Someone at my library book club mentioned recently reading Running With Sherman - The Donkey With The Heart Of A Hero (#1,237) by Christopher McDougall. It originally came out in 2019, so this memoir has been around for a few years, although I don't ever recall hearing about it before. That's a shame, because I found this quite an enjoyable read.
Christopher McDougall has been a war correspondent, covering some brutal conflicts, which led to him seeking more peaceful surroundings for his wife and family. What could be further from the hustle and bustle of American life than the Amish country in Pennsylvania? Settling into the rural lifestyle, daughter Sophie decides she wants a donkey as a pet. Word spreads among the McDougall's neighbors, and soon Christopher is picking up his Amish friend to check out a donkey being kept in atrocious conditions by an animal hoarder. Sherman is in such bad shape when McDougall arrives on the scene that it's doubtful Sherman will even survive the night in his new home.
How his friends and neighbors help the McDougalls help Sherman heal and survive is a heart-warming story. Yes, that's a cliche, but in this case, it's true. In order to keep going in life, Sherman had to be given a purpose, and that purpose for Christopher was burro racing in mountainous terrain with his human companion. Who even knew that burro-racing was a thing, with its own professional circuit? I certainly didn't! But training for his first event took the whole village's efforts.
What makes this book so interesting are the many tangents McDougall follows about the people, places and causes he encounters on his quest to keep Sherman alive and happy. Many photos of their mutual journey are included in the text. This memoir is well worth your time!
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