Book Review
Dog-Ma the Zen of Slobber
by Barbara Boswell Brunner
About the Author
Barbara grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with her parents, sister and always a dog, or two or three. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from a small women's college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Meeting her husband in Washington, DC, they continued together on a journey as self-proclaimed dog addicts. In the ensuing years, she founded three successful businesses in the Pacific Northwest and is a prolific fundraiser for breast cancer research. She and her husband are retired and now reside in Southwest Florida with two dogs and copious amounts of dog fur. She is currently working on indulging her well known flip flop addiction.
Book Description
When Barbara meets her future husband, Ray, it is love-and dog-at first sight. Over the course of thirty-two years, seventeen relocations and nine dogs, their mutual love of dogs guides them on their unconventional path. The love that Barbara and Ray get in return is literally lifesaving, with one dog attacking a lethal intruder and another discovering Barbara’s cancer. Her own survival story underscores the story of how her dogs become survivors themselves.
Each new dog adds its own dynamic to the family, sometimes upending it. From Turbo (whose Spock-like ears may have provided super powers), Barbara learns about the will to live; Lexington demonstrates incredible patience and an inexplicable love of golf; Madison teaches that laughter is truly the best medicine and that the whole “nine lives thing” is not reserved just for cats; Morgan should be sainted for tolerating Izzy, who is as cute as she is bad. Barbara is certain that somewhere in doggie heaven there is a poster that says “If you are sick, injured or in need of really expensive medical care, FIND THESE HUMANS!”
Our Book Review
Anyone who loves dogs and animals will thoroughly enjoy this book, you will find the authors love, compassion and kindness to her dogs unconditional and the sacrifices both her and her husband make are unbelievable.
Reading the book will make you laugh out loud at the antics of the dogs, I especially liked the one about the two dogs escaping on a daily basis to visit an old couple who would feed them and them bring them back home, which had been going on for months unbeknownst to the author and her husband.
As a dog lover you will just fall in love with all the dogs, as each character trait is described humorously and is taken as part of the package to not only the couple but to all dogs owners out there. You will also cry and feel the sadness as the author explains the illness and the ultimate demise of her dogs.
This is a truly honest and emotive account of how much one couple love their dogs and how they mean the world to them. This is one book that anyone who has owned a dog will relate to and you will find yourself recognizing some of the traits and exploits in your own dogs. An excellent read.
Our Rating
printed version ebook version
Sharon x
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
When I was a kid I read a book called Animals can be almost human. It told stories of how animals saved thir owners lives. I love reading stories of how pets interact and enhance their owners lives. This sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book that is right up my alley...a dog lover here. Love the title!! These little blessing sure can entertain you! Thank You!
ReplyDeleteI love dogs! They are so healing. I can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be adding dog-ma to my reading wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently raising my first puppy and loving every second. However, I never want to dogless. Maybe someday, I'll have 9 or 10 like the author. Love reading anything and everything about dogs, can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteI am a fanatic dog lover and this book sounds PERFECT for ME! I think that the concept of writing about everything she went through in her life and how pronounced the dogs' roles were is heartwarming and exciting. I cant wait to read it!! thanks SO Much!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a dog person, more of a cat person. But All my neighbors have dogs. I sometimes feel like the odd man out. lol. They may enjoy this book though.
ReplyDeleteI'm far from what most would label an "animal lover" but this sounds like a great story! I'm going to add it to my list of must reads. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my hands on this book. I'm a first-time dog owner and I've been loving every minute of it since Marley came into our lives in 2009. But my Golden Retriever "puppy" is EXTREMELY social, hyper and a but spoiled. Ha ha. Being a new dog mama can be VERY challenging at times! I tell people he's like my third child, but I ADORE him! I can tell this book would be perfect for me. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeletesounds like a book I would love, and my daughter also. Equal animal lovers!
ReplyDeleteCool book tour! I am a dog person so I would probably enjoy this book! Thanks for sharing!
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