Church of the Dog

An unforgettable debut novel about finding a home, a safe haven, and family.

Deep in Oregon farm country, Edith and Earl McRae are looking down the barrel of their fiftieth anniversary with none of the joy such a milestone should hold. Instead, they are stuck in a past that holds them to heartbreak and tragedy. Enter the mysterious and ever-so-slightly magical Mara O'Shaunessey who appears on their ranch with the power to mend long broken fences and show them how to recognize the enchantment of their everyday lives. Gracefully capturing the strange alchemy of people and places, Kaya McLaren's story of redemption and rediscovery will inspire readers to find the magic and power in every day shared with the people they love.

Mara, a physically gifted art teacher, lives in the old employee quarters behind the McRae House in exchange for helping Earl McRae fix his fences. Earl, an old rancher set in his ways, is intent upon spending his last days putting his affairs in order and waltzing the hours by with his beloved wife, Edith. Eager to live adventurously at every age, Edith continues to entice Earl with fresh roses in her hair and sneak into the night with Mara on Lady Godiva Runs. Edith and Earl's grandson, Daniel leaves his eccentric roommates and comes to visit the ranch, armed with his camera that keeps him safely distant behind a lens, having little idea where it is he's really going.

With compassion and wit, Kaya McLaren leads us into a world of astonishing possibility through the distinctive perspectives of four memorable characters. Church of the Dog (the McRae's name for Mara's artistically remolded house) is an exceptional novel of love, friendship, healing and hope. Set in a small town in northeastern Oregon, this book zestfully captures the exquisite complexity of simple lives. It may be considered a tribute to the human spirit and a reminder of how, without always knowing it, we all act as Angels for each other.

"In this treacly reprint of a novel first published in 2000 (by a now-defunct indie press), Edith and Earl McRae have lived on their Oregon farm for 60 years, but know their time is coming to an end. After a withdrawn Earl discovers a lump in his neck, he struggles to reconnect with his wife and his alienated grandson, Daniel. Into this family tragedy strolls Mara, a chaotic figure who sees auras and appears in other characters' dreams — in other words, she's the stereotypical freethinking outsider who opens stoics to the redemptive powers of love. The result is an ersatz inspirational novel that mistakes the characters' tendencies to natter on about God and ethics and spout goofy New Age-isms for plot or character development. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Kaya McLaren's sincere and generous feelings for all the creatures of this world make this novel of comforting magic both heartfelt and heartening." Christina Schwarz, author of Drowning Ruth and All is Vanity

"What a genuinely surprising novel Kaya McLaren has written, with characters that are each, in their own way, quietly magical and also heartbreakingly true. Like Barbara Kingsolver's early heroines, Mara O'Shaunnessey lives in the real world but reminds us, in all her actions, that animals can be messengers of truth and love has transformative powers." Cammie McGovern, author of Eye contact

"Church of the Dog is a radiant novel that honors the broken among us, tenderly healing with its love, humor, and understanding. Kaya McLaren is a deeply wonderful writer. From the opening scene of Mara in her grandmother's garden, through the wrenching finale on the ranch, I was stunned by this book. It's a classic on the spirituality of everyday life." Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author of Light of the Moon

"This is a sweet, whimsical tale of love and friendship, a slice of pure life. It is a beautiful story that is not to be missed." Lynne Hinton, author of Friend:Ship Cake and The Arms of God

"With prose as clear and pure as mountain water, Kaya McLaren has written a testament to the plain sense of things. Church of the Dog is spiritual, even a little magical, but it's also incredibly practical. McLaren has a glorious way of finding beauty in the bigger picture. A lovely, uplifting book." Sarah Addison Allen, author of Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen

Kaya McLaren teaches art and lives on the east slope of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State, with her dog, Big Cedar.