Friday, June 24, 2011

A (Different) Twitarded Book Rec: I'm Trading Porn for Pups

It's not often here at Twitarded that we recommend reading materials that don't contain enough porny smut to make a hooker blush -- but there's a first time for everything, right? Not to worry though -- we haven't been abducted by aliens or anything. I'm sure we'll be right back on the porn train before you know it. I'm just feeling a little mushy today.

My goal this summer is to get back into "normal" reading. And by "normal" I mean no young-adult vampire books. Actually, I'm going to try and stay away from vampires all together. I'm not so sure how that's going to pan out for me, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

A few weeks ago, my grandmother called to tell me my aunt had given her a book she thought I would really like called "A Dog's Purpose". I guess since I have two dogs, it would make sense to her that I'd like this book. I was a little suspicious at first -- my aunt and I have never swapped reading material before. She's more of the religious type and frankly, would probably have a heart attack over some of the stuff I like to read.

Click here to order or for more information.

So I curled up on the front porch one afternoon and started reading "A Dog's Purpose." I will say one thing -- if you own a dog, or love dogs, you MUST read this book. Sure, it's sad in parts, but it's also a smartly written novel told from a dog's point of view. And I'm totally the type of person who likes to put words in my dogs' mouths so I immediately fell in love with this book's voice.

The author, W Bruce Cameron, who also wrote "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter", tells the tale of a dog who finds himself reincarnated and decides there must be a reason, a purpose he must fulfill, and until he does so, he'll continue to be reborn. The story is narrated by Bailey -- a wise and funny dog who is very much... a dog.


I'm not going to sugar coat it and say you won't cry because that would be a lie. I cried more during this book than I did when I read "Marley & Me" -- but don't let that deter you. I laughed too! For me, there's nothing funnier than the antics of a puppy and especially hearing it from their own point of view.

This book also got me thinking -- will my George be reincarnated as a new dog with another family after he leaves us? He's getting on in years and honestly I think I mostly cried because it made me realize he may not be with us for much longer. I only hope if this does happen, his new family treats him with the same love and respect that we do. And that he's a good boy.

My furry children: old man George (on the right) actually being nice to his new sister Daisy.

Now I'm all anxious to read more doggy books, there are a ton out there. I know Twitarded nation boasts a lot of dog owners and lovers -- has anyone read a good dog-related book lately? Help a h00ker out...

18 comments:

  1. That makes me think of another feel good book from a dog's point of view: "Cujo" by Steven King. LOL!

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  2. "The Art of Racing in the Rain." I'm not even a dog person and I loved that one. So, so good!

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  3. I love dog books! Read "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Also a dog POV, yet a little more serious. Not much funny, but great nonetheless. The author's a Seattleite, so I feel I must read local authors.
    You may be surprised of what we "religious sided" people like to look at. Need I say more? HAHAHA!!

    Thanks for the rec!

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  4. That sounds like a good read. Unfortunately, the only dog book I've been reading lately is the 'oh shit my dog's having puppies what the fuck do I do again?!' book. My fucking ninja of a male Yorkie somehow managed to impregnate my female even though I was watching the pair of them like a hawk since it's so soon after her last litter. Determined little fucker. Literally.
    And she didn't just have the two or three puppy litter typical of her breed, oh no, she had eight. I'm gonna be up to my ass in puppy shit for the next seven weeks. They are freaking adorable though, so I guess it balances out.

    The only dog book I really remember reading is 'I'll Always Love You' when I was a kid. It was supposed to teach kids about dealing with the death of a pet but it just depressed the fuck out of me.

    Ps: your dogs are gorgeous, LKW. Just enjoy your time with your old man and don't worry about how much time you have left with him.

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  5. Nothing gets me weeping faster than thinking about losing one of my four legged kids. I avoided Marley & Me for precisely that reason, so I won't be reading this rec although it does sound cute being from a dog's perspective.

    Christ, I still get teary-eyed thinking of my first dog. We got her when I was having trouble conceiving so I really babied her. She was such a sweetheart and though she's been gone for 12 years, I can honestly say that I will never stop missing her. My two kids are teenagers now and I've had to say goodbye to another another sweet dog who died way too young.

    My 14 year old Springer is completely deaf ( or so he makes me believe) and has hip trouble but still has the desire to run like a dog posessed out in his old hunting grounds. I know our days with him are numbered so I embrace them and don't get too mad at him when he poops on the patio or moans to get picked up so he can sleep on the couch.

    We bought a Cocker Spaniel puppy last fall so we will always have a dog in our lives I guess.

    Thanks for including a picture of your dogs. They are adorable.

    p.s. The last dog book I read was about 13 years ago called Martha Speaks. LOL it's a children's book about a dog that gets the ability to speak after she eats a bowl of vegetable soup and it didn't make me cry.

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  6. I haven’t really read any dog books lately but one of my favorites has always been “Where the Red Fern Grows”. Now this really dates me but it is a classic as far as I am concerned. While written for the younger folks (then again wasn’t Twilight too?) it’s still a good quick read.

    I am in the middle of Cosmopolis right now on my Kindle and will be reading a book called “Oogy – The Dog Only a Family Could Love” next. I think I will be having a box of tissues close by when reading this one.

    I will be checking out your recommendation as soon as I get those two finished though – thanks for the recommendation.

    Now about Cosmopolis – this is one tough read – at least for me! Thankfully it is a short one!

    Now I do have to put in a rec for a fanfiction that I just finished – “The Path We Choose” and “Off the Beaten Path” by les16. Excellent! Not a short book by any means but well worth the read time.

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  7. Despite my screen name (& the 4 felines in my house;), I love dogs and their stories so thanks for the rec! Your hounds are precious, LKW - and this was a great post, but I hope you didn't tone it down because of that stoopid anon comment on the poll post!?!

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  8. I know people already suggested it but The Art of Racing The Rain is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! I love my puppies! Oh and your dogs are ssooo cute

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  9. I'm definitely reading the Art of Racing in the Rain very soon! May even download it to my Kindle today!!

    And maybe Oogy is next.

    Thanks for the recs and the complements on my hounds.

    @prstlk - Where the Red Fern Grows -- I can't read it anymore because I have a coonhound and it just hits too close to home. What a sad sad story!

    @p2cat - LOL! Don't worry, I didn't tone it down for anon. If anything, that comment makes me want to be MORE dirty and crass! I had been wanting to rec this book ever since I finished it last week.

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  10. I'm afraid if i read any of these books i'll just snot-sob through them - i have become such a sap in my whatever-age-i-am-now - lol... and i never watched marly & me either. if i know a movie is sad, it takes me forever to get to it (if i do) even if i know it supposed to be really good.

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  11. @VLovesElvis--Bwahahaha!

    I wish people were more like animals. For one thing, it would free up some room in LKW's freezer.

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  12. I love your dogs LKW....one day soon I am going to smooch them for real. I almost bought this book today at Costco per your rec...but then I remembered the stack of books next to my bed. I am so behind...must stop reading fanfic.

    I am a dog lover through and through...my 3.5 month old yellow lab Oly has made me become that 'Crazy Dog Lady'....can't get enough. My dog makes me permagrin...and he's a good snuggler too. xo

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  13. I'll throw it on the list! I love "normal" reading, but I rarely have time, what with all the porn and YA reading I do! :)

    Want a rec for doggy(ish) books? Please, please, please read The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. I have read this book 5 or 6 times, and I love it every time.

    Premise: Paul's wife Lexy dies after falling from the apple tree in the backyard. The only witness: The dog, Lorelei. Paul is a linguist and wants to find a way to get Lorelei to tell him what happened.

    The book is not gimmicky. It sounds like it is. It's emotional and beautiful and damn...So good. I love it. If you do give it a shot, tell me what you think!

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  14. Here's one that's lighter in tone that I loved. I think the title is A Dog's Life. It's by Peter Mayle (of A Year in Provence fame). He actually wrote the book from his own dog's perspective. Short and sweet. Hope you like it!

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  15. I'm a sucker for sappy, make me cry books regardless of the topic but I also love animal books.

    A couple good dog books are:

    -The Art of Racing in the Rain
    -Oogy
    -Amazing Gracie
    -Blind Hope
    -Last Dog on the hill

    I think dogs are great (well, all animals really and the way people mistreat them kills me) but I'm more of a cat person myself and these cat books are pretty good too:

    -Making Rounds with Oscar
    -Homer's Odessey
    -Buckley's Story

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  16. HAHAHAHAHA DYING of laughter at VLovesElvis' comment!!!

    I can't read doggie books, I've had too many doggie sad times in my life, anything having to do with tears and dogs would just ruin me. :(

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  17. Hmmm should my avi be on this post?? LOL!!!

    I love dog (and cat) books but I am so far behind on reading nothing new is getting added for quite some time.

    My Mom just read the Art of Driving in the Rain (??) and really wants me to read it.

    I loved Marley and Me - book and movie.

    Hugs to your pups :)

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  18. @prstlk and @brandijo - I just finished Oogy... and I absolutely loved it. What an amazing and inspiring story of perseverance and survival. And what a family's love will do for a dog who's life didn't get off on the right foot.

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