No comments about More Stories Of Cats and the Lives They Touch.

5 comments about Cat Women: Female Writers on Their Feline Friends.

1. If you love cats then this is the book for you! Very enjoyable and light. A series of delighful short essays by women writers about their cats. Many parts will have you laughing out loud. I loved it.



2. There's a reason this book was on the mark-down section. It is horrible. It is trying too hard to be edgy when its target audience wanted pro-cat stories. From the owner who let her cat get frostbit then brags about it, to the other stories of neglect and hatred of all things feline, this bunch of essays deserves to quietly get tossed in the recyle bin. It's actually not even worth the cost of printing nor the paper it was printed on.
   I happen to love cats, and fully expected to enjoy this book. I suppose I'm out of the demographic for this book anyway. It's aimed at 30-somethings who got a cat because they were lonely then were afraid to admit it.
   Yada yada yada.....bunch of hot hair by people who don't really understand cats.



3. I picked up this book for a very specific reason: to help me decide if I wanted to become a cat woman again. It had been a few years since my two feline loves had moved on to that bottomless bowl of cat treats in the sky, and it seemed time to welcome a new meow into my life. To be sure, I wanted to revisit that special, mysterious, hard-to-articulate-without-sounding trite relationship that develops between felines and females without the risk of falling in love again. And for this purpose, the book deserves five stars. More than the evocative prose, the funny stories, the intimate details, hearing the range of feelings -- physical and emotional -- that cats have evoked in other women, helped me realize I wasn't yet willing to dive into a new relationship with even the prettiest kitty. Special thanks to Megan McMorris for her right-on introduciton and Sophia Dembling for an unforgettable opening essay.
   Jean Fain



4. I can not say enough about this book without almost gushing. I found this book "staring" at me one day only days after my Mistie had passed away. Reading other people's stories about their cats unique habits and unique personalities and the bond that was there for him made me feel comforted somehow during this grief period that I am experiencing.
   
   I loved all the essays to one degree or another but two top favorites were about a little man named Murphy aka Murph dawg and how he wedged himself a place in the heart of his owner's significant other and then the editor's. Megan McMorris, own essay on trying to get her Lucy and her boyfriend to find some common ground.
   
   If you want to read how cats can affect your life...this book is the perfect place to start.



5. To me, cats have always been as mysterious as women--they're elusive one moment, playful the next, and you never know what's going on behind those eyes--so I read this book in the hope that the pairing of the two species together would offer some insight, that like with mathematical signs, the shroud of mystery would be cancelled out when multiplied. I wasn't disappointed.
   
   There's a lot of variety in the essays, some humorous, some sad, but all very genuine. My favorites are "Strutting the Catwalk: Seven Habits of One Sexy Beast" by Jennifer Jalalat, which compares the innate sexiness in cats with female sexuality, and "Saved by the Cat" by Melinda J. Combs, which tells a tale of how saving a cat saved a friendship.
   
   I haven't read all the essays yet, but the ones I have are great, and while they haven't taken the mystery out of women or cats--nothing ever will (and I think I like it that way anyway)--there are a lot of insightful and touching moments.

5 comments about Out of Harm's Way.

1. Great book on the plight of unwanted and abandoned animals and the humans who care enough to do something about it by rescuing them and finding homes for these homeless pets.



2. Terri Crisp is a dinosaur and hopefully she has been replaced by more enlightened people. She randomly euthenized every feral cat she came across, proclaiming that ferals are not adoptable and are basically a scurge. Obvioulsy she has never heard of T.N.R. programs. I was very disappointed in this book and in Crisp's actions and can only hope people will NOT use it as a guide to animal welfare. It is just one uneducated womens accounts of her exploits.



3. This is in response to the post about Terry Crisp's organization being investigated by California's Attorney General's office. This is what's posted on her website:
   
   Noah's Wish Board of Directors, March 26, 2007
   
   We are writing to inform you that Noah's Wish is in the midst of an ongoing civil investigation by the California Attorney General's office concerning funds received by Noah's Wish during Hurricane Katrina. The California Attorney General has taken the position that certain funds donated to Noah's Wish during this period, and its immediate aftermath, are restricted and may only be used for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, rather than the animal victims of other disasters or for general disaster preparedness. Noah's Wish disagrees with the Attorney General's position with respect to those funds, but is working cooperatively with the Attorney General toward a timely resolution of the dispute.
   
   In response to the California Attorney General, Noah's Wish has set aside the disputed funds and agreed not to use those funds pending final resolution of the investigation. Noah's Wish is unable to predict when the matter will be resolved. Because Noah's Wish does not presently have access to the disputed funds, it is unable at this time to continue with its efforts to provide disaster preparedness services and volunteer training.
   
   We will provide you with an update once we have resolved this matter.
   
   We appreciate your patience and also wish to express our gratitude for all that you have done to support Noah's Wish in carrying out our charitable mission.



4. State probe forces animal-rescue nonprofit to close
   Queries $8M raised in wake of Katrina
   Sacramento Business Journal - March 30, 2007
   by Kelly Johnson
   Staff Writer
   A local animal-rescue nonprofit that gained national attention for its work after Hurricane Katrina, sparking more than $8 million in donations, was shutting down this month amid a state investigation into how it used that money.
   Noah's Wish, which rescues and cares for animals in disasters, was preparing this week to close its El Dorado Hills headquarters. About a dozen workers have resigned or been laid off since late last year.
   The California Attorney General's Office has been investigating the organization since last summer, examining how Noah's Wish used donations that might have been designated for relief efforts in the hurricane-ravaged area. The probe led to most of the nonprofit's funds being set aside in accounts where they couldn't be used for other operations.
   The nonprofit contends the funds were used properly and said it is cooperating with investigators.
   The group received millions in donations after news stories showed its efforts in an area devastated by the August 2005 hurricane. Former Noah's Wish insiders allege those millions were intended to relieve suffering in the storm-battered zone but were improperly used for other purposes.
   According to documents obtained by the Business Journal from a former employee, an accounting firm hired by Noah's Wish to examine its books concluded that it would be impossible to conduct a reliable audit because so many records were missing from the period when the group and its volunteers were working on the ravaged Gulf Coast.
   Documents filed by the nonprofit or provided by the former employee indicated Noah's Wish had about $210,000 in revenue in the year ended June 30, 2005, and almost 40 times that much -- $8.4 million -- in the next six months.
   Expenses shot upward, too, from about $212,000 in 2004-2005 to more than $2 million in the last six months of 2005, including almost $400,000 to purchase vehicles. In early 2006, the group bought a storage building in East Alton, Ill., for $65,125 and leased office space in New York City, according to documents provided by the former employee.
   Terri Crisp, founder of the group and its executive director until this week, was paid $6,200 in 2004-2005, tax records show. The documents supplied by the former employee covering July through December 2005 indicated Crisp received compensation of almost $141,000.
   The nonprofit's board this week acknowledged the investigation on the group's Web site. "The California Attorney General has taken the position that certain funds donated to Noah's Wish during this period (of Katrina), and its immediate aftermath, are restricted and may only be used for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, rather than the animal victims of other disasters or for general disaster preparedness," a letter posted online said. "Noah's Wish disagrees ... but is working cooperatively with the Attorney General toward a timely resolution of the dispute."
   Noah's Wish has agreed not to use the disputed funds while the investigation is pending, and the nonprofit cannot continue its work without access to the money, the letter said.
   A spokesman for the state's top lawyer would not confirm or deny an investigation.
   Ralph Nevis of Downey Brand Attorneys LLP in Sacramento, who represents the group, would not discuss the nature of the inquiry.
   Founder was asked to leave board
   Staff members are being paid through April 11, but this week only the office manager remained at the El Dorado Hills headquarters to close things down over the next couple of weeks.
   At one point, the nonprofit had 15 employees working at offices in El Dorado Hills and New York City and from homes in other states. The three-person office in New York closed in January.
   "They've reduced the staff because of funding. It's everybody," Crisp said Wednesday. She said she's taking her remaining days as sick leave, but by Wednesday evening a message on the group's Web site said she was no longer connected with Noah's Wish.
   Crisp also served on the organization's board of directors from its founding in 2002 until February. She's no longer on the board, she said, "partly because it's a conflict of interest." The Attorney General's office "had asked for me not to remain on the board."
   Because she's no longer on the board, Crisp said she did not have the latest information on the investigation or details about what it covers. Investigators, she said, have not interviewed her and were working only through the nonprofit's attorney and its board chair, Amy Maher.
   Maher did not return calls Wednesday. Board members Lyn Kendrick, Gail Monick and David Lesser declined to comment on the investigation; another, Heather Hathaway, did not respond to a request for an interview.
   Asked about allegations that the nonprofit inappropriately used money, Crisp said, "I don't know of any misuse of funds."
   Lori Polk, chair of the Noah's Wish board during Katrina, left it the month after the hurricane. Before and after Katrina, she said, she voiced concerns about "the organization and the allocations of the donations we were collecting." She said she felt she was "fighting a losing battle trying to maintain my fiduciary responsibility to the organization."
   The group "did not make decisions based upon board approval," she said, and made "expenditures without approval."
   The former employee, who would only speak on condition of anonymity, said that "the amount of money that was spent by the organization was unbelievable."
   The Attorney General's authority over charities includes investigating the loss of substantial funds during one year, illegal use of funds, diversion of funds from their intended purpose and excessive amounts paid for salaries, benefits, travel, entertainment, legal and other professional fees, according to the agency's Web site.
   Raising money last month
   Noah's Wish was soliciting funds as recently as February. In a letter to potential donors, Crisp wrote the nonprofit had "made a concerted effort to only ask for donations when the need truly exists, and not become a pest with repeated appeals."
   Later, the letter said, "So why am I contacting you now? Noah's Wish is prepared for the next disaster, but lately this has become increasingly challenging." Because 2006 was a "fairly uneventful year," Crisp wrote, donations declined significantly.
   Tax documents for Noah's Wish obtained by the Business Journal reported revenue of $8.4 million, almost all of it from contributions, between July 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2005. Some $4.8 million was in unrestricted assets and $1.5 million in temporarily restricted assets at the end of that year, financial documents indicate.
   In June 2006, the accounting firm engaged to audit the books wrote the board that it could not express an opinion on the 2005 financial statements, according to documents provided by the former employee.
   "A significant portion of corroborating evidence such as vendor invoices, receipts, deposit slips and other supporting data were not maintained during the period that the organization was responding to the needs of animals during Hurricane Katrina. The records that remain are not sufficient to permit the application of auditing procedures that would be adequate for us to express an opinion on the accompanying financial statements," according to the letter from John Waddell & Co. CPAs.
   For the second half of 2005, Noah's Wish paid $405,948 in salaries and compensation, according to the Form 990 supplied by the former employee. Of that, Crisp received $140,900, while the second-highest compensation went to Sheri Thompson at $118,125, the tax documents show.
   If the numbers are correct, it appears the compensation for Crisp and Thompson is well above the norm for nonprofits of this size, said Ann Lucas, executive director of the Nonprofit Resource Center. The annual median base salary for the executive director of a nonprofit of this size is $130,000, according to the 2006 Compensation and Benefits Survey of Northern California Nonprofit Organizations, which is produced by the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles.
   Noah's Wish committed $1 million to the city of Slidell, La. for construction of a new animal control center; the old one was severely damaged by Katrina. The city has not received any of those funds, Slidell City Attorney Tim Mathison said.



5. I thought it was an okay book, but as I was reading, I found myself skipping through all the blah blah blah to get to the actual animal stories. The stories about the animals were great, but you have to wade through a lot to get to them.

1 comments about More Stories Of Dogs and the Lives They Touch.

1. I had just finished reading the first book "Stories of Dogs" , when I saw this one had been released. I enjoyed the first one so much, I had to get this one to add to my library.
   
   It was every bit as enjoyable as the first and I fell in love with the puppy dog on the cover. I laughed, I cried, I understood the emotions of so many of those in the book.
   
   It was a joy to read and it is a feel good book that any true dog lover, should treat (no pun intended) themselves to...I give it four paw, UP!

5 comments about Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter.

1. The best place to get a pet is from a shelter, and if you read this book, you will learn why. I have always gotten my pets from shelters, but did not know the behind-the-scenes story until I read this (and a few others). Ms. Hess writes for the general reader, and is a bit less introspective than I would have liked, but her information is sound. In fact, I would recommend this book to teenagers, precisely because it is not too high-brow. Today's kids are tomorrow's pet owners, and it is important to educate them in the realities of pet overpopulation, puppy mills, and the fact that pets are not designer accessories, but living beings who require more than some kibble and water.



2. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering a pet. It makes you think about what repercussions are possible if you obtain a pet on a whim and do not dedicate yourself to training and caring for it. It shows the results of our society's "throwaway" mentality, the lack of education on the effects of pet overpopulation and the way our declining economy has added to the problem by not allowing many citizens the money to afford proper pet care and sterilization.
   
   This books shows a cross section of a typical animal shelter and the fact that there are many not so happy endings, mostly because of humans and their failure to do right by their pets.



3. I've volunteered at the animal shelter in my town for a few years now, but have never had quite as much insight as this book provided. I get the feeling the shelter in the book has a smaller volunteer base than the shelter I have dealt with based on the details they were willing to share with her. This was a very uplifting book that explained a lot about why shelters work the way they do (ie rules about who can adopt, what happens when they get lost pets, etc.). Unfortunately, it is most likely to be read by the people that already understand these rules and why they exist.



4. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I'm among those who do know what kind of responsibility it takes to own a dog. I'm the happy 'Mom' of 2 terriers, one of which is a rescue dog. It is true about rescued animals - they know they've been given another chance and will give you their love many times over.

   Elizabeth Hess was down to earth in showing the trials and successes an animal shelter goes through. If you know someone who's not sure about getting a pet, I highly suggest they read this book. It'll make them think twice. If you know someone with misconceptions that all shelter animals get homes, give them this book as a wakeup call! A pet can take up as much or more of your time than a human baby, but the human race has made dogs, cats and other animals disposeable. There are happy endings as well as sad in the book, but it's worth buying. As the kids would say, we give it a 2 paws up!




5. This book was so good I could not put it down. A realistic yet compassionate look at shelters today. A must read!

5 comments about If Only They Could Speak: Stories about Pets and Their People.

1. I enjoyed "The Dog who Loved too Much" (which might have been better titled "the Dog Owner who Loved too Much") so I picked this book up for more engaging stories of animal behavior and problem resolutions. My interest was further piqued by the chapter heading, "The Pit Bull from Hell". As the owner of a 9 year old pit bull, I have to say that Mr Dodman does not really "get" pit bulls. It's probably because the people who tend to have pit bulls cannot afford fancy schmancy animal behaviorist sessions.
   
   Mr Dodson seems to imply that aggression against people is something normal in pit bulls, just lying beneath the surface of even those "cupcake" pit bulls he mentions in passing. I have lived in a densely populated urban neighborhood where pit bulls are popular for over 30 years, and I have never felt threatened by any of the local pit bulls including those used for dog fighting. I have been menaced by rottweilers, a rott-GSD mutt, and GSD mixed breeds running off leash in a local park.
   
   The author describes a somewhat naive young man who tries to adopt a pit bull at a shelter but is directed to a pit bull breeder (WHY? with so many pit bull puppies ending up in shelters everywhere!) The dog he acquired seemed to be a product of careless dog breeding, but we are told nothing of the breeder. The animal developed a decidedly atypical aggression towards adult humans, probably a genetic error compounded by the ignorant owner's lack of understanding of dominant dog behavior.
   
   I'm surprised that Mr Dodson didn't take this opportunity to point out the extreme importance of training puppies not to exhibit food aggression, as I did with my little pit bull. Food aggression causes so many dangerous problems with dogs and people that every dog, not just pit bulls, should be trained to allow people to take his food, bone, or whatever away from him at any time. This is most easily done when the animal is very young! I think Mr Dodson needs to get out and meet some good pit bulls, those entertaining and loyal companions which will never find their way to an animal behaviorist.



2. As if we don't have enough to worry about in regards to the children of today being overmedicated...now our pets, too?! His solution to almost every problem was prescribing an antidepressant. Also, his writing of his patients' owners came across as very egotistical and condescending. Some of the stuff had merit, but it was the same thing any trainer or behaviorist would tell you to do...establish dominance, ignore bad behaviors and reward good, etc.



3. Dr. Dodman is a world renowned animal psychiatrist and his and all of his books are great sources for information about understanding dogs and correcting bad behavior.



4. This should have been a fine book, but the author's stilted prose and misuse of words on every second page nearly ruined it for me. Dodman swings wildly from overly prim writing to embarrassingly slangy, a sure sign of a bad writer.
   
   Oliver Sacks, please report to the Veterinary School!



5. I picked this book up on a whim, since I own two neurotic miniature Dachshunds. I was captivated from the first paragraph of the preface. Dr. Dodman writes eloquently, with wit, compassion, and common sense about the pitfalls we fallible humans fall into when it comes to interacting with our beloved pets. Most importantly for me was the reassurance it gave that there are millions of dedicated animal-lovers who know that animals are not "just pets." They have feelings and emotional needs, too. Thank you, Dr. Dodman, for a wonderful read, and a confirmation that there lots of cherished doggies out there!!!

5 comments about Tall Ears and Short Tales: Observations from the Barn.

1. This book is written with love, warmth and humor. I sometimes laughed, sometimes cried, but always realized the author's love of horses and her dedication to end horse slaughter. May God bless her for the work she's doing for all equine!



2. Join the author on her personal journey into the hearts and souls of neglected, abused, and unwanted animals. You'll meet lots of courageous horses looking for a second chance at life, and you'll also learn a little about a delightful Chocolate Lab who mothers horses, cats, and baby chicks.

   Knowledgeably written by Carol M. Chapman, owner of The Last Refuge, a sanctuary for horses and other assorted creatures no one else wanted. Tall Ears & Short Tales is a compelling and informative look at one of nature's wonderful and often terribly abused creatures - the horse - and the extremely dedicated people who rescue, rehabilitate, and provide sanctuary for them. Respect, humor, and thoughtful reflections upon the horses' point of view combine to make a thoroughly fascinating assortment of anecdotes from a wonderful writer and true animal lover.




3. This book is a "must read" for all animal lovers, and especially horse lovers. The author's warm style and insight into the minds of animals will draw you in and never let you go! "Horsey" people (of which I count myself one, according to the author's definition) will truly identify with the connection one feels with horses, and non-"horsey" people will get a wonderful taste of our side of the horse world.

   The author's natural, relaxed attitude toward animals is further reflected in her general philosophy toward family, relationships, and life in general. She makes you want to come and visit The Last Refuge and have a chat over coffee and perhaps muck a stall or two...




4. I have always been concerned about animals welfare. Especially cats. When I heard about Carol's book - I was only slightly interested. Boy!!! did I change my mind. I tried to read most of it on lunch hours but geeish... my eyes got red all the time-keep your Kleenex handy. Her style of writing puts you right there with the horse and feeling what he feels. It is extremely touching.

   I promise you that whether you have ever owned a horse (I have not) or rode a horse (I have only once) -- you WILL feel differently about them after this book. You will want to run and hug each and every one you see.

   It is easy reading - fun and touching. Interesting and joyful.
   I recommend it for all ages -- adults and children. This is a must have book!!!!! Give to your friends and relatives -- maybe we can all make a difference in horses lives and they in ours.




5. This book is wonderful. The writing style is easy to follow and it touches on the feelings and wonders of living with animals in a gentle, caring way.

   It's a must read for any horse or dog lover.

4 comments about To Absent Friends: A Collection of Stories of the Dogs We Miss.

1. The delivery on this was also wonderful the book is about dogs who we've loved and lost is a wonderful book



2. I have always thought there was a good reason that "dog" is "God" spelled backward.
   This book, and I have read many on the subject of companion loss, truly capturess
   the absolute unconditional love that dogs so willingly bestow on us mere humans. It
   is a tragedy in the worst sense that some of us don't deserve such devotion -
   as in the story of the "Dark-Brown Dog." I would caution readers that this particular
   chapter is exceedingly difficult to to absorb. Most of the stories however are a
   heartfelt tribute to dogs whose love and complete dedication colored the authors landscapes
   in the most meaningful of ways. It is, as is said in the book, a travesty of justice
   that they can't accompany us longer in our journey through life.



3. Yes, it's THAT Jameson Parker, the blond brother from TV's "Simon and Simon" PI show. He left show biz to become a writer, and is apparently doing a darn good job.

   This is a collection of stories, essays, and poems about dealing with the grief of losing a beloved dog. Included are familiar names - like James Herriott, John Updike, and James Thurber - from familiar books, and unfamiliar pieces, originally published in newspapers and foreign books. Parker himself even has a short piece, a very touching one on the pet-owner's most difficult decision: euthanasia.

   Let me warn you, you probably won't be able to read more than one or two of these pieces at a time. I found myself in tears, time after time. But the writing is good, and not all of the stories are complete tearjerkers.




4. Those of us who have ever loved a dog will be deeply moved by this collection of stories. The authors range from dog trainers to owners of a beloved household pet, but each writer captured something of the gift dogs give their human companions. My only complaint with the book was with the occasional typographical errors that the publisher should have caught. The book was most impressive in every other respect. It tugged at my heart strings, and I am sure that other readers will share my feelings.

4 comments about Horses and Their Women.

1. After completing their two previous books, "Dogs and Their Women" and "Cats and Their Women," authors Cohen and Taylor set out to put together this third compliation. After submitting ads to equine journals requesting that women send in their stories of their experiences with horses, they received over 300 responses. 58 were selected for inclusion in this book.

   Each vignette is unique - some are only a few sentences in length, others take up a whole page, and the content of each is as widely varied as the length. Contributors include owners, riders, trainers, children and adults, amateurs and professionals, a mounted police officer, an equine photographer, a Standardbred racehorse driver, a veterinarian, and more. Topics covered range from stories of healing, horses as an escape from and balm for life's problems, a child's first horse, memorials for favorite horses that have passed on, lessons learned from horses, obstacles overcome, goals made and reached, or simply a description of a favorite moment with an equine friend.

   My two favorite stories were one by a woman whose two horses were stolen and sold for slaughter, and the miraculous way they were rescued and returned to her; and a second by a woman who had adopted a Mustang whose previous owner had abused her, and the journey of trust-building and healing they have gone through.

   Each vignette is accompanied by a beautiful full-page photograph of the contributor and her horse. The black and white photography gives the book a classic, elegant, timeless feel, and captures each horse and woman in a crisp, beautiful portrait shot. Some of the shots are posed, others candid, and this too adds to the variety of the book.

   This book is heartwarming, fun, and uplifting - an alternate title could easily be "Chicken Soup for the Horsewoman's Soul." I would highly recommend it to any female horse lover. Buy it for yourself - it's great for either the bedside or the coffee table, or buy it as a nice present for a friend. Or both! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.




2. This is really a very sweet book. It would be a perfect gift for a young girl in her early teens that has been bitten by the horse bug. It has over 100 pages, with a large black and white photo on one side, and an essay on the other. Some of the essays are short, some are boring, and some make you wonder why you bought this book. But then you read the ones that bring tears to your eyes and you know why. This book shows us women and the horses they love, and in their own words they tell us a little about themselves and their horse. It's not a glorious coffee table book like GaWaNi Pony Boy's is, but it is a charming book to read and pass along to other women, or our daughters who share our love of horses.



3. Scores of small essays about the special horse(s) in various women's lives. A big black and white photo on one page is complemented by the story right beside it. There are no color photos. Some of the "essays" are only two sentences long! Some of the stories are hilarious, some heartbreaking, some just silly or sappy. Still, there is a genuine love of horses here, and no male-bashing like the title might suggest. If you love horses, real horses, not just fictional or perfect horses, than display this book proudly on your shelf



4. This is the kind of book that makes you wish you could have someone else drop the kids off at soccer and ballet lessons so you had time to slip into your jeans and head out to the stable. Lots of photos and stories of girls and women alike who have accomplished that dream. By Claire

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.