No comments about Stand By Me: A Holistic Handbook for Animals, Their People, and the Lives They Share Together.

3 comments about Cats in the Parsonage (All God's Creatures Series, Book 1) (All God's Creatures).

1. Cute cat stories interspersed with miniature sermons.
   
   While I enjoyed the cat stories, I didn't think they were particularly well-written. Not poorly written, mind you, but it is quite clear that the author is not accustomed to writing long works or well-experienced at stringing his anecdotes together. (As he is a minister, I assume he is proficient at the shorter works he must compose every week for his sermons!)
   
   Most chapters end with a sermon, attempting to tie the stories of the chapter to a Christian lesson. These would have worked better for me if they had been gently worked into the chapters, but many will enjoy them -- I found them too preachy and an abrupt departure from the cutesy cat stories.
   
   Moreover, I think I would have been a lot more impressed with the lessons he claims to have learned from the cats if one of them had been "Hey, all these outdoor neighborhood cats we love keep getting run over by cars -- let's bring them inside or at least spay the mothers so they stop dropping doomed-to-die kittens" instead of "You should keep loving even though sometimes it ends up hurting you." It's really sad to read the occasional mentions of these poor outdoor critters among the cute indoor cat stories, and doubly sad because the author, his wife, and his neighbors don't seem to think about it or how they could stop it. Giving playful lectures to the stray female cats about promiscuity is all very well, but a trip to the vet would have been rather more effective.
   
   In the end, I can't recommend this book to cat lovers -- and who else would really be interested in it? I'll be selling my copy to the used bookshop or putting it up on BookMooch.com, because I'm not interested in keeping such a thing.



2. What is more fun if your a cat lover, than reading this wonderful book. Full of religion and cats. The preacher and his wife learn to enjoy the antics of their cats. This is a wonderful inspirational book.



3. I received this as a gift because I LOVE cats! I could only read so much. In the first 17 pages, the author has an "outside" cat that gives birth to 5 kittens, 2 of which get run over. Those 3 then have kittens of their own, bringing the total to 16 cats.
   The author doesn't think about being a responsible pet owner and having them spayed or nuetered. One of the cats has a
   hard time giving birth, and is weak and sick for days afterward. Does the owner take her to a vet? Of course not!
   He leaves everything up to God. The writing is peppered with religious talk that makes me sick, because the owners won't even take care of their pets! I couldn't finish the book- it made me so angry.

No comments about Dog Spelled Backwards: Soulful Writing by Literary Dog Lovers.

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

No comments about The Cat Lady of Concord: Feline Tales and Other Animal Stories of Love and Rescue.

2 comments about Pets Have Feelings Too! Understanding Your Pet's Physical, Emotional And Spiritual Needs.

1. Move over Ceasar, Dr. Monica should have her own program! Her sound and practical advice has helped me and my pets for years. I have read everything she has published and have been astounded at the success that I have had raising my little ones. I can't wait until the next book comes out!



2. In "Pets Have Feelings Too!" long-time animal communicator Monica Diedrich follows up her previous award-winning title with an in-depth but highly readable look at how our fellow creatures interact with us on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Diedrich covers the usual territory of basic aspects of communication (the how-to's, behavioral problems, lost pets) but really shines when discussing how our deep connections to the animals in our lives can lead to profound physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for humans and animals alike. In addition, her theory of energy imprinting carries after-death experiences and a beloved animal's return into newly explored pathways. Warm, engaging, and written from the heart, Diedrich's new book is a very welcome contribution to the field.
   Reviewed by Sally Rosenthal from the Magazine Species Link-Issue 64 Autumn 2006

No comments about Cat Chat: Humor for Cat Lovers.

5 comments about The Compassion of Animals: True Stories of Animal Courage and Kindness.

1. I recommend this book highly but be prepared to cry when you read some of the stories. In one story, a dog gets in front of a rattlesnake to save a little baby and gives up his own life doing so.
   The author does a splendid job of explaning how animals have compassion for other animals and human beings.



2. If you are not animal lover, you will be after reading this book. It is a gem!



3. These stories are warm and inspiring. My 12 year old daughter has read it a few times now, cover to cover. Great for anyone to read who loves and appreciates animals. This book really grabbed me.



4. These stories are warm and inspiring. My 12 year old daughter has read it a few times now, cover to cover. Great for anyone to read who loves and appreciates animals. This book really grabbed me.



5. I recently finished this remarkable book. I must say I listened to it (from a tape from the Blind Center) while working on a portrait of a dog for a friend. I have always believed in the compassion of animals, having several 'Animal Angels' in my own life. Kristin's stories of true compassion verify what every animal owner & lover knows in their own heart. One of the saddest comments, after asking prominent Scientists, were that animals performed the compassionate acts out of self interest. After all of the stories, as well as my own experiences, I can say thankfully ,that we are living in a time of changing thoughts. I am more than happy to recommend this book to all of my friends, and lovers of animals of all kinds.

5 comments about The Portable petswelcome.com: The Complete Guide to Traveling with Your Pet.

1. I bought this book and "Pets on the Go" both at Amazon.com. First I visited petswelcome.com's web site and thoroughly checked it out, looking for completeness by checking their site for motels/hotels that I know accept pets. Some places that I knew of were missing in popular tourist sites where people bring pets. I found their website very large (almost too large) for efficient surfing and for fast note taking/printing out. So I bought the book instead. Well, the book writing is "cutsy" to the point of being corny. That aside, comparing it with "PETS ON THE GO" (which I also bought), "PETS ON THE GO" wins hands down. The latter has more organization, more entries, more detail in the entries, and more current information. For example, checking "Lone Pine, CA" (a popular tourist town for Mt. Whitney climbers), one finds only one scant entry in "Petswelcome.com", whereas in "PETS ON THE GO" there are four entries, plus "PETS ON THE GO" gives you the motels' URL's! "PETSWELCOME.COM" does not give the URL's. (Go figure----they're a dotcom company!). Libby Montana has no listings in "PETS WELCOME.COM" whereas "PETS ON THE GO" has four. This happens over and over. "PETS ON THE GO" is twice as fat as the other book and it is organized alphabetically by State, City (in boldface). "PETSWELCOME.COM" was frustrating for me for fast, efficient use because the first boldface entry is not the city (rather the motel---which is not alphabetized!) and you have to squint to find the city in the listings. A pain! Of the two books I would get "PETS ON THE GO" (I rated it 5 stars for fast and thorough, complete information). I would be tempted to throw the other out the car window! One just gets the feeling of dotcom generic phoniness when reading "PETSWELCOME.COM". I feel like this book is like a maze-designed building with every other brick missing. I'm a dog person on the go with four dogs (one traveller) and numerous other pets and I have no involvement with the book. I hope this helps folks that are organized and ergonomics-minded like me.



2. The Portable Petswelcome.com book was a terrific gift for me and for our favorite Golden. The book's light breezy style made for easy reading of really useful stuff including how and where to find a vet when we're all on vacation. I've now recommended Portable Petswelcome to Arthur and JoAnn for their a new Golden Retriever so they can have the benefit of its complete and authoritative advice. You can tell that the people who wrote this Petswelcome really love their animals, and know what they are talking about.



3. The portable petswelcome.com book has been a tremendous resource for me and my pets. It's approach and completeness certainly surpasses any others on the market today. I also enjoy the insight and great sense of humor from the writers. The best part is that the book is also supported by their dynamic website which is constantly updated with new information. I would definetly recommend this book (or the website) to anyone who would like to travel with their pets, enjoyably and without restrictions.



4. Tired of sneaking my dog around the back of motels and hoping no one sees me, I came across this book and the related website. The listings seem up-to-date and comprehensive. The website is great to stay on top of changes to phone numbers, etc.
   Surprisingly, I found myself chuckling as I read through the book. Not just a typical directory, the hints, tips and anecdotes make it an enjoyable read. You can tell the authors are pet lovers and not just guide book authors. Anyone who travels with pets should keep a copy in their glove compartment. Once you start using this book, you'll find that you can actually check in during daylight hours :)



5. The cover looks nice on this book and the vet listings were helpful but I found the lodging entries sparse and outdated compared to other online sources like Takeyourpet.com

2 comments about Peepers the Talking Starling.

1. While I can appreciate the authors' love for this bird, I have to say their book is a real mess. Hardly a page goes by without one or more, and often SEVERAL, glaring spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. And I'm talking HUGE errors, like something you would see in an essay written by a ten-year-old. It's not just nit-picky of me -- I truly can't enjoy reading the written word when I am constantly having to come out of the story, mentally, and think "wow, another thing the editor missed."
   
   From a story-telling standpoint, I feel the book falters as well. The authors discuss their life with Peepers only briefly. The balance of the book contains letters they received after Peepers' passing (most of which letters recounted the same exact memories, such that it was highly repetitive) as well as a bizarre "fable" penned by the author. This fable was marred by the repeated reference to a line from the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence". The author mangles the reference, repeatedly and mistakenly quoting the rhyme as "ten and twenty blackbirds" when of course it is, famously, "four and twenty blackbirds".
   
   Look, I would not be this harsh if this were not a genre of which I am extremely fond. I have a Listmania list all about books like this. But I just can't let it go unmentioned that this book, for twelve bucks, has seen not one minute of editing or researching and does not provide its reader with even a passable reading experience. You don't get a book; you get a very rough draft.
   
   Plus, for whatever unfathomable reason, the typeface is in something like 24pt. I suppose had it been a normal size, the book would have come in at something like 30 pages and hardly marketable.
   
   My two cents.



2. This is a wonderful book to buy if you are a bird lover. If you never knew that Starlings have the incredible ability to talk and mimic, you will be in for a real treat! We love our animal friends to be like people, and Peepers was indeed a amazing little soul. You'll love this little book!