Denali

Summary:

When Ben Moon moved from the Midwest to Oregon, he hadn't planned on getting a dog. But when he first met the soulful gaze of a rescue pup in a shelter, Ben instantly felt a connection, and his friendship with Denali was born. The two of them set out on the road together, on an adventure that would take them across the American west and through some of the best years of their lives. But when Ben was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 29, he faced a difficult battle with the disease, and Denali never once left his side until they were back out surfing and climbing crags. It was only a short time later that Denali was struck by the same disease, and Ben had the chance to return the favor. “Denali” is the story of this powerful friendship that shaped Ben and Denali's lives, showing the strength and love that we give and receive when we have our friends by our side. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This book is a classic autobiography starting with Ben Moon’s childhood and everything that brought him to the point in which he met Denali and struggled with colorectal cancer. The things I liked best were the lyrical writing and honest self-reflection.  While I don’t agree with all of Moon’s outlooks on life, he was not preachy and just laid it out as to what he faced, how he faced it and his recovery afterward.  I really loved the stories of his relationship with Denali although I didn’t always love his “talking” with him.  That being said I’m an aspiring dog-owner rather than having had a dog so perhaps I’ll get it more down the line.  Once in a while I had a section that felt a little slow for me, but reading in a pandemic makes it tough for me to identify if that’s a function of the book or due to my general distraction.

For those who haven’t seen the short film “Denali” then it’s definitely worth the time to give it a watch and understand the strength of their relationship!

Warning: Contains references to mental health challenges.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Anyone going through a struggle or looking for a good story with one great pupper!