Once in a Lifetime Dog: My Borisangel

"Once in a Lifetime Dog: My Borisangel" is a loving tribute to a Borzoi sight hound who was very special to the author.   Her love for Boris is very evident from the start.

It was a little difficult to get going on this book.  I was put off by the sappy nature of "A Word From Boris."  The dog speaking to the reader was a bit much.   While it works in books such as "The Art of Racing in the Rain," it didn’t here.  The dog referring to the author as “my love” and soul mate was too much like a lover for my tastes.

I have no doubt that Boris was a special dog but the author had a hard time conveying exactly why he was so different than all our beloved pets.  I would have enjoyed more stories conveying personality and more of the relationship than just statements of love.  It kind of made me feel sorry for Hildreth's husband and children when she went on and on about the dog being the true love of her life.

The story picks up quite a bit after Hildreth meets her second husband, Foster.  He and her parents seem to be wonderful people and very supportive.

This is definitely a book for dog lovers.  I did learn a lot about a breed I was unfamiliar with.  The Borzoi sight hound seems to be a dignified, regal and beautiful dog.   I wish I could have gotten a better sense of Boris.

Once in a Lifetime Dog: My Borisangel
Chantelle Hildreth
Outskirts Press, Inc. (2011)
ISBN 9781432754594
Reviewed by Rita Grasshoff for RebeccasReads (4/11)