Roam

A Novel with Music

By: Alan Lazar

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

They say you never forget your first love...Born under a sparkling crescent moon, Nelson is a bright-eyed, inquisitive half beagle, half poodle. He lives with Katey and Don, newlyweds whose marriage is straining under the pressures of domesticity, but Katey's devotion to Nelson buoys the pup even as he worries his home may be falling apart.

But there are few things Nelson likes better than to follow a scent, and one day he follows his nose and gets lost... very lost. Though he searches frantically for Katey - and she for him - Nelson can't seem to find his way home, and he soon realizes that if he's ever to see his great love again, he must make his way on his own and try to survive in the wild.

Over the course of eight years, Roam follows Nelson as he crosses the country searching for his family. For a time he rides shotgun with a truck driver named Thatcher, then he lives in the woods with a pack of wolves. then he lives in the woods with a pack of wolves. A terrible accident takes his hind leg, but Nelson's strength and longing to find Katey keep him alive. Escaping death in a shelter, Nelson grows into an old dog with a cynical eye and a world-weary demeanor, but underneath it all, a fearless and courageous spirit. After all, he believes that one day he'll make it home... and maybe, just maybe, he will....

Much more than the story of one dog's incredible journey, this is a deeply moving story of survival and enduring love, which once again confirms the unbreakable bond between humans and their best friends. In the tradition of The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Roam is an unforgettable tale of love lost and found, the trials that test families, and an affirmation that no matter how far or how long you may travel, there's always a place you can call home.

©2011 Alan Lazar (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"I loved the curious, adventurous spirit of Nelson. Roam shows some of the things I love most about dogs - their unconditional love, loyalty, instinct, connection to Mother Nature, and of course, their powerful noses! We can all learn and take something away from his journey." (Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer)

A good ole novel with a good ole dog

As I have enjoyed many books about dogs in the past such as The Art of Racing in the Rain, One Good Dog, and A Dog's Purpose, I picked up this novel because I was ready for an easy listening experience after two marathon listens that I had just finished. At first, I was disappointed to find that this novel had the same narrator as another book that I did not enjoy, Merle's Door. I found, however, that the narrator suited this story much better.
This novel chronicles the life of a dog whose own curiosity gets to the best of him. He leads a life quite different from the dog that I have sleeping next to me currently. Roam is mainly about simply the dog's life as he encounters adventure after adventure.
It was an easy and a short read as I was hoping for. Another thing that was different about this book was that it has music occasionally incorporated into it. I wouldn't say that the addition of music enhanced the listening experience for me all that much but it didn't hurt it. All in all, Roam is a fun, sweet story for the dog lover out there.

A Dog Story Winner!!

If you love feel good dog stories, this one is for you!! I enjoyed this one ending on a good note.