Monday, March 29, 2021

Annotation #4: Non-fiction

 


Title: Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together

Author: Steven Carino

Genre: Nonfiction

Publication Date: 2021

Number of Pages: 251

Geographical Setting: New York

Time Period: 2019

Series (If applicable): n/a


Plot Summary: Steven Carino’s beloved dog - Oliver - was stolen from Steven’s car one day in February 2019. Devastated, Steven sets out to discover what happened to Oliver and to see if he can get him back. Along the way, he crosses paths with people from all walks of life. The search for Oliver grows, attracting the attention of TV news stations and social media outlets. Oliver is the story of how people came together in person and online to assist Steven in his search, and ultimately reunite him with Oliver.

Subject Headings: Dogs, New York, Lost Pets, Hope

Appeal: Feel-good, Heart-warming, Relatable

3 terms that best describe this book: Hopeful, Believable, Sympathetic


3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors: (titles link to goodreads pages)

  1. Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other by Craig Grossi. This true story is about U.S Marine Craig Grossi, the stray dog named Fred he found in Afghanistan, and how the two eventually became inseparable.

  2. Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish by Mark R. Levin. A memoir about the Levin family and the rescue dog they adopted - Sprite.

  3. Good Dog: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Loyalty by David DiBenedetto. An anthology of essays about how people’s lives are enriched due to having a dog. 


3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:


  1. One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. The story of how a stressed-out executive’s world falls apart. Adam meets a dog named Chance, and the two of them help each other find their way back to what is important.

  2. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. The story of a dog named Bailey and his search for what his purpose is in life. He is reborn multiple times throughout the story, living in a different dog body and with a different family each time, ultimately making it back to his original owner Ethan.

  3. Dog by Michelle Herman. The story of a woman who was never expecting to own a dog, and the dog who came into her life and changed it for the better.
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9 comments:

  1. Abby AbbottMarch 29, 2021 at 6:49 PM

    Hi,

    Did you enjoy the book? I am always drawn to true stories and this sounds like one that could be a roller coaster for the reader's emotions. Great annotation!

    Abby Abbott

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara NorwoodMarch 30, 2021 at 8:28 PM

      Hi Abby,

      Honestly, I didn't enjoy the writing style of the book very much, but I liked the story. It was nice to read about how much the dog meant to Steven, and it was great when they were reunited, but the writing itself just felt like someone's long blog entry. However, I think the pet aspect of the book will appeal to many people, despite the simple writing style.

      Delete
  2. Tess B.March 30, 2021 at 7:06 PM

    This book sounds like it would make me so anxious. I can't imagine my pets being stolen. That easily sounds like one of the worst things in the world. I'm glad the author eventually reunited with his lil pup, but the journey to get there may be too much for me. Were there elements of anxiety or fear within the book, or was the author always faithful that they would find them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara NorwoodMarch 30, 2021 at 8:36 PM

      Hi Tess,

      As a reader, it was interesting because you knew from the cover that the dog was going to be found, and that everything would turn out okay, so the story itself wasn't very suspenseful or anxiety producing. However, reading the author's journey, there were definitely moments when he felt despair that he would never see his dog again - so, more sadness than fear. I'm glad they were reunited in the end :)

      Delete
    2. Tess B.March 31, 2021 at 11:11 AM

      Me too! Thank goodness.

      Delete
  3. Storytime ScribeMarch 31, 2021 at 11:22 AM

    Sara,
    This book sounds like it would totally amplify one of my worst fears. I have a cat and I am constantly worried about him getting out and getting stolen. I am so glad that they were eventually reunited but I feel like this book would just make me cry haha. Did this book ever make you feel emotional? I see from earlier comments that the writing style wasn't the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara NorwoodMarch 31, 2021 at 7:58 PM

      Hi Darla,

      I definitely felt sad for the author when I was reading about how sad he was. I have a dog, so when I was reading this, I was imagining how awful I would feel if someone stole my dog :(. I think pet owners everywhere are going to relate to Steven's tale, from his despair in the beginning, to his joy at being reunited with Oliver in the end.

      Delete
  4. WilsonIMApril 4, 2021 at 10:01 PM

    Sara,
    Despite the scare of losing one's beloved companion, your focus on the relationship aspect of this story was very touching. Receiving the selfless help of strangers in a moment when your life is falling apart is a very powerful experience. I really enjoyed your summary and the overall tone of the book you annotated.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Erin CataldiApril 7, 2021 at 1:42 PM

    Great annotation! Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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