In David Cary Lane’s THE PUPPY PROPHET, Dumpster Daisy is the title character: a stray dog who has lived her life “as most strays do—wandering and resting”—and has learned a great deal from her experiences. She is now very close to the end of her life, and her friends have gathered to sympathize with her, keep her company, and benefit from her wisdom and kindness one last time. Each of them asks her questions in their turn, according to their personality and nature—from Poncho the pug (who wonders why there cannot be an infinite supply of peanut butter) to Gary the grizzled golden retriever (who asks why everything living must age and die).

She answers each in a charming poetic style, explaining the world with philosophical ideas that breath compassion, hope, and self-acceptance—though they sometimes contradict our very human assumptions about life. When she tells Lexi the lab, who wants to do nothing but sleep all day, that “to lay when work is required […] misguided, askew / To lay as your veritable vocation, noble and true” and thus urges her to devote herself to sleep as a vocation, to become an embodiment of serenity for others—it’s a bit startling. To the anxious Akita, she prescribes calm breathing and meditation—“a rhythmic remedy, Love’s breath, steady and enchanting.” She warns the vengeful Pomeranian whose toy has been stolen by other dogs to strengthen herself so she can defend herself, but not to fall victim to becoming like those who bullied her—calling vengeance “a self-induced sort of sickness.” To each friend she offers advice tailored to the nature of the dog who brings it, urging them to become more fully and completely themselves, rather than following paths belonging to others.

The language Lane uses, especially in Daisy’s voice, can be poetic and perhaps a bit flowery, but it’s clear and simple enough to be understood by all. The dogs have appealing personalities that suit their breeds and temperaments, and even the least likeable of them have at least understandable questions and desires. We’ve all had that whiny “why me” moment, like the whippet, or wondered whether those who seem to be in control of our lives hate us, like the unhappy corgi forced to wear a cone after surgery. The accompanying illustrations are simple and elegant, with clean smooth lines and soft brown, black, and white tritones, as if seen through a dog’s color-limited vision. All in all, this is a warm, grace-centered, and loving philosophy—as befits the heart of a good dog.

David Cary Lane’s THE PUPPY PROPHET is a sweet, thought-provoking, and not-too-sappy exploration of the meaning and purpose of life.

~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader