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Endal: How One Extraordinary Dog Brought A Family Back From The Brink (2009)

by Allen Parton(Favorite Author)

4.07 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0007303009 (ISBN13: 9780007303007)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Harper Collins

review 1: The first half of the book is a lot of explanation of how Allen got into his bad situation. How his injury affected him, and changed the whole family's lives. I did find myself thinking, where's the dog coming in, but you did need the background to understand how dire the situation became. The second half of the book is even better, once Endal appears and his amazing personality starts to shine through and affect positive change...this is the best part of the book. Endal is one amazing, tireless dog, learning new skills after only one or two demonstrations of it, and even protecting Allen on one occasion. Their popularity and fame grow so Endal becomes an inspiration and encouragement to others, as he was to Allen. I like the way this tells the story from first Allen's sid... moree, then Sandra's. The tale of the Second Wedding is good too.
review 2: Endal is not only a beautiful and inspiring book, but he is an exceptional and inspiring dog, too.This story is very much a story of two parts - Allen Parton was left with severe brain damage after being involved in an accident in the Gulf War. The first part of the story describes how Allen was struggling to cope - he did not recognise his family and had no feelings towards them; his family struggle to cope with this stranger that looks like the loving husband and father that left them, but is now surly, depressed and becoming increasingly disabled. This half of the book is distinctly depressing; that is not a criticism, but a reflection on the brilliant writing that allows us into Allen's feelings as he struggles to ocpe - he influences the reader's emotions by dragging them through hell, as he experienced it.Approximately half way through, Endal is introduced to the family. This adorable pup makes a gradual but vast difference to the lives of the family; his intelligence and abilities to do not only things that he has been trained to but also things that he seems to instinctually know need doing is incredible. Endal's arrival is like a light being switched on for the family, and all that has been doom and gloom seems to, as if by magic, brighten up and become more bearable. The second half of the book shows the ways in which Endal brought not only joy to the family again, but independence for Allen; he keeps him safe and helps him to feel self-worth again. It is delightful reading about this dog's intelligence and devotion, and indeed the bond between dog and master.A beautiful book that I would recommend to all; both Endal and Allen are inspirational, the former in his ability to perform tasks that humans would perceive dogs unable to do, and the latter in his ability to, with a little help from his furry friend, pull himself out of an 'illness' induced depression and begin to live again. less

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