Pug Actually: A Novel
For dog lovers and even those who aren't too fond of canines, Pug Actually offers readers a delightful change of pace. This novel is written from the point of view of Doug, an enchanting rescue pug who has found his forever home with Julie Newman. As Doug recalls:
"Long story short, one morning, my original human didn't wake up, and it took three days for anyone to notice. You'd have thought I killed her, given the home they sent me to after that. But at least I got fed there regularly, was walked a few times a day; had all my basic needs met, until the day Julie and Julie's day Jim took me somewhere much better. A real home. Julie's home.
"At the time, it never occurred to me that there was a grander life out there than the one I had. I didn't realize the situation I was in wasn't healthy. Had no idea I needed to be rescued. A little, I suspect, like Julie feels right now."
Doug is so happy in his new home, but he worries about his "mom" Julie, who definitely is not content. She loves her job and is having an affair with her boss, Luke, but she is anxiously waiting for their relationship to become permanent. Unfortunately, Luke is married, a fact he did not disclose until after sucking in Julie completely, making her fall deeply in love with him. Though he promises to leave his wife, Julie wonders if it will happen.
Jim, Julie's friends Priya, her husband Sanji, and even Doug cannot understand why Julie is so set on being with Luke. He is a scoundrel of the top order, but Julie seems to like wallowing in self-pity. She receives the sympathy she seeks at first, but soon it becomes tiring to those listening. Doug decides it's up to him to get her away from this two-timer as no one else is doing so. He loves Julie but hates seeing her so bereft, and what's worse is he can see right through Luke.
Though Jim listens patiently to Julie's tale of woe, she won't take his advice. Instead, Julie wants Jim to start dating, though Julie's mother passed away five years prior, Jim is not ready, nor does he feel he ever will be. Dot, a waitress at the local café they patronize, shows interest in Jim, and when Julie suggests he starts seeing her, he is stunned but tells Julie to do the same and seek a new relationship.
Somewhat fearfully, Jim seeks out Dot who invites him, (and Doug, of course) for a barbecue. Mentioning her son Tom is now living with her after divorcing his wife, they plot to get Julie and Tom together, believing they would not only be perfect for each other, but this would lure Julie away from Luke and give Tom a new chance at love.
Unfortunately, Julie and Tom's first meeting doesn’t go as expected for Tom chastises Julie for having an affair with a married man. Though they clash, Doug detects an attraction between them, albeit a faint one. Now he has the incentive to try harder to make Julie realize Tom is a good guy. But when Doug learns Tom is a vet, he has misgivings. Doug does not like veterinarians, yet meeting Tom changes his mind as Tom is completely captivating, not only to Julie but to him as well. Not only that but to spare Doug's feelings, every time Tom's name comes up, he's mentioned as the "V-E-T"—they don’t realize Doug is smart and can spell.
One day Julie is in the park with Doug and spots Tom trying to catch a dog who is running loose. Doug runs over to make friends, but this errant canine bites Doug on the ear, shocking both him and Julie. Though Doug hopes to get the two together, this isn't the way. Tom rescues Doug then takes him to his office to get stitches. This is where Doug and Julie observe how compassionate he is . . . the frost between Julie and Tom is thawing.
To bolster Julie's spirits, Priya gives her a certificate for a makeover for both her and Doug. His thoughts on this are:
"She may not be particularly keen to go given how she feels Luke's rejected her and, to tell the truth, I can understand that. When you're a rescue dog, you've been rejected too in a way, which means you're naturally very suspicious of anyone who comes along to rescue you. Partly it's the unsettled feeling--you've been in one place, then another, now you're going to be taken to a third, with no guarantee you're not going to be returned if things don't work out. Also, it's the worry that you might just be going to more of the same—after all, you don't need qualifications to own a dog. Or a license. You can just . . . get one. And the same is true for relationships.
"It took me months of living with Julie before I was sure I wasn't going back to that place. Ages before I stopped thinking every trip in the car was the last one I'd be taking with her. The best part of a year until I could finally relax.
"And this is why I identify with Julie, sympathize with her situation, feel for her dilemma—because I'd be exactly the same. Her concept of a relationship has come from her time with Luke. She's used to playing second fiddle. Always being an afterthought. Never being taken out for walks, if you like, because that just wasn't an option."
Meanwhile, Tom is skittish about getting together with Julie, even with a spark between them. His ex-wife cheated on him, so how can he trust another? Julie needing to realize Luke is a deadbeat, wonders if all guys are like him. Even a deadbeat who shows her some attention is better than being alone, isn't it?
As Julie rescued Doug, he is determined to rescue her using his whimsical and imaginative antics proving the intelligence he possesses. This tale takes place in the U.K. describing the loveliness of the area and the friendliness of its population. Matt Dunn's cleverness of delving into the mind and personality of a canine by giving him a "human" voice demonstrates the insight and love our pets can offer, which makes a heartwarming and delightful read.