Giv: The Story of a Dog and America - Tapa dura

Alternately angry and touching, this book is what America needs at a time like ours. In an era that has taught us to be hard-hearted and selfish, Giv reminds us that we are the hope for others in this world. And if we can find our way back to the home where we belong, maybe there's still hope for us and the rest of our hurting world as well. -- Kevin L. Nenstiel "July 30, 2009"

O. MY. GOSH. I loved this book. I'm not sure if I loved it because I had no expectations or what, but what a beautiful book. While the book is about a dog named Giv, it's also about the people he meets. Memorable characters. Heart-wrenching characters. It's about the free-will, undying spirit of man and man's best friend. I loved it. -- http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2009/11/giv-boston-teran.html "November 13, 2009"

Giv's journey through life is an unusual and difficult journey. Giv is our window to the soul of this nation as we follow him from state to state and person to person. We are introduced to the people that Giv's life has touched. There is something special about Giv that brings up deep reservoirs of loss that passages of time cannot resolve. -- Connie Harris "TCM Reviews"

I fell in love with its lyrical writing style from the first page. The writing is smooth, poetic and rhythmic. The story develops systematically and the ending is very climatic and satisfying. The characters seem very realistic and the setting encompasses many different parts of America to create an interesting mosaic of images. -- Jemima Adams "Musings of a Book Addict Review, July 16, 2009"

The truth of the eternal human-canine innate love story is the thread that holds the fabric of this sometimes tragic tale together. Teran crafts a heart-wrenching novel with genuine characters, the likes of which most of us will never meet in our lifetime, but they are as much a part of our country s history as the upbringing that is remembered by most of America. Readers will be rooting for Giv from cover to cover, and I can picture them cheering for the dog to be victorious over all the trials that are thrust upon him by fate and inhumane caretakers. If this were a movie, I would stand up and applaud the indelible Giv, like I did when I was a child and the cinematic hero was coming to save the day. Look for this book to be in everyone s hands in the near future. --Holly Fox Vellekoop, author of Stone Haven: Murder Along the River

Giv is pro-small town America and pro-spirituality. It believes in the power of faith and sacrifice to overcome tragedy. It sees the potential for greatness in people and our country. And this book is not afraid to express love. It is everything that critics and reviewers dislike and look down on in books and movies....but that people who read books and go to movies love. Because, like myself they don't think it beneath them to be touched deeply. And this book will touch you deeply... --Steve Chaney

Fabulously 40 & Beyond - fabulously40.com says: Giv and the Sergeant are two veterans of the world, and wars. They are survivors, struggling, looking for a place, a home. Their journey together is the journey of healing one's life. As in all classic and mythic tales there are dramas and confrontations, sorrows and joys. There are sequences in this book that will grab at your emotions like few books I have ever read, and there are sequences that are spellbinding in their visual power (the section on Katrina, that takes you right into the flood, will stand as one of the all time descriptions of an experience). In this book there are an extraordinary range of characters: Anna Perrina, Ian, Ruthie Ruth, Mz. El, just to name a few. Through them and their stories, profound ideas and meanings are uncovered.

O. MY. GOSH. I loved it. I'm not sure if I loved it because I had no expectations or what, but what a beautiful book. Beware: If you are the type that might tear up while reading a book, this is one of those books. The idea behind the story is based on events in the author's life.

While the book is about a dog named Giv, it's also about the people he meets. Memorable characters. Heart-wrenching characters. It's about the free-will, undying spirit of man and man's best friend. I loved how the idea of the act of rebellion, not always a bad thing, was a piviotal aspect of the book and the character of Giv. Boston Teran wrote rebellion as "the power to choose freely who one will or will not be." I like that. As he points out, America was founded by rebels and there's a little bit of rebel in us all.

http: //lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2009/11/giv-boston-teran.html November 13, 2009

TCM Reviews (www.tcm-ca.com/reviews/3107.html) Giv: The Story of a Dog and AmericaReviewed by Connie Harris Dogs touch us in ways we cannot explain. The invisible beyond the visible within each of us. Through Giv's journey through life we experience goodness and evil, sorrow and tragedy, even triumph. The will to survive and the determination to overcome all that life throws our way to hold us back.

Giv is found on a back road in Kentucky by Dean Hickok, sergeant, late of the U.S. Marines - war tested and weary, the victim of hardened years at the tender young age of three. Dean determines to reunite Giv with his owner in New Orleans post Katrina. Thus begins the journey into Giv's life... Giv: The Story of a Dog and America is a well-written, moving and touching story. Giv will live on in your heart long after you've turned the last page.

By Jemima Adams

I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with its lyrical writing style from the first page. The writing is smooth, poetic and rhythmic.

This is the story of Giv, a dog who travels all across the states. He survives a kidnapping, Hurricane Katrina, an abusive period only to be rescued by a Marine, who finds it was he that needed rescued. This Marine decides to find Giv's owner, which takes him across the country. Once again Giv rescues someone and it is believed that Giv is lost. When found his past meets up with his future. This was a wonderful book. Each owner has a story. It is usually one that starts out negative until Giv enters the picture. Lives are changed because of him. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 rating.

Musings of a Book Addict ReviewJuly 16, 2009

On a back road during a Kentucky rainstorm, Dean Hickok nearly ran down a dog which had been made to suffer and left to die in a crate. But his will to survive and his determination to overcome the many cruelties inflicted upon him began a profound story which was not an accidental happenstance, but the poetry of fate. For as much as a man saved a dog’s life, the dog also saved the man.