The Wonder of Lost Causes
Author: Nick Trout
There are two stories in this book. One is of a single mother doing her best to keep her son with cystic fibrosis healthy and alive. The other is the story of the love between a boy and a dog. More than love, it’s a mutual understanding.
The author’s own experience with CF gives the story such realism–all the doubts and self-questioning and overprotectiveness and worries and fears as well as moments of elation that every parent of a chronically ill child must experience. But that heaviness is lightened by the instantaneous relationship between her son and an ugly, abused mutt that comes through the shelter where she works as a veterinarian. Like a human love story, the conflict keeps boy and dog apart until they finally come together only to be torn apart again.
While the “dog speak” may not be entirely believable, and there were a few times I questioned how a character could not have seen that coming, there is more than enough wisdom and poignancy in this story to make it worth reading. Anyone who loves dogs, especially those who’ve had a special “understanding” with certain dog, will enjoy this story.
Old Faithful: Dogs of A Certain Age
Author/Photographer: Pete Thorne
Age has a certain beauty, whether it’s in humans or our canine companions. If you’ve ever loved a senior dog, you’ll love the beautiful photos of senior dogs in this book. Each one is accompanied by a short explanation of their life, usually by the owner/adopter. Whether they are Velcro dogs or tend to be more aloof, whether handsome or quirky-looking, each chapter is a tribute to the role dogs play in our lives, and the ways they repay our love and care for them in a multitude of ways.
This book is for dog lovers everywhere. It will make you smile and maybe shed a tear or two as it touches your heart.
