommend it without reservations.

A really good story, easy to leave and pick back up. Lunch hour fare, not saying it wasn't interesting. The chapters are a good length for reading in smaller chunks of time. Really liked the perspectives.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me captivated wanting to know what happened next. Being a lover of dogs and having enjoyed "Marley and Me" and "The Art of Racing in The Rain" and "Edgar Sawtelle", it was one I have added to my shared list and will highly recommend. It's not too long either.

This is an amazing story of the relationship between man and dog. It is sometimes written as if narrated by the dog and sometimes by the man who becomes his reluctant owner. The plot is thrilling and well balanced.

This is not an easy book to read especially if you are a dog lover, but it is an eyeopener into the world of dog fighting, as well as a very touching story of both the man and dog involved in the story. A book hard to put down.

I liked it even though it is unrealistic to imagine that a "gladiator" would so easily adapt to being a house dog. Too much pain at the hands of cruel people would have made that a difficult process at best. That said, I enjoyed the author's writing style and I have always loved a good fairy tale.

I was surprised that I did not care for this story. The horrific conditions of the dog fighting industry are alive and well but I don't want to
read about it. I also found the main character so self indulged my patience with him waned. Realizing his background left a lot to be
desired, he still was not the kind of person I would want to know. Sorry about this revue, I was expecting better.

Didn't expect this to be so good,  perhaps because I lucked on to it as a freebie.    Found that Ididnt want to put it down.  Loved the dog‘s voice and his point of view.  Really a good one all around.

Downloaded this on my Kindle, so glad I did. Yes, some parts sad, but story has a lot of good and uplifting parts. Please, please ignore that ignorant review where the poster DIDN'T EVEN READ TO THE END OF THE BOOK. I can't believe he/she reviewed a book without finishing it. He/she did a great disservice to those who did not get the book due to his/her's incomplete and inaccurate review.

Everything was satisfactory in my purchase.I will order from the store again.
One Good Dog is a touching story that I will forever remember.
I had already read and recommended the book to others, but I was so excited
when I saw on the store Page that the book could be purchased in Audio form also.
I thoroughly enjoyed the the reading of it by Fred Berman and Rick Adamson.
When I read or listen to such a great book, I want everybody else to share.

Oh, my, this is a terrific book. Who would think you could care at all about a man who slapped a woman, and a pit bull. That's how marvelous the author is. This could well be a TV series or movie. Just superb.

I thought that this book had a somewhat negative feel to it. There were some other things that I didn't like: Although the title would lead one to think that this was a dog book, the story was about evenly didvided between the man and the dog; if you are a dog lover looking for a feel-good book, this isn't it. The man and the dog eventually came together, but it seemed mechanical to me. Another thing about the book that bothered me was the frequent use of the "f" word. The story would have been more readable without it and a few other words that weren't needed in a book that could have rated maybe three stars from me.

I started reading this and became confused and then irritated within the first 8 pages. This style of writing is not to my taste.
It doesn't make sense that a dog would be thinking these things and it made it hard to "feel" close to the character.
One Good Dog might be enjoyed by some, but before buying it I'd read some of it first.

I can't believe all the positive reviews of this book! It was a friend's recommendation, but I've been trying to get through it for 3 months! I almost gave up a few times, but I paid for it so I'm pushing through. The writing is awful, like it was written by a 7th grader, who then randomly used a thesaurus to try and spruce it up. Also, the dog's thoughts are inconsistent. He's naive to many things (rightly so being a fighting dog), but then he makes references to things he shouldn't know, like Disney and video games.

I read this book on vacation and couldn't put it down. I will say being an avid animal lover some parts were hard for me to get through. In the end this book was well worth reading through the tough parts and really had a feel good ending. I definitely would recommend this book!

One Good Dog brings two "outcasts" together in a relationship that heals them both. The book is an uplifting story that rings especially true through the perspective of Chance, a pitbull mix. I sincerely hope she writes a sequel!!!

The story engaged me, especially after the Vic pit bull expose. I, too, loved the perspective from Chance's point of view. However, I did not see the need to engage Chance in one more pit fight with his muzzle duct taped shut: "A dog fight is best left to the imagination". Oh !!!! The next chapter, between Gina and Adam, did not add much to the overall story, rather putting that relationship as more intense than the one between man and dog. I skipped pages 290 through 300, because I was so worried about Chance. There was not much that interested me about Adam's father, there was not much in the book to emotionally engage me with the father. I wish Jupe and Adam had had a redemptive experience, Jupe was the animal lover, the keeper of Benny's soul. I had an emotional attachment with Jupe, Adam and, of course, Chance.

I'm an avid animal lover - having worked for an animal rescue groups for 6 years now. I picked up the book hoping to find a story of the strong bond between man and dog or something that made a case for why you should rescue. I finished the book HIGHLY disappointed. Don't be fooled by the cover or title - this is really a book of two different story lines that merge about 3/4 of the way through the story, then come to an abrupt conclusion on the last page.

Don't waste your time.

If only... if only any of the reviewers or some part of the description had mentioned that the dog is the narrator in this book. That completely ruined it for me. The dog (in the sections told from a first-person perspective) goes back and forth between intellectualizing using metaphors dogs would be unaware of (comparing something to a gerbil in a cage?) and talking about urges to mate and eat garbage. The other sections (third person about the human, albeit still, I suppose, from the dog's point of view) were tolerable though trite, but I couldn't get through more than half the book. I wish I'd known before shelling out the money!

I regretfully write that I nominated One Good Dog by Susan Wilson for Richly Read's May selection. We had decided to read a book that had an animal focus. I found this one on many lists with high star ratings on Goodreads and the store.

As an aside, I prefer not to read reviews before I write my own so my review is truly my own thoughts and opinions. Choosing a book on numerical ratings is not something I would normally do either. I think if you are a reader, you should have no problem reading a review from a fellow reader. If you are simply relying on the ratings ... shame on you! But I digress. The high quantitative praise coupled with the compelling description of the book led me to nominate it.

One Good Dog is about a man, Adam March, who makes a mistake that causes his professional and personal life to plummet drastically. While attempting to rebuild and redefine himself, he performs a good deed. As a result of that deed, Adam adopts a dog (or as we animal lovers like to say: the dog adopted him). From there, the author tries her best to take us on Adam's journey to redemption. She tries.

The story is structured in such a way that one chapter is told from Adam's perspective in third person and the alternating chapter is told from the dog's (Chance's) in first. Adam's character was not at all likable. He was angry, mean, and abusive. In what seemed to be Wilson's attempt at Adam's self-reflection came off as a self-absorbed, white privileged male who couldn't understand why life would deal him such a hand. He had no redeeming qualities. I had hoped for growth over the course of the story. No dice. Adam lost a lot, which ideally would make the character sympathetic; however, he was just annoying. (I don't know if Wilson got paid for Lexus product placement in this book, but she certainly should have. She referenced Adam's 2007 Lexus too many times to count.)

I listened to this book on audio borrowed for my local library. I am thankful I didn't purchase it. However, my disdain for the book is probably stronger because I listened to the audio version. The voices attributed to the African American characters, who were always specifically called out as African American while no other races were noted, were condescending. (It's almost as if the author was trying to satisfy some affirmative action quota for number of black people in a novel.) All of the African American characters were using this so-called "black" dialect in the audiobook. I'm sorry. Is this how all African Americans speak? No one I know talks this way. The reading and acting did nothing to further character development. Sadly, they only exacerbated very basic and condescending stereotypes of African Americans. Frankly, it angered me, and I'll likely never read another book by this author as a result. Finally, people of color were relegated to seemingly negative roles. They were dog fighters or homeless or Hurricane Katrina victims. There were no instances of African Americans who were of higher socioeconomic status or from Adam's life before his fall.

I was completely disgusted by the constant comparisons of African Americans to dogs throughout the entirety of the book. In a world where African Americans have been enslaved, lynched, attacked by dogs, and gunned down like animals, the racist overtones only contribute to an unrealistic image of black people. I first sensed a hint of racism when one of the dogs was named "Fiddy" as in the rapper, 50 cent. Later, when Adam is trying to decide what to name Chance, his friend suggests Cassius as in Clay or George as in Foreman. The late, great Muhammad Ali has not used the moniker Cassius Clay since 1964. Why black athletes and a rapper as dog names? Are there no professional boxers of other ethnicities? Why not call the dog Rocky?

It is ironic and unfortunate that Wilson wrote her protagonist as struggling not to be viewed or defined by one major life event, but she was completely OK creating one dimensional African American characters. On top of the racial overtones, the foul language in the book was overused and added no depth to the story.

If you're wondering why my review seems to focus so much on the racial aspect, it is because Wilson did as much in her writing as I in my reviewing.

Recommendation: I gave this two stars because I'm a dog lover. It probably deserves one. Regardless of what Garth Stein says about this book (he seemed to endorse it), I'm telling you, if you want to read an emotional book about a dog, pick up The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Until next time ... Read on!

ok, so overall this book was bad. i couldnt get into the human part of it, however the dogs perspective held me captive. but the rest of the book was horribly written, and i couldnt read it. i really wish that it was better, because it was an exellent topic to write on....

Just a few adjectives that describe this book: trite, cliche, unimaginative, boring, clumsy, and predictable. This author has never heard of subtlety. The parallels she draws between Chance and Adam are obvious and blatant. I felt like I was being bludgeoned. After the first paragraph I was ready to delete this book from my Kindle, but decided to give it a shot since it had great reviews. This was a mistake. I read the whole book and not only wasted my money, but also my time.

I'm an easy touch. I over-relate to stories with anthropomorphized animals. Critically, this doesn't deserve a great review, but I loved it for exactly what it was. Your mileage will probably vary.

The basics: two lost, clueless, angry, violent, and male beings: one human, one canine. Both has paid the price for his own machismo without realizing how much it has cost. Worlds collide; redemption is possible. ~fin~

There are some nice caveats added to the formula. We get decent, somewhat nuanced peripheral nods to human differences, homelessness, fatherhood, family, and how early pain can form a hard exterior that is nearly impossible to break through without some kind of force. Also respect was given to normally marginalized or caricatured groups. I would have liked the world of dog fighting to be treated more fully, but it's the backstory and not the main event. We do get the man's backstory, but he's so much harder to like, perhaps we need it.

Removing the hard outer shell is a lesson it takes both man and dog a while to learn. We hear both characters' rationalizations for bad behavior along the way. At times they are infuriating even while adorable or funny. Adam March is a jerk at the beginning. Chance is a dog who never had a chance. Both can be so dangerous to others they need to be separated.

It's funny how much easier it is to allow for a dog's violent or bad behavior than it is for a person with a very similar background who has learned to protect himself in exactly the same way. It's hard to give humans the breaks we give even non-talking animals.

Neither is perfect or "finished growing" at the end, but they've come so far, and allowed themselves to become vulnerable at least to each other. It's a heartwarming story that reminds us even the most volatile animals can be reached with some understanding, boundaries, decency, openness and enough Chance(s).

Adam March is a top executive with a frigid, domineering wife and carbon copy of wife daughter, who loses it all after slapping his assistant for being absent at work...dismissing him, in his words. Benny is a pit-bull mix who was staying with homeless man Jericho, when he's abducted to become a part of a dog fighting ring. Adam is giving community service for a year and must serve food at the soup kitchen. Benny is rescued by Animal Control. When Jericho is hospitalized and Adam visits, he wants Adam to find his dog. Going to the animal shelter, Adam finds Benny. When he brings Benny to Jericho, he tells Adam that's not the dog, and the shelter has a time limit on when to return the dog. He always misses the time, due to his job at the kitchen. Here is a story about two lonely beings that had a purpose, only to be derailed by life, and now must adjust to their new lives, this go around, with each other. A co-worker gave this book to me because she knew that I loved to read. Not my flava, but I still accepted it, to be nice. I'm glad that I did. To read the world thru Benny's eyes was a trip to me, but made me think that dogs really do have these thoughts. A very thought out, insightful book on how two lost souls came together by circumstance and made a pact to stay together, thru the thick and thin. LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson shows the power of connection to change lives and bring us to our best selves. I found it really hard to sympathize with Adam March's loss of wealth and social standing even as his story progressed through facing his losses and dealing with a past that he'd worked so hard to suppress he'd adopted the role of the man he wanted to be instead of the man he was. In fact, I related more with the chapters told from the dog's point of view. I felt his pain. I felt his desire to change. I felt his will to survive. I felt his need to serve a purpose. The dog represented everything I wanted to feel for March but struggled to feel. Wilson pulled me into the lives of the characters to the point I wanted to influence their decisions and push them to do the right thing. One Good Dog illustrates how easy it is to let perception lead to biases based on the superficial parts of life.

I'm a "pet person" so this book was right up my alley. I know that the pit bull breed has gotten a bad "rap" because of their reputation gained from being trained as fighting dogs, which is not their fault. They are what they are trained to be. I also have come in contact with many pit bulls while working for 9 years at a veterinary hospital, that have been raised as family pets and are very sweet and loving. The pet owner has to put in the time, effort, training and affection. I admit to the fact that the first time I came into contact with one of the breed that I was greatly hesitant, with their reputation ringing in my ears. But I came to appreciate and like the breed. All that said, this book follows the path of Chance, the pit bull from fighter to pet. And Adam, a self absorbed, self-made, successful man who falls from grace and has to see how the "other half" lives. He learns to eat humble pie and realize the important things in life. Man and dog meet, connect and teach each other great lessons. I laughed, I cried and I loved this book. I highly recommend. You will not be disappointed.

This book held my attention as soon as I started reading. Author Susan Wilson combines skilled writing with plot strategems that will positively be called "classic" and negative derided as "trite," depending on your perspective.

The book begins with a scenario in an animal shelter with a clever twist. We soon meet Adam March, a demanding self-centered CEO candidate of a prestigious company. March is the stereotypical man on the way up, owning three homes with a "money is no object" lifestyle.

One day, following an accidnetal emotional trigger, he commits an act that has legal, moral and financial consequences. He loses everything and ultimately finds a new life through working at a homeless shelter and yes, inadvertently adopting a dog. His pit bull mix also has been cast out by society and also experiences trouble escaping his past (sometimes literally). There's even a romantic connection to Adam, his new life, and of course, the dog.

I read the book before reading reviews, barely skimming the book jacket blurb. It's a tribute to the author that I didn't find myself questioning the plot, characters or setting. I wanted escape fiction and there it was. The pacing and suspense were flawless. The ending was plausible...just.

Inevitably this book will be compared to Garth Stein's Art of Racing in the Rain. Stein's writing is tighter and more lyrical. His book is much more painful to read, but also has stronger descriptions of the environment and some truly memorable passages.

One Good Dog should stand on its own. If I were looking for comparisons, I'd compare it more to Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan, rather than Racing in the Rain.

I have complaints, but it’s a thoughtful book and above average.

I’ve read a number of books in the women’s fiction genre, but almost none in men’s fiction. This is the latter. It’s about a man with anger and abandonment issues. He is extremely successful in the corporate world and then loses it all due to an angry action. He loses his job, his wife, and his money. He’s now living alone in a cheap apartment, with no job, and miserable. A judge sentenced him to twenty hours a week serving food to the homeless. By the end of the book he changes his attitude and other things. He has more forgiveness and humility in his life. And it’s a better life.

The dog is a secondary part of the story. I had just finished reading a fabulous true story about a dog before reading this. (The Dog Who Could Fly by D. Lewis) So I was a little disappointed with the dog part of this story. I wanted more man-dog relationship. The dog and man don’t meet until almost half way through the book. This story was less about the dog and more about a man with problems.

The dog is a pit bull. He was raised in a cage and trained to fight and kill other dogs. This dog had better people skills than Adam. Even though the dog was never given love or care, somehow he instinctively knew that his doggie smile and calmness would get him better treatment from strange humans.

PAIN AND THE ENDING:
Something brutal and horrible happened to the dog. That “torture” was the main idea that stayed with me after reading the book. I wish the author had not done that. It totally took away from the story. The dog survived which gave us “the official happy ending” but it was a tear jerker. Not feel good. I was sad because the dog suffered.

CLIFFHANGERS ANNOYED ME:
The author annoyed me with cliffhangers at the end of scenes or chapters. For example, there is a major problem and then all of a sudden Adam gets a phone call with the answer or resolution. Then the author switches to another scene or topic before coming back and telling us who called and what was said. I don’t like being manipulated that way. I prefer scenes be finished to normal conclusions.

DIVORCE SETTLEMENT:
You’ll need to suspend disbelief on this one. The shrewd businessman gets nothing from the portfolio and none of the three houses?

POINT OF VIEW:
The chapters alternate between Adam’s and the dog’s point of view. Adam chapters are 3rd person. Dog chapters are 1st person. I usually don’t like 1st person, but this worked because it was easy to know whose mind we were in.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATORS were very good.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person Adam, 1st person dog. Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hrs and 23 mins. Swearing language: strong but not often used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one briefly referred to after the fact, no details shown. Setting: current day Boston, Massachusetts. Book copyright: 2010. Genre: men’s fiction, dog fiction.

In the tradition of Marley and Me and The Art of Racing in the Rain, One Good Dog is a moving book about how a dog changes a human's life for the better.

Adam March, a ruthless, self-made Boston millionnaire seems to have it all, living a picture perfect life, surrounded by wealth and privilege. Then, in one instant, all of that changes, and he finds himself alone, unemployed, and doing community service in a homeless shelter. Chance, a pit bull mix bred as a fighting dog, living in a dark and vicious world, takes a random moment to escape from his captors. Human and dog come together, and as One Good Dog unfolds, both fight for a chance at a new life. This is a tale of love, loyalty, new discoveries, and redemption, told from the point of view of Adam March, but also from the point of view of Chance, the former fighting dog.

Wilson masterfully lets Chance tell the story in his own words. Some of the passages describing his fighting life are disturbing, but his gradual introduction to the world of being a pet dog are charming and heartwarming. I found this book hard to put down. The narrative from the two different points of views fascinated me and added to the pace of the story. You'll find yourself routing for the initially extremely unlikeable character of Adam March and for the dog with the rough beginning.

Entertaining, moving, and heartwarming, fans of dog memoirs, or pet memoirs in general, will thoroughly enjoy this book.

WOW! I bought the book because dogs are the best part of and much of, my life. I LOVED how the author wrote in Chance's voice-that was THE BEST part! I started the book two days ago before falling asleep. That's a laugh. There was no sleeping till 6am...and I had about 80 pgs to go before It was finished...but I had to get some sleep. I left off in a great part of the book. I was feeling great about the characters and then I read it to the end last night. I read with my dog on my chest and I couldn't stop crying by the end. What a moving book; Ms. Wilson you have captured the essence of DOG. This was the first book I wanted to have a happy ending-often happy endings are formulaic and disappointing. This book was DEFINITELY not that.
I do hope you'll write another book with the dog's perspective as one of the narrators. You nailed it!

Having read A Dog's Purpose and it's sequel, A Dog's Journey, recently -- two books I really loved -- I was a little concerned about how Susan Wilson's One Good Dog would measure up. Well, I have to say I wouldn't rank it as high as those books, but I do think it is an excellent book, and it's a book that deserves a five-star rating and a very large reading audience.

I know when some of my the store Friends see I've written another review about a book that features a dog, they are going to roll their eyes and keep as far away from One Good Dog (and maybe me as well) as possible. That will be be their misfortune. But do yourself a favor and don't let it be yours. I think if you are a reader who likes dogs and enjoys a highly emotional, well-written book you'll be singing One Good Dog's praises just as loudly as I am.

I won't summarize the plot as you can find out about what the book is about from the the store Book Description above. I will say, though, that Susan Wilson has written an emotionally-charged story of second chances and of the power of the human/canine bond. It is a story that touches the heart in regards to the many ways in which a dog can make better people's lives. As Chance himself, the dog in the book, put it: "What else could I have done? I'm only canine, I had to help!"

One Good Dog is a book that will make you feel things in ways that will at times have you laughing and at other times have you crying. And, most importantly, it will always make you feel glad you decided to read this very moving book. Is it perfect? No. Is it often predictable? Yes. But, I think your overall reaction, like mine, will be "who cares! just tell me what else Susan Wilson has written." I've already bought a copy of her latest book, The Dog Who Danced.

Bottom line: Give Chance a chance to impact your life for awhile!

In the tradition of Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain (An Unabridged Production)[6-CD Set], which I adored, comes Susan Wilson's latest novel, One Good Dog. The audio version is read by Fred Berman and Rick Adamson, and both do a fabulous job. You see in this book, two characters, Man and Dog each tell their story.

Adam March was a successful, 40 something, self-made millionaire with a wife and a beautiful teenage daughter. He had, however, a troubled childhood that haunted him still. One day the good life ended for him; he lost his job, his wife filed for divorce, and he had assault charges to face as well. He was humiliated by having to moved to a less than desirable area, since his money was gone, and he was also required to do community service at a homeless shelter.

Chance is a pit bull mix, a former fighting dog who spent his life in a cage, in a basement. He did the only thing he knew would please his master...fight, and in exchange for that he was fed. When his owner's home is raided by authorities, all of the dogs are gathered up but Chance manages to escape. He's thrilled to be free, but his freedom on the streets, is short lived. He is taken to an animal shelter and put back in a cage. Of course since a cage is all he has known, he thinks he will be expected to fight, but soon he sees that life here is not so bad, but what does his future hold?

Well yes, fate brings these two lost souls together, but can all the obstacles of life and circumstance keep them together, or is their time together short-lived?

If you love stories about life, love, loss, and second chances, then this story is sure to please. Be sure to put this book on your summer reading list. I should caution you that although brief, some of the dog fighting scenes are pretty descriptive. Despite this, I thought this book was so worth my time. (4.5/5 stars)

This is a warm hearted novel, reminiscent of The Art of Racing in the Rain. Yes, the storyline is somewhat contrived and very predictable, but it has sufficient emotional pull to get past those flaws and is a very enjoyable read.

Adam March is a high flying business who has always put his job first and held everyone in his life to high standards. He is on the verge of promotion to CEO but one morning the stress mounts and he snaps. The fall out is rapid and brutal. He loses his job, his marriage and his home. Ordered to perform community service, he ends up volunteering at a homeless shelter.

Chance is a pitbull who has been bred for dog fighting. Adam "accidentally" adopts him and the book is about their relationship and the way that it changes them both. Parts of the book are told from the dog's point of view.

The early parts of the book are setting up the storyline. Adam's fall from grace feels extreme and somewhat unlikely (would he really have ended up as penniless as he did?) and the descriptions of dog fighting may be hard for dog lovers to read. The novel develops in a predictable way: although there are a few twists along the way, you can pretty much guess where it's going to go. Despite this, I enjoyed the book very much. It's a touching story that develops at a good pace. It holds your interest and packs an emotional punch.

I bought this book and Susan Wilson's other book, The Dog Who Danced recently, and unlike most of my other books, I will keep these books and go back and read them again and again. I couldn't put them down.... I can't express how much these stories touched me, especially being a dog owner and animal lover myself. One of my three dogs is a rescued Pit Bull, and Susan's fact-based history of this breed and what it has suffered and still suffers is spot on. The writing from the point of view of the dog and the point of view of the man the dog ends up loving and living with is filled with truths, humor and life. But this is so much more than just a dog meets man, and they live happily ever after. Oh no, so much more than that. It's a story of redemption, for dog and man. In the Dog Who Danced, this book puts you in a place of who deserves this wonderful animal more? To me, it was reminiscent of House of Sand and Fog......Again, I couldn't put it down and there were tears and laughter, and the truth of what some humans will do when they love an animal. If you have an animal lover in your family, these are the two books they should not be without. They would make a great holiday gift for anyone who likes an exceptional read that makes you think about your view of the world and animals.

One Good Dog, By Susan Wilson, St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 978-0-312-66295-0: In "One Good Dog," Susan Wilson does two things - she touches our hearts and teaches us a lesson about life.

In using the characters of Chance, a mix of a pit bull and whatever other kind of dog, and Adam March, a businessman with one goal in mind - to make it to the top no matter who he has to sacrifice - including himself - to get there. Our hearts receive a sting when Adam meets Chance by chance and gives him a home - not readily and in return, Chance gives Adam a new look on life - softer than what he had before.

Adam March had everything a man would want - nice car, nice suit of clothes, nice office, nice job and a family. He had the status symbol that put him in the right circles, and a wife who assisted in his climb to the top, and a daughter, well, the daughter was his thorn, sort of. She is a teenager and sees her parents as what they are - parents. In a blink of an eye, thanks to a secretary who did her job half-way, it all changed for March. He became unemployed, un-married and by himself. His clothes became ordinary. His living quarters became ordinary. His life became, well, not the life he was used too. Through court-ordered work at a homeless shelter, March is forced to face life as it is and be with people he would avoid before. Chance was raised to fight, and he didn't like it. The dog didn't know any better, so he couldn't know what there was else out there for him, but in the blink of an eye, opportunity rose, and he took it, to see what was outside the door.

It is a compelling story that is realistic and one that many can relate to. Be prepared for a mixture of emotions, and have the popcorn ready - it is better than a movie.

"One Good Dog" is a story of redemption for both Chance, a dog who escaped from the underworld of fighting, and Adam, a high-powered businessman who loses everything -- his wife, his daughter, his home and finances -- because of a moment's loss of control. There are two protagonists and two story threads (though well-blended); the story could not possibly have been told as well from just one protagonist's viewpoint.

(Possible spoilers) Adam ends up working as a server at a men's homeless shelter. One of the men has lost his dog and implores Adam to find the dog. But Adam brings the wrong dog,and the man will not accept the dog Adam brought. Adam ends up adopting the dog and naming him Chance. Chance, having escaped from the vicious world of fighting dogs, appreciates what Adam does for him but for a long time he insists that he is not and never will be a pet -- until he is stolen by the very men who kept him as a fighter and used as bait. Once again, the authorities sieze the cellar full of fighting dogs; this is the point when Chance realizes , "... I'm a pet. We're a pack of two..." (End spoilers)

To some people, Chance's vocabulary may be too high, but I think it's appropriate. Chance had to be smart to survive, and it's possible that it was the author's way of letting us know that animals are smarter than many people give them credit for.

Though I must also warn about language and animal cruelty in this book, I can recommend it for people prepared for such.

Adam March is a married well to do man. He has a wife who loves her who likes the comforts of having money and a teenage daughter who wants for nothing. On the brink of becoming CEO of the company he has worked hard in for years, a lapse in judgement, a snap decision, causes Adam to lose everything. My the mighty have fallen when Adam loses his job, his, home, his wife, his daughter, and his dignity. Now working off a community service sentence at a local soup kitchen Adam needs to find out where he goes from here.

Chance is a pit bull. He has born in captivity to pit bull parents who are caged and breed for dog fights. Chance is pretty proud of his standings, he has a few scars, but usually comes out the victor in his matches. While life is ok, Chance knows it is not great. He sees his mother old and tired, they live in fear of the men who cage them never knowing if they are going to eat that day or be beaten. When Chance has an opportunity to escape, he does and finds himself living as a free dog on the streets.

In a "chance" meeting... both Adam and the dog wind up together. But what can a man who has nothing to give do with a dog who has known no other life than fighting? What can a dog offer a man who is broken, bitter, and self-absorbed?

While looking for an audio a couple of weeks back this one came across my path. I liked the sound of the read (the synopsis on the audio was kind of funny) but... I was concerned about reading about a dog.

Side note - I am really sensitive when it comes to animals.

But the book pulled me in and I even made a note on a post that this dog better be ok throughout the whole book because I will be mad if this is another book that breaks my heart.

SO?

I am not going to tell you.

What I am going to tell you is that the alternating parts told from Adams point of view, and then Chances are wonderful. Usually if I am reading about a dog he is cute and lovable and Chance is not that. Chance is a pit bull. He had half an ear and many scars. He is a fighter and does not know how to be pet (and not really sure he would want to be one!) Yet the story is told so well that you come to love Chance for who he is on the inside, really just a dog who needs to catch a break.

I even enjoyed Adam and he is not a likable guy. He is rough (get it? "Ruff!"... oh, never mind...) around the edges and angry with the world. The story, while maybe predictable, still felt unique to me in its telling. This was one of those audio I could not wait to get back to.

I like how the story is occasionally told from Champ, the dog's, point of view, and how the story is told in a way that makes it feel very real world. I also like how it is a story about a rescue Pit bull and the guy he saved, as well as the storyline itself, but this was all I liked about the book.
No matter how hard I tried, throughout the book, even at the end, I couldn't like the human. Although by the end I only disliked, rather than hated him. His attitude put me off the entire time I was reading. I even found the dog to have a slightly annoying attitude, and although I enjoyed his parts more than the humans, I only barely liked Champ. I basically liked him enough to use his name in my review.
Besides the problems I had with the characters, I know that it added to the humans personality, if negatively, and made him seem more human as a character. And I know the author wanted the book to feel realistic, which it did, I felt that there was also too much swearing throughout the book, which for me is a big turn off because, unless used at a minimal level, I don't enjoy this in books.

For a portion of Susan Wilson's latest "feel good" book, ONE GOOD DOG, it's quite possible that you won't feel good at all while reading it. In fact, you might want to pummel the main character senseless. Then pummel him some more.

Why? Aside from being the to-be President and CEO of a gigantically corporate cosmetic firm, 46-year-old Adam March is arrogant, intolerant and selfish. He only eats fancy granola imported from Norway. And he has willingly married a vapid social climber obsessed with "being seen" and "supporting the right charities" while flitting between one of their three houses equipped with countless underpaid servants, driving the "best and most current automobiles --- gas be damned," and wearing the most "fashion-forward clothes and legitimate designer accessories" on the racks. But these grating qualities can all be attributed to Adam before his nervous breakdown and subsequent downfall (he physically attacks his secretary for being insubordinate, gets fired and loses everything). After that? If you can stomach it, Mr. March actually gets even more loathsome.

When the judge sentences Adam to a lengthy stint of community service at a homeless shelter instead of doling out jail time ("You're an arrogant son of a bitch and need to be taken down a peg... You need to eat a little humble pie, and I'm about to serve you a big bite."), it's hard not to feel at least a little disappointed for a missed opportunity. The guy is a pompous blowhard, to put it mildly. Why not give him what he deserves? But as the plot moves forward, it's clear that Adam has been handed his just reward. It's time he learned how the other half lives. And that's when the scruffy pooch of the title makes his entrance.

In semi-alternating chapters, the narrative voice switches from the somewhat detached third-person (Adam's chapters) to a more natural first-person (the dog's), and readers are treated to the humble story of a Pit Bull (aptly named Chance) redeemed. Once a fighter in a dog ring, Chance gleefully embraces his brief stretch of freedom as a street hound (Delectable smells abound! Other dogs' crotches to sniff! Poles to pee on everywhere!) before suddenly being recaptured and sent to the pound. When Adam rescues Chance from certain death as a favor to one of the homeless shelter's regulars, Adam's and the dog's fates are irrevocably intertwined. And thank goodness for that.

Instead of giving Chance back to the pound like he had planned, Adam begrudgingly keeps him. The more he communes with the dog, the kinder and more generous a person he becomes. Soon, he's turning over all sorts of new leaves in an attempt to become "a better person." Despite a sometimes predictable and tidy plotline, ONE GOOD DOG is rewarding --- and that's mostly thanks to Chance. Readers (especially fans of MARLEY & ME) will adore his spunky personality and root for his (and ultimately Adam's) rehabilitation. In the end, Wilson's uncanny channeling of this scrappy misunderstood dog with a heart of gold strikes just the right chord to overshadow any of the book's shortcomings.

First, let me say that I read to be entertained. I don't want to feel sad or depressed after reading a book. Because of that, I usually avoid books about dogs, because those book are usually sad. But I picked up "One Good Dog" and read the prologue. I was hooked.
This book is told from two points of view. The man's point of view is written in the third person, refering to him as Adam. The dog's point of view is written in the first person, with the dog being refered to as "I". I found it particularly interesting when you're given the two views on the same scene.
I have a ten year old daughter who loves books and loves dogs. I won't let her read this book. It's for adults. There's nothing really bad in it, but the f bomb is dropped a few times (not a lot, but enough to be realistic), I don't think she'd grasp the despair,..... it's not for a ten year old.
Having said all that, I loved the book. It's about despair and redemption. It's about two lost souls, a man and a dog, helping each other heal. It's about learning to live a kinder, gentler life.
Five stars for this one.

One Good DogOne Good Dog really amazed me with the depth of the plot, and the originality of the way the story is told. There is a lot of "healing" to be done in this book, and author Susan Wilson leads the reader on the long road there with many twists and turns, without losing sight of the development of the plot. Despite the disgusting, painful descriptions of the underbelly of dog fighting,Ms. Wilson puts the sport in its evil, evil context and the reader is compelled to move on, into the discovery of redemption. If the road to "redemption" came easy to the protagonist, it wouldn't make such a satisfying read, and emotional roller coaster.
I loved this book, and recommended it to many people I know,and they too, enjoyed it. (I never loaned out my copy, as my experience has been that whenever I have a book I really do treasure, it never seems to find its way back to my library!)
This book has it all, tension, loss, angst, and the slow climb back up with the help of a few friends, and a dog that didn't give up.

A very,very satisfying time spent reading!

The book tells the story of dog fighting & tries to show that pit bulls can be good pets. It was hard to believe that this dog could become a good pet after his life of fighting. It is what they are bred to do & once they have a taste of it, I do not believe that they can change. It may not be that pit bulls bite any more than some other breeds, it's just that their jaws are so strong they do way more damage including death. If you are considering getting a pit, google them & see actual stories of the children & dogs they have killed!

If you enjoyed The Art of Racing in the Rain and/or as a kid the Shiloh series, you will love this book and the ending is non-typical of a dog book which makes it all the better. The author uses two narrators - the dog and the man. The man's story is interesting itself but I loved the dog's narrative voice and his take on what is happening. It is a story of redemtpion but never once enters into the realm of being hokey or corny. The author's writing style is easy to read and sweeps you into the story. I even gave it to my grandmother, who stayed up all night to finish it. Its one of those books that when you put it down you think - I am glad I read it and I am glad I met Chance (the dog). When you read alot, its nice to find a good story that you can share with a wide variety of people and is heart warming because of the style of writing, genuineness and the characters, not because the author is trying to manipulate you into those feelings.

When I finished reading this book, my first impression was "Wow! Powerful." What stands out most for me are the huge transformations that occurred with both man and dog, which were not only credible but wonderful. Chapters in the book switch between narratives of the man and the that of the dog. Although the dog has an outstanding command of the English language and an impressive multi-syllabic vocabulary, I grew to forget this idiosyncrasy and actually looked forward to reading the dog's view of events. I enjoyed the varietal thought patterns that emerged from their commonly shared events.

Without revealing the storyline, this book made me think about [1] what it really means (and costs) to think you 'have it all,' [2] the value of honesty; not only when communicating with others, but with ourselves as well, and [3] the power of forgiveness in healing emotional wounds and family fractures.
I very much recommend this book. It's a delightful read.

Well, I must admit, I am the absolute prime audience for this book as not only a dog owner, but a pit-lover as well. This was a wonderful book! The writer did a lovely job of juxtaposing the life of a man and the life of a dog. She really worked to equate their lives, and it definitely worked. She evoked emotions and her plot, though slow to start, was riveting by the end. And while I think the pit bull has become a bit of a fad dog to promote their inherent goodness (and don't get me wrong, they are good dogs!), Wilson did a good job of making a beauty of the beast that society has also declared the pit bull to be. The chapters from the dog's point-of-view were a bit lacking in credibility, but all of the emotions raised in the book were quite genuine, which more than made up for her constantly pushing how similar this man and his dog were. Really, it was just a lovely book.

I really enjoyed this story. It's about Adam March and his dog, Chance, and they each tell part of the story. The book was easy to get into, moved along and I really like the characters. Since The Art of Racing in the Rain, I've become a fan of the dog having a voice. While it was an enjoyable read, I do wish we knew the characters a little more. There's a lot to the story; his relationships with his father, sister, and daughter are complicated, but it's important and I just wanted a little more.

In my opinion, I would have loved to know more about the dogs that are abused in the dog fight circuits. I know the book is not about dog's rights, but it was a great forum to talk about the misrepresentation and misuse of Pit Bulls.

It gets 3 stars because I wanted more, 4 would have been a satisfying read, and 5 is saved for books so good I wish I hadn't read it yet.

I really enjoyed this book. The premise of the dog choosing the man is a refreshingly unique perspective. What they do for each other is touching and substantive, but told in such a way that isn't sappy. I could relate to the struggles they go through on multiple levels. I related to the characters strongly also and the character transformations were moving as well as somewhat inspirational.

When I found this book, I was looking for a down-to-earth story that would make me feel good. While it met those needs, it also went beyond into solid dramatic content, romance and a touch of fantasy. I have recommended this to those close to me and I now recommend it to anyone. Dog lovers, lap it up!

This book really had me at the prologue and then from there I could'nt put it down. If you love dogs, if you are from a dysfuctional family, or if you just like a good story. This is one Good story. The language does put me off a bit but the story is so good, it would be a shame for anyone not to read it because of it. It is about Adam who was abandoned from his father when he was 5 and been from foster family to foster family, gets a scholarship from a prestige college and makes it on his own. He snags a wife from a well connected family. Is it all real? When something snaps, he finds out that is life was never under oontrol. A dog named Chance teaches him something about himself that will stay with him forever. There is so much to this story. Just make sure you have some kleenex around, you will need it

I'm an avid reader and it's been a while since I've had a book "capture" me the way this did! Susan writes very well and it's an "easy" read, but with feelings so profound I found it hard to put down! With the world the way it is right now, I can understand how the main character, Adam Marsh, found himself wondering "What happened to my life?". I adopted a "pound puppy" (who, I believe, came from a puppy mill) with multiple issues that were extremely costly. He's is fine and healthy NOW and one of the best dogs I've owned! There are so many animals out there who have been abused - but this is the first time someone has put into words what MAY go through their little heads when they are around humans. I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just animal lovers! You'll not regret it!

Thank you also, the store, for giving me the chance to share my opinions with other readers! You're the best too!

Two things about this book left me with a negative impression. (1)Descriptions of dog fighting even though they were brief (2)Street terms that were not necessary to the story. Foul language never makes anything better or more enjoyable. Why do some authors think it makes the book more in tune with real society?! I will never read another book by this author because I do not like foul language. The general story line was okay and the fact that the abused dog could be so loving toward his new person and even improving the mental health of the human was great. The beginning of the ending had me very worried, but I'm so glad that I FINISHED IT. Even at that it definitely left me feeling sad.

Kleenex alert! Anyone who's ever set foot in an animal shelter or been involved with dog rescue will love this book. Does a great job of showing the gritty side of animal rescue, the tough decisions involved, etc. But more than that, does a great job of showing the re-birth of a self-absorbed, success-obsessed, but truly malcontent man. We could all take a few lessons from Adam as he learns to appreciate and focus on what really matters. Hopefully most of us "get it" without having to endure the tough lessons Adam has to face to reach his destination. The dog's point of view provides some comical relief from the serious storyline, and I love the fact that the author chose a pit bull for a story about redemption. By the end, I ended up glossing over the last few pages because I HAD to know how it turnd out! The story is that engrossing. (I went back and re-read them.)

One can tell a great deal about people by how they treat dogs.
Adam March has no clue about how to treat dogs or people. As a young child, the main character of One Good Dog became a ward of the state, but he fought his way to the top of the corporate world, using intimidation and fear. His world topples, however, when this shallow, angry man barely manages to leash his emotions and crosses the line at work. One unthinking act costs him everything he has worked so hard to gain--his job, his family, his future. He is ordered by the judge to get counseling and do community service, and he begins to recognize core issues that mend with the help of a dog named Chance. This dog is also dealing with his own issues. He had been bred for fighting, and he did his job well. When he and his fellow fighters were rescued from their cages, he chanced to escape, and only by chance ends up with the man who comes to the name "Adam."
The author writes from the perspective of both man and beast, and by the end of the book the readers realize that a dog and his man are more alike than different. When they come to terms with who they really are, we realize they are both redeemable.

Excellent story, with deep intertwining messages. But unlike some books that the message seems to come before the story, Susan Wilson's books leave you satisfied, but mulling over the feelings and experiences of each character.
I highly recommend this book.

Adam March, the main human character in One Good Dog by Susan Wilson, is arrogant, pompous and superficial--yet strangely sympathetic.

His deprived youth has led him to an adult world where he feels he must play by someone else's rules. And he is very good at the game. He is rising in the corporate world, accumulating the symbols of wealth and power until a memory from childhood causes him to snap. In that moment he loses it all.

Instead of a jail sentence the judge gives the arrogant Adam community service to work in a center feeding the homeless. Life becomes a humiliating series of bleak, lonely days for him where he begins to see no way out.

The book alternates between a third person narrative of Adam's tribulations and a first person channeling of a most delightfully charming Pit Bull with a heart of gold (except for his desire to fight most of the dogs he meets).

Chance, as he is later named, tells us he was raised in a cage in a dark cellar as a fighting dog. In spite of scars and a mostly missing ear, he lets us know he was quite a gladiator. After making an escape, for a brief time he becomes a free dog of the streets, making fun of dogs subservient to humans. Then he is captured and bound for death row at the shelter.

The two social outcasts meet by chance and change the course of each other's lives. The more Adam communes with the dog, the more he understands what is important in life. The fighting Pit Bull, raised without human affection, understands how much his human needs him.

I won't spoil the ending except to say while it isn't sunshine and flowers, I didn't suffer Old Yeller Syndrome.

One Good Dog is easy to get into and I didn't want to put it down as it moved along comfortably predictable without the sentimentality that often creeps into dog books. "Predictable" isn't meant to be a negative.

I couldn't help but think that if Jay Gatsby had found a dog to love, he would have seen that there was more to life than pursuing the very shallow Daisy and all that she represented. And he'd be alive today.

I recommend the book to anyone who has ever had a dog in their lives--or needed one.

What a good book! I enjoyed how the author portrayed the dogs’s thoughts and feeling and put herself in this area really well. My dog, and Chance, are always happy to just be home and happy with their family.

One good question: *Why* hasn't this book gotten more attention? As years go by I get more and more particular, and I close books before I've read the first third. Life's too short, and reading is supposed to be entertaining as well as enriching.
*One good dog* had me at the end of the first few paragraphs, when the two heroes, Adam and Chance, meet by -- dare we say, "Chance"? After this prologue it will be a little while before we see the two on the same page again, but meanwhile each lives the compelling story that will bring them together again and eventually lead each to find redemption.
Granted, Adam's story of the arrogant finance king brought low is the more familiar one, but no less touching for that. As for Chance, Susan Wilson took the brave step of letting him narrate his own tale, and succeeds brilliantly.
But her most admirable accomplishment is to expose the brutality of dog fighting -- something Adolph Eichmann would be proud to have created -- without ever showing any actual fight. (Far too many authors seem to wallow to detailing grisly rapes any murders.) If you think Michael Vick should be out of jail, let alone on the football field, read this book. Get That Novel Written

I loved One Good Dog and recommend it to anyone who has (or has had) a special canine companion in their life. The story is delivered from both the dog and human points of view--the author is very creative and entertaining in describing the dog's point of view. Heartwarming, but not syrupy sweet.

One Good Dog is one really good book. The author grabbed me right from the very first chapter. She does a wonderful job of providing insight into pit bull Chance's mind. I felt my dogs at various points in their lives had probably had some of the same thoughts as Chance. The main character Adam March is definitely a flawed person but I ultimately wanted to root for both Adam and Chance. Certainly not a likeable character at the beginning of the book, Adam grows on you as the story progresses. You begin to hope he will grow as a person and make amends in his life. This book brought a wave of emotions from laughing to crying and all forms in between. I plan to recommend this to my book club group and look forward to sharing it with other friends.

The story centers around Adam, a businessman residing in the Boston area living a very financially privileged life with his society wife and spoiled teen daughter. He loses his temper in the office one day and not only finds himself fired, but also divorced, almost broke, and signed up to do community service at a local soup kitchen. The changes that he undergoes, helped along by Gina, a local shop owner; Chance, the shelter dog rescued from a fighting environment; and the staff at the soup kitchen gradually help to transform the arrogant man. Chapters alternate between a third person narrator talking about Adam, and first "person" narration by Chance, the abused pit bull Adam reluctantly adopts.

I was hoping this was a book that a dog lover would enjoy, and I also hoped it would be one I could loan to a teenage girl I know who loves pit bulls. But the story fell short of my hopes in that (1) it was far more about a businessman down on his luck than the dog, (2) there was far too many F-bombs that were unnecessary, and (3) the ending was horrible (I can't say more without spoiling it for future readers). No way would I ever share this with a young reader who loves dogs. On the plus side, the book kept me entertained and the story was decent overall. This book is one where I think stronger editing was needed, too.

This was my first pet book since becoming a dog owner for the first time in about 15 years. I have not been a dog person since I was a child. We got a rescue dog last August. Since then I have become his man so there was a lot for me to identify with in this wonderful story.

The emotions of Adam becoming a dog man and Chance becoming a man dog was intriguing. The characters were well developed and any dog owner can certainly see his pet in Chance's thoughts.

It was wonderful read which goes much deeper than the story line. Adam and Chance are two tough guys who find their softer sides together.

Back and forth each chapter we are introduced to Adam and the next to a dog. We know eventually the two will met we just don't know how or when or what circumstances will bring them together. Each of these living beings are looking for redemption or just "One Good Life"

I found refreshing the voice of the dog not as usual dumb dog or needy dog . This dog owned it's personality and wasn't going to change for anyone or so he thought. The same can be said for Adam until the two meet and only then does redemption seem possible.

A very smart and heart-wrenching book. I would defiantly recommend and say keep to read over again.

I have only written two book reviews and they were both negative, so I decided I needed to balance out my slate. This book is positively wonderful. The characters were believable. Adam, even though your initial take on him is "what a creep", clearly had a work ethic to admire. He initially found work at the shelter "distasteful" but he fulfilled his oblications and more, so it wasn't just that it was court-ordered service. Chance was cool, smart, cunning, loveable and brave all mixed in one. The way the stories of the two were wound around each other until they reached a nexus was very well done. I really enjoyed this book and bawled like a baby at the end. Maybe it's a little sappy but hey, what dog story isn't.

I was intrigued by the description of this book, but not enough to read it immediately. It sat for a few weeks while I read other favorite authors. I pulled it off the shelf and once I started reading, did not want to put it down. I finished it in under two days. I have spent many years doing breed rescue for another misunderstood breed and I loved how the author shows that not all pit bulls are nasty mean fighters. I think at some point in life we all learn to look beneath the exterior of people and often are rewarded by what we find. Both the man and the dog in this book learned this as do we when reading the book...that people as well as books can give us wonderful surprises

This book is about a man and a dog who created a healing bond despite the emotional scars of their past. However, I think that there was too much detail about the horrible crimes of dog fighting. We do need to be aware that these practices exist and work to support their end but, in a time when there is already so much sadness and pain in the world, the ending could have been different. By the time I realized how heart wrenching the ending was going to be I was already so emotionally invested, I had to try to finish it. I can't believe that a the author wrote such a horribly sad ending. I was so upset I couldn't finish the book and ripped it into pieces. I can't get the images out of my heart. I do not recommend this book. It has unnecessary horror. I am so sorry that I read it.

This is not one of those stories where the dog dies. The dog is secondary to the story of a man who goes from the top of his field to doling out meals to the homeless by court order because of his temper. He loses everything including his family. Eventually he loses his old self and the dog helps to bring him full circle. Together they find their real inner selves.

A man, powerful, brave and tough, but damaged by life and emotionally scarred, on a downward spiral. A dog, powerful, brave and tough, but damaged by life and physically scarred, on a downward spiral. Will they meet? Can they save each other? Take a wild guess. If not exactly original or surprising, the story here is well executed and heart warming. Alternating between third-person narration from the man's point of view and first-person narration from the dog's, the book has just the right touch for this sort of thing, and dog lovers (like this one) enjoyed the tale.

Being a true lover of animals, I tend to read quite a few books involving animals. However, "One Good Dog" went beyond my expectations. This book will truely touch your heart. It involves two very different, yet similar characters. Both in need of love and the ability to really give love.

Adam March the professional needs to learn what real love is;and Chance the homeless mutt, needs to find a home and has more than enough love to go around. Fate brings these two together in an unusual twist, teaching all of us that love is better on our own side of the fence.

Be prepared to shed a few tears, and catch yourself cheering for our two boys.

This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. There are so many insights and twists and turns that this book will keep you engrossed until the very end. Most importantly this book is so beautifully written that it brought me to tears while reading it. The relationship between Adam and Chance is so poignant and shows that the love of a dog can change your life and that redemption is possible even when you think that all hope is lost.
Well done Susan Wilson!

I give 5 Stars for a book that's a keeper on my shelf, to be savored & re-read, discovering new layers and perspectives. This book is not that. This would qualify as a fast beach read: light, good pace & suspenseful moments.

Too many good moments got "glossed over" for me; where there could have been more depth and emotion, left me feeling "flat." Adam's complete & utter fall from grace felt implausible (for a guy with 3 houses & servants for each, I think this case would've been settled out of court and the story would've ended by page 5). The stakes just weren't high enough for Adam's descent into poverty and unemployment.

I think the "bird's eye view" narrative kept me from getting steeped in the story. I cared about the characters, but I didn't cry or feel their pain or joy. Even the dog's thoughts didn't draw me in.

The story had potential to be great, but just fell short.

What sets this book apart from others is that half of the story is told through the eyes of a dog and the other half through a pompous CEO who seemingly "lost it all." There are parts of this story that are incredibly sad as the dog recounts his life as a prized fighting dog. You will learn more about dog fighting than you wanted to know; there is no foo-foo frilly nonsense in this book. You may cry or find yourself very disgusted with humanity. BUT... the tale of how these two unlikely partners bonded and learned important life lessons from each other is wonderful.

This book is fantastic! I have not read any other books by this author but was mesmorized from page one. I would not call is a Light Read as another review said. There are many life lessons in this book. How to be human. How to appreciate what we have. How dogs are so important to humans. How to salvage a life going in the wrong direction. Anyone who has a dog and loves it would like this book. Anyone who has ever been fired should also read this book. You will learn from it. A great read!

I truly enjoyed her writing. How many times have people gone from the top to the bottom of their life. Why does it take being at the bottom to realize what life is really about. Sorry, got carried away. The book takes you back and forth between the main character and the pit bull. I loved it just as much as "The art of racing in the rain" You see the main character develop from an arrogant snob into a humble individual. Maybe I gave too much away. Enjoy it!

I am a fierce dog lover and an avid reader. I will look at nearly any book about dogs, but usually put them back. This one caught my attention right off because it wasn't about a dog lover. It was about an egotistical man who comes to understand much more about life, himself and the world through helping a dog most others would have euthanized without a second thought. Chance is the best narrator I've heard in a while. While the ending is predictable, the story itself is wonderful. Chance is a character I won't soon forget.

Would be 5 stars if not for the end. SPOILER ALERT: it was technically a happy ending but what happened right before the end was so horrific it's really hard to say it was a happy ending. It was so traumatizing reading it, that it was more a bitter sweet ending than happy ending. I'm all for not sugar coating but.. seesh, it was hard.

A story started with rage, evolved to the encounter of a perfect chance, fate perhaps for two species at the time when a void desperately needed to be filled by one with an infinite capacity to fulfil. Peppered with bits and pieces of happy moments, the unlikely bond developed between the man and the dog. The whole story has a feel-good end that made me leapt with joy that I couldn't contain. Good read.

The story itself is well done, and I enjoyed the alternating between the dog's point of view and the protagonist. I've read a couple of her books, and I've enjoyed them all. Highly entertaining but some food for thought if you're in the mood.

This is an excellent book, but you need to have tissues nearby when you read it. As a lifetime dog owner and lover, I found parts of it very difficult to read because of the dog fighting explained in it. After reading it, I believe that Michael Vick and all those who promote dog fights should receive much longer sentences than they do. We truly must eliminate this "so-called sport" no matter how difficult it is. I could not go to sleep one night when I was reading this book--that is how moving it is.

In summary, an excellent read, but be prepared to really, really be moved by it.

Excellent story, sad and happy, gives you hope when you think there is none, loved it. A friend suggested I read this book, I am going to thank her for her suggestion, I would recommend it to everyone, especially if you've ever owned an animal,( best friend)!

Susan Wilson tells the story of Adam Marsh, who is climbing the corporate ladder until one day he loses his cool and everything else. He has to help out at a soup kitchen and then one day he picks up a Pit bull for somebody, but it's not the right one and that's when the story gets very good. I just loved this book a lot. If you liked "The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel," you will love this book. The ending is so good!

One Good Dog is a great read. My dog was attacked and almost killed by a pitt bull. This look at the life of these condemned dogs, their owners, what happens when they get in the system...it changed my mind about judging all members of this breed harshly. I love the parallel in theme between forgiving poor behavior in humans (Adam Marsh's slap, the homeless person who attacks, etc.) and the idea that dogs are equally able to change. The voice given to Chance is beautiful and believable. I loved this dog! This is an enjoyable read and it truly made a positive impact on my view of a breed.

A good read to lift your spirits if you feel like life has not gone the way you had hoped. One Good Dog is about the power of second chances, about how one can change to help themselves and those around them, even when all seems lost. I particular liked that the story was told from the point of view of both the main character Adam March and also from the other main character, a dog named Chance. This provided a different perspective of the world and of each character that offers insights into the challenges each faced, lessons they learned, and how they both needed each other to gain a second chance on life.

ONE GOOD DOG by Susan Wilson was a great a read one that have not read in a while. A man and a dog that have come at a cross roads in their lives. One loses his family so does the other but not his human family his dog family he loses. So these two lost souls find one another but not to sure how to be around each other. One aspects the other to react at certain things but they don't. Through out they become to know what love is and how to care for one another.

Enjoyable read right from the start! I couldn't put it down. Part of the story is told in 1st "person" voice (by the dog!), in a highly insightful manner, and the remainder of book is a 3rd person voice about the business man who had not dealt with his crushing childhood. It does not leave you in sobbing grief as did Marley and Me, but touched and marveling at the message.

This well written story of redemption will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a satisfied feeling. Although the main character's fall from grace seems a bit drastic, it sets up the plot perfectly for the inevitable meeting between man and dog. Wilson's prose moves along at a quick pace and achieves amazing insight into the mind of a dog (at least I think so, but not being a dog, I can't be certain). Adam's life has lots of highs and lows and I felt every emotion and admit to a few tears along the way. Highly recommended for lovers of underdogs and just plain dogs.

I'm not usually one to write a review, but being the dog lover that I am, I felt I should share some of my feelings.

I've read a couple of dog books lately but this one is by far THE BEST one. The author literally puts you inside the heart and soul of the main characters. It grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. She (the author) is absolutely amazing in her writing in that she lets you know what could possibly be going through a dog's mind!! I don't want to say any more because I don't want to ruin it for everyone!! This is a wonderfully written book and I think all dog lovers should give it a try.

Go for it - give it a try and be sure to keep the box of tissues next to you!!

From one dog lover to another :o)

I got the audio version of this book from the library. When it first brought up dog fighting, I should have stopped listening to it, but I assumed that once Chance was adopted by Adam that subject would no longer be an issue, so I continued to listen. Unfortunately, I made it to the middle of the last CD. When Chance goes back in the ring, he knows his future and tells the reader that he cannot describe the horror of when dogs fight. Unfortunately, the author had no problem with this when Adam is reunited with Chance, as she described his injuries. I continued to listen to this part, hoping for some kind of miracle. However, I just couldn't take anymore and stopped. I love my dogs and listening to this was not only emotionally painful, it was physically painful. The only purpose that I see in this is that perhaps a reader who is nonchalant about dog fighting might change his/her mind after reading it. I, for one, wish I had read the one star reviews before I got it.

Powerful and thought-provoking. Unlike some of the other reviews, the only thing I found a bit hard to believe was a CEO slapping his personal assistant - putting that aside, I became deeply immersed in the story, and loved the back-and-forth style of human perspective - dog perspective. Highly recommended.

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down. It was one of the few books I've read where the perspective of the dog was believable, and didn't make the beast sound like a cartoon character. The writing, to me, was excellent, it was the sort of book that transports you with ease into the story, more like a movie in your head than reading a book. I'm a dog owner, and I have deep love for animals. I would recommend this page turner as top of the line!

A new favorite! I was pulled in by each character, the dog and the man. I did have to reconcile the early distraction wondering how the dog could know so much, but the author covered this well by showing him communicating with other more worldly dogs. Beyond that, the writing was so smooth and scenes so clear, the words disappeared and I was simply with these two extraordinary characters as the hit their worst fears and helped each other through. A month has passed since I finished it and scenes from the book still drift in, along with a few tears, when I'm least expecting them.

I actually listened to the audio version of this book. It was read by two readers ... both of whom were good (as anyone who listens to audio books knows, a bad reader can simply destroy a good book and make it simply "unreadable"). I particularly loved the prologue and epilogue of "One Good Dog" ... and, after finishing it, wonder if Caesar Milan likes to read and, if so, has he read it?

This is a decent book with a story line that could have evoked much more emotion. I read this book because of all of the 5 star reviews. I must say, it was a bit overrated. I am a huge fan of Call of the Wild and White Fang, two very good canine/wolf novels. This book pales in comparison. It is hard for me to connect with a person who suffers from a self-inflicted incident. I won't go into detail for the sake of spoiler alerts, but he gets what he deserves. I loved the movie Marley and Me, I loved the book "The Art of Racing in the Rain", and I loved the aforementioned Jack London titles. If you are expecting this book to have any emotional effect whatsoever, you will be disappointed.

I loved this book. This is a great story about a down on his luck guy & a down on his luck pit bull who find each other by mistake & become a great pair. Well written & hilarious in many parts. The ending is fantastic. I read this in just a couple days, I hope the author writes somthing else for me to read.

Wonderful book! I was captivated from the start. Being lucky enough to own two of these dogs, I'm very firmiliar with how much love they have to give. This book gives insight to what the dog and human go through. It was a touching yet heartbreaking story. Keep your Kleenex close, you'll need them.

As a dog lover, and having read many glowing reviews, I really wanted to love this book. I ended up only liking it ,and would recommend it as a solid library check out. The story was engaging enough to keep me interested, but I never really "connected" with the characters. As for the initial fate of the main character, Adam Marsh, I am all about creative license, but come on. The guy is supposed to be a big shot, shrewd businessman and yet he loses everything in the divorce? Really? He doesnt' get one of the three houses, still has to pay a huge child support and gets nothing from their portfolio? I find that rather contrived. Even how he comes to connect with the dog and eventually keeps him didn't pique my interest or give me warm I-love- dog fuzzies. And truely, I could use a book that doesn't drop an f-bomb when they feel like it. I find that to be crude and poor writing. I'm way passed the junior high coolness/shock value stage and frankly find it offensive.

All in all, if you are looking for an easy to follow story that will keep you reading to truly find out the ending, then this the book for you. But I HIGHLY recommend you check it out from your library and not to purchase.

This book was totally out of the ordinary fantasy or historical fiction I usually read. The dog drew me to the book. After the first couple of pages I was hooked, and its really hard for me to get hooked on a book.

I just needed to find out what happened to this man, and then to this dog. It reminds us how stupid we can be, how harsh life can be, and how its hard not to do stupid things!

This is a joyful book about being human.

This book put me off a little in the beginning, especially with the very self-centered main charactger and his wife named "Sterling!" Sterling? I just hate contrite predictability and this seemed to fit that. Yet, I read on and found myself engrossed. I especially liked the dog and felt a desire for him to make it, as I also eventually came to feel about Adam. However, I think it is absolutely unnecessary for the author to have Chance meet the fate he does. I was so sad and ANGRY when I read that part. No, he does not die but I can't believe the author would write the story as such. Other than that, I liked it. So if you want to be depressed, read this book.

I was so mad at what I thought was the end of the book but cried when I actually got to the end. But seriously, everything can't always turn out OK.
I liked the descriptive dog fighting scenarios, the world should realize what really happens in those places and maybe we can put a stop to it. The relationship that grew between the man and the dog was extraordinarily believable and real. Your dog really can be your best friend, mine always are.
I'm compelled to seek out other titles by this author.

I am mentally distraught by ending! One in which I have not even finished listening to yet. I was completely mislead by the library description. So when the story took a turn in the direction of future worry for the dog I stopped and went to the store reviews.
Holy smokes!!! I would not have started this book.. In fact, I am rather horrified at how many people loved it. One review gave me a little to much insight and now I am just tortured. I can't believe the writer took it in that direction. That those ideas are even in her head or anyone else's just makes me sick to my stomach. I know this stuff is out there for real, but a few reviews pointed out (one a little too much detail) that it was really graphic! Why can't there be happy loving dog stories that are not heart wrenching... I would read it!
I did enjoy the beginning of the story. The dog chance made me laugh and look at my dog through new eyes. The man character Adam was going through new life discoveries... The story had so many more positive directions it could have gone..

This author is humorous and tells a great tale. This book tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh and cry all at once. From chapter to chapter, the story is told by the man, then the dog. Back and forth. And the author is neither! She's just really, really good! I guess you'd say she's One Good Writer.

So touching, so insightful and so moving... any one who has rescued a dog will love this very well told story of how animals actually rescue humans and how much they teach us. The book on tape is well narrated and your heart will melt at Chance's story. Great book!

A real snob of a guy ends up blowing his top, losing EVERYTHING; house, wife, daughter, friends, job -- Everything he worked so hard to get in one moment. So now here is in a little apartment, doing community service and eeking by.

Enter in a pit bull that has been raised for fighting. How he comes upon this dog is not a part of the story I will share, you will have to find out yourself. However, it is a good story of a man hitting rock bottom, finding out what is really important with the help of an ugly mutt!

There were a few typos in here which was distracting because it wasn't an ARC for me. Although I could guess what is going to happen, it was a good storyline!

I have listened to this one TWICE this year on Audible and have bawled like a baby. The narrative alternates between Chance and Adam's viewpoints and I think it compares well with other great dog books! Much better than A Dog's Purpose and just as good as Racing in the Rain and Jon Katz's border collie books!

Thank you for a beautifully written tale of the wonderous relationship between dogs and humans. This book has all the elements of a richly rewarding novel: failure, success, love, hate, friendship, enemy, hope and despair all woven together like the inner workings of a fine watch. A MUST READ!

I have had this book for a long time but never read it. After losing a good dog, it was just too painful to approach. I finally got around to it and I am sure glad I did. What a heartwarming story, and it really made me feel good in the end. There were some tough parts. But redemption awaits for all in the end. Highly recommend this story. I am going to buy the authors other books based on this read.

Love it when the dogs write in first person and we can get their point of view. The author clearly knows her dogs because I felt like i was hearing him speak. This entwined in an emotional human's story brought a few tears.

I kept looking at this book but didn't want to read about dog fighting. So I downloaded sample and figured I could always delete it. I'm so glad I didn't. I'm not sure about corporate preasure but know the love of one good dog is worth it all!

I loved this book. As a pitbull owner I know the utter devotion and love this dog has for its owner. I cried throughout this book knowing some of the horrors these dogs face but also the unconditional love they are willing to give. Have a box of Kleenex ready.

It has been a long time since I have picked up a printed copy of a book. When I finally did decide to purcahse a book this is the one I choose. I can honestly say I did not put the book down until it was finished. Less than a day I consumed this whole story and I actually was moved by how well the storyline flows and draws you into the story.

The story line is predictable yes, but all in all you want to read what happend even if in the back of you mind you know what is coming. A GREAT read and I am glad I picked this book in print rather than digital.

If you liked Turner & Hooch, you'll like this book. Adam has clawed his way to the top of the corporate ladder from a troubled childhood in foster care. In a flash, he loses it all, finding himself fired, convicted, divorced, and broke. Chance, a rottie/pit bull mix, is the monstruous and disfigured personification of his frightened, five year old inner child (like Dorian's picture come to life). In this tale of love, loyalty, and redemption, Adam must rescue the dog to save himself. But will he figure this out in time? Read on!

This was a very good story of a bond between a mistreated dog and a lonely down in the skids former successful
businessman. The chance contact changed both their lives. I recommend the book even though I did not like the ending.

The best part of this book was seeing the trials of life, through a dog's eyes. It gives a whole other perspective on things. It's not a real fast pace book, nor did I get that," I just can't put it down" sensation. But in all fairness; it was a great story, and a good read.

Susan Wilson writes in the first person for both dog and man and the passages written in the dog's voice will make you furious and sad at the same time. From the very beginning this was a difficult book to read yet difficult to put down, and it is definitely worth reading.

I cried like a baby when I read this book. Some people have written that it was too graphic. In reality. the truth is much worse than portrayed in this book. In my opinion it was well written and deeply moving.

I just picked this book up because I needed something to read--not really expecting much. It is quite a page turner. I really never wanted to put it down. I can't think of anything that I have read to compare it with. However, I think that unless you aren't a dog person, you have to love it.

The story is a pretty good one, and that was enough to keep me reading. The writing is what almost made me stop. Present-tense is so hard to write in, and sure enough it's pretty hit-and-miss in this book, ranging from distracting to tolerable. The passages written from the dog's point of view were kind of awful. I feel like the author put most of her effort into Adam's point of view, and on the Chance chapters just phoned them in. Heading a thought up with something like, "Being a dog I didn't really understand the man's ways. . ." is lazy and contrived. I really, really wish she had used more authentic voicing for the dog, or none at all. For example, the dog wouldn't point out things he didn't notice or understand. . . because he wouldn't have noticed or understood them. Third person would have been more readable and more appropriate. I can see what the author was going for, but I think she missed the mark. Still, I finished it, because the story had me engaged enough that I wanted to know how it ended. I wouldn't read it again though, and I'm glad it was a library book and not a purchase.

This was one of the most touching, poignant books I have read in ages. I loved the storytelling from both the human and canine perspective and, as a dog lover, I knew Chance would save Adam - I just knew it. It held my attention and my heart and I cannot recommend it enough. Enjoy!