Sunday, December 2, 2007

Barkery Book Review: Walking in Circles before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

The dogs of Hungry Dog Heaven have distinct voices and doganalities. It’s not uncommon for the barkery staff to have entire conversations with each other – two-legged and four-legged alike. The dogs give Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards, signed by each dog with their own unique word selection, spelling and handwriting.

I know we’re not alone. We may be in the minority of people who admit that our dogs have identifiable voices, but I am quite sure that there are others out there that have such a deep connection with their pets that they have established their own means of communication.

“Walking in Circles before Lying Down” is the perfect book for us! Dawn Tarnauer, the book’s protagonist, isn’t having an easy string of luck. In her mid-thirties, she’s been divorced twice and is trying to put her life together with little help from her self-indulgent family members.

When Dawn starts to question her own instincts for love and life, Chuck, her adopted pit-bull mix, begins to offer his own audible canine wisdom. Chuck, despite all of his insight and advice however, is struggling with his own insecurities – feelings of jealousy towards Dawn’s lingering love for her previous dog, Swentzle. Through the story, Chuck and Dawn come to better understand each other as they offer their own thoughts on love, life and happiness.

In the following passage, Chuck offers a simple solution to help brighten Dawn’s spirits.

“Here, throw this,” he [Chuck] said. “It’ll make you feel better.”

I [Dawn] sat still, chilled to my core.

“No, really,” he went on. “Once you get into it, it’s all you can think about. Look, I know you don’t trust my judgment because I eat cat poop. Someday I’ll explain that to you. But right now do what I say. Just pick up the ball and throw it.”

So I did.

For any of us that have had conversations with our four-legged companions, this book will make you laugh and cry at Chuck’s perceptions and honest simplicity. This book is a MUST READ for all fellow dog lovers.

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