🐶 After a devastating combination of earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, a young man found a stray dog in front of a convenience store. The name tag shows its name as Tamon. The man took the dog in, after making sure that the owner couldn't be found/contacted by the vet - no doubt it has been separated from the owner after the disaster. The young man, Kazumasa, has lost his job, and was at loose end to take care of his sister and their ailing mother. He was offered a job related to criminal activity, which he took for the money he desperately needed. He always took Tamon while on the job, as his guardian. One day the criminal operation failed, and Tamon was brought away by the criminal; and then he became Tamon's new owner.
🐶 The story consisted of several parts, each dedicated to Tamon's "adventures" with its different owners. It usually stays with one owner, taking care of them - or becomes guardian to him/her - until its 'services' are no longer needed, so to speak, either because of the owner's death or changed circumstances. Then Tamon will disappear one day, to be found several days or weeks later, usually in poor condition by the next-owner-to-be. One thing that Tamon's owners always notice, is that Tamon is always looking to the south direction whenever it is on journey with the them, as if there's something or someone in that direction it wants to come home to. It makes whoever owns Tamon for the moment, becomes a bit jealous of its dedication and purpose. But meanwhile, Tamon never fails to protect them. 🐶 Tamon's journey spanned for five years before he arrived at or found what he's been looking for. I won't reveal exactly whom or where it was, since it's part of this book's charm - the little mystery of Tamon which baffles us until the last chapter. The theme of the book is of the beautiful bond between human and dog. Tamon's owners are mostly the desperate or downtrodden individuals; and Tamon's friendship and deep connection with them always provides encouragement and comfort when they need it most. It shows the wonderful gift dogs have for whomever choose to accept it. 🐶 On the whole, this was a heartwarming story - consists of unrelated events, but tied together by the same affectionate dog, whose main goal in life seemed to be helping humans to find comfort in sorrowful moments. And if you happen to shed some tears in end - like most stories about dogs tend to do to us - so what? It's tears for the wholesomeness of life, anyway.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
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What an interesting concept, that the dog goes from owner to owner, serving each one. That is, what I have found, what dogs are so good at doing. I often wish I could be as unconditionally loving as most dogs are. I try! Thank you for reviewing this book and reading for the JLC19!
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