Dog Sayings: Wit & Wisdom From Man's Best Friend by Bradford G. Wheler

If you're a dog lover, or have one in the family, Bradford G. Wheler's Dog Sayings: Wit & Wisdom From Man's Best Friend will be a fun addition to a home collection.  And, if you stick around until the end of the review, you can try to win a copy of the book.  Christmas gift, anyone?

This small book tells of man's relationship with dogs, accompanied by artwork that beautifully illustrates each chapter.  There are quotes from Charles Schultz, "Happiness is a warm puppy," Mark Twain, and Elizabeth Taylor.  It's an eclectic mix of quotes, and an interesting selection of artwork.  There are photographs, sketches and paintings, all of them showing the heart and personalities of dogs. 

I liked Gene Hill's comment.  "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies."  The quotes revolve around subjects such as "Love & Loyalty," "Dog Humor," and "Ancient Wisdom."  And, for those of us who are cat people, there's the chapter, "Dogs vs Cats," with cat illustrations.  Dereke Bruce reminds us of something we already know.  "In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him." 

If you're looking for a little collection of wisdom and artwork, you might want to pick up Dog Sayings: Wit & Wisdom From Man's Best Friend.  Or, if you'd like to win a copy for yourself or to give as a gift, email me at lholstine@yahoo.com.  Your subject line should say, "Win Dog Sayings."  Your message should include your mailing address. Entrants only in the U.S., please.

This will be a short contest so the publisher can get the book to the winner. The contest will end Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. MT. The winner will be selected by random number generator. I'll notify the winner, and the book will be sent to you by the publisher.  Good luck!

Dog Sayings: Wit & Wisdom From Man's Best Friend by Bradford G. Wheler.  BookCollaborative.com, ©2010. ISBN 9780982253823 (paperback), 134p.

*****

FTC Full Disclosure - My copy was sent by the publicist, in hopes I would review it.

GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco

Just as a reminder, October is National Adopt-A-Dog Month.  So, it's the perfect time to discuss Wendy Francisco's little book, GoD and DoG.  And, the book is one of the books in the Hatchette Book Giveaway.  You have two more days to enter that contest.   Check my blog for October 7, if you'd like to enter the collection of five books.

This book first appeared on YouTube as a popular video and song by Francisco.  Now, it's in book form, although I hope that the video is on the blog, so you can see it as well.  (No promises.)

GoD and DoG may appear to be a simple little book in which Francisco does not say God and dogs are the same, but that dogs were made by God, and reflect his love.  It's a book to think about, with the similarity as to the simplicity of love given by God and dogs.  The book will take about two minutes to read, but the message will definitely stay with you.  Francisco's book is a treasure to share with dog lovers of all ages.

Wendy Francisco's website is http://www.wendyfrancisco.com/.  And, if the video doesn't show on the blog, check it out on YouTube.  Just search for GoD and DoG.

GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco.  Center Street, Pub Date: 2010. ISBN 9781599953793 (hardcover), 48p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested the book from Hatchette since I'm giving away a copy of it.

Winners and A Dog Lover's Giveaway

Congratulations to the winners of the last contest.  Hailey Lind's Arsenic and Old Paint will go to Gale M. of Houston, TX.   Murder in the Abstract by Susan Shea goes to Sharon M. from Olympia, WA.  The books will go out in the mail tomorrow.

Since today has been all about dogs, and it's National Adopt-a-Dog Month, I have two books about dogs to give away this week.  Let's start with the third book in Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie series, To Fetch a Thief.  Chet is such a wonderful narrator, and "such a dog."  This time, Chet helps Bernie search for a missing elephant and trainer.  And, Chet has a pretty good nose for tracking an elephant.  He's also good at tracking a killer.

Or you could win Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family - and a Whole Town - About Hope and Happy Endings by Janet Elder.  This is the story of a puppy who disappeared when the family went on vacation, and the New Jersey communities who reached out to Elder's family as she, her husband, and her heartbroken son searched for Huck.  (And, isn't that the cutest puppy face you've ever seen?)

You can enter to win these two books, and the winners will be announced next week.  But, don't forget the Hatchette giveaway of a set of five dog books.  Check my earlier blog today for that giveaway. 

So, do you want to win To Fetch a Thief or Huck?   You can enter to win both, but I need separate entries. Email me at lholstine@yahoo.com. Your subject line should read either "Win To Fetch a Thief" or "Win Huck." Your message should include your mailing address. Entrants only in the U.S., please.


The contest will end Thursday, Oct. 14th at 6 p.m. PT. The winners will be selected by random number generator. I'll notify the winners and mail the books the next day. Good luck!

The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption was a difficult book to start.  Now, notice I didn't say Jim Gorant's book was difficult to finish.  If you're like me, you'll skim through those sections in italics, and delve into the meat of the book.  The italicized parts, as the dogs observe what is happening to them on Vick's property, is heartbreaking.  But, it's easy to get through that part to the rest of the book, a rewarding, and, at times, triumphant story.

Gorant quotes Gandhi, and it's worth repeating here.  "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  When Michael Vick spent his football earnings to buy fifteen acres in Smithfield, Virginia, and then used that property to raise dogs for dogfighting, it said a great deal about Vick and his friends.  But, the story of the people who found the evidence against Vick is a true crime story of good triumphing over opposition.  A rural Virginia deputy, Bill Brinkman, pushed for an investigation.  When nothing worked on the local level, he turned to Jim Knorr, an undercover senior special agent with the USDA's Office of the Inspector General.  And, Mike Gill from the U.S. Attorney's office, not only took over the case, but pushed to determine if those dogs could be rehabilitated.

And, the section of the book about rehabilitation is absolutely wonderful.  It took time and a number of organizations and individuals, but the story of the reclamation of these pit bulls is remarkable.  Sixty-six dogs were removed from Vick's property.  Some died before they had the chance to be evaluated.  But, there was a remarkable team put together to evaluate and place each individual dog.  Of the forty-nine dogs evaluated, forty-seven were given a second chance. 

Wait until you read the stories of the people and dogs who worked together to find a second life for these dogs.  Jonny Justice is one of my favorites, a dog who now participates in the Paws for Tales program, listening to children read at the public library.  But there are dogs that are now therapy dogs, dogs that are family pets.  And, there's a summary that provides an individual profile for each dog who wasn't followed in the course of the reclamation story.

Jim Gorant has taken a story of tragedy, and turned it into a remarkable story of people who cared to save Michael Vick's dogs.  The Lost Dogs is, in the end, a triumphant story of people who took on a difficult task, an investigation of a popular football player, and then a reclamation effort to save the dogs the player and his friends tried to destroy.

I understand this is a difficult subject, but The Lost Dogs is a rewarding book to read.   I have one copy of the book to give away.  If you're interested in winning, email me at lholstine@yahoo.com, with the subject line "Win The Lost Dogs."  Include your name and mailing address.  Entrants in the U.S. only, please.  The contest will end at 5 AM tomorrow (Friday) morning, and I'll draw the name by random number generator.  The publisher will send a copy of the book.

*****

"Jim Gorant has worked as a magazine editor and writer for twenty years, and is currently a senior editor at Sports Illustrated. His work has appeared in such magazines as Men’s Health, GQ, and Outside. Also the author of Fanatic: Ten Things All Sports Fans Should Do Before They Die, he lives in New Jersey."

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorant.  Gotham Books, ©2010. ISBN 9781592405503 (hardcover), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - TLC Book Tours sent me a copy of the book, so I could participate in Gorant's blog tour.

October is Adopt-A-Dog Month - Book Giveaway!

October is National Adopt-A-Dog Month, and Hatchette Book Group is giving one lucky winner a reason to celebrate.  If you love dogs, you can enter to win the book giveaway of five titles.

Someone will win a complete set of these books -

Katie Up and Down the Hall By Glenn Plaskin

Oogy By Larry Levin

GoD and DoG By Wendy Francisco

Dog Tags By David Rosenfelt

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend By The Monks of New Skete

Winning a collection of five books is a great way to celebrate National Adopt-A-Dog Month.  If you'd like to enter this contest, email me at lholstine@yahoo.com.   If that link doesn't work for you, the email address is: lholstine@yahoo.com. Your subject line should read, "Win Dog Books." Your message should include your mailing address. Hatchette rules stipulate: US and Canada only, no PO Boxes, please.


This contest runs for two weeks.  It will end Thursday, October 21 at 6:00 PM PT. The winner will be selected by random number generator. Once the winner is notified, Hatchette Book Group will send the collection. Good luck!

To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn

I just love Chet.  If you can accept a dog as narrator of a mystery, and partner in a detective business, you'll want to check out Spencer Quinn's latest Chet and Bernie book, To Fetch a Thief.

Bernie Little owns Little Detective Agency.  His ex-wife might own part of the business, but his business partner is actually his dog, Chet.  And, the humor in the book comes from Chet's dog-like behavior.  Everyone who likes this series says the same thing, "He's such a dog!"  He might be working a case with Bernie, but he's easily distracted by Slim Jims or short ribs.  Actually, Chet is distracted by female dogs, his own barking, and any kind of food.  But, he's still the perfect partner for Bernie.


When one of Bernie's clients gives him tickets to the circus, he takes his son, Charlie, only to arrive the day after the elephant and her handler disappeared.  Although the circus owner tries to convince Bernie the handler kidnapped her, Charlie wants his father to look for Peanut, the elephant.  And, Popo, the clown wants Bernie and Chet to look for him.  Although the local police are convinced the handler ran off, Bernie is a little suspicious of the guard at the gate.  And, when a witness changes his story, Bernie knows he's on to something. 

Poor Bernie.  He has personal problems, with his ex-wife's future husband, and the woman he likes, financial problems, and, now a missing elephant.  If he can count on anyone, though, he can count on Chet.

As I said, I love Chet.  But, this third book in the series fell a little flat to me.  It seemed drawn out, and lacked some of the spark.  Perhaps it was the lengthy search for the elephant, leading to Mexico.  I'm a big fan of Chet and Bernie. To Fetch a Thief just didn't fetch my fancy.

You can visit Chet online at www.ChetTheDog.com

To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn.  Simon & Schuster, ©2010. ISBN 9781439157077 (hardcover), 309p.

*****
FTC Fulll Disclosure - The publisher sent me the book, in hopes I would review it.

Huck by Janet Elder

Isn't that one of the most adorable faces you've ever seen? It was that face that originally attracted me to Janet Elder's book, Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family - and a Whole Town - About Hope and Happy Endings.  To be honest, the town actually understood hope.  It was Janet Elder, after a bout with cancer, who had to learn to hope again.

Janet Elder and her husband were in their late thirties when their only son, Michael, was born.  From the time he was a baby, Michael loved dogs, and for years, he asked for one for Christmas, to no avail.  Janet and Rick always had an excuse.  They lived in an apartmetn in Manhattan.  She worked for the New York Times; Rich travelled a lot.  With two full-time working parents, the answer to Michael was always no.  But, when Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer at 48, Michael was only eleven.  Once she learned it was going to be a lengthy treatment, she convinced her husband that they needed to get Michael a dog, one to hug and be there for him.  It would be symbol of hope to hold out for him once her treatment was done.  And, she even said, "It was going to be good for all of us to have a puppy, a new life at the center of our lives, a declaration of faith in the future."

For Michael, it was love at first site when a reddish brown toy poodle puppy arrived.  He called him Huck, and the two were just meant for each other.   And, when the family left for a much-needed trip to Florida, it was difficult to leave Huck with Janet's sister in Ramsey, New Jersey.  Perhaps Janet had a premonition.  "I started wondering if it was a mistake to leave Huck in a place so unfamiliar to him."  BIG mistake.  Within twenty-four hours, Huck was gone, and the family had to rush back to try to find him.  How do you find a puppy that has run away?

It might take a village to raise a child, but it took four towns, and a number of people to find a runaway.  Two thirds of the book is about those people who helped in the search.  Rich led the search, never giving up in the attempt to find Huck.  And, Elder chronicles the prayers, posters, and people who assisted in the search for Huck. 

Huck is the story of a dog, and community.  However, as a book, it is padded.  It's not easy to put together three hundred pages about a puppy, and a search for it.   Elder, naturally, has to include the events that led up to it, beginning with Michael's passion for dogs, and culminating in her cancer.  But, details about New Jersey and Tampa could have been edited.  We really didn't need to know all the details about Tampa, and shopping there.  However, I have to admit, without padding there really isn't much of a story here.  Bought a dog, loved a dog, lost if for a few days, hunted for it, and brought it home.   I'm glad Huck was found.  He is an adorable dog.  And, I know Elder's story is how the community helped them find Huck.   But, I think I wasted a little too much time reading a three hundred page book in which one drama happens, and we know the outcome from the cover of the book.

Huck by Janet Elder.  Crown, ©2010. ISBN 9780767931342 (hardcover), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested a copy of this book, in order to read and review it.

A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill

Leigh Brill's story of her life with her service dog, Slugger, will inspire you, and break your heart, as so many animal stories do.  But, don't hesitate to read A Dog Named Slugger.  The story of this relationship needs to be told.

Leigh Brill has cerebral palsy.  Her childhood was spent suffering through surgeries, embarrassment, and hearing herself called "a cripple" as she fell.  And, her cerebral palsy was the greatest secret of her childhood.  It wasn't discussed, and she tried to hide it even through college, trying to appear normal.  But, in 1992, while a grad student, her feet hurt; she fell, was late to class, and realized she needed help.  At the right moment, a classmate showed up with her service dog, demonstrating how a dog could help someone with a disability.  Given a flyer about Caring Canine Companions, Brill began hoping for a service dog of her own.

Enter Slugger, a yellow Labrador.  For two years, Slugger had trained to be a companion.  And, he was the perfect dog for Leigh.  He was trained to carry her belongings, retrieve them when she dropped them, fetch her telephone, and open heavy doors. 

Brill's own training with Slugger took time, and she tells of working with him as they learned to trust each other.  When they passed the certification test, they passed on to another stage of life.  Slugger's assistance enabled Leigh Brill to become more confident in herself.  With Slugger by her side, she found friendship and relationships.  But, it was that relationship with Slugger that inspired love and devotion on both sides.

A Dog Named Slugger is an education and an inspiration.  Leigh Brill now has the confidence to reveal her own fears and weaknesses in this book, while she shows how a service dog can change a person's life.  Slugger changed Leigh Brill's whole world.  A Dog Named Slugger is a story of the power of love, and a dog.

Leigh Brill's website is http://www.leighbrill.com/

A Dog Named Slugger: The True Story of the Service Dog That Changed My Life by Leigh Brill.  BelleBooks, ©2010. ISBN 9780984325658 (paperback), 248p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of this book, in hopes I would review it.