5 comments about Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat.

1. Making Rounds with Oscar is a book I could hardly put down, & surprisingly I found it a great spiritual-growth type read. Always having been an animal lover, Oscar proves that often animals are more in-tune with the really important issues of life - i.e. being present with people at times of deepest need. A great book & a wonderful cat!! I think tere are more Oscar's out there - we just don't take time to know that. Mary Ann Cauthen



2. Animals have greater capacities than we generally give them credit for. This is an extraordinary and enigmatic story. Recommended.



3. Delightful story about Oscar and one of the best books I have read regarding Dementia and its affects on whole families. It was deeply healing, and opened up different perspectives about [human] end of life choices.



4. An amazing read. I am a Fellow in Geriatrics and this is a must read for anyone who is going to be working with older patients. Very Inspirational.



5. This was a sweet and cute book, a sceptical doctor and the loving staff. the doctor gives alot of advice on handling care of the elderly dementia patients.... not a huge amount of memories of Oscar but still a cute book. I would recommend this for someone that was needing a book on care and understanding of this disease..
   It brought back memories of my grandmother.
   I wish there was more stories of the cats and pictures. Cute book..lovingly worded.

5 comments about Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates.

1. I struggled halfway through the book hoping the author would eventually give the "hope" as stated in the sub-title, which at this point he did not. As another reviewer stated: I should have checked other reviews before I bought the book. It's not worth the money or the time to finish it. There are so many other books out there, but I kept reaching for the one which would give me comfort after my dear companion died last week. I'll quit looking and find my comfort within my heart.



2. The loss of a beloved pet can be a very difficult experience, and this book provides solace for those in the midst of grief. It's particularly difficult for pet-lovers because non-pet-owners just don't understand the love that grows between us and our companion animals. Thanks for a lovely book.
   --by the author of
   We Thank You, God, for These: Blessings and Prayers for Family Pets



3. I thought that this book was very good. The author is very knowledgeable and the things that he says makes sense. I would encourage anyone who has lost a beloved pet to definitely read this book. It's helping me to cope with my loss



4. This book was very comforting and answered many sad questions. Knowing that God created the animals before man, and that Jesus returns on a white horse, shows me that our animal friends will be in heaven with us one day. It proved to me that God values our animal friends as much as we do.



5. This is a great book and (I feel) is helpful to all in rescue/rehoming of animals. It helps connect you with a new client and helps when former clients lose a love one. I refer to it all the time now that I have the reference from this book. It is what helps comfort those in need of a very painful time in their life.The book is total confirmation that our pets will be in Heaven waiting for us. Having this information is a great healing gift for all!

5 comments about Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish.

1. A must read for anyone going through the loss of a beloved pet.You will know you are not alone.



2. It's always unique when a brilliant legal/political mind takes on a "softer" topic. This is what we have here, where Marc Levin, one of the more sentient American thinkers alive, tells the story of his family's love for their late dog, Sprite.
   
   The book is fairly short and written at an elementary level. This is not to demean the text, but to show it's readable for all. In fact, my only criticism is that the book could have been shorter. It labored on the final 75 pages or so with lots of minutiae.
   
   "Rescuing Sprite" is a nice tale I was able to read in 30-40 page chunks to my little one each night before bed over the course of a few weeks. The morals were pure and sound. It's a good family story.



3. This is a wonderful book. If you have ever loved a dog and had to make one of the most difficult decisions in your life, read this book. Mark Levin has helped me realize that I am not alone in wondering was it the right decision. (No matter what your mind tells you, your heart wonders.) You will not be able to put this book down once you start reading it.



4. My sister gave me this book as a birthday gift. I read it in two days I think on a vacation in Mexico. I literly couldn't put it down. I had put his book in my beach bag, it fell out, but of course I didn't realize that. I got back to the room and went to take it out and it was gone. I seriously balled because it was gone and I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it! Luckily I found it. But long story short, get this book. Its a quick, easy read, and so amazingly good!



5. Was quite moved by this book. Actually had tears in my eyes in many parts of the book being a pet owner who has gone through similar situations multiple times. Most pet owners know that their pet/friend/buddy is so much more than a pet. They do occupy a place in the heart and when we lose a pet it leaves a hole in our lives that rarely if ever can be fulled.
   This book gives us the knowledge that we are not alone in our feelings of a loss of a pet. Thank you Mark for writing this book.

5 comments about MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life: A Story of Love.

1. Wonderfully written from your heart. You have clearly articulated something that we all need lessons in:
   1) to learn HOW to listen to ourselves, and then
   2) to learn TO listen to ourselves.
   MAGGIE was a great story and a valuable lesson to impart. Thanks.



2. MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life: A Story of Love is a wonderful, heartwarming story of how much our animals influence and impact our lives, even after they're gone. Dawn Kairns' poignant description of her deep & close relationship with Maggie is a most enjoyable & uplifting read.



3. I finished Maggie's story a few weeks ago. I to have a black lab which I just love to death and is my best friend. The way Dawn describes her relationship with Maggie is so touching and true to life that I still think of stories that she tells whenever I look at my Tallie "Dega". I would recommend this book to any dog (or animal) lover that wants to read about how a true human and animal relationship can happen. It just broke my heart as I got to the sad part of the story. (I actually finished it in Taco Bell, crying at the table by myself). I give Dawn a "hug" for being able to put her thoughts and feelings into words about this wonderful animal who I'm sure is missed every day. Dawn should be very proud of the story she has shared and for the dog that she had.



4. As a complete dog addict, as someone who has founded two dog rescues, and saved hundreds of dogs...and someone who has had 5 rescues himself...this book is a complete and utter fluff piece.
   
   I only finished this book out of respect for the dog, not the owner, and I was glad to be done with it. If you want to read a book about true dog love..about how amazing they can really be...read Merle's door by Ted Kerasote or at least Marley and me By John Grogan. Both go way deeper, and offer much less abstract concepts.



5. I started reading this book with high expectations. After reading the reviews from others on this site, I even saved it until I read a couple of others from the same purchase. I knew in advance that this was going to be a tough read as it included the demise of Maggie. Most good dog books include the loss of a beloved companion and this was no different. What was different was the way I could not identify with or feel for the people. The author is way too touchy-feely, new age for me. As someone fortunate to have shared my life with many beloved companions, I've learned that animals have a sense that is beyond what humans experience. But this is over the top with the animal-human telepathy. With every conversation quoted in the book, I kept thinking that people don't really talk like this (I hope). That being said, there were 2 worthwhile chapters in the book. The first about some research the author did regarding some ingredients in most high end dog foods that can have dire effects on your pets. It was enough for me to do my own research and start looking closer at the labels. The second was the chapter on the death of Maggie. It was heart-wrenching and one of the saddest chapters of the loss of a pet that I've read. Although I can't recommend the book, I can feel for the author and her husband and share that feeling of loss. As for the book: keep looking, there are better ones than this.

5 comments about Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America.

1. I first read this book before I went on a research trip in the tropics. Teachers and students all love this book! It's a great primer before a trip, or a great inspiration to go in the first place. Smooth and easy language from knowledgeable authors that you don't have to be a science graduate to understand. I recommend this to anyone and everyone who ever thought about visiting tropical rain forest.



2. We used this book for a course I taught in Costa Rica, essentially doing a chapter a day. It was informative for the class and work well in that capacity, but it isn't what I would call an especially good or deep read. It's interesting, but not transformative, I suppose.



3. I recently was required to read a book not specifically assigned by our professor but of something that sparks our interest and write a review on that book. I chose this book and found it to be a great choice. The class that this assignment was for was Physical Geography, which is a 100 level class. As a rookie in this area, I found my choice to be very informative and easy to understand. The authors clearly do a great job of writing this book for people of all degrees of knowledge in this area. They are able to mix some humor into the book that adds life to it rather than the boring, dry, text books we are all used to reading. For someone who hasn't read this book yet, you will find out what I mean by humor early on in the book when the author talks about dung scarab beetles. The authors cover a large portion of material in a laid back way that makes this read enjoyable even for financial economics majors who are required to take a lab class (like myself). It also provides you with enough knowledge and facts where one could keep a conversation going with a Bio major and not sound like an idiot. Overall a great read.



4. If you are visiting the rain forest, you absolutely must read this books first! It is well written and has a very broad scope. A good starting place to guide your own experiments and explorations in this wonderful part of the world.



5. This book is well written and easy to read and understand. The literary quality is not lost in the scientific terminology. A must read prior to a trip to the tropics. A good written explanation of why we should save the tropical forests.

5 comments about The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain.

1. 
   The author's compassion shines through in this book. That was like getting a big hug from a friend who completely understands the hole in your heart. She can relate to the emptiness that fills your house and your core at the loss of your close companion.
   
   The book as a whole seemed off in its flow. It jumped around as I read it. There were cliches and amatuerish writing and the subjects were presented in an unorganized fashion. Maybe I'm just reeling from my current loss, but the writing went down quick little rabbit trails then back again. I think paying a professional editor would've resulted in a smoother read.
   
   The author is a Christian and she shares her bible-based beliefs. If that makes you hesitant, select a different pet loss book. However if that's not a biggie, then read this book. If you are a Christian, you will enjoy her references to bible verses and gain comfort in her refreshing thoughts of bible animals and biblical stories and how they relate to your pet. I got comfort from her words and from looking up the bible references myself. I enjoyed when she mentioned her cat Pete and how his departure effected her. The amazing thing about Nikki, the author, is she was raised in a home devoid of pets, yet she welcomed a stray into her home and fell in love. Her caring heart reflects her love of Jesus, of people and of pets. You should read this book. It quieted my heart when I got to thinking about my puppy-girl, who passed on at age 9 and it will ease your heartache slightly, too.



2. I really enjoyed this book, I received this book when I needed it the most. If you have heard of comfort food, this was a comfort book for me. This book is good for anyone who has loss a beloved pet or just loves animals. I enjoyed the different stories in this book, and it gave me more insight, into what I believed, but was not sure.



3. I just lost my dog of 14 years a month ago, and was searching for a book to help me answer questions. I read up about this one and bought it. I am so glad I did, it was an easy to read book, so I could understand, i was always confused with the how the bible was worded when i was younger. It had alot of bible references, and stories of children in near death experiences where they had seen their pets and relatives that have passed on.
   It made me see that we will meet again once we have passed on, now i have hope. I am still deeply upset, but i know i'll see my Misfit again.
   Lynne



4. I had already read There is Eternal Life for Animals, which is a more indepth book. The Rainbow Bridge was a repeat on the same subject and stories. I would read one of these and probably skip the other one. I personally liked Eternal Life for Animals more as it was more of a study book. The Rainbow Bridge was just an easier reading book. It depends on the individual which book, but not both, I think.



5. This book was so comforting to me after losing my cat that I had for 8 years. Being a christian I have always believed that God loves all that He created and that includes animals. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a pet.

5 comments about Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends' Journey Beyond Death.

1. This is an excellent book! From the moment I started reading I was pulled in. I bought this book after losing the love of my life, my dog Cooper, and reading this book made me feel a little better knowing she is still around. It seemed to explain things more clearly and in a way that I can relate to than other books in the same category. I liked the way Kim Sheridan told the story of her own life and experiences with her animals and how she gradually came to know about the animals afterlife journeys. I loved how she used so many stories from so many people that show you just how many people are out there experiencing the same huge joy and extreme grief over loss of an animal. You are not alone. She also refers to her web site which lists many excellent resources on animal communicators and their stories.



2. I was open to the subject matter of this book especially since I recently lost my constant companion of 12 years, my rottweiler named Nell. But this author is a little too far out there with her pet mice for my tastes. While I am a true believer of the depth of relationship between myself and my Nell, I didn't really connect with what this author had to say.



3. I really enjoyed finding out that there are so many folks who have shared the experiences I have had myself. I never talked about my experiences with anyone because they were too private to share and I felt like they might be cheapened by someones ridicule. I now understand the widespread similarity of my experiences with others who also loved their pets. Very reassuring!
   
   Steve Johnson



4. I read this book shortly after losing a pair of furry friends...cherished companions for many years. I knew why I was reading it too: looking out for exactly the kind of comfort these books are in the market for. The problem was twofold. First, it gave me exactly what I wanted to hear, except that for me, the effect was the opposite of what the author intended. I began to see the anecdotes as clear instances of psychological defense mechanisms and "grief reduction" on the part of the owners left behind. I also agree with the other reviewers who mentioned that there is too much spiritual philosophy in the book and not enough dealing with the raw experiences.
   
   The raw experiences are probably the stronger aspect of the material, and the author should have stuck with that instead of trying to sell us the interpretations of animal psychics and a philosophy of reincarnation. I would be satisfied if I could convince myself that kitty even survived. That he's back as kitty ##2, doesn't really do anything to boost my mood. All in all, a book of comfort, but to really persuade critical souls like myself, I would need a lot, lot more.



5. I love this book! This book has really helped me when my beloved teddy crossed over in feb 2009. I was looking for answers to my questions like: Am I going to see my boy again? Is he ok? Did he make it to the other side? Or is he gone forever? This book has answered all of my questions and more. I am happy i bought this book, i refer to it often when i am missing my boy. Nothing is gone forever. My baby is always by my side and will be waiting for me by the bridge.

5 comments about Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet.

1. There aren't a whole lot of animal loss books that are really great. This one is average in that it says things that every other book does, but in a way that doesn't make you feel silly for being upset. If this is the first you've had to deal with coping for the loss of a pet, this will be the best book you can read. If you've read other material, you could skip this one, most likely it'll just be a repeat.



2. The loss of a beloved pet can be a very difficult experience, and this book provides solace for those in the midst of grief. It's particularly difficult for pet-lovers because non-pet-owners just don't understand the love that grows between us and our companion animals. Thanks for a lovely book.
   --by the co-author of
   We Thank You, God, for These: Blessings and Prayers for Family Pets



3. If you are reading this book, you've probably lost a pet. This is a good book about your loss and tips on how to look at that loss, how to accept the pain. Although I was crying most of the time when I read this book, the writer makes you feel better and yet walks you through the process of loss. You don't have to be religious. You don't have to believe in heaven and that your beloved pet will go there. It's more about accepting life and dealing with death, yet going on in your life. You feel you're stronger after reading this book. I liked it. No preaching. No hell and brimstone. Pets die, we cry, life goes on. A good book and I hope there's more like this out there.



4. I can only speak for myself here but this was the only book that helped me when I lost my collie, Bear. I think I probably read just about every book on Amazon that talks about grieving for a lost pet because I was just lost and overwhelmed. Several of them were ok, but this book was the one that gave me genuine comfort. Because of that, I have purchased several other copies for friends whose pets have died.



5. It's been eight years since I read this book, and I was looking it up so that I could pass the details to my mother, whose cat passed away today. This book was an immense help when my cat died. So much so I wanted to write to the author and thank him - it really helped me through a distressing time. If you're feeling sad, lost and lonely after your pet passes away, this book will help.

3 comments about Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature.

1. A pleasant, sometimes elegant series of pieces on the natural world and our relation to it.



2. I have to confess up front: I was afraid to read this book. Not because I don't know and love Moore's thinking and writing; I do. Her essay, "Testimony of the Marsh," from her book Holdfast is one of my favorites ever. I teach it in my creative writing workshops as an example of how to use lyrical nature writing to reveal truths at the heart of life. So I picked up Wild Comfort in delighted anticipation, until I read this in her introduction:
   
   I had set out to write a different book. I had begun to write about happiness... But events overtook me. I guess that's how I'll say it. That autumn, events overtook me, death after death, and my life became an experiment in sadness.
   
   I couldn't read more. I closed the book. For the past eight months, since my husband began seeing birds and was eventually diagnosed with brain cancer, my life has been an experiment in sustaining courage and balance. I didn't want to read about grief, sadness or any of their relatives. I wanted that book on what makes a person happy.
   
   A few days later, I picked up Wild Comfort again. And reading on, I drank it in like a healing draught, like the smell of rain bringing life to my drought-stricken desert valley. This slender collection of essays moves as powerfully and inevitably as a tide, inching in, rising ever-so-slowly under me, until I am buoyed by the strength and truth that flow through Moore's words. It is like the sun shining through a gap in the clouds, spotlighting the exact place that makes us stop and stare, overcome with awe at how beautiful life is. Wild Comfort may be rooted in grief, in loss, in darkness, but Moore's words carry us inexorably toward light and hope.
   
   I could quote an insightful passage from every essay, but here's the paragraph from the beginning of the book that hooked me:
   
   Late on the night when I finished this book, I felt my way to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Clouds obscured the moon. I could hear the shifting of the dark sea but could only imagine the surge and ebb of its rim on the sand. Then the clouds slid out from under the moon. The advancing edge of waves gathered moonlight and pushed it toward land. The line of light wavered there, shaking in the wind, then slid out to sea. And so it was, up and down the beach, a rim of light riding in on the swash and slipping back into the night. I was happy then, standing in the surge with lines of moonlight catching on my rubber boots. This is something that needs explaining, how light emerges from darkness, how comfort wells up from sorrow. The Earth holds every possibility inside it, and the mystery of transformation, one thing into another. This is the wildest comfort.
   
   Amen.
   
   by Susan J. Tweit
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



3. Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature reflects moments and experiences in the author's life in the wild through lucid, poetic descriptions that comfortably sway between the most minute details and broad universal truths. Her attentiveness to the facts of the moment at hand is keen, while her thoughts in understanding them may be scientific, ethical, or purely exhilarating...and sometimes all of these. Her appreciation and gratitude for the wild are genuine and contagious. She is a full participant...physical, emotional, and in her own way, spiritual...in the experiences she describes, never a bystander to them or an objective academic, although her credentials in philosophy invariably enrich her perceptions.
   
   Moore turns to nature to nimbly and wisely yet subtly face with grace the loss of family members and friends, making choices, dealing with the complexities of modern life, and having patience, among other things. She offers lessons for us in how a heron eats, in a possum in a plum tree, in turning stones, and in a broken sun, reflecting that "[t]here is a wild comfort in the cycles and the intersecting circles, the rotations and revolutions, the growing and ebbing of this beautiful and strangely trustworthy world."
   
   The impact of this book has been to revitalize (once again, for it is a neverending process) my own senses and mind in savoring how human life is inevitably interlaced with the wild, and that embracing and exploring that fact can only bring us closer to understanding what is true and real in both this instant and the timeless universe.

5 comments about Animals in Spirit: Our faithful companions' transition to the afterlife.

1. Do you believe any of this is possible?
   
   A chicken deliberately dies so she can come back as a hamster and live in her human's house.
   
   Some people can communicate with animals,both dead and alive, telepathically as fully as one would talk to another human being.
   
   Animal spirits can decide when and where to be reborn. They may be reborn as the same species or inhabit the body of a totally different species. In one anecdote we read about a woman's mother coming back as a horse.
   
   Some animals are hit by cars on purpose so that they can travel to the spiritual realm.
   
   We even learn in this book that animals who want to see what it's like to be human, come back as a human born with a terminal disease so they can try out humanity for a short time.
   
   And then there's the cat who escaped from its yard so it could be killed by a fox, a fox who faked a limp to attract the attention of the cat's owner and then explain to the owner what had happened. After the fox-human conversation, the fox mysteriously loses its limp.
   
   If you find all these goings-on credible, then this book may be for you. As for this Potato Head, all of these other world shenanigans seem too far fetched and incredible. I read this book seeking some reassurance and confirmation that animals have surviving souls.
   
   This book of the "fantastic" wasn't reassuring to me though I do appreciate the author's respect for and love of animals.



2. I think this book is terrific! I was having some trouble getting thru the loss of my pet, even 4 years later. This book helped me tremendously! (Although I did cry through the first half of the book.)



3. This is an excellent book if you have an aging animal living with you. Our cat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was a cherished family member. I took a day off of work to stay with him near the end of his life and sat with him on my lap reading this book. It really helped me through the acceptance of his coming death and through the grieving process. I would highly recommend this for all pet owners.



4. i bought this book after we had to put 2 of our beloved furkids to sleep; pumba because his poor, old body couldn't support him anymore and wally because meds were no longer helping his congestive heart failure and he lost bowel control, and also because my soulmate, onyx, a chow, is getting gray around the muzzle and eyes. i'm so grateful to penelope for taking the time to write this beautiful book! not only did she help ease the pain of loss of pumba and wally but she also taught me we were giving up on onyx before he was even ready to move on and possibly shortening his time w/us by remarking about his age and how he'll break our hearts when he leaves us. (ie - animals don't know or care about physical age and will hold on in pain to save their people despair) since we have adopted a more peaceful attitude about onyx moving on, he has miraculously improved in spirit, seems happier and is getting around better. also, knowing now that some animals who have died tragically (hit by car, etc) sometimes don't know they can leave their bodies because they don't know what happened to them, i tell them they are free to go when i see an animal that has been hit by a car (and obviously dead, otherwise i'd stop and help). this book has completely changed my view of my furkids and i highly recommend it to everyone who understands the true depth of their love for us.



5. Good book, lots of stories of how animals pass into the after life, since I am currently studying animal communication, and have lost a family member, my cat, Emily Anne, the book answered my questions to further understand and find comfort in her passing.