Book Review: Saving Simon by Jon Katz

 

It is vacation. Not only that, it is vacation during a pandemic. I need an book about animals. I am not sure how I started reading a book about an animal each vacation, but it is a habit I have fallen into. I love animals. I love my dogs.  I love feeding the birds on my bird feeders. I love watching the wildlife while I walk - I regularly see birds, woodchucks, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and occasionally see deer, fox and coyotes around my home. Animals sooth me and so do books about animals. Not only do I feel better after reading about an animal, but I always learn something in the process. 

This book, Saving Simon, is about Jon Katz adopting a donkey. Poor Simon was near death when adopted by Katz then nursed back to life. The thing about living with animals is that they teach us lessons that we wouldn't expect. Simon taught Katz about mercy and compassion and this is that story.

Compassion is a funny thing. Why do we have more compassion for animals than we have for humans? Is compassion a gift? Do all people deserve compassion or is it earned? There is so much to mull over in this book. 

The sound track to this book should be a stack of Willie Nelson tunes. You can learn more about Katz and his animals at his website, The Bedlam Farm Journal