Ana V.

The introduction to this book blew me away.

It sometimes so happens that I start reading a book without really thinking about it. For the first 5, 10 pages, I don't take it "seriously", if you will. I think it's sort of a professional flaw, after reading so many books, I know from the very first one or two pages, how many more I can afford to not attentively read. Usually, that happens when you don't have too many characters and so there are not many introductions to be made.

When I read something that has a preface, maybe written by the author, like Stephen King does on a lot of his books, maybe by a critic, it's even worse. I don't mean to say I don't pay attention, it's just I don't get into it. I read it cooly, calmly, without any emotion for the story whatsoever.

The reason I'm writing now this whole thing is because with Black Dogs, it was completely different. The preface, written by the author but through his main character and completely connected to the story, hit me after about 20 rows in the first page. This is only on a personal level, and I know that it won't be the same for anyone else - I'm just stating an opinion here.

I related to the first 5, 6 pages in the most painful and eye-opening way. Few books do that to me. And I feel really good knowing there are/were authors out there that know how to write with the purpose of touching someone's mind or heart, not just their wallet.