‘Follow Me, David!’
Jonathan Russell
Peter E. Randall, $17.95, 240 pages, ISBN: 9781931807616
reviewed by Barry Hunter

This is a very interesting book from Jonathan Russell. His poetry volume, WHISPERS, was reviewed last year. This story is an expansion of "Valhalla Hill" which appeared in that volume. The fact that Russell is legally blind and uses a four foot monitor to write only adds to the impressiveness of his work.

The book originated with Russell’s greyhound, David, who was rescued from the race track and is now a beloved member of the family. A portion of the profits is being donated to groups that help save the dogs after they are discarded after their racing time is finished.

Jennifer adopts David from one of the rescue societies and names him after her late husband and almost instantly they develop a psychic connection and although she has another dog, Robert; David takes over first place in the home. Jennifer has a friend, Pastor Bernard Houndsditch, who walks the dogs and being single finds a place in Jennifer’s heart. They marry and have some adventures, any of them humorous.

The main point of the book comes at the end when Bernard and David go to pick up a boat Bernard has purchased. On the way home the boat is sunk and only David’s body is recovered. Jennifer has known all along that David must have a Christian burial and sets about to make it happen.

This is truly a special book about loyalty and love, not only between master and pet, but between kindred souls no matter what the species. This is one of those books that will make you laugh and then cry. It will also show you how simple thins can make your life special. Be sure to look for this one, it’s special.