Someone to Look up To: The Story of a Special Dog

De: Jean Gill

Narrado por: Ian M. Walker

A dog's life in the south of France. From puppyhood, Sirius the Pyrenean Mountain Dog has been trying to understand his humans and train them with kindness. How this led to their divorce he has no idea.

More misunderstandings take Sirius to Death Row in an animal shelter, as a so-called dangerous dog learning survival tricks from the other inmates. During the twilight barking, he is shocked to hear his brother's voice but the bitter-sweet reunion is short-lived. Doggedly, Sirius keeps the faith.

One day, his human will come.

©2011 Jean Gill (P)2018 Jean Gill

Very glad to have listened to this one.

This very much reminded me of listening to an Alexander McCall Smith audio book. I thought Ian walker gave Sirius's honesty voice. The author gave me a chance to look at the world through a fresh pair of eyes. The full range off emotions are covered. I thought the book/narrator matchup was excellent. I'll listen to this one many times.

A bittersweet story of a dog's life

As a lover of all dogs and someone that has fostered dogs, this story had a real message that resonated. The narrator did an excellent job with all of the characters and painted a picture with voices. A must read/listen if you love dogs or just a good story.

interesting perspective

It's a heart-warming yet sad at times book. poor little doggy inmates at the animal shelter and you hear their sad stories of how they wound up there. Makes you want to adopt!

Wonderful story of a Great Pyrenees

As told by a Great Pyrenees named Sirius, the story of his life from his birth, through several owners and shelters, until he finds that one special person he can look up to. Sad at times, but a heartwarming story nevertheless.

"Safe" read for dog lovers

I loved this book!!! Telling the dog's life story from the dog's point of view, and the narrator's voice... it all worked so well! There are sad parts, but also lovely, heartwarming parts, and the ending is not going to crush your heart. Highly recommend!!!

Wonderful Journey! Changed how I relate to dogs

Wow. I was transported by this story, written so convincingly in the first person by Jean Gill, and voiced with such presence and compassion by Ian Walker, that I completely forgot it's fiction. It feels like a harrowing and tender memoir. A true window into the way another fellow being experiences life. I was deeply moved, and feel I understand dogs exponentially better than ever before. I've never considered myself a dog person, but I feel so much love and compassion for them now, that I'll always seek to understand them better. Ian's wonderful different accents and voices for the diverse dogs really added levity and love to a particularly heartbreaking sequence. I can tell he thoroughly knew the material, which is rare in an audiobook and takes time and care. I'm telling everyone about this audiobook. I sincerely love it. Well done, Jean and Ian! "Good hunting!"

Best dog book

Loved it! Told from a dogs point of view. Thought provoking and heart warming! Must read

Once I started listening I couldn't stop!

I read and enjoyed the paperback version of Someone to Look Up To a few years ago. I had the perfect opportunity recently to listen to the newly released audiobook version while travelling from Paris back to Sydney.

The narrator really brings the characters to life, and I found myself engrossed in the story again very quickly. Ian Walker’s voice works wonderfully as the voice of 70kg Pyrenean mountain dog Sirius. He also does a great job of the other characters; I was particularly fond of Jack, with his Liverpool accent!

The author really gets inside the head of the dogs whilst telling the story from Sirius’s viewpoint. I am reminded whilst listening to the book of the author’s background in working with a renowned French dog trainer, and how easy it is for us to accidentally introduce and reinforce ‘bad’ behaviours whilst training a dog.

Highly recommended.

Happiness Is a Warm Puppy!

Most of this is simply delightful fun, seeing the world through the eyes of a dog, but fair warning: there are some three-hanky moments! The [AUDIO] narrator's soft burr quietly insists on extra attention as he voices Sirius, whose story this is, and then brings to life the puppies, humans, and others who populate the tale. My first thought when hearing the early chapters was simply, "How true!" and I wanted to send copies to any number of humans whose interactions with their pets mirror Mark's. Wisdom, and the desire to keep friendships, stilled my hand and I will instead simply recommend they read or listen for the joy of it; I leave it to them to recognize themselves. Note: I entered a raffle and won my copy but am now hard-wired to review what I read, at least to share what I've loved, as a personal thank you to the creative genius of the author whose words have given me such pleasure. Be sure to do the same!

I'll never look at my dogs the same way again

one of the most riveting books that I have heard in a long while. Even though the story ends abruptly, it is captivating and heartbreaking. The performance was superb. I listened to it twice. And yes, I own two Great Pyrenees.