What do you think?
Rate this book
A Dog's View of Love, Life, and Death
In "A Dog's View of Love, Life," and Death, human beings, content they know the answers to life’s big questions, continue making the same mistakes time and time again. Dogs, being their closest non-human companions, and knowing a little more than humans think they know, assist them discreetly with their evolution of consciousness.
After spending twelve years paralyzed from the neck down, Seamus McGarry can’t quite believe he’s communicating telepathically with a dog named Rosie.
Millionaire Will Roper is living the life and feeling in control of his destiny. But his anger issues are landing him in hot water. If that isn’t enough, Saddam Hussein, his dead mother’s dog, and a man living in a doorway have all crossed his path. Things will never be the same again.
Old-timer Lennon, a Harlequin Great Dane, New York, born and bred, feels life is passing him by. That is, until a dog shows up at the shelter and helps him understand his existence here isn’t quite what it seems.
Dolores Fanon, a recovering addict, has been clean and relatively serene for 3 years. However, life’s just dealt her a low blow. She’s struggling to cope, and when a psychic working for the N.Y.P.D. appears in her life, secrets from the past come flooding into the present.
After spending twelve years paralyzed from the neck down, Seamus McGarry can’t quite believe he’s communicating telepathically with a dog named Rosie.
Millionaire Will Roper is living the life and feeling in control of his destiny. But his anger issues are landing him in hot water. If that isn’t enough, Saddam Hussein, his dead mother’s dog, and a man living in a doorway have all crossed his path. Things will never be the same again.
Old-timer Lennon, a Harlequin Great Dane, New York, born and bred, feels life is passing him by. That is, until a dog shows up at the shelter and helps him understand his existence here isn’t quite what it seems.
Dolores Fanon, a recovering addict, has been clean and relatively serene for 3 years. However, life’s just dealt her a low blow. She’s struggling to cope, and when a psychic working for the N.Y.P.D. appears in her life, secrets from the past come flooding into the present.
312 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2017
1 person is currently reading
338 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 25, 2017
Voltaire's Chien
The French philosopher Voltaire may have said it first (1764).
His celebrated Dictionary both defined and deified dogs: “It seems that nature has given the dog to man for his defense and for his pleasure. Of all the animals, it is the most faithful: it is the best friend man can have.”
Hear, hear!
In the centuries since, the millions of us have personally experienced that truth. Mine was a mixed yellow Lab rescued from the town dog pound. “Boot Dog” had a huge heart and soulful eyes. I loved him fiercely, and cried when he died. He made bad days bearable, and good days perfect. I don’t have a dog now, but the moment I retire and can spend my day at home, I will.
Writer/publisher Jon Beecher (under the nom de plume J.R. Archer) suggests a fresh take on a dog’s purpose and benefit to humans in this wise, philosophical meditation masquerading as a novel. An endless parade of sad sack humans (drugs, alcohol, depression, physical infirmities, selfishness, mindless materialism) wrestle with their lives, surrounded by canine observers Rags and Rosie who boast unexpected inner lives and a talent for telepathy.
The plot is uneven, but the insights are fresh, genuine, authentic. When I finished it, I spent supper thinking about it. I’ve since Kindled a copy to my son Chris, who last year rescued a sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback pup named Atlas. Atlas keeps him sane in New York City.
At the heart of Beecher’s clever debut novel lies a sneaky, fun “what if” – what if dogs were put on this earth to help us miserable humans evolve spiritually?
Anyone who’s ever owned a dog has experienced their default state: unconditional love towards their owners. What if that’s why they’re here – to remind us “more highly evolved” humans that such a beatific state really exists, and can be shared with others?
Along the way, Beecher works into his plot a parapsychology dictionary’s worth of musings on everything from near death experiences and subtle energy fields to the nature of consciousness itself. It’s in his DNA – he’s personally experienced the paranormal, and boasts a savant’s grounding in Western metaphysics: he’s the quiet publisher behind UK’s White Crow Books (www.whitecrowbooks.com) which offers a fat catalogue of once forgotten but now resurrected spiritual wisdom.
If you’re one of the millions of us frequently struggling to discover the purpose of life, why not turn to man’s best friend for a little advice?
All you need is love. Can it be that simple?
Maybe!
The French philosopher Voltaire may have said it first (1764).
His celebrated Dictionary both defined and deified dogs: “It seems that nature has given the dog to man for his defense and for his pleasure. Of all the animals, it is the most faithful: it is the best friend man can have.”
Hear, hear!
In the centuries since, the millions of us have personally experienced that truth. Mine was a mixed yellow Lab rescued from the town dog pound. “Boot Dog” had a huge heart and soulful eyes. I loved him fiercely, and cried when he died. He made bad days bearable, and good days perfect. I don’t have a dog now, but the moment I retire and can spend my day at home, I will.
Writer/publisher Jon Beecher (under the nom de plume J.R. Archer) suggests a fresh take on a dog’s purpose and benefit to humans in this wise, philosophical meditation masquerading as a novel. An endless parade of sad sack humans (drugs, alcohol, depression, physical infirmities, selfishness, mindless materialism) wrestle with their lives, surrounded by canine observers Rags and Rosie who boast unexpected inner lives and a talent for telepathy.
The plot is uneven, but the insights are fresh, genuine, authentic. When I finished it, I spent supper thinking about it. I’ve since Kindled a copy to my son Chris, who last year rescued a sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback pup named Atlas. Atlas keeps him sane in New York City.
At the heart of Beecher’s clever debut novel lies a sneaky, fun “what if” – what if dogs were put on this earth to help us miserable humans evolve spiritually?
Anyone who’s ever owned a dog has experienced their default state: unconditional love towards their owners. What if that’s why they’re here – to remind us “more highly evolved” humans that such a beatific state really exists, and can be shared with others?
Along the way, Beecher works into his plot a parapsychology dictionary’s worth of musings on everything from near death experiences and subtle energy fields to the nature of consciousness itself. It’s in his DNA – he’s personally experienced the paranormal, and boasts a savant’s grounding in Western metaphysics: he’s the quiet publisher behind UK’s White Crow Books (www.whitecrowbooks.com) which offers a fat catalogue of once forgotten but now resurrected spiritual wisdom.
If you’re one of the millions of us frequently struggling to discover the purpose of life, why not turn to man’s best friend for a little advice?
All you need is love. Can it be that simple?
Maybe!
June 13, 2017
In “A Dog’s View of Love, Life, and Death” by J. R. Archer, dogs are on earth to help humans evolve to a higher state of consciousness thru their telepathic abilities. They wisely try to guide us with their unconditional love and emotions on the simplest and purest forms. The humans in the story are vast and varied, dealing with suicide, death, anger management issues, love, etc, --- if we could only learn to listen to what the dogs are saying. Really cute fast moving story. It kind of made me think Jonathan Livingston Seagull for dogs.
May 22, 2017
This is a really sweet book that will not only appeal to dog lovers but also to anyone who enjoys metaphysical fiction. The dogs' points of view, whether realistic or not, encourage us to see them as more than just a pet, but rather as beings on their own spiritual path. If you've ever felt the unconditional love of a dog, felt their sympathy when you're down, and their joy when you play with them, then you'll find much to relate to here, and the wisdom in the words relate to everyone.
Read
July 18, 2017I'm not an expert on how Goodreads works, but just to say, I recently wrote this book so currently I feel I have to give it 5 stars. :)
August 21, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include A DOG’S VIEW OF LOVE, LIFE, AND DEATH by J.R. ARCHER in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
A Dog’s View of Love, Life and Death by J.R. Archer is a multi-layered book that on its surface is a collection of stories of man’s best friend and how we interact with our canine companions. Below the surface is a complex dissection of the roles animals play in our lives and us in theirs, coupled with philosophical and ethical questions that the reader will answer for themselves. There is the premise in the work that animals communicate telepathically, not only with each other, but with humans who may or may not realize it. The author is able to provide the “voices” of the animals in a way that makes sense, and the way the dogs communicate ranges from seemingly basic and instinctual to intellectually evolved. These are animals who are at once in our service but also portrayed as more advanced, and more at peace. The themes in A Dog’s View are heavy, and the reader should expect to run the full gamut of emotions during their journey. Evoking the deepest of existential quandaries through the eyes of our four-legged friends, J.R. Archer has crafted a tale that will be easily relatable while making you ask the tough questions.
The book is well-written and well-edited, and the characters are well-drawn. The humans in the book are at varying stages in their lives, and each is facing a conflict or personal struggle of some kind. The role that dogs play in their lives is different for each, but the dogs often take on the position of empathetic but removed observer, asking spiritual questions and pontificating on the motivations and fears of their “masters”. I put ‘masters’ in quotation marks because, as mentioned before, this is a book that will make you ask who the truly evolved life form is. The setting compliments the chaotic nature of the humans’ world, and Archer paints a New York City that is bustling and unforgiving. The stories move along at a quick pace and it was easy to get through several vignettes in a sitting. While the subject matter is tough, the book itself is very digestible. This is a book that will grab your attention, but refuses to hold your hand. While each characters’ story arc ends in a satisfying conclusion, the reader will find that many of the queries the book raises will have to be answered by the readers themselves. While this book will appeal most to animal-lovers, there is something in here for everyone, and A Dog’s View of Love, Life and Death is easily a 5-star read.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
A Dog’s View of Love, Life and Death by J.R. Archer is a multi-layered book that on its surface is a collection of stories of man’s best friend and how we interact with our canine companions. Below the surface is a complex dissection of the roles animals play in our lives and us in theirs, coupled with philosophical and ethical questions that the reader will answer for themselves. There is the premise in the work that animals communicate telepathically, not only with each other, but with humans who may or may not realize it. The author is able to provide the “voices” of the animals in a way that makes sense, and the way the dogs communicate ranges from seemingly basic and instinctual to intellectually evolved. These are animals who are at once in our service but also portrayed as more advanced, and more at peace. The themes in A Dog’s View are heavy, and the reader should expect to run the full gamut of emotions during their journey. Evoking the deepest of existential quandaries through the eyes of our four-legged friends, J.R. Archer has crafted a tale that will be easily relatable while making you ask the tough questions.
The book is well-written and well-edited, and the characters are well-drawn. The humans in the book are at varying stages in their lives, and each is facing a conflict or personal struggle of some kind. The role that dogs play in their lives is different for each, but the dogs often take on the position of empathetic but removed observer, asking spiritual questions and pontificating on the motivations and fears of their “masters”. I put ‘masters’ in quotation marks because, as mentioned before, this is a book that will make you ask who the truly evolved life form is. The setting compliments the chaotic nature of the humans’ world, and Archer paints a New York City that is bustling and unforgiving. The stories move along at a quick pace and it was easy to get through several vignettes in a sitting. While the subject matter is tough, the book itself is very digestible. This is a book that will grab your attention, but refuses to hold your hand. While each characters’ story arc ends in a satisfying conclusion, the reader will find that many of the queries the book raises will have to be answered by the readers themselves. While this book will appeal most to animal-lovers, there is something in here for everyone, and A Dog’s View of Love, Life and Death is easily a 5-star read.
April 18, 2017
Can man’s best friend help him move toward unconditional love?
In A Dog’s View of Love, Life, and Death, J. R. Archer has the reader travel to New York City to meet a cast of characters involved in life’s trials and tribulations. The unusual characters, ones we haven’t seen before, are the spiritually evolved dogs who enhance the lives of everyone they meet through their wise, telepathic communications – whether people or other animals.
After reading this book, you may be convinced dogs are smarter than humans, at least some of them. They show unconditional love, can read their owner’s emotions and soothe them with messages that they think come from within their own minds.
Unfortunately, dumb humans don’t always accept the messages, such as Robbie, one of the first characters we meet in the novel. Right before he jumps to his death, his dog Rosie sends him a gentle thought, “You don’t have to do this.” But having lost his girlfriend Dolores due to his addictions, he thinks there is nothing left for him, despite the dog’s message that there are “Many probabilities and endless possibilities.”
Rags, like Rosie, spends time at a dog shelter and explains their purpose on earth to other dogs less evolved. “There are plenty of humans out there who need our help,” Rags encourages an old Great Dane who was ready to give up trying for adoption. “Our purpose here is to help them with their evolution to a higher state of consciousness.” Rags explains telepathic connection and how most humans have lost that ability, finding it so much easier to speak.
We learn through Rosie that dogs’ default emotion is unconditional love and they are trying to help move humanity closer to that state.
All dog wisdom and no story? The exact opposite. Archer does a great job of writing a page-turner, complete with a murder mystery, love gone wrong, and anger out of control… interwoven with spiritual messages. This was the first I had read of “rescue circles,” which Dolores becomes part of to help those who died in a negative state move out of nothingness or blackness and into the light. It’s an intriguing view of Hell, and just one plot point that will keep you thinking, long after you finish the novel.
It ends on a high note, leaving you feeling hopeful and with a greater appreciation for the “oneness” of energy, whether it is enveloped in human or dog form, on earth or even in the afterlife.
In A Dog’s View of Love, Life, and Death, J. R. Archer has the reader travel to New York City to meet a cast of characters involved in life’s trials and tribulations. The unusual characters, ones we haven’t seen before, are the spiritually evolved dogs who enhance the lives of everyone they meet through their wise, telepathic communications – whether people or other animals.
After reading this book, you may be convinced dogs are smarter than humans, at least some of them. They show unconditional love, can read their owner’s emotions and soothe them with messages that they think come from within their own minds.
Unfortunately, dumb humans don’t always accept the messages, such as Robbie, one of the first characters we meet in the novel. Right before he jumps to his death, his dog Rosie sends him a gentle thought, “You don’t have to do this.” But having lost his girlfriend Dolores due to his addictions, he thinks there is nothing left for him, despite the dog’s message that there are “Many probabilities and endless possibilities.”
Rags, like Rosie, spends time at a dog shelter and explains their purpose on earth to other dogs less evolved. “There are plenty of humans out there who need our help,” Rags encourages an old Great Dane who was ready to give up trying for adoption. “Our purpose here is to help them with their evolution to a higher state of consciousness.” Rags explains telepathic connection and how most humans have lost that ability, finding it so much easier to speak.
We learn through Rosie that dogs’ default emotion is unconditional love and they are trying to help move humanity closer to that state.
All dog wisdom and no story? The exact opposite. Archer does a great job of writing a page-turner, complete with a murder mystery, love gone wrong, and anger out of control… interwoven with spiritual messages. This was the first I had read of “rescue circles,” which Dolores becomes part of to help those who died in a negative state move out of nothingness or blackness and into the light. It’s an intriguing view of Hell, and just one plot point that will keep you thinking, long after you finish the novel.
It ends on a high note, leaving you feeling hopeful and with a greater appreciation for the “oneness” of energy, whether it is enveloped in human or dog form, on earth or even in the afterlife.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews