3 comments about Bad Dogs Have More Fun: Selected Writings on Animals, Family and Life from the Philadelphis Inquirer.

1. If you read the title, you'll know what to expect. It is a compilation of short stories about animals, family and life (mostly stories and lessons about life). Yes, I expected more animal stories, but I enjoyed the book none the less.



2. I feel robbed. I should have done more research, I suppose, but I mistakenly assumed that this was some sort of sequel to "Marley & Me", a book I truly loved. Had I known before purchasing this CD set that John Grogan was NOT involved creating it, I would never have bought it.
   
   The cover, both front and back, leads you to believe that this is a compilation of dog stories, which couldn't be further from the truth. Of six CD's included in this set, just one (CD #3) has any dog stories on it! The others are merely ramblings and musings from Grogan's old "Philadelphia Inquirer" column . . . probably alright, if that's what you wanted to listen to, but if you're looking for dog stories, this is NOT the CD set to buy. This set is far from entertaining and is mostly boring and depressing.
   
   I wish Amazon would let us assign ratings in the negative numbers as I would give this garbage a rating of -5 stars. Simply giving it a one star rating isn't sufficient. I feel ripped off, hugely disappointed and wish I had my money back.



3. Do not buy. This was done without the consent, involvement or approval of the author of the NY Times best selling book "Marley and Me," John Grogan.
   
   Stick with ONLY his versions of "Marley & Me." There are editions for all ages: Adult, teens and children.
   
   This is not one of them.

5 comments about Rex and the City: A Woman, a Man, and a Dysfunctional Dog.

1. I just started reading BARK magazine and saw this advertised and had to order it as I read ANYTHING about dogs I can find....I loved it...It is hysterically funny and I finished it in about 2 days I enjoyed it so much! If you have a shelter dog or a rescue dog you should definitely read it as you will relate to so much....The baby talk we all start to use upon getting a dog-especially a fearful one was really funny.(I do it too)!!! Highly recommended!



2. I just finished reading this book and I loved it! I've read Rex and the City stories in The Bark mag and I've always enjoyed them so when I read in The Bark that Lee Harrington had a book coming out based on the same stories I couldn't wait to read it. If you're a dog lover you will certainly enjoy this book! I saw my self, my husband and my dogs in this story and laughed through out the book. My husband is reading it now!!



3. I have two rescued dobermans and went through a h*ll of a time trying to help them get used to their new homes.
   This book had me in tears, both becuase i was laughing so hard at how funny her descriptions are, but also I cried sometimes, because what she says about dogs, and about people with dogs, is so true and real. Rescuing dogs sure can be hard. But this is a great story!! Just wait and see what a terrific dog "rex" turns into, and how the author turns into a terrific person as well. I am giving copies to all my dog-loving friends. and i hear there is a Volume II coming out, i can't wait for that one.



4. I haven't finished this book yet, but I've read the Rex and they City column in Bark magazine, so I know something about the story line.
   
   Anyway, I found the following part amusing (these two people have just gotten a dog and right away they are doubting what they've done):
   
   -----
   "Can we do it?" I said to Ted. "Can we take him back?"
   "I think we're going to have to," he said.
   [...]
   "I just wish there were a sign," I said. "Some sign, some guarantee that it's not always going to be like this. If he'll love us some day. That there'll be some reward."
   Rex was lying on the floor as I said this, and he had begun to lick his privates in a loud and rather lewd way. Rex glanced at me suspiciously and belched. Then he went back to licking himself.
   "There's your sign," Ted said.
   ----
   
   Heh. I don't think I have ever heard a dog burp. If I had asked for a sign and my dog burped at that exact moment, I'm pretty sure I would have taken him back.
   
   They don't take the dog back, though. I guess that's because he burped in chapter 2 and the book wasn't finished. Smart dog not to burp in a later chapter.
   
   Not everyone likes this kind of humor, but if you do you might like this book.



5. Rex and the City is the best dog memoir I have ever read!!! And it seems to me that the reviewer above missed an important point. Ms. Harrington has written an honest, poignant book about her experiences rescuing a shelter dog. The author admits, from the very first chapter, that before she got the dog she was rather misguided and self-absorbed-and this is the very thing that the viewer above is criticizing her for. But I think the author was very brave to admit her shortcomings-she discusses her fears and insecurities and poor judgment she felt as a woman in her thirties. She discusses her insecurities about feeling she is not a good enough person to take care of her dog. And because she is so honest, Harrington subjects herself to the very sort of criticism the reviewer above subjected her to. (the reviewer calls her "uninteresting" and a "fool"). But who hasn't been a fool in life? To admit this, and to write a memoir about it, is very brave indeed. And very real. The best thing about REX AND THE CITY is that the author overcomes a lot of her shortcomings, all because she rehabilitated this dog. In rescuing Rex, she ultimately rescued herself. And that, in my mind, is an inspiring story- for dog lovers and insecure women alike. The dog showed Ms. Harrington what it feels like to receive unconditional love. And we could all use more of that. A lot of people believe, erroneously, that we can find happiness through material things. And it is a big epiphany to realize only love can buy happiness. I recommend this book highly.

1 comments about Happy Tails: Inspirational Stories for Dog's Best Friend.

1. WOW - Top notch! What an inspiring book! Thank you for so beautifully stating a love for a dog, a love for all dogs, a love for rescue dogs and most importantly, God's love for each of us. This is a beautiful piece of work. A tender read. ENJOYABLE!

5 comments about Spotted in France.

1. This is a funny and warm hearted book that you'll never want to end. It's for anyone who loves animals or just needs a fun vacation.



2. I really loved this book. I even sent a copy to my 65 year old father and he loved it as well.



3. I LOVED this book. Charming, sweet but not sticky -- delightful. I fell in love with the people and the animals -- and Edmont's descriptions of France were perfect. All I wanted to do was call Air France and book a ticket. Fortunately, I am going back in August, so -- guess I can wait -- but this is a lovely book. Enjoy!



4. Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (9/06)
   
   Gregory Edmont's "Spotted in France" is an utterly charming and heartwarming story of an American living a very average life in Paris, until he gets a dog. Then his life changes in a number of ways and the author discovers that most French are not snotty - the way he used to think of them - but rather shy. And owning a dog (or is it sharing his life with a dog?) shows him an utterly different picture of the French people.
   
   All of a sudden Gregory and his charming Dalmatian, JP, belong. They are insiders and not visitors. People are friendlier, everybody smiles and Gregory's life seems to be magically transformed. Then adventure beckons - JP is needed in Provence by his old breeder, Madame Clix. A young Dalmatian lady, Flirt, needs a "husband" and JP is chosen to sire her next litter. So Gregory and JP embark on a truly fantastic journey across France all the way JP's birthplace. And what a journey this turns out to be! To start, they are going to do it on a Vespa - the cute Italian scooter. This immediately creates problems with the police - are Dalmatians allowed to ride on a scooter? The journey is exhilarating and often quite funny. Gregory decided to combine frugal sleeping quarters and lavish restaurants on the way to Madame Clix's domain. They meet all kinds of interesting people, including a very hospitable farmer's family, a coven of modern day witches (which conveniently includes a scooter mechanic), a rather unconventional Catholic priest and more.
   
   Once safe with Madame Clix another adventure begins. JP has never "courted" before. How will he perform? Does he need help? A visit to a rather peculiar veterinary clinic in nearby Marseille turns out very strangely. The first encounter with Flirt is disappointing. Will love happen at all?
   
   I do not want to spoil your fun with this uplifting story, so you'll have to read it yourself to find the answer to this particular question. Suffice to say that things are never quite as simple as they seem and there is always a bit of surprise and suspense to keep the story flowing.
   
   Gregory Edmont spins a good tale. His writing is straightforward and honest. His comments on France and French are refreshing and candid. He is very observant and his characters well drawn. One truly longs to find out more about so many of them. I'd love to see a sequel - or two - to this book. The accompanying drawings by Mark Reyes are very much in tune with the story and they complement it in the best possible way.
   This is a book that should appeal to most anybody. If you are an animal lover, JP should become one of your favorite characters ever. If you are a travel buff, you'll find this a well written travel tale. A foodie will enjoy the descriptions of multi-course meals at Michelin starred restaurants. A nature lover should be enchanted by the descriptions of the areas Gregory and JP drove through - and even more so of the special cabbage patch. A romantic will find this to be an enchanting love story. And anybody else will find plenty of things to learn from this story. As for me, "Spotted in France" made me look forward to my next trip to France even more.



5. I picked this book up at a reading the author gave at a nearby Vespa dealer. It was the perfect format for the book -- JP (the dog) and his progeny were there to mug for fans, while gleeming Vespas, an engaging author, and tasty French appetizers set the mood.
   
   Once I got out of that showcase and actually sat down to read the book, I was thoroughly impressed. It's a quick, light read -- a great summer book if you're looking for something to take on vacation. All of the essential elements of a good travel story --a narrator you care about, a dog you can't help but admire, beautiful landscapes to make you wish for your own French vacation, and an endless parade of characters to keep you chuckling along. If you've read the current bestseller Marlee & Me, and are looking for something in the same vein, then Congrats! You just found it with Spotted in France.

4 comments about Real People Don't Own Monkeys: And Other Stories of Pets, Their People and the Vets Who See It All.

1. See my comment to the vet student who could't handle the Tale of Tom-cat McGee. Review therein. And I add here: Excellent read; I upgraded it from bathroom reading to late night wind down. I don't have time for reading for fun lately, but I was forced to make room for this one.



2. In many ways Dr. Kiklevich's book can be summed up in one anecdote she recounts -- as a new vet straight out of internship she joined a small practice with several established vets. When she discovered one of them was secretly being cruel to the animals, she laid down an ultimatim -- either the cruel doctor had to be fired or she'd quit.

   The director of the clinic thought it over and wisely decided in her favor. Such devotion to her patients cannot be taught, and in the end is much more valuable than experience or seniority.

   Veronika says she knew she wanted to be a vet from the time she was a toddler -- after reading this book you will believe her. She is funny, self-deprecating, witty, charming and most of all passionately, PASSIONATELY devoted to her patients.

   I wish I could make her my vet.




3. As a veterinary student, I was appalled to read that such antics as lying to clients and microwaving cats not only seem to be acceptable, but touted as entertainment in this book! It certainly made me happy that I did not choose to pursue my education at Washington State University if this is any representation the quality of their instruction!



4. This book is guaranteed to make to you laugh, cry and exclaim in wonder and indignation as you follow the author through her thoroughly "real," but remarkably fanciful day-to-day experiences as a small animal vet. It seems almost impossible that one person could have encountered so many characters in a single lifetime. On the other hand, as you will quickly surmise within the first 10 pages of the book, Dr. Veronika Kiklevich is no ordinary vet.

   Here is a woman with a wicked sense of humor, the stamina of a steam engine and an absolute commitment to the well-being of animals. This commitment leads her into all sorts of peculiar, poignant and occasionally dangerous adventures. We hear of her time spent as the vet for a wolf pack, her confrontation with a co-worker who is subsequently fired for cruelty, the vacation spent on a tropical island neutering cats, and her blatant manipulation of friends, family, co-workers and casual acquaintances in her quest to find homes for abandoned pets.

   Not surprisingly, there are stories about human beings as well - the elegant, eloquent doctor who spared no expense on his dog's care, but turned out to be an imposter wanted in several states for forgery; the "special look" as she calls it (think "1980's grunge with may be a faint overlay of whips-and-chains panache") of Iguana owners; and the money hungry vet who liked to add "aggravation charges" to his clients' bills.

   It is appropriate that all is not fun and laughter in this book, despite its author's gift for telling a ribald tale. Hers is a world where grisly things happen, and she makes no attempt to hide the gory details. Many a time I found myself setting the book aside, taking and deep breath and thinking, "whoa." However, if you can handle the heat this is a book that will delight, entertain and enlighten. Somehow the world seems like a better place knowing Dr. Kiklevich is out there practicing medicine.

5 comments about Cat Miracles: Inspirational True Stories of Remarkable Felines.

1. A great book for all those feline lovers! The stories made me think of cats in a whole new positive way.



2. If you have ever been a guardian to a cat, or a cat has been a guardian to you, read this book! If you've never had a cat companion, you will probably want to run out and adopt one after reading this book. Cats are marvelous creatures and this book is full of interesting stories about them.
   
   There's a wonderful story about a talking cat. There are stories about how cats have rescued people from almost certain death. These are not far fetched stories, but are amazing and true accounts of some wonderful felines. I highly recommend this book.



3. What a great book. Similar in style to the "chicken soup" type of books, containing a number of true short stories of cats and their owners. You might even shed a tear or two, such as I did in the story of Kitty, who survived a trip under the hood of a car! Recommended!



4. This book is perfect for any cat lover. Someone who loves their feline companion like a child. It has such great true accounts of miracles thats have happened to cats. Cats are very loving intelligent creatures and this book really proves it an dshows how love and heal and save aniamls as well as people an dhow animals can be angels to their people and save their lives as well. This book will really make oyu know that animals have souls



5. In a world where all around is apparent madness, this is a perfect book to read from just before going to sleep. It is
   well written, with a quick easy style that is typical of Hanson and Steiger. The stories are both interesting and
   uplifting, with nothing that will bring about any uneasy dreams. Only buy this book if you enjoy reading in bed, the
   company of cats or getting a great nights sleep.

5 comments about Ella in Europe: An American Dog's International Adventures.

1. This book is a pleasure to read. It will frequently make you smile and is well worth your time and money. As I live in Europe, I keep thinking that I, too, should take my dog on vacation. We could even take the family car. Who knows what amazing things we would see and do? To start somewhere, we have begun to collect all shots necessary for a dog passport.



2. Ella in Europe is a sweet, heart-warming tale of the European adventures of a man and his best friend. Being a "dog person" it's easy to relate to Michael's one way chatter, the nicknames, and the pure joy he gets just from being in Ella's company.
   
   Reading Ella in Europe makes me realize just how disadvantaged we are in the U.S. by not allowing our dogs to accompany us on many of our daily outings. Hopefully in time this will change, but until then, I think I'll start planning a trip abroad with my pup!



3. I just loved this book. Ella is a magical and wonderful dog. Michael Konik is a great author and I felt as if I were in Europe with his descriptions of resturants and bars, hotels and the people throughout. He really loves Ella and so did the people in Europe. A fun book to lighten your spirit and know that a dog is truly a man's best friend.



4. I don't know which is cuter: Michael Konik's heartwarming writing or Ella's beautiful smile. I love both of them. This is a "feel good" book for people who truly love dogs. Another recent bestseller about a guy and his dog seemed to be written by someone who doesn't really understand or appreciate dogs, but just puts up with them. Mr. Konik, on the other hand, is a real Dog Person. This is my favorite Dog Book of all time. Great photos of Europe also!



5. I just finished the book Ella In Europe and I just wanted to express
   as an American living in Austria with my dog Randy, that I enjoyed the
   book immensely. My sister brought her dog for the first time to Europe
   last Summer and we went through many of the same experiences that the book so well described. I would recommend it to any dog lover and say come to Europe and see the way it should be done in the USA.
   Thank you for lightening our lives in these times of serious world affairs Mr. Konick!

3 comments about What Horses Teach Us: Life's Lessons Learned from Our Equine Friends.

1. This book reflects how creative and unfathomable our Creator God in Heaven really is! The fact that all living creatures have the same Creator God shows how intrinsically and uniquely designed each species is to clearly represent itself.
   
   As humans (we're not animals - Thank God!:), this book represents the fact that we are able to read, think, reason, feel, make intellectual decisions, love and be loved. Animals, on the other hand, can only represent themselves in the station of life they have been created for - they are the handiwork of our imaginative God who allows animals to be blessings which we may thoroughly enjoy and appreciate.
   
   Saturate yourself with the sweet sentiments of this endearing book...take a quiet moment to reflect on what the pages represent. A picture is worth a thousand words. Allow God to reveal Himself through His Creation just as He promises He will in Romans chapter 1 (take a look at the Holy Bible) and be renewed by the goodness He has toward us! Enjoy...



2. The previous reviewer who said the book had no content...was just pictures is definately off base with their evaluation. The disappointed reviewer was probably expecting one of those horse psychology books. Yes, there are mostly just pictures, but they are wonderful, humerous affirmations of animal behaviour from which we as human animals can be reminded of our own wisdom and folly and our connection to the animal kingdom and the oneness of all living things. The pictures make you wonder how long the photographer sat around waiting for the animal to do that. And the lessons and commentary for the pictures fit perfectly. I love all the books in this series..What Cats, Dogs, Horses, etc. Can Teach Us, and highly recommend them. They make wonderful gifts for animal lovers and are great to have handy to pick up for a good chuckle or a warm fuzzy emotional pick me up.



3. There is no content. It's just pictures with captions. I want to return it, but when I try on line, it tells me the book is not returnable. I just received it yesterday.

3 comments about Buster's Christmas Letter: Lessons from a Dog's Tale of Survival.

1. LOOKING FOR A BIRTHDAY GIFT, CONFIRMATION, GRADUATION, BAR MITZVAH, OR "JUST BECAUSE' GIFT?....."Buster's Christmas Letter" will fill the bill. WOW!
   
   It is a wonderful book. Not necessarily a Christmas book, although Buster's Christmas lettere is included.
   
   Humorous and poignant, it is the true tale of a dog and his family; a very functional family, as you will see. It should be a model and inspiration for anyone.
   
   The story is beautiful and "Buster's Christmas Letter" is also beautiful from its cover - to the color pictures - to the last page.
   
   BOW WOW B W.....Sanibel, Florida



2. Even if you aren't a "dog person," you are going to LOVE this book! Buster's Christmas Letter is the book you'll want to give to everyone you know. Wilson writes simply and clearly, with a thematic message that's timeless: feelings are more important than things. Buster's Christmas Letter reminds us what's really important in life: family, relationships, and telling the people we love how much they mean to us. My family loved reading it aloud. Buster's life, adventures, and impact on his wonderful family, the Wilsons, touched us deeply. I heartily recommend this book. Someone should be working on the movie!



3. I found this book at a time in my life when I was headed in a bad direction. Some have even suggested that if I didn't change my ways I might soon find myself in the "big kennel in the sky." After digging through this autobiographical account written by an Australian shepherd, I realized that maybe my problems weren't so bad. Buster's Christmas Letter is the perfect inspirational chew toy for this holiday season. Think: a canine Profiles in Courage. This furriffic book will will bring tears to your eyes and leave your howling from laughter. Take a bite out of this one if you're in need of a wake up call about facing life's troubles heard on. You won't believe all of the wisdom you can receive from this four-legged yoda.

3 comments about All God's Creatures: The Blessing of Animal Companionship.

1. The book was a wonderful way of enforcing the love we feel toward the animals we live with and the love from God toward us all.



2. A rich and practical guide to reflecting on our relationship with the creatures who share our households, All God's Creatures is well-grounded theologically. At the same time, Debra Farrington has provided a wealth of practices and prayers for allowing us to see these animal companions as sacramental signs of God's own work and mercy. She invites us--urges us--to move beyond romanticized notions of "having a pet" and calls us to see the inherently holy connections between people and the animals who share our lives.
   
   I have already given this book to six other people, and have found it to be a needed resource.



3. Reading this book has not only changed how we treat the cats and goldfish who share our home, it has changed the conversations in our house with and about our animal companions. When my six-year-old asked about getting a hamster, I told her it is a big decision to invite another animal into our home. I would never have begun the conversation this way before reading Debra Farrington's book.
   
   This is a sound theological, practical and engaging examination of our relationship with the animals we invite into our homes, covering everything from naming to feeding to playing. The book also offers ways to be with aniamls who are sick or dying and includes rituals for burial. I'm planning on giving it to most everyone on my Christmas list!