Mortadela: Memoirs of a Stray Dog

Mortadela: Memoirs of a Stray Dog
By Martius Yamamoto
What if the life of a nameless, homeless dog could help you remember what truly matters?
Abandoned as a puppy and left to roam the streets of Brazil, Mortadela walks through life without an owner, without shelter - but never without a story. He is a survivor. A wanderer. A quiet witness to both cruelty and kindness. With every pawstep, he gathers memories of fleeting friendships, moments of refuge, and glimmers of love in unexpected places.
Told through his own eyes, Mortadela is a gentle, lyrical novel about the dignity of overlooked lives, the beauty hidden in everyday mornings, and the unspoken bond between those who have suffered and those who still dare to love. Along the way, he meets unforgettable souls - an old immigrant living in poverty, a woman grieving her past, a drug addict who finds purpose in rescuing dogs, a doctor with a broken heart, a homeless man fading quietly into oblivion - as well as other strays burdened by silence, memory, or pain. Each encounter teaches Mortadela something about belonging and bereavement, love and loss, and the quiet strength it takes to carry on.
For readers of Mark Nepo, Pearl S. Buck, and Isak Dinesen. For those who cherished Black Beauty, The Art of Racing in the Rain, A Dog's Purpose, and Where the Crawdads Sing - Mortadela is more than a story about a dog. It's a small tribute to resilience, to quiet companionship, and to the hidden beauty of lives we often pass by too quickly. If you've ever felt invisible, if you've ever searched for meaning in small things, or if you've ever loved a dog - this book is for you.
"Every morning, when I wake and take my dogs for a walk, I wait for that moment when everything around me is bathed in this sacred light. Distinctions fade. Borders blur. Colors surrender to dawn. We are all transformed into silhouettes. Identity is no longer about appearance, species, or race. What remains is essence - posture, movement, direction, companionship. How we carry ourselves. Who we walk beside. The warmth we offer and receive. We are no longer man and dog, land and sea, light and shadow - we are beings, walking side by side in silence toward the same horizon, guided by the same light. This is more than a morning ritual; it is communion with something greater - humbling and elevating at once. Call it what you will. This light is more than the dawn. It shines brighter than any sun I have ever seen."