Book Review: Drinking from the Trough by Mary Carlson

Title: Drinking from the Trough
Author: Mary Carlson
Release: August 28th 2018

Description: Mary Carlson didn’t start out to become a veterinarian, let alone the owner and caretaker of cats (many), dogs (two, both huskies), and horses (some with manners, some without) in Colorado. She was a suburban Chicago girl; all she knew of the American West came from the stories her uncle, who had settled in northern Colorado, told her during his annual visits. But thanks to him, she ended up moving to Fort Collins, Colorado for college—and after falling in love with a man she’d become friends with in her final year of college, when he was a student at the CSU School of Veterinary Medicine, she remained there.

Watching the work Earl did as a veterinarian inspired Mary to eventually leave her tenured teaching position and enter vet school, after which she opened her own, feline-exclusive clinic. Along the way, there were numerous pets, grueling years of vet school, a shattered hip, an enduring love, illness, and death—and the rediscovery that life, especially a life full of delightful animals, is worth living.

Review: 3 out of 5 Stars

Mary Carlson’s memoir from life as a vet was entertaining and interesting enough, with stories about her horses, dogs and cats who were all part of her family.

However, there was a little something missing from this book for me. It might have been the back and forth time-line, which made it feel somewhat disjointed. Early on we learn of her husbands death and the story of how her dog Keli died, but then the book back tracks to stories when they are alive. This isn’t necessarily bad, but isn’t a particular style of storytelling that I liked.

The book is also billed as a vet’s memoir, which, while there are plenty of animal stories that are a great read, there is also a lot about her personal life and family. Since these personal stories are included, I feel like a little more detail may have helped the reader engage more. Some insights felt untold, and I wanted more of the picture explained to me.

Overall a nice read and one I’m sure animal lovers will enjoy.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an honest review

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Book Review: Another Good Dog by Cara Sue Achterberg

Title: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs
Author: Cara Sue Achterberg
Release: August 7th 2018

Description: When Cara felt her teenaged children slipping away and saw an empty nest on the horizon, she decided the best way to fill that void was with dogs—lots of them—and so her foster journey began.

Review: 3 out of 5 Stars

A wonderfully written insight into the world of fostering dogs. I really enjoyed reading the authors journey of looking after these dogs and the funny, heartwarming or sad stories that went along with them.

The downside for me, was the authors own dog who comes across feeling like a burden. At one stage in the book she is referred to as dumb and lazy and only kept because the children love her. She admits to not putting the effort into training Gracie and concludes in the end that maybe she should stop wanting her to be something she wasn’t and accept her for the dog she was. I hope she finally did this as it is disheartening to read from someone who seems so passionate about rescue.

Otherwise, a delightful read with some good information if you’re thinking about fostering yourself.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an honest review

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Book Review: Downward Dog: Very Serious Haiku from a Very Serious Dog

Title: Downward Dog: Very Serious Haiku from a Very Serious Dog
Author: Samm Hodges, Phinheas Hodges, Illustrated by Idil Gozde
Release: May 16th 2017

Description: A book of haiku and illustrations from the mind of Martin, the talking, angst-ridden, introspective dog from the ABC TV series, Downward Dog.

Review: 5 out of 5 Stars

This was a sweet little book, a collection of Hiakus and drawings in the point of view of Martin the dog. Some of them were quite sad, quite deep and a lot relatable. Are there are some great sketches that accompany some of the poems.

Its definitely a book you could enjoy even if you’ve not seen the series before.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an honest review

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Book Review: The Power of Dog by Andrew G. Marshall

Title: The Power of Dog
Author: Andrew G. Marshall
Release: July 12th 2018

Description: On the eve of the millennium, the life of therapist and best-selling self-help author Andrew Marshall was in a dark place. Despite trying three different therapists, had not shifted the grief from the death of his much-loved partner. His career as a journalist had reached a dead end. He was struggling with low-level depression and his polite but distant relationship with his mother had left them both tip-toeing around each other.

His solution? To get Flash, a collie cross puppy – perhaps not the best choice for someone who’d never owned a dog, or even lived with one, before. In this funny and moving memoir, Marshall chronicles not only the ups and downs of training an excitable puppy but how slowly but surely, Flash taught Marshall to laugh again and helped to heal old wounds.

Review: 4 out of 5 Stars

The sweet story of Andrew and his first dog Flash – told in diary entry style – and what it was like for a man in his 40s owning his first puppy after the death of his partner Thom. As always, I love these kind of novels. It was heart warming and I loved reading about their journey together.

Also posted to GoodReads