I read A Dog’s Purpose, by Bruce W. Cameron, for the first time a number of years ago when the book first came out and upon hearing that there was a movie being made based on the book I knew I had to go back and re-read it.

It is definitely better the second time around, maybe because I am older now and I understand it a little better, or maybe my experiences allow me to relate more. Whatever the reason may be, I found myself just as caught up in Bailey’s  life as I had been the first time (even though he has many lives and names, I am going to call him Bailey to make life easier).

Cameron does an incredible job of giving you just enough dialogue between the humans in the story so that you can understand what is going on with the people, and their struggles and how Bailey helps them, not just Bailey’s efforts to find what his purpose in life is.

Bailey’s running commentary ranges between laugh-out-loud funny, heartwarming, and heartbreakingly sad. I have to admit that I shed a tear every time he dies, even though that I know he comes back.

I also love how Bailey does so many different jobs over the course of his many lives, but he always seems to come back to the same basic one, which is to love and protect the humans who love him.

This, for lack of a better word, purpose, is so simple yet it captures the essence of every dog that I have ever loved, whether they be fictional, or flesh and blood like my own two dogs.

The best thing about A Dog’s Purpose is that it reminds you why dogs are called man’s best friend.