Every so often we receive (by post) a book, or (by email) a suggestion of a book, to review. Normally, the books fit our purpose — to introduce readers to notable books and to alert them to news stories or scientific studies about dogs. In this case, Gilbert Girion’s book, ‘Sound of a Train’, a novel, has a dog in it, though ‘Moose’ is far from being the main character.
The plot is a familiar one – how an adult daughter (and wife) deals with the pending death of a parent. The story takes the reader with her from home on a long road trip across several western states to be with her mother. The trip stars Susan and Moose, but we are introduced to other, ephemeral, characters in passing, along the way.
Sound of a Train is a modern American tale in which a dog plays a minor but typical role – faithful, mute, non-judgmental, as dogs tend to be. The writing is unique, the characters and the scenes along the way are familiar.
The author, in a note to me, writes that he is pleased by “the often enthusiastic response to the book” with added surprise at “the number of readers who consider [the] dog, Moose, to be their favorite character.” Fair enough. But, a dog book this is not. So now let’s see a new novel in which Moose, himself, is in the driver’s seat, so to say. Then we’ll have a genuine dog book to review.
Sound of a Train, by Gilbert Girion (New York: Pleasure Boat Studio, A Literary Press), 2013, 109pp. ISBN 978-1-929355-96-9.
