George the Dog, John the Artist

April 13, 2015
Formerly homeless artist Dolan begins his memoir about a man and his dog with the story of how he was introduced to George, a young Staffordshire bull terrier who had been abused and neglected. George sparks Dolan’s memories of his abusive childhood, drug addiction, petty theft, and time spent in prison. The only thing that kept a young Dolan sane was his love
of (and natural talent for) drawing, which fell by the wayside as he turned to a life of crime. George and Dolan quickly became inseparable. Thanks to the unconditional love of his canine friend, Dolan’s life takes a bright turn, opening up opportunities he’d never imagined: Dolan rekindles his love
of art and drawing, and eventually gets a solo show at a gallery. The two continue
to spend their days side by side on the sidewalks of Shoreditch High Street in London. Dolan sketches while George solicits money and poses for photos with passersby. Animal lovers, especially dog owners, will appreciate the relationship Dolan and George share and the way Dolan identifies with the stray dog, gradually finding the comfort, inspiration, and happiness that had evaded him for so long. Illus.

April 15, 2015
The story of a desperately poor Londoner and a twice-abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier named George poses the question, "Who rescued whom?" When acclaimed East London-based artist Dolan was jobless and living on government assistance, he could easily have blamed others or several factors that led to his hard circumstances. However, in his first book, he is surprisingly cleareyed and honest about how he largely caused his own failures: truancy, substance abuse, and being a career criminal with nothing going for him throughout his 20s. He was clearly disappointed in himself but managed to retain a kernel of optimism. Living in poverty in a cold, dirty apartment, Dolan admits he was "as far away from sensible as you can get." Then he agreed to take George in from a couple of fellow transients. Readers share his sense of expectation of changing fortunes when he writes movingly about the first time he took George outside: "I just wanted to concentrate on how good it felt to be walking a dog again....It seemed like the first time in fifteen years I'd walked anywhere with a good honest purpose." The author's forthrightness and great empathy for his new best friend ("God, I felt sorry for him. I knew exactly how it felt to be the one not chosen, the one who got left behind") make him sympathetic and engaging. With George beside him at all times, Dolan regained his creative fire and love of drawing, both of which were suffocated by his miserable circumstances. Knowing the book has a happy ending dulls any distress reading about the author's struggles or George's sad early life. With dry wit and a lack of sentimentality, the author maintains reader investment. His unpretentiousness and the struggles that preceded his eventual (and well-deserved) success keep this Cinderella story gritty and grounded. A disarmingly modest yet profound tale of redemption.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 15, 2015

Down and out on his luck, 50ish Londoner John Dolan was essentially homeless, a convicted felon, and a drug addict. Other homeless friends ask him to temporarily take care of a Staffy puppy named George, and John reluctantly agrees. George is quite a handful, but John finds a kindred spirit in the frightened and formerly abused animal, and he eventually decides to keep the dog permanently. This single action becomes a turning point in John's life. He realizes he has to fly straight if he wants to keep the now-beloved dog safe. He cuts back on his drug use and picks up his long-unused talent for sketching in order to earn a little cash. Soon he becomes known for his street scenes in Shoreditch, East London, as well as sketches of the handsome little dog, and after mounting his first wildly successful solo gallery show, his future is assured. VERDICT This heartwarming tale, told in the rough East London vernacular, will appeal strongly to those who love dogs, enjoy positive and heart-lifting self-help stories, and emerging artists. A few charming pen-and-ink sketches are included.--Susan Riley, Mamaroneck P.L., NY

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.