The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, by Farley Mowat

One of my all-time favorite books is The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, by Farley Mowat. Although I first read it as a teenager, I still like to read it again every few years.  During the COVID-19 crisis, I have found returning to beloved books a great comfort.

The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat

Many years after his boyhood-dog had departed this earth, Mowat wrote The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, a memoir of his childhood and a love-letter of sorts that memorialized the indelible mark his furry friend had left on his heart. 

The puppy had been a gift from Mowat’s mom (he never tired of     mentioning that she paid four-cents for Mutt, the name Mowat immediately gave him), believing he would be the perfect companion for her son as he grew up on the frontier of Saskatoon, Canada. 

While you will need to keep a box of tissues handy, this book will make you laugh out loud as often as it will make you weep.  Originally written for the young adult (YA) reader, The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be soon became a hit with adults and went on to be translated into more than 20 languages.

So, go ahead: sit down, put your feet up, and introduce yourself to (or revisit) one of the great loves stories of a boy and his dog.

About the author: Farley Mowat was a conservationist, naturalist, and writer. His books have been translated into 52 languages and sold more than 14 million copies.

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