Comments on: Great animal reads for 2009?

By: John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:10:48 +0000

My wife wrote a book about the adventures of our first year with a rescued black Lab, named Bandit. The book is “BANDIT Big Black Dog Who Stole My Heart” and although it’s entertaining, its ultimate goal is to spread an awareness of The Big Black Dog Syndrome, which is rampant in shelters across the country. A unique feature of the book is that each chapter includes Bandit’s viewpoint, and midway through each chapter, with a black pawprint, and a different font, Bandit speaks! It’s very easy reading, one that can be shared with children, and the goal is that readers will fall in love with this Big Black Dog, and consider adoption from a shelter of their own Big Black Dog, (or any shelter animal.) We would be happy to submit a copy for your consideration, if you would confirm that by email. Bandit is currently in training to be a therapy service dog, to help veterans who suffer from PTSD, of which I am one! Book sales are funding Bandit’s foundation, which will ultimately rescue, adopt, train and place dogs with veterans. Thank you for your consideration. John Bradshaw and Bandit sends hugs….

By: Glenye Oakford

Glenye Oakford — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:28:14 +0000

This is one I’ve just stumbled across this week that might, unfortunately, be hard to find. But if anyone else happens to find another copy, I’d highly recommend it! Abebooks.com might be a good place to start.

It’s called All The Dogs of My Life, and the author is given only as “Elizabeth, author of ‘Elizabeth and her German Garden.’” Published in 1936 by William Heinemann. It’s not very long, but it is a great little book whose first page made it irresistible to me. It begins:

“I would like, to begin with, say that though parents, husbands, children, lovers, and friends are all very well, they are not dogs. In my day and turn having been all of the above—except that instead of husbands I was wives—I know what I am talking about, and am well acquainted with the ups and downs, the daily ups and downs, the sometimes hourly ones in the thin-skinned, which seem inevitably to accompany human loves.
“Dogs are free from these fluctuations. Once they love, they love steadily, unchangingly, till their last breath.
“That is how I like to be loved.
“Therefore I will write of dogs.”

I had to read on after that!

By: Lis

Lis — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:46:11 +0000

Miki, I had no idea Mr. Franklin was your personal friend. My apologies, I’m sure.

By about page 50, he had finally focused on the ostensible subject of his book rather than himself, so I continued reading, and it appears likely, as of page 89, that the book will be well worth finishing.

But engaging the interest of the reader is part of the job of the writer, and a good editor would have leaned on him about those first 45 pages.

By: Miki

Miki — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:52:28 +0000

Lis - And I find him a lot more fascinating than I find you - but all that doesn’t matter, does it?

What do you think of the book?

By: Lis

Lis — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:10:27 +0000

Miki, I like literary non-fiction, and I’m currently reading Wolf in the Parlor. And I have to say, Mr. Franklin finds himself a lot more fascinating than I do.

By: LauraL

LauraL — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:52:07 +0000

For a light read, I really enjoyed “Homer’s Odyssey.” (Dr. Patty Khuly wrote the foreword, BTW.)

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:58:59 +0000

I had just read Sighthound by Pam Houston. Its a few years old but was a great read about a woman trying to understand her life and the dog that helps her.

By: Robert Forman

Robert Forman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:58:38 +0000

I’m surprized you don’t have any of Richard Adam’s books on your list.
He has a way of making the reader feel like they are inside the animals head. The Plague Dogs is a very difficult read for animal lovers though. The story is about two dogs who have escaped from a scientific testing lab. The tabloid media discovers the lab has a section in which plague is tested and suggests the dogs might have it (they don’t). The early part of the book describe the tortures suffered by the animals in the lab and makes for very difficult reading. Oddly, an animated film made from the book substitues an unhappy ending for the book’s happy ending. Traveller is about General Lee’s horse. Watership Down is one of my favorite books and probably his most famous work.

By: Glenye Oakford

Glenye Oakford — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:41:12 +0000

I’m reading Dog Years by Mark Doty and often find it so moving that I have to simply close it and sit there for a few minutes before continuing. It reminds me intensely of the old dogs I have lost. It’s a remarkable book.

I’ve also recently found an old book in great little shop, and it will be my next read. One of those things you open while browsing through a shop, and then you start reading and think, “Oh! This is marvelous!” It’s called The Way of a Dog, by William Beach Thomas. I have no idea if it’s still in print, but, you know, Abebooks is your friend! If the bit I already have read is any indication, it will be a very pleasant read.

By: Kim Thornton

Kim Thornton — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:24:25 +0000

I’ve been reading Inside of a Dog, but since I already know most of the information in it, it hasn’t really held my interest. Too bad; I had high hopes for it. I wish Diane Ackerman would write a book about cats or dogs. I think I have Wolf in the Parlor in my stack of books to read; maybe I’ll switch to that.