The Pug List

A Ridiculous Little Dog, a Family Who Lost Everything, and How They All Found Their Way Home

By: Alison Hodgson

Narrated by: Michelle Lasley

What if a wheezing, sneezing, allegedly house-trained, ticking time bomb of an orphan pug is the key to helping a family feel at home again after an arsonist set their house - and life - on fire? If you asked me, I would have said it's a bad idea; we can do better. Unfortunately no one asked me, and The Pug List is my family's story.

In the fire's aftermath of insurance battles royal, rebuilding plans, parenting in the face of life's hard questions, and a scorching case of post-traumatic stress, now is absolutely the worst possible time to adopt a dog. But to Alison's seven-year-old daughter, Eden, it's the perfect time - and The Relentless Campaign begins.

Until one day Alison peeks inside Eden's diary - dubbed "The Pug List" - and realizes in one fell swoop that her girl's heart is on the line, and resistance is futile ("The pugs make me happy FOREVER."). Enter "Outrageous" Oliver and the hilarity, healing, and irresistible hope that follow.

©2016 Alison Hodgson (P)2016 Zondervan

Story Saved By The Last 1 1/2 Hours--

"The Pug List" baaaarely has a pug in it. Seriously. It's not until the last 1 1/2 hours that the story becomes anything other than the biography of a catastrophic house fire.
There are sirens, PTSD, fear, people acting out their angst in shrill ways (Okay, so maybe it's only Alison Hodgson who's shrill and shrieking at people). There are battles with insurance companies, worries about the landscaping that's been ruined, battles over the value of items. Sure, Hodgson states repeatedly that it's only stuff, but my how she worries and gnaws over all that was and is never to be again.
And plenty of Gospel and Scripture.
Aggravating because, as an animal lover, I couldn't snap this book up quick enough.
Thank GOD for the last 90 minutes. The lovable Oliver and how he works his magic on the family is introduced and gone in to. Because then Hodgson sees how he is more than the shedding beast she dreaded having to get, sees how he's more than the piles of poop he leaves all over the place.
After all the impatience and aggravation I felt whilst listening to the vast majority of the book, Hodgson comes to realize that we're all just right where we need to be, scars from the past and all. And maybe, just maybe, our tragedies are what make us human, make us whole and able to have perspective about what is beautiful all around us.
I'm glad I listened to it.
But I'm even gladder I got it on sale...

Loved it!

Great story! It just left me wanting more, in a good way of course! Adopt don't shop and pugs are the best!

More pug less filler

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes, I wanted more about the pug and the effect on the family all the praying and all the other stuff on the fire felt like filler, also the brief talk about the hearing impaired son could have been more interesting however that was thrown away as well.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Glad it was over.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

She was ok however I don't think she really got the understanding of the story were it needed to be.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No I would not,

Any additional comments?

If a story is going to have this heavy of a religious slant then let the reader know so they can be prepared on the journey they are going to take and what the journey will and will not be, also Oliver seemed like a great dog but I am still unsure why the dog rescue place would not work with her more. There are many unanswered question

I want to hear about the pug more!

75% of the story was so boring. The title of the book is about the pug, right? If this book mentions this pug more, I will give a 5 stars rating. Anyway, I didn't return this book because I like how the family takes care of their pets with kindness.

The Pug List

I was not sure what the book was about. The cover caught my eye. I'm so glad I took the time to listen. What an awesome story. What a committed family to their faith in Christ, their commitment to each other, and their testimony. Thank-you for offering it to me, I'm so very grateful.

a bit too religious but cute

took half the book before the actual Pug list is discussed.
Too religious for my taste

the pug is 25% of the book

What disappointed you about The Pug List?

Its supposed to be a book about a pug, but the dog appears at the end of the book (the last 90 minutes)

What was most disappointing about Alison Hodgson’s story?

Im not a religious person and on the description of the book it dosent mention the large amount of religion of this book

What didn’t you like about Michelle Lasley’s performance?

great perfomance

Great for grades 4-5

Very simplistic writing style. A story with a good moral center and message, but excessively padded with mundane details. Poor use of metaphors with no deeper meaning or subtext. Great for kids just getting into reading. The narrator does what she can with the material she was given.