Book Description
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
Download Description
"
The heartwarming and unforgettable
story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught
them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, ""Don't hesitate to use these.""
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
"
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Edition of Marley and Me.......2007-10-11
I bought this edition of 'Marley and Me' to see the extra photographs of Marley and also for John Grogan's newspaper column he wrote after Marley died. I highly recommend this edition to everyone, it truly is a treasure.
An incredible tale.......2007-10-05
This book was wonderful - ignore the one star reviews, seriously. It was never intended to be an intellectual story with an incredible plot (or twist), and it certainly wasn't meant to make one feel angry at the author as you read it.
If you can open your mind (and heart), and read this book as a simple tale of such a basic relationship between dog and owner(s), you will be rewarded with such a funny, warm, heart-wrenching, inspiring tale that could well make you a better person.
I ENJOYED the moments of self-indulgence - where we got an understanding about who John was and what was going on in HIS life. I think the book needed that to avoid being entirely about a dog and his experiences - let's face it, no matter how great Marley is (or isn't), he wasn't going to warrant 200 pages of text (or was he?). It's this discussion of family, of growing up, of happiness and anger, that draws so many parallels between the life of a human being, and the life of a dog. It is summarized so brilliantly towards the end of the book and, as you wipe away the tears, you can only feel an incredible sense of optimism and hope well after you turn the last page.
Predictable ending? Well duh. You do know where it's going from the moment you purchase the book - from the moment you purchase a DOG. But HOW Grogan gets there is brilliantly done. His writing style is well-paced, conversational, yet entirely descriptive. I felt the warmth of the South Florida sun as I watched Marley play in the ocean, and I felt everyones shivers in the grey, cold winter in PA. Ultimately, I felt the utter sadness that an entirely family felt, and the power of reminiscence & focusing on those special moments in life.
Here's to you, Grogan. Your book touched my heart; and to Marley - your existence has touched millions of people around the world without you even knowing it. If that's not a successful book, I'm not quite sure what is.
How fast the time goes with Crazy Pups.......2007-10-03
I just finished Marley & Me.
The Best read I have had in a long time. It was like watching a GREAT movie, only better. I have loved and lost 1 best friend recently and the other best friend is now over 10 years....this book makes you think...remember.... and thank the heavens for allowing them to be here with us for their period of time reminding us that we are "only Human".
I loved the book and have 6 people in line to borrow it now that I am finished.
If you like to laugh, love dogs and appreciate terrific writing, buy or borrow this book!
A+ Marley will be with me forever.
Beautiful! Touching!.......2007-09-29
John Grogan brings a great deal of heart to Marley's story. It reminds one of how precious pets can be and how these little ones share so much with us as life goes on.
It's a beautiful, touching, and vivid story, and you'll just fall in love with it.
Thanks, John, for sharing such a great tale :-)
a wonderful story.......2007-09-25
You will laugh and cry. A great story for anyone who has ever loved a dog.
Book Description
Today, Lin Jensen is a Zen master. But before that, he had to get through a difficult childhood and a difficult life. Bad Dog! is Jensen's sometimes quirky, sometimes poignant telling of the long path he took to inner peace. In over 40 short, interlocking pieces, Jensen uncovers his personal history, starting with his early life on a struggling farm in the dusty, quiet Midwest. Jensen eventually reaches college where he encounters a new world and a new passion, poetry, before entering into a marriage that is destined to fail. The one constant throughout Jensen's life is the search for meaning, — a search that leads him to finally awaken to his calling in Zen. Always engaging, Jensen's quiet stories subtly reflect on the currents of love, beauty, and redemption that run through all lives. His simple prose rings with insight at just the right moments, making Bad Dog! a book that will appeal to anyone who's ever looked for life's little bright spots.
Customer Reviews:
One of the most beautiful books I've read.......2006-07-30
I'm a fan of really good writing as well as Buddhism. I read this book several months ago and always meant to write a review about it. So today I finally got around to it and browsed the reviews written before me to see that all the superlatives had been already taken.
Gut-wrenching, beautiful,powerful.
This book touched me as very few have. It is a must-read regardless of its subject matter because of the quality of the writing alone. I could feel this kid's life. His loneliness, alienation and neediness.
Like many great books it can be read on different levels. As a personal memoir of growing up in a particular time and place with a particular type of upbringing. As a lay Buddhist book; essentially a primer of how to step away from a world of samsara and build for yourself, step by step, act by act, a life of peace, love and compassion.
What a journey he's had. How amazing that he shared it with us.
It's an elegant, lyrical, deceptively "deep" book which really deserves a much wider audience.(Read it and imagine that it's Number One on the N.Y. Times bestseller list and see if you feel just a little more hopeful).
Brilliant........2006-06-09
Stark, and beautiful.
Many people, like the author's father, assert that the best response to tough times is to be cold and tough in our actions. But throughout his lifetime, in the shadow of the Great Depression and his cruel father, the author stayed true to his own inner desire for compassion.
And he has lived to tell us about it.
Redemption redux.......2006-01-15
The first story "Bad Dog" evokes the recurring theme of the entire collection: Redemption in a world of sorrow. It spans the author's life through more than fifty years in a mere six pages. An essence of humilty is evident as you try and understand the hardness of his father's will. The adage of he did the best he knew how plays a familiar tune to most of us raised by depression era parents. The resentment melts away with Jensen's tender acts of mercy towards his father nearing the end of his life. A tender act few if any of us would be able to muster up...
It's a recommended read for everyone hoping to understand how to see into the darkness and not be afraid.
Life's lessons are all around us.......2005-09-21
Lin Jenson has the grace to reflect on profound moments in his life in a non-judgemental way, regardless of the circumstances. It is refreshing to read the work of a person that has the gift of self reflection and can communicate the experience as well as this Zen teacher has been able to do. One can only hope to be able to learn as much from their own life's experiences.
Average customer rating:
- Great Story
- Typical Shirley
- 5 stars for Terry the Leasher & none for un-true-full Starlette Shirley ...
- Look Deeper -- It's Here
- Did not like it
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Out on a Leash: Exploring Reality and Love
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
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My Lucky Stars: A Hollywood Memoir
ASIN: 074353560X |
Book Description
From the internationally bestselling author and beloved actress comes a brilliantly fun-loving and inspiring story of unconditional love.
Shirley MacLaine has found a perfect love in the furry bundle of irresistible canine charms that is Terry. With her winning terrier ways and an endless wellspring of love with no strings attached, Terry has succeeded in doing what no one before her ever has: slowing Shirley's peripatetic travels, shifting the actress/author's global axis to hearth and home. Now there are few greater pleasures for Shirley than being with Terry on her ranch or on a New York street, romping on the beach together, or sharing a long plane ride to a new location for making a film. With Terry by her side, Shirley sees the world in new ways she never thought possible.
As we join Shirley and Terry we see through their eyes how they each provide a window for exploring the nature of love. Together they shared at least one past life in ancient Egypt, and possibly more. Together, too, they seek to understand world events today: Are we beginning to fulfill the ancient Biblical prophecies? Is Armageddon looming? And of course there is Terry as a constant gateway to spirit, to being fully in each moment, to that boundless love that surpasses all understanding. In a unique twist that makes this audiobook such a delight, we see Terry's point of view on Shirley's domestic and inner life, as the terrier's mistress continually questions the deeper nature of reality.
This audiobook is an utterly charming, witty, and ultimately wise memoir of one of the truly remarkable women of our time. Out on a Leash is an irresistible bonbon for the legions of MacLaine listeners, and for dog-lovers everywhere.
Download Description
"From the internationally bestselling author and beloved actress comes a brilliantly fun-loving and inspiring story of unconditional love. Shirley MacLaine has found a perfect love in the furry bundle of irresistible canine charms that is Terry. With her winning terrier ways and an endless wellspring of love with no strings attached, Terry has succeeded in doing what no one before her ever has: slowing Shirley's peripatetic travels, shifting the actress/author's global axis to hearth and home. Now there are few greater pleasures for Shirley than being with Terry on her ranch or on a New York street, romping on the beach together, or sharing a long plane ride to a new location for making a film. With Terry by her side, Shirley sees the world in new ways she never thought possible. As we join Shirley and Terry we see through their eyes how they each provide a window for exploring the nature of love. Together they shared at least one past life in ancient Egypt, and possibly more. Together, too, they seek to understand world events today: Are we beginning to fulfill the ancient biblical prophecies? Is Armageddon looming? And of course there is Terry as a constant gateway to spirit, to being fully in each moment, to that boundless love that surpasses all understanding. In a unique twist that makes this book such a delight, we see Terry's point of view on Shirley's domestic and inner life, as the terrier's mistress continually questions the deeper nature of reality. This book is an utterly charming, witty, and ultimately wise memoir of one of the truly remarkable women of our time. Out on a Leash is an irresistible bonbon for the legions of MacLaine readers, and for dog lovers everywhere. "
Customer Reviews:
Great Story.......2007-02-05
Great love story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I happened to get my own puppy soon after reading this book and wow - I have experienced the love firsthand.
Typical Shirley.......2006-09-10
I have followed Shirley's spritual path since she started writing about it. I read this book in a day and loved it. For anyone who has a spiritual connection with a 4 legged being, or any non human being, this book will touch your heart.
It is whimsical and real. It will make you smile and bring a tear.
I fell in love with Terry and Shirley's connection with him. Though she has many animals and loves them all, she has a special bond with Terry that only someone who has known that bond can understand. Keep writing Shirley!
5 stars for Terry the Leasher & none for un-true-full Starlette Shirley ..........2005-10-10
Her previous book The Camino had 36 pages (my number again) with the word love in it & on p.146 "yellow ... deals with personal power." and on p.130 "Wisdom was represented by what we stood upon - our feet" and most animals are firmly grounded in unconditional love since they do have 4 feet and the snake is even more so by crawling with no feet. Being both of yellow skin and born under the snake sign, here is what I saw in:
This present book at least has 4 pages where unconditional love is mentioned, p.182 "It will be difficult to live without Terry's constant reminders that I am capable of unconditional love" which is quite close to the last page 199[a step before 200 or t(w)o zero or to oneness nothingness.) Shirley is still in the receiving end of unconditional love. Unless Shirley BE-comes UNCONDITIONAL LOVE or the state of GRACE, I will say that Shirley will not reach stardom in this lifetime. Since Shirley is still seeking for outside for-give-ness (e.g. neutering Terry) instead of GrOwING WITHIN or BE-ing it. Please shift from RE-act-ing as in all movies and BE a real god as played in "All my Reviews" by facing each own and chosen 'fall from heaven story'.
As far as i understand when each one of us is born, a physical star is also born in our universe. And both death are synchronous. This is one way to weave the relations between all entities and how the universe celebrates our passing through as in Osho's epitath. That's why there is the song "Wishing upon a star" because we all are. On p.167 (as seeks heaven) Terry, her dog states "Since my Mistress Mother is my child i hope i can teach her that growing up is essential to aging well. And the older she gets the further inside herself she should look. The more deeply she learns to love, the younger she'll be when she dies."
on p.166 (as seeks first perfect number & part of my number representation as Osiris) "Even now, while Terry is still in my life, I find myself WANTING to surround myself with animals ... I would be happy living with a menagerie... they point the way to a state of being we humans can only aspire to." To aspire is to hope and not be present. As far as I know at least 6 millions or 0.1% of humans are in that state of being.
on p.191 Terry states "The answers that MM seeks are hers to create." To create rather than react (a play on word) is to be god. This book mentioned twice that god is dog backward.
Dis-playing with my own example: I am creating situation where i am in synch with whatever the god in Neale Walsch's books (other books are in All my Reviews) & what Terry proclaimed here since 1996. The mundane was described in my letter to Jimmy Carter with my review of Prescription for Global Enlightenment. With that letter I realized that his Carter Center binds Jimmy in chains by being an institution, so will Shirley's animal menagerie.
On p.178 Shirley is closer to being Unconditional Love when she questioned "Should I have adopted the children I wanted to when I was younger? Is that the impulse Terry is bringing out in me? Or is she bringing out a desire to adopt children now? ...No, I've earned this peace and quiet" Shirley with all her 70 years of experience still question her own intuition and defaulting to the Western mind's cop-out.
She can break this impasse by choosing to adopt both animals and children. In my letter to Jimmy the statistics to my question "IS LOVE CONDITIONAL or UNCONDITIONAL?" is only valid in China. Among my 35 College Classmate in the US the ratio is far far lower. Only one, named very appropriately Violet, chose that Love IS Unconditional, although she can't do it either. The most common answer i get in US is that Unconditional Love can be for children.
Naturally that declaration by itself is a lie, as though, one can separate love into all different kinds. A very simple example will show the different Western & Eastern mindset. In Asia most mothers choose to sleep with their children since birth, thus be one with the infant (or Terry.) Westerners choose to put their children in a cradle and even in a separate room as in Disney 'Lady and the Tramp', which my 3 year-old son Imagine is watching everyday for the past week with 'Sleeping Beauty'.
Imagine is not happy when the masters put the puppy Lady out of the house in the beginning, and happy when Lady sneaks back in to the warmth of human bed. Initially when Kite found she was pregnant, I defer unconditionally to her choice. By the 3rd month she lost 20lb and then re-gained 30lb and we had inter_course until delivery day.
If the choice was given to me, I would have chosen to abort because I thought I didn't need to go through being a father. I'm delighted Kite gave us the chance to experience what it's to love a child unconditionally.
I have slapped Imagine on the hand or butt a few times before and always immediately apologized to him without excuses.
3 real child-rearing unconditional love examples to free your self:
. Whenever Imagine cries, Happy, i and Kite never told him to stop. I sometimes even play along and ask him to cry louder. Naturally after checking he's not in physical pain or hungry.
. Whenever Imagine falls down I always come closer and notice if he got physical scratch, otherwise I simply tell him to get up by himself.
. When faced with what we normally term as dangerous, unlike the dead Bush by 2006/3/7 and other un-secure/winning mentality, i turn that into a shared learning experience in unconditional love as in my review of "Lifelong Happiness."
One important thing I can find out with Imagine is to confirm that i can choose to be as young as i choose to be. This is in synch with how Kite sees me as neither male nor female, and my chosen epitath of 'a good person is not really that good and a bad person is not really that bad', since it's all a matter of enlarging perspective and be one with it all.
Whenever i declare my love to Kite and Happy or talk about Imagine, I always say that i also love every one else. Because we are all truly equal, as god in disguise, and we can learn a lot from our best teachers, the children, before their own 'fall from heaven story.' To die with children around is bliss, this is one reality check for Terry's statement of "The more deeply (Shirley) learns to love, the younger she'll be when she dies."
My own litmus test is to ask "what do you choose to do, if you knew you are going to be dead tomorrow". If you don't want to face the question, let me rephrase it without the 'if' which is in the past:
"Do you know you are not going to die tomorrow?" Which is from the present.
For people living for the future i'll rephrase the question as "Ever since human have been born into this world, there is one thing, and only one thing, coming from the future right into our face"
That's really the only leash we're all in, as equal as, in our own choice of 'fall from heaven story' too and choice of birth and death and everything in between. On the other side is timeless all-that-is unconditional love and we all are a facet of that oneness. So choose either to re-present fear or be unconditional love. Place your bet, rien-ne-vas-plus.
Look Deeper -- It's Here.......2005-02-01
I've decided to write a review after perusing all the ones already written, and after reading the book myself. I want any future potential buyer to know what's what. Disregard all those comments that say Shirley MacLaine has lost it, is fuzzy-minded or too sentimental. While "Out On a Limb" remains Shirley's best book so far, this one is clear-headed as can be and deals with a different subject, a magical animal. What those other comments indicate is the readers' lack of a sense of humor.
You know some people are so darn literal, right? In truth, there are wonderful insights and wisdoms throughout the book. If you don't like animals, or if you think a dog is a dog is a dog, then you probably won't relate that well to the book, unless you recognize truth when you see it. This experience Shirley is having with a canine is rare. Her dog, Terry. is not your father's four-legged pal or your mother's cutsy, cuddly snookums. It's not about 90% of what most of us have experienced with a family dog or an adorable, sweet, or smart dog or cat that we loved and remember fondly. No, this is that rare 10% of animals that come into one's life that transcend the ordinary pooch or pussy. You have to experience it to understand it.
Shirley is NOT ga-ga in her dotage over a pet! She has been gifted with one of these transcendent animals and she is right: they do speak to their humans in many ways, and they love you like no man or woman has ever loved you (unless you're very, very lucky) before. I'm not talking about devotion. That's ordinary, expected. I'm talking about the real thing: unconditional love. We use that expression too much these days and most of us are lying about it. Frankly, we don't know what we're talking about. It's something we want to do, something we want to get, but we seldom come close. When we do, it's unforgettable whether it happens with man, woman or beast. It's a spiritual experience to be treasured and Shirley is one lucky lady.
Did not like it.......2004-04-28
I haven't read any of Shirley's works till this one. I really enjoy her movies. I love dogs so I thought I would try to read this book. I found this book to be very lacking in dog understanding. So maybe she wasn't professing to really understand dogs and was just using them as a tool to convey some type of message. But if this was the case I found the tool/message lacking and not worth the money.
Book Description
After 9/11, Kristin Henderson’s husband, a Lutheran Marine chaplain, is shipped out to Afghanistan, and Henderson, a Quaker, finds herself alone, and her own faith and belief in pacifism sorely tested. Together with her German shepherd, Rosie, Henderson sets off on a cross-country journey in her 1978 Corvette, exploring a changed country and her own altered emotional landscape. From the whispering Iowan corn fields and the simple fortitude of her Quaker kin, to the desolation of a snow-swept lodge in the Rocky Mountains and the quiet gifts of strangers, Henderson seeks guidance and searches for answers on the road. She muses on her life as a military wife, on the unexpected divergence in faith that tested her marriage, and details, with honesty and fierce bravery, the devastating battle with infertility that nearly tore it apart. In this intelligent meditation on how life—like topographical boundaries—resists strict borders, and on the freedom that comes with letting go, Kristin Henderson gives us an ultimately hopeful and affirming memoir.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful journey.......2003-12-19
The first time I read something written by Kristin was in the Washington Post Sunday Magazine almost a year ago. I was drawn in by the subject matter and stayed because I really liked how and what she wrote. Since then I've become a huge fan, even going so far as to send my father-in-law to one of her readings for an autographed copy of this book.
I knew a bit about Kristen's personal history from her article in the Washington Post Sunday Magazine about her chaplain husband (available on her website at www.kristinhenderson.com) and this book tells us even more.
I loved this book! Kristin takes (what I think are) enormous risks - opening up and telling the world about her relationships with her family, her struggles with infertility, Rosie and the Vette.
Do yourself a favor and get then read this book! And get a copy for someone you love.
Intimately honest about three tough subjects.......2003-12-09
I sat down and read this book cover to cover. Though I have not had to go through a battle with infertility, this book was deeply meaningful to me. So many questions that I deal with daily as a wife, mother, and human being. Where does God fit into my life? What is this uncontrolable urge to have (or not to have!) children? Did I want them for the right reasons--and now that I have them, do I really want them? How does it make sense on a cosmic level for someone who wants a child more than anything and cannot have one while there are so many people who frankly should not have them have kids with ease? I really appreciated the author's honesty---she said so many things that few people would have the guts too, especially about marriage. Very thought provoking, comforting and unsettling at the same time. Well worth a read for anyone!
A Writer, A Dog, and the Open Road.......2003-12-01
After September 11, 2001, Kristin Henderson's husband, a Lutheran minister and Marine chaplain, shipped out to Afghanistan. And Kristin, a pacifist Quaker, climbed into her Corvette with her German shepherd and embarked on a 10,000-mile journey through a country that seemed forever changed. This memoir details that cross-country journey; more importantly, it explores the author's simultaneous journey of self-discovery.
Henderson deftly weaves together the strands of her road trip with those of her internal one. As she drives the highways and backroads of America and Canada, she sees signs everywhere of people's grief, shock, and anger over the terrorist attacks, and she reflects on her Quaker beliefs, questioning whether those beliefs can be reconciled with her thirst for vengeance. As she fears for her husband's safety and breathlessly awaits his too-infrequent e-mails, she recalls the strain placed on her marriage by the conflicts between her own religious questing and his rock-solid faith.
Most memorably, she traces the couple's years-long struggle with infertility and the painful, heart-wrenching process of trying to get pregnant.
This is Henderson's first published book, but you'd never know it from the eloquence of her writing and the complexity of emotion it conveys. She's often hilariously funny -- as when she compares religions to cars; or when she describes the renovation of her Washington, D.C., rowhouse's only bathroom; or when she tells of the eccentric characters encountered at a mountaintop lodge in Montana. But she can also bring a reader to tears with her discussion of a foreign-born teen who is assaulted for looking different; and, of course, her descriptions of infertility treatments and the psychological trauma that accompanies them.
The author envies her dog Rosie's ability to live in the moment and accept whatever turns up next along the road. As a reader, I found myself envying Rosie as well, but for a different reason: I wished I could have been along on that journey, with so likeable and interesting a tour guide as Henderson at the wheel. Reading her book is the next best thing.
Driving toward inner peace in a "bubble of white noise".......2003-11-01
I live three miles from the Pentagon, less than an hour's walk on a sunny fall afternoon. Sixties liberal that I am though, I saw it only as a destination for peace marches. But when I woke up the morning of Sept. 12, 2001, with smoke still seeping through my open windows from the terrorist attack the day before, my perceptions had undergone a sea change. "The military is there to protect us," it dawned on me, "and someone's just blown a hole in that protection."
With my former convictions in disarray, it's no wonder I was drawn to this memoir in which the author suffered a similar shock to her pacifist beliefs. "Does being a pacifist mean...it's wrong even to defend yourself?" she asks. "On TV, I saw that huge plane magically pushing its way into and through a New York skyscraper, metamorphosing along the way into a blooming poppy of fire. I watched tiny, fragile human figures standing at those broken windows a hundred floors up, someone's daughter, someone's son, all peering down and hoping against hope, not knowing there was no hope. Every time I see them, recall them, I want to seize something, anything, on the other side of the world and smash the hell out of it. I know I won't be satisfied until I see whole towns on the other side of the world destroyed. I horrify myself. I want to run away from myself."
Henderson does "run away." Once she has hugged her Marine chaplain husband goodby, as he ships out for Afghanistan days after September 11, she sets off to drive across the country in a '78 Corvette with only her German shepherd to keep her company. But though she leaves the scenes of carnage behind, she can't escape from her churning emotions, her fear for her husband, or the contradictions that beset her mind. The conflict between her normal pacifism and her instinctual desire for vengeance is not the only discord in Henderson's life: She's a Quaker pacifist married to a Lutheran pastor and Marine chaplain. She parts ways with her husband as well on the subject of religious beliefs -- her growing rejection of the belief that Jesus was God incarnate. Most poignantly, her desire to have a baby increases with every tick of her biological clock, while her husband -- afraid he would follow in his father's footsteps and be an inadequate parent -- doesn't want children at all.
While Driving by Moonlight is a "road" book, it is much more than that. The story of Henderson's trip is vivid, funny and at times harrowing (as she nearly becomes trapped in a sudden blizzard). The family, friends and strangers she encounters along her way are memorable characters, well portrayed in her hands. But her story is not just that of her journey from one coast to another, but of her journey through life. Fortunately for the reader, the author not only weaves her trip and her life complications together adroitly, but she seems utterly lacking in pretensions and leavens her serious themes with delicious humor. I couldn't stop laughing when she told how she and her dubious husband decided to renovate their only bathroom -- without the help of a plumber. (A perfect start to Sunday during the time the bathroom was ripped out was to pick up the paper from the doorstep, drive to the nearest museum and settle down in the still empty rest room.) Though I read mostly fiction, I found this memoir as engrossing as any novel.
While I originally picked up the book because the author mirrored the reactions I'd had after September 11, I found myself becoming more engrossed in Henderson's life, in particular her struggle (sadly unsuccessful) to become pregnant, which meant fighting to convince her reluctant husband to agree to each round of infertility treatment, and finally to in vitro fertilization, or as Henderson describes it, "a final Hail Mary roll of the dice."
Henderson ends with as many contradictions as she started. Planning the trip "gave me the illusion that I controlled my life," she writes, an illusion of which she was quickly disabused as weather closes the road in front of her. But the act of driving itself, immersed in the white noise of the Corvette's engine has become a form of "centering prayer" and she is learning to live -- as all of us must -- with uncertainty. Meanwhile she drives on. Darkness falls and her headlights show nothing but the side of the road. But tomorrow, "the moon will slowly begin opening like an eye, widening to reflect the Light and illuminate the darkness before slowly closing again. Way opens, way closes, and then way opens again, circling around and around as I drive on, the moon and the starry patchwork of constellations all turning and tinkling in the solar wind."
I felt enlightened and enriched for having read this beautifully written and honest account of another woman's struggle to come to terms with the contradictions in her life.
A Great Ride Through Tough Questions.......2003-10-31
This beautifully written, funny, wrenching and ultimately heartening memoir of a road trip in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 is a rare find. Author Kristin Henderson certainly succeeds in bringing back that time of fear and confusion but what got me was her exploration of connections between the human urges to war and procreation. At the time her husband shipped out to Afghanistan, Henderson was struggling to come to terms with infertility--losing her dream of being a mother and the physical presence of her husband at the same time. Her road trip allowed her the time and solitude to sort through the pain and emotional confusion of all this while, as she says, giving her the illusion of forward motion. We are the lucky beneficiaries of this 'escape plan' as Henderson alternates her experiences on the road--often hooty, always interesting--with recollections of divisions in her self and her marriage over religion, and of the medical and emotional trials of fertility treatment. Reading this wonderful book, I sensed that Henderson, with her trusty dog Rosie at her side, would find the peace she was looking for and I was happy to be along for the vicarious ride.
Average customer rating:
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A Golden Love Story (Faith & Fame S.)
Phyllis Seymour
Manufacturer: Lutterworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
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| Books
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0718828828 |
Average customer rating:
- This book gave me nightmares
- For The Love Of A Dog
- One of the best books I have read in a very, very long time.
- poor little puppies
- I positively adore this stunning memoir
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For the Love of a Dog: A Memoir
Elisabeth Rose
Manufacturer: Harmony
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0609606921
Release Date: 2001-07-31 |
Book Description
Following church services, twelve-year-old Elisabeth Rose stands patiently in the reception line, waiting to ask the Reverend Van Dyke if animals go to heaven.
"No, honey," he says dismissively, turning to shake hands with the man behind her.
"Why not?" she persists.
"Why, honey, they don't have souls."
As every animal lover knows, the Reverend Van Dyke is terribly wrong.
For the Love of a Dog charts one woman's journey into the joyous, complicated, and mysterious communion people can have with animals. From her first dog, a mischievous fox terrier named Patches, to the thuggish finch, Pavarotti, who rooms with her in grad school and the haughty horse, Shannon, whom she coaxes into docility, Elisabeth Rose's account reveals her special sensitivity to the inner voice of creatures and their particular needs.
Most especially,
For the Love of a Dog is the story of Rose's relationship to her border collie, Kierney, a "brooding poet" -- intelligent, exuberant, remarkably conversant, but also anxiety-ridden and difficult -- who is misdiagnosed as insane. Told with power and deep insight, Rose chronicles the life of this extraordinary dog in a narrative infused with keen perceptions on fable and myth, spirituality, and the ways in which consciousness and language interact.
Ultimately, Rose's fascination with the emotional and spiritual lives of her animal companions leads her to the answer to her own question. "If the soul flickers somewhere in our bodies like a wispy genie," Rose writes, "maybe it's in our brain stem, our medulla oblongata, our animal brain."
Customer Reviews:
This book gave me nightmares.......2006-01-09
While the author is well meaning in her love of all living things, the story of Kierney left me devestated and unhappy. By the end of the book I cried, not from the beautiful story, but at the life this dog lead. I had high hopes when I began reading but they were dashed at how this dog suffered needlessly. I guess her well intentioned "help" just prolonged the dogs sickly and unhappy body.. Sometimes it is best to have Quality of life not just a selfish Quantity that we humans think our pets should have.
Dee Moravec
For The Love Of A Dog.......2004-03-22
This book is worth reading if only for Kierney, the beautiful, tragic, brilliant dog who stole the author's heart as a tiny puppy and died at only four years of age. Despite what some people might say, I think Lisa did the best she could for Kierney. She made some mistakes, but we all do that, and when it counted, she was there for her dog. I have a Heeler mix with a congenital spine defect that keeps her from walking and also affects her brain in some ways, and I think that as long as she can be happy, it is worth whatever it takes. Kierney's story is heartbreaking and there is no happy ending, but the book is worth reading so you can get to know this dog. She is incredible, and Lisa truly loved her. For a story of a very deep, moving relationship between woman and dog, read For The Love Of A Dog.
One of the best books I have read in a very, very long time........2003-08-23
I came across this book in the discount section of a book store on a trip to Canada. I read the book very quickly (and it's rare for me not to be able to put a book down at the end of a long day).
What an amazing treasure this book is. Being a dog lover extraordinaire I was smitten by Ms. Rose's trials and triumphs with her dog Kierney.
An added bonus was that the author is vegan and so is her dog! What a great affirmation of my beliefs that dogs can live healthy lives and be veg with the proper care.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, found myself crying through several parts of it (some people treat their canine friends so cruelly) and will recommend it to every dog owner I know. Everyone with a dog should read this enriching and enthralling memoir. Ms. Rose is a devoted dog mother who I found very inspiring.
poor little puppies.......2002-11-26
While I did hope to see her love for her dogs shine through at the end- I was severely dissapointed. The author imposes on us her completely self-absorbed nature. I honestly felt bad for the poor little animals.
I positively adore this stunning memoir.......2002-06-24
FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG is a book to cherish.
Since the moment when Reverand Van Dyke told 12 year old Rose dogs didn't have souls,at the very beginning of the book, you started cheering Elisabeth on as she proved him wrong.You fell in love with the animals, no matter how spooky or neurotic.It made me truly understand animals.
Amazon.com
In From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava, Jay Kopelman tells a story that is both tender and thought-provoking--candidly portraying the ugly conditions in wartime Iraq, while also describing his (and his fellow Marines') growing attachment to a scruffy stray puppy.
Here Jay Kopelman answers a few questions about his aspirations as a writer, and the effect his book has had on readers.
Questions for Jay Kopelman
Amazon.com: Before you met Lava and had this experience smuggling him out of Iraq, did you ever have ambitions to write a book?
Jay Kopelman: Yes, I'd considered writing a book previously and have started--but not finished--a novel. Not surprisingly, it's a military murder mystery. And I'm still hoping to get it published. I've also been offered a deal by my publisher to write another book. So I guess I'm now officially an author.
Amazon.com: How has the military responded to it given that you broke a number of rules during your adventure with Lava?
Jay Kopelman: I've actually not had any real feedback from the military establishment. In fact, mostly I only get the good-natured ribbing from my contemporaries about how much money I'll make or about who will play me in the movie. When the story first broke a year and a half ago, one of the generals jokingly asked me for an autograph, and I've given the previous commanding general for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force a signed galley. So, thus far, there's been nothing "official" to which I've had to respond. We'll see what happens now that the book is released and there's going to be a media blitz surrounding the book. What you have to remember, though, is that I really didn't use military assets to get Lava home. Nor did I ever endanger anyone in the military while doing so.
Amazon.com: In the book, you say that you would like it if it can bring hope to people who've lost loved ones in Iraq by showing them how something positive can come out of a brutal situation. Have you heard from people that your book has made them feel better?
Jay Kopelman: I've not yet heard from anyone who's lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I have heard from a counselor who works with the returning Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who said she finds the story so very positive and helpful. She's planning to come to the book signing there. I also got an e-mail from a Marine who said that while her unit was in Iraq, they adopted a puppy and tried to bring it home, but he was ultimately put down. She says that the Marines "remember how Charlie the dog helped us. Charlie will always be loved. During a time when we were far from home that dog made us smile." So, I suppose Lava's story does help people remember and gives them hope. I've also heard from people who appreciate my candor describing the conditions in Iraq.
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Customer Reviews:
The War Told from a Soldiers Eyes.......2007-09-26
From Baghdad with love is the story of an American soldier in Iraq who finds a puppy. It is the story of he stayed sane, and what the right thing is to do. I bought this book so that I could get a human perspective on the war. I wanted to know what a man viewed as a killing machine thought of a puppy. This is what in essence what I got. The book gives a great story about the war that is not totally depressing. There are some points where you might get a little sad, but the general mood is much more upbeat. One complaint I have about the author style is that is goes from depressing chapters to happy chapters (and vise versa) with very poor transitions. The book does a decent amount of humor, but it is definitely not used in excess. The author does a great job of using just of humor to keep the mood light, but also not using so much that you feel like their making the war into a comedy. One observation I have to make is that although Jay Kopelman is seems a little sad talking about his experiences, but he does not have an extremely negative outlook. Also at some points he may get angry, he does not seem like an angry person. The book does a great job at keeping the story seem personal, but not making it feel to close to home. With many situations in the war the authors do not pussyfoot around the tough subjects. From Baghdad with Love is close to the perfect length. It has a little too short of an epilogue, and there are some things that I wish they would have elaborated on. In many of these situations they can not do this because it would put the people from Iraq that helped them in danger. I really loved in the book when the photographs, but they were in the wrong spot of the book. It belonged in the back with the epilogue. I wonder how much of the story is actually written by Jay Kopelman and how much is written by Melinda Roth. This is a truly interesting story of a war that is important for Americans to understand.
Great Story.......2007-09-11
I thought this book was great. The way this marine and other fellow marines were able to bond with this puppy during the war was heart felt. Not only did the book describe the struggles to bring this dog back to the US despite military regulations, the book also described some struggles of marines being in the war itself. What an amazing book. I highly recommend it.
Heartwarming & Outstanding.......2007-09-06
The love shown to Lava is uplifting. Jay Kopelman and the Marines are to be commended for their kind hearts. I am so happy that Lava did not become a fatality of the war. If you are a dog lover. You must read this book.
Much better than expected.......2007-08-27
I expected this book to be just a nice story, but it is full of hard facts and details of the circumstances in Iraq. It was much more informative than I expected, and gives the reader a feeling for what our guys and gals are going through, and how they must turn their emotions off and on at the drop of a hat. The author also does a good job of not getting up on any soapboxes, for either side politically. Highly recommend it!
Semper Fi.......2007-08-26
It is an awesome book about a US Marine who finds a puppy in Baghdad and gets it back to the states. Lots of military jargen and details of firefights... almost makes me miss the Marine Corps---almost
Average customer rating:
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Love Letter : The Heartwarming Tale of an Incredible Bond
Sandro Mayer
Manufacturer: Gremese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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Memoirs
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General
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Contemporary
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Italian
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Study & Teaching
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Dogs & Wolves
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| Biological Sciences
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ASIN: 8873014046 |
Book Description
A renowned Italian journalist delves into the fond memories he has of his best friend, his dog.
Average customer rating:
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Dog Years
Mark Doty
Manufacturer: Harper Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Biographies & Memoirs
| Books on CD
| Audiobooks
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ASIN: B000OJ1S62 |
Product Description
When Dody adopts a dog for his dying partner, he brings home Beau--a large retriever in need of loving care. beau and the retriever who is already part of the family, keep Doty's companion from abandoning hope during the darkest days.
Books:
- Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
- MCAT Complete Study Package, Sixth Edition (Exam Krackers) (Exam Krackers)
- McDuff Saves the Day (McDuff Stories)
- McDuff Saves the Day (McDuff Stories)
- My Sister's Keeper: A Novel
- Naked Came the Manatee
- New York State Of Mind (Byron Preiss Book)
- Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
- Owl Moon
- Pit Bulls for Dummies
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