1 comments about Dogs We Love: With Jane Smiley, Armistead Maupin, Ann Beattie, Edward Albee, and 14 Other Dog People.

1. This is a chunky, endearing, handsome book that's just confirms everything we most love about dogs. But these are MASTERS of prose here, as well as being "masters" of their family dogs. So just imagine the novelists and short story writers you love sharing stories of their own canine companions. Jane Smiley on her golden's insatiable fetching, Armistead Maupin on his dog's uncanny ability to interfere with anything romantic, Merrill Markoe on her small dog's undeniable love affair with her slipper. There's Danny Shanahan writing and illustrating a short guide on how to read your dog's behaviors. There's--well, there are sheep dogs, mixed bred wonders, Labs, bull dogs, unruly dogs, cockers, spaniels...and a pack of other dogs photographed in black and white by Robin Schwartz that make this book the perfect gift to give or keep. Plus the book's profits are part of Rosen's ongoing efforts to support animal welfare agencies.

1 comments about Dickens of a Cat, A: and Other Stories of the Cats We Love.

1. Reviewed by Lisa Frisbie
   
   This easy-to-read book features funny and poignant stories written by cat lovers,for cat lovers. Anyone who has been owned by a cat will recognize the many antics and the often endearing qualities of the pets described in these pages.
   
   Editor Callie Smith Grant gathered stories from her friends and some of her favorite writers, themed around the joys and heartaches of having a cat in the house. With a forward by author H. Norman Wright, the book is a perfect choice to read by your fireplace on a chilly winter evening.
   
   "The Cat Who Loved Chemo" is the true story of a cat who made cancer treatments more bearable for the author during an incredibly difficult struggle to survive.
   
   "Out of the Woods" describes a cat who showed up at the doorstep one morning while the author was on a sojourn in the Cascade Mountains. The cat soon felt right at home.
   
   These and other stories will warm the heart of any cat lover. Although currently a pet-free home (we travel too much!) I found myself missing the companionship of a cat after reading these short, well-crafted stories. Two dozen stories are here, each one written by a different cat owner; each one a loving tribute to our furry friends.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Cat lovers, this one is for you!

3 comments about Angel Animals: Divine Messengers of Miracles.

1. Purchased for our 10 year old daughter, she has not put it down. The stories are touching and funny and intense. Good quick read!



2. We all have our own anecdotes about how important our animal friends are to each of us. In some small (or large) ways we have all experienced the miracles of angel animals. In daily life they teach us patience, show us unconditional love, and expect us to be nothing less than ourselves with them at all times. In times of crisis, they stand beside us reminding us that we are stronger and more courageous than we think. In short, they change our lives, for the better. Animals really are pretty amazing creatures.
   
   Angel Animals is an anthology of animal experiences that changed the lives of various individuals. The types of animals and the dynamics of these relationships vary substantially as do the lessons learned and the gifts given by these beings. As expected household pets are common heroes and heroines in these stories. However, in quite a number of the entries, the animals depicted are quite out of the ordinary including seals, raccoons, bees, and spiders. In all cases, these creatures bring with them special gifts and lasting lessons that guided their humans through very difficult or challenging times.



3. Updated and revised to include a new introduction, ANGEL ANIMALS gathers stories about spiritual lessons they've learned from animals and comes not from new age leaders but from ordinary individuals, making for an even more powerful collection. From a sparrow's influence on volunteering to animals who promoted spiritual growth, ANGEL ANIMALS is an outstanding survey for any who would reveal the underlying importance of animals.

5 comments about Animal Miracles: Inspirational and Heroic True Stories.

1. I actually went to this site because I was looking to see if an Animal Miracles II was out. This book was one I read to my children, ages 10 and 7, as well as on my own. The cries of "one more, please Mom" warmed my heart. My 10 year old son, who reads on his own quite well, always wandered into the room when I read this book. I have recommended it to many of my adult friends to read to their kids and they have loved it too.



2. I really love this book - a really good buy for all animal lovers. I shall gladly read it again! I can fully recommend this book to everyone.



3. I really love this book - a really good buy for all animal lovers. I shall gladly read it again! I can fully recommend this book to everyone.



4. Can't miss on this one! Read it and enjoy each and every story!



5. This book will warm your heart and touch your soul. Each story showcases the incredible way in which animals love us unconditionally. You will truly believe in angels after reading these true stories.

5 comments about All Things Wise and Wonderful.

1. The third book in the series and you know exactly what to expect. Yes, folks, it is every bit as entertaining as the first two, and that's probably all you need to know. But I'll go ahead and mention that he spends some time in the RAF during World War II, which we knew he would as the second book ended. I'll also mention that he and Helen have a baby, which you probably expected. One of the great joys of his writing is discovery, so I'd hate to screw that up with a spoiler, but these two tidbits are on the back cover anyway. Oh, and halfway through it, I predicted an ending in advance, and I only had to read 1000 pages by this guy before that happened. It's still great, great stuff, and you know you'll love it.



2. I read his books as a teen and loved them. Bought the whole set for my grandsons, [teens]. They laughed until they cried. [so did I].



3. If you like animals you will enjoy all James Herriot's books. This is one of a series of delightful books. Reading one will make you want to read the next one. I can read them over and over.



4. I have the complete series of All Creatures Great and Small books now. This was the last one and I loved it as much as I loved the others. He was a fantastic writer and having been born and raised on a farm I can appreciate a lot of what he talks about. I also have his cat and dog stories books and loved them just as much.



5. The books arrived so quickly that I got to take my time
   wrapping the books.

5 comments about Mostly Bob.

1. This is a really short story - I read it while in an airport book store on a layover and cried in the middle of the store. Serves me right huh! Highly recommended read but you should purchase it (and then pass it on!).



2. Spare and touching, Mostly Bob is a eulogy to a beloved dog, whose own insistent sense of self-preservation brought him to the author's home. The simple graphic presentation is just right. For anyone who has had a much-loved animal, worth reading.



3. I'm not only a dog lover, I'm one of those people who've written about their dog. I've read other people's stories about their dogs and cried. (Have you read Arthur Phillips's "My Dog Days" in the New York Times? It wipes me out every time I do.) At this moment, my dog Harry is under my desk, curled up on a cushion next to my feet.
   
   And...I don't know what to think about Mostly Bob.
   
   When I read another reviewer say something like, "Anybody who couldn't stand the blank spaces on the pages probably can't stand children's books, either," I assumed that meant there were different illustrations or something on each page, and probably just a paragraph or so of type, like kids' books.
   
   Wrong. Each time you turn to a new two-page spread, you get one sentence on the right-hand side. Turn the page again. Another sentence. Turn again. Another sentence. Gee, I thought, this guy's really making me work for it! If you're the kind of person who takes in prose in a constant stream, this is like having your thoughts continually interrupted. Turn the page, a sentence, turn the page... this one's entirely blank. Guess we're between paragraphs.
   
   The book is, basically, an essay. And it has moments when it seemed moving to me; a dog that takes control of his own destiny! Lovely. (Though why it took the author a year and half to respond is a mystery; most dog lovers I know would have responded within three weeks. But it is not for me to plumb the heart of another human.)
   
   It's just... okay, I'll say it. I feel a little taken. I found myself wondering whether the author was sincere, which, I swear to you, is not the kind of cynical thought I want to be thinking when I'm reading a story about dog and person. But when an essay gets bloated into a book that has $12.95 stamped on it... and it's so non-specific. Bob "got over" his tendency to growl and see the world as his enemy. Well, there are a lot of people out there working hard every day with dogs who growl and see the world as their enemy, and it's not that easy. The love of one person doesn't make strangers less scary; it takes training and commitment every day, and even then, you can't be sure. If this book had had some of that part of the story in it, I would have loved to read it -- what went right, what went wrong, the small victories, the joys.
   
   But it was very short and very vague -- so vague, as I said, it made me wonder. The tidal wave of praise the book has garnered just doesn't make sense to me, unless it stems from readers who are accessing their love for their own dogs.
   
   I'm sorry to say it, because I don't want to harsh anyone's buzz. Clearly a lot of people love the thing. But for any readers like me, I thought I should give warning.



4. Page 1. Bob was a dog.
   
   Page 2. Bob used to be "Red", the neighbor's dog.
   
   Page 3. Bob became "Bob", the writer's dog.
   
   Page 4. Bob died.
   
   Page 5. The writer wrote a paean about Bob.
   
   Page 6. The paean amounted to about 3 pages.
   
   Page 7. The writer published the paean in a book, with one sentence per page.
   
   Page 8. A couple of thousand trees died to publish the first run alone.
   
   Page 9. The world mourns the loss of the trees.
   
   Page 10. Nobody gives a hoot about Bob.



5. . . . but regarding the ones who think it's too short and should have been printed as a pamphlet to save trees, they must also believe that many children's books should be printed as pamphlets, too. Books like "The Giving Tree," for example -- it has maybe one or two sentences a page, max. A book is a very flexible format that can accommodate many types of stories, long, short, in between. How about we just wipe out every last one of those haiku books out there, since they're so short we can just squeeze 'em all onto one 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper? A book, as book lovers know, is an object as well as a vehicle for storytelling. This book is an exquisitely crafted object (in a very simple way), and in its exquisiteness serves to honor the subject matter: Bob, all the other "Bobs" out there, the universality of loss, and the idea of love between humans and animals. I think that's worth more than a pamphlet. Plus, the author is a very successful music producer. I highly doubt he was in it for the $$$. Also, this book will provoke widespread sympathy for the plight of unloved and mistreated animals, which is worth much more than any single donation to an animal shelter. I wouldn't be surprised if it inspired people to consider adopting older, abused animals who otherwise wouldn't have.

5 comments about Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster.

1. I loved the book until I read the part about Scott shields/bear search and rescue. It's obvious that the authors didn't do any investigation of their own. They couldn't have as all they reported regarding Scott shields the NOW INDICTED FEDERAL FELON is completely fabricated from the mouth of a known liar. If they had asked for proof they would have seen he spent only 3-4 days on scene and also would have learned that the letter head from the governor's office is NOT their letter head as the governor's office denied requesting his aid. Also shields spent very little time on the water but much more time selling his book and meeting news crews. Think about it.... what can a SAR dog do there? Find someone floating? I did SAR there and there was very little use for a k9 much less an untrained k9.
   Thomas Fletcher



2. This is my second read of this beautiful yet gritty portrayal of how natural disasters (with major reference to Katrina) impact the lives of human-animal families. Heart-wrenching stories of pets left behind by rescued owners who were not allowed to bring them on boats, helicopters, etc. Heart-opening animal rescues, reunions and in many cases adoptions by new families.
   
   "Rescued" is no sugar pill - it exposes the reality of the harsh fate of many animals during and after Katrina and offers real suggestions, recommendations, and insights into how to handle disasters like this in future.
   
   Above all, this is a book about the love between animals and humans and the extraordinary lengths this love will go to in extreme and sometimes life-threatening situations . It is a must-read for any pet-owner or animal-lover.



3. I was one of the many people the Anderson's interviewed for this book and was eager to read it when it came out. When there was not one mention of the toll of the animals and the groups who tried to save them in MS I was severely disappointed. It wasn't as important to mention WHO was there but that Mississippi's animals, their shelters and rescue groups were destroyed in the hurricane...and no one even knows that by reading this book. Overall this book was NOT a clear or true depiction of what happened in New Orleans and MS. This book was a sugar coated pandering attempt to increase sales and appease the ever almighty HSUS, who by the way left New Orleans and the Gulf Coast at the end of Sept. of 2005. The end of Sept. 2005. There are STILL many groups saving the animals of the Gulf Coast today (and as a lingering result of the devastation wrought by the hurricane)...that's right Sept. 2007.



4. This book deals with tragedy and hope. It concerns itself with professionals in the animal control business and others who volunteered to help and who found a new calling. It concerns itself with the mundane and heroism. As well, it provides recommendations for the average pet owner in case disaster strikes.



5. As somone who was detailed to New Orleans in the hurricane aftermath and being a huge animal lover, I found this book very valuable. After seeing so many markings on the houses for animals that didn't make it, it gave me a sense of closure knowing that there were many who were saved and people there who made the animals a priority.
   
   The book also paints a realistic picture of the steps you need to start NOW in order to be qualified to help after the next diaster and also how to prepare your own household for disasters that find their way on YOUR doorstep.

5 comments about Mystical Dogs: Animals as Guides to Our Inner Life.

1. Being a believer already that there is more to dogs then meets the naked eye, this book grabbed me by the heart and made me revisit each dog that has ever been in my life. I recommend this book to anyone who is open to learning about themselves and their canine friends.



2. I bought this book two days before I found the perfect dog at the local animal shelter. I started reading and I cried over the front of the book that tells the story of the man meeting at the gates of Heaven and asking for his faithful companion to enter with him. My dog jumped on the sofa next to me and licked my tears. I haven't been the same since. I can't recommend this book enough.



3. This was a good choice, a pleasant book of mysticism and spirituality coupled with a variety of stories about dogs the author has shared her life with.
   
   Houston has the usual Western/New Age view of enlightenment-not as a result of years of rigorous meditation, but as a series of realizations during everyday life. I'm not sure I really agree that what the New Age terms "enlightenment" is the same as the Eastern concept, but I do agree with her that dogs can indeed be excellent teachers through example. And in fact her stories are the highlight of this book. I read with joy each tale and anecdote surrounding an array of Airedales, a couple of mastiffs, an Akita and a German shepherd dog, among others. There were occasional moments of sadness in the stories, but for the most part this was an uplifting book.
   
   After each story, the author elaborates on the mystical significance and lessons learned with each dog. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find these sections to be quite so interesting as the stories. She tends to ramble some, and I found myself losing interest a number of times. However, it's also entirely possible that I simply don't mesh well with her ideas or her writing style; she's a lot more concise when she's telling a story.
   
   Still, I do recommend this book as a heartwarming bit of light writing that may very well bring you to your own sense of peace. Whether you own a dog or simply the company of your friends' furry companions, this book is a nice way of looking at the more positive aspects of dog ownership (as opposed to filling in holes in the yard, hiding claw marks on the door, and rescuing small creatures from overexuberant attempts to play).



4. This book could be life-changing for those people who believe that animals have powers beyond the simple realm of their daily reality. I was most impressed with her writing, her worldly experiences and her genuineness. I actually went on her website and listened to a conference she had that had been taped. WOW. This is one dynamic human being with a heart as big as Texas. I love dogs--always have--and she captures something about them that even I hadn't given them credit for. It's definitely not an easy read, however and you must pause, put the book down and reflect on her ideas.



5. Jean Houston is one of the most remarkable figures in Humanistic Psychology and consciousness studies of the 20th and 21st century. This book is simply luminous and a great treasure. Anybody who seeks the spiritual path and/or adores four legged friends will love this book. The pictures of Jean and her dogs are also truly wonderful. Hats off to Jean and her brilliant and loyal canine friends.

5 comments about Animal Angels: Amazing Acts of Love Compassion.

1. I didn't read all the fine print nor the previous reviews. Thought this book would be great to read to the kids - "Amazing Acts of Love and Compassion" lead me to believe just that - short stories of rescues by animals. This is way too adult to read to my children.



2. Book in Awesome shape!!!!



3. This book is beautifully inspirational, describing amazing acts of kindness by an assortment of animals. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).



4. A most beautiful collection of inspiring stories. This book tells tales about almost every animal, from mice to elephants. You will discover something new in every page as you learn more about these animals' feelings. Some stories show the courage and devotion of certain animals, and some other stories tell about more subtle acts of kindness. Yet, there is a smile, and perhaps a tear, in each and every one of those stories. Truly inspiring.



5. This book Animal Angels-Amazing Acts of love and compassion is such an inspiring book.

5 comments about Every Living Thing.

1. I have just finished this book after having read the other books in the series many years ago. The magic is still there. I would not ordinarily be attracted to a book of animal stories but the animals in Dr. Herriot's practice are a stage for something more. The author gives the reader a slice of life from a different time and a different place (Yorkshire). I was quickly enamored with the characters and the telling. This book is really about gentle spirits, kind humor, unpretentious people, dedicated lives. Reading it makes the heart glad.



2. This is my fifth review of a James Herriot title, and if you've missed my first four reviews because you live in a cave, I presume you've heard of the TV series called All Creatures Great And Small. That was based on the first collection of wonderful tales from a Yorkshire veterinarian, or possibly the first few. More than a decade passed between this book and the one before it, and I believe this was his last original book. At first there is a dip in the quality we've come to expect, but once he gets back into his groove, it's every bit as entertaining as its predecessors, and I hated that it ended. It's well worth reading and I enjoyed it immensely.



3. I read his books as a teen and loved them. Bought the whole set for my grandsons, [teens]. They laughed until they cried. [so did I].



4. I read this book many years ago, I enjoy animal stories, I loved books by James Herriot, I read all of his books, the one perchased recently was a gift for my grandaughter who likes animal stories.



5. As usual, I enjoyed the stories written by James Herriot; maybe not quite as much as previous books but it still made very enjoyable reading!