Following Atticus, by Tom Ryan

Following Atticus invites the reader into a story of self-discovery and personal transformation that grows out of an unlikely relationship between a man and his dog.  So much more than “a dog story,” Following Atticus draws the reader into an exploration of the geography of the soul that probes the connections between the choices we make for ourselves, the context in which we live, and the spirit with which we encounter life. Emotional and evocative, Ryan’s writing chronicles an inward journey through which, immersed in and challenged by the natural world, he meets himself by becoming more than he has been in the past.

 

Somewhat confessional in posture, Following Atticus artfully integrates memories and spatial descriptions so that the reader is not simply a passive observer of Ryan’s journey, but a companion along the way.

 

For anyone facing a crossroads – intentionally or unintentionally – of past and future, Following Atticus highlights the possibilities inherent in change, without romanticizing or glamorizing its challenges. It, therefore, is a thought-provoking read for any facing the climb of literal or metaphorical mountains.

Ryan, Tom. Following Atticus: Forty-eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship, William Morrow Paperbacks (August 7, 2012).