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Rating: 
Summary: A poignant love story
Review: Animals bring out the best in most people, fostering a capacity for affection and tenderness that might otherwise remain inaccessible. Such is the case with Dante, an Irish wolfhound. When Dante loses a leg to cancer, he exhibits an almost Ghandi-like tolerance for pain, inordinately sensitive to the emotional needs of his owner, Rae. Dante's calm acceptance of his fate is critical, for he has much work to do before he dies, specifically, to see that his human has someone to comfort her when he is gone. Meanwhile, Dante gets along splendidly on his three remaining legs, while Rae covertly watches her pet with eyes darkened by the sadness of his imminent demise.
Rae has known love before, each time believing this man is the one, but all leave eventually. In every instance, Dante is there to soothe his human, to comfort her and fill the empty spaces, his soulful eyes speaking volumes. Rae has enjoyed many friendships over the years, a decent income from work she loves and a ranch in one of the most beautiful spots in Denver, Colorado, God's country, where she can withdraw from the world when necessary to frolic with her animals and enjoy life on the land. Rae has pursued a career as a playwright because she is fascinated by the way people fail to listen to one another, including herself, the way most follow their own agendas: "History is a starfish that grows an extra arm no matter how many times the original limb is severed."
As the story evolves, each new chapter is written in the first-person voice of those who know Rae, lovers, confidants and friends who offer differing perspectives into the mind of an ambitious, sensitive and talented woman, her history complicated by fears and personal failings, the comfort of Eastern religions and an innate willingness to accept life`s challenges with her best friend, the noble Dante, at her side.
It is Dante's task to help Rae bridge a paralyzing fear of his impending death, to accept love in all its forms and live each day in gratitude for the bounty she enjoys. Quite a task. But if any dog is up to it, Dante can pull off this assignment. Through the passage of time and natural disasters, like the wildfires that raged through Colorado threatening to decimate the landscape, the devastation of 9/11 and life's inevitable ups and downs, Rae and her eclectic assortment of friends and pets move from one year to the next, all watching Dante, waiting for the inevitable. Yet, on the ranch, everything speaks to nature's cycles, birth, death, rebirth. It is a land of many lessons and perhaps why Rae is so at home in this country.
This is a love story, after all. The love of a woman for her dog, Dante, and that dog for his owner, a love that sustains them through a series of painful operations, that transcends time and place to teach Rae and the other humans a vital lesson: love conquers fear. People lover, dog lover, by description, Rae would have to be a Virgo, an earth mother, Dante her intransigent spirit guide. Luan Gaines/2005.
Rating: 
Summary: A terrific novel debut
Review: One of the best things about Pam Houston's writing is how she manages to unearth the preciousness in the imperfect. A three-legged dog, an "unstable" actor, a seemingly cold veterinary surgeon - the heroes of Sight Hound are not the most likely candidates, but each is rendered wholly and convincingly real. The woman who brings them together, Rae, has her own flaws as well, the biggest of which is perhaps a willingness to place too much trust in the wrong people, although she balances that with an equally strong knack for finding the right ones. The bond between Rae and Dante, the wolfhound and title character, is as deep and true as any human love, perhaps more. In the end, what makes this novel satisfying is the same thing that makes all of Houston's work so powerful. She makes us realize that ultimately it is our flaws, our willingness to be human, to risk, to make mistakes, to screw up, to be vulnerable and laid bare that open the door to the most meaningful moments in our lives.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging Journey of Risk, Courage, and, Ultimately, Hope
Review: This long-awaited first novel from writer Pam Houston does not disappoint. With candor and a balance of pain and humor that we've come to expect from Houston, Sighthound is a journey that will leave you deeply touched and changed. The novel is written from multiple points of view, and everyone gets to speak including the narrator Rae, her family of dogs, her quirky yet lovable actor husband, two veterinarians and Rae's diverse community of friends. Sighthound takes the reader on a wonderful journey of hope and courage, and I was left feeling like even the painful moments in life can bring us joy. It's an engaging read that takes a lot of emotional as well as structural risks, and they all pay off. A wonderful story of love and hope and connection with others! I can't wait for her next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Another winner for Pam Houston.
Review: What could be more off-the-wall than a dog who quotes Buddha and eats his dinner off a stainless steel fork with a tea towel under his chin? That's Dante, the title character in "Sight Hound," Pam Houston's long-awaited new novel. And his human mom, Rae, described by her boyfriend, Howard, as "sexy and round...bigger around than anyone I ever dated, not fat...looks like she was meant to have babies." There are no anorexic heroines in Pam Houston's fiction--only a pickup-truckload of complicated, quirky, appealing humans and animals. Each character gets his or her say in "Sight Hound," as they deal with the dramas of everyday life. Darlene, the live-in ranch manager and housekeeper, and Dr. Evans, the veterinarian, are particularly well-honed and likable. It's a very thoughtful read, told in Houston's straightforward manner, and will make you notice and appreciate more about the animals and people in your own life. And, as is so often true with Pam Houston's writing, it'll make you like yourself a little better, too.
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