Running with Sherman: The Donkey Who Survived Against All Odds and Raced Like a Champion

I'll be honest: I didn't finish this book. I spent weeks trying to push myself through it, and eventually just gave up.

So, why four stars for a book I couldn't finish?

The answer is that I'm heartless and don't like animals, so a heart-warming story about a rescued donkey was never going to be my cup of tea. In the bookclub that gave me this book, I was the only person who didn't like it. Everyone else absolutely adored Sherman and thought this book was brilliant.

I must admit, even I found aspects of the story interesting. Whenever someone asks me about the most unique books I've read recently, this one comes up. I mean, simply knowing that somewhere in the world people run marathons with donkeys is an amusing enough fact to make the time I spent in this book worthwhile.

If you're not an animal person, maybe give this book a miss. But if you've got more heart than me and also love a good rescue animal story, I'd very much recommend Running with Sherman.

This book tells the story of a group of donkeys who take part in ‘Burro’ racing which takes place in parts of America. Fabulous book that takes you right into the soul of these adorable animals and left me wanting to have my own ‘Sherman’.

Chris McDougall becomes the somewhat reluctant owner of Sherman, a donkey who has been badly neglected and deserves a new start in life. Sherman is a very little donkey with a very big personality and Chris realises that he needs a purpose, some kind of mission which will help his rehabilitation from “abused and miserable” to “content and well-adjusted”. And Chris has just the thing – Burro Racing. Chris and Sherman embark on a journey together which transforms both their lives as well as many of the people they encounter along the way.

It was an absolute privilege to be allowed to watch this story unfold. For those of you who have no idea what Burro Racing is all about, join the club. However, it didn’t take me long to find out. It is basically running huge distances (which seem to be anywhere from 5K to Ultramarathons), accompanied by a donkey on a lead. Although Sherman is undoubtedly the star of the show with Chris as his right-hand man, there are numerous contenders for principal supporting roles and they are all wonderful. The book is written by Chris who injects humour and warmth into his storytelling. Sherman’s narrative is interspersed with chapters describing research projects which have been conducted to explore human/animal interaction in its various guises and these are very interesting, although require a little more thought than the rest of the book. Overall this is a wonderful book – funny, poignant and heart-warming. I defy you not to fall in love with Sherman and his friends. One of the members of our Book Group was so captivated that she offered us the use of her back garden should we see fir to acquire a Sherman of our own. Somehow I suspect this isn’t going to happen and I am guessing that she would live to regret the offer if it ever did.

As far as I am concerned, there is nothing negative to say about this book at all, but not everyone in our Book Group agreed. A few did fail to fall in love with Sherman but personally, I don’t understand why.

Would I recommend this book? Of course I would. I’m not sure I will ever forget Sherman and I hope he has the same effect on other readers. If you are concerned about reading the book because of the animal abuse aspects, rest assured that this will not be an issue – it is basically dealt with on page 1 and not dwelt on thereafter.

I was captivated by this charming book, and found myself reading it with a smile on my face. A real feel good book.

A delightful, true tale. Well written and shows how stubborn animals can help damaged humans. There are stubborn humans too!