Giv: The Story of a Dog and America

Boston Teran is known for his crime novels, his debut, God is a Bullet is considered a cult classic, personally I would take away the word "cult" and just call it as it is! I did however find that his follow up novels did not reach the standard of his debut and while I enjoyed them I felt that there was a better book in Boston Teran waiting to get out. Well that book has finally been written and it is called Giv: The Story of a Dog and America. We first discover the dog called Giv on a lonely stretch of road as a former US soldier, just returned from Iraq, narrowly avoids running him over. Giv has been badly treated and is barely alive. The soldier (who as it happens is also in need of saving) takes care of Giv and sets out to discover how and why the dog ended up nearly dead on a desolate stretch of road. We then follow the story of Giv from his days as a puppy, the people who come and go in his life, the kind and sometimes awful things that happen to him and the positive effect he in turn has on others. Along the way some of the biggest events in recent American history are touched on, the Kennedy assassination, Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq. The climax of the book, in which the soldier, aided by Giv attempts to find redemption through an heroic act will have the reader furiously turning the pages. This is an extremely touching and moving book written in Boston Teran's usual hip style. I cannot recommend it highly enough, not just to dog lovers but also to anybody who likes to read great American fiction

"Giv: The Story of a Dog and America" by Boston Teran is just that; a story about a dog. And what a heartfelt story it is. From the time Giv is born he something special, but the tale does not begin there. It begins with Dean Hickok ex-sergeant who has returned from Iraq and is contemplating suicide when he almost runs over the starved and suffering animal that was Giv. From there we learn that Giv was stolen from his original owner and survived Hurricane Katrina. We learn of the people who come in contact with him and how everything comes full circle. This is certainly a story that brings out all sorts of emotion.

The story of Giv is not only the story of a dog, but is at the same time, an American adventure into some of the most tragic events in our history. It is a story that is well-written, sensitive, spiritual, and will touch the heart of all who read it. It's right up there with the likes of Where The Red Fern Grows. This one definitely deserves 5 stars!

Giv is a stray mutt, a dedicated survivor, the loyal witness to a string of episodes in recent American history. Stolen from his home as a puppy, he sees the highs and lows of Dallas' Deep Ellum, survives Hurricane Katrina with a cat on his back, escapes an animal testing lab, and saves a young boy from a raging wildfire. He's as indomitable as Benji, but grittier. This book is essentially a road movie told from a dog's point of view. Giv moves from the heart of one survivor to another, steadily opening up hearts that had turned closed and bringing hope in his wake. People who had given up, who had run away, who wanted to die, all find hope in Giv's gentle loyalty. Boston Teran depicts America sunk in dark malaise, a country adrift and wondering what it stands for anymore. But the love of a dog teaches people how to love once more, how to trust, and how to live like there's something worth dying for. People discover how to give because Giv teaches them that they have something others need. Alternately angry and touching, this book is what America needs at a time like ours. In an era that has taught us to be hard-hearted and selfish, Giv reminds us that we are the hope for others in this world. And if we can find our way back to the home where we belong, maybe there's still hope for us and the rest of our hurting world as well.

The book came to me with the quote, "The Forrest Gump of dog books". This was so right on target. The author crafted the story so well that I had to go back to make sure the story was fiction. This is the story of Giv, a dog who travels all across the states. He survives a kidnapping, Hurricane Katrina, an abusive period only to be rescued by a Marine, who finds it was he that needed rescued. This Marine decides to find Giv's owner, which takes him across the country. Once again Giv rescues someone and it is believed that Give is lost. When found his past meets up with his future. This was a wonderful book. Each owner has a story. It is usually one that starts out negative until Giv enters the picture. Lives are changed because of him. Anyone who has ever had a pet, or read stories of animals who have rescued others, often giving their own life for the human will want to read this book. Just like in Forrest Gump, every negative thing that happens to him turns into something positive. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 rating.