A sobering story, though fictionalized, about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It's a journey of heartbreaking privation, brutality and hopelessness, and is told with much humanity, sincerity and even humor on occasion. The story is structured creatively, allowing the listener to learn about Achak's past life through a current trauma he is experiencing. This is a book that I recommend to Americans who have not strayed far from their own cultural doorstep. The reader does simply an awe-inspiring interpretation of the protagonist's experience, portraying the sweet naivete of this young African boy, his hopes and fears, and his fierce determination to survive. Dion Graham is one of the best readers I have listened to.   posted Jan 1, 2010 at 3:01PM

Isabel Allende is a wonderful author that brings her rich cultural origin to her writing. This is a beautiful story, told with plenty of humor, of her family's struggles and how they overcame daunting challenges. Great book, great author.   posted Jan 1, 2010 at 2:33PM

Pick it up if you want to learn about a lot of research on many other animals as well as dogs. Quite academic in tone, I kept wanting to get through the long passages about research on other animals and back to talking about dogs.   posted Jan 1, 2010 at 2:25PM