A Home for Gori by Habib Rehman is a moving account of the author’s relationship with his dog, Gori. The book, however, begins much before Gori came into his life.
Rehman first came in close contact with dogs when he joined the army and was posted to a remote location in the North-East. Thus began his lifelong love for dogs. He left the army after a few years and entered the hotel industry. He talks about the dogs he came to own, their personalities and incidents involving them. Interspersed between stories of his dogs are details of his very successful professional life which took him to very senior positions in the hotel industry.
What I really liked about this book was the narrative style; there was scarcely a dull moment. My only criticism is that at times the author went into too much irrelevant detail about his professional life. His intense love for dogs clearly comes through and it becomes apparent that they are an important part of his life, not just a passing fancy.
This 120-page book is very enjoyable to read and, at times, very moving. Those who love dogs will easily identify with the author’s experiences and sentiments: the joy of coming home and being greeted by a loving pet, and the profound sadness of losing a dog to illness. This book shows just how deep is the bond between dogs and humans.
Price: Rs. 150. Publisher: Roli Books.