Timbuktu by Paul Auster

“No matter the circumstances, all dogs deserve a good life”

Overview: The story is about the life of a dog, Mr. Bones, who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his homeless master is dying. The story, set in the early 1990s, is told through the eyes of Mr. Bones, who has an internal monologue in English.

I really enjoyed this book, despite never having read a story where the protagonist is an animal. The story is very moving, deep, and it honestly makes you think about your own life and existence and the way we cope with things. Through the eyes of a dog, who understands his existential difference from his human friend's, one can get perspective and possibly reconsider what's important in life. I highly recommend this book if you are considering - or tired of - reading existentialism books, as it goes into such matters but in a very smooth, easy to read, feel-good fiction novel.

On the surface, this is a dog story or maybe even a buddy story, but deeper down I suppose it’s a story of unconditional love and loyalty between two individuals, regardless of species or gender. It is obviously more than just an homage to our canine companions; it’s a statement about friendship and perhaps how life with a constant good friend, even if food and shelter are not always available, is more fulfilling than a life with creature comforts.

Auster masterfully puts you in the mind of a dog and takes the reader for a journey that's to be remembered long after the book is completed.

After finishing it, the story makes you reconsider your thoughts about your dog, or any other dog, as beings with feelings, intelligence, fidelity.