The Dog Stars by Peter Heller grabbed my attention in unexpected ways. It had been awaiting my reading attention for some time, biding its time in a pile of about 15 books to be read. After finishing Fall by Neal Stephenson, a book of close to 900 pages, I wanted a shorter book that could be perused in a couple days. Three hundred pages seemed about right. Unaware of its premise, I picked it up and began to read. Oh, my, could it really be? Was I reading of a pandemic that ravaged the world? Almost too much of a coincidence. Some of my "wa wa woo woo" friends might say it was meant to be. Maybe it was. As I read on, I could only imagine what would happen to this world if Covid-19 ever grabbed hold in the same way that a violent flu bug did in this novel. I was moved to tears by the story of Jasper, the main character’s dog that went with him everywhere even when the renegades threatened. I loved this dog as much as I loved Hig, the main character living in the Colorado mountains. He was a special dog, so much so that I was moved to create a visual tribute to him. I can still see him sitting beside Hig in the Beast, the small plane that flew on little gas and lots of heart. May Jasper live on not only in Dog Stars but also as the dog in my monotype.
Dog of the Night, Monotype with Pastels, 8 X 8 inches, matted in contemporary black frame
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