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papidoc's review against another edition
5.0
Though I've always enjoyed Dean Kontz's fiction, I never thought I would appreciate a book of his as much as I did A Big Little Life. To my knowledge, this is his first foray into non-fiction, and it was warm, loving, gentle, thoughtful and even inspired in many ways. Like some of the best books I've read, I kept putting this one down, not to understand better what he was saying, but simply to bask in the warmth of his love for Trixie, and to ponder on the words of wisdom that he wrote. I found myself taking note of the truths in much of what he wrote. Consider the following quotes from the book:
• A line from “East Coker,” by T.S. Eliot: “The only wisdom we can hope to acquire / Is the wisdom of humility.”
• “As any dog is remarkably grateful for each kindness it receives, Gerda and I were grateful for every day this joyous creature graced our lives. The only wisdom is humility, which engenders gratitude, and humility is the condition of the heart essential for us to know peace.”
• “Because we are imperfect beings who are self-blinded to the truth of the world’s stunning complexity, we shave reality into paper-thin theories and ideologies that we can easily grasp, and we call them truths. But the truth of a sea, in all its immensity, cannot be embodied in one tide-washed pebble.”
• “We go wrong when we don’t admit the unknowable complexity of reality, but we go dangerously wrong when we claim that one pale story – or an anthology of them – is truth. We arrive at the paleness to avoid consideration of the daunting truth in all its fierce color and infinite detail.”
• “In each little life, we can see great truth and beauty, and in each little life we glimpse the way of all things in the universe. If we allow ourselves to be enchanted by the beauty of the ordinary, we begin to see that all things are extraordinary. If we allow ourselves to be humbled by what we do not and cannot know, in our humility we are exalted.”
• “…the joy arising from innocence, from harmony with nature and natural law, must be the most exhilarating feeling either dog or human could hope to experience…the flight from innocence so characteristic of our time is a leap into absurdity and insanity.”
• “…God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one.”
• “This world is infinitely layered and mysterious. Every day of our lives, we see far more than we can comprehend, and because the failure to comprehend disquiets us, we lie to ourselves about what we see. We want a simple world, but we live in one that is magnificently complex. Rather than acknowledge the exquisite roundness of creation, we take it in thin slices, and we view each slice through tinted, distorting lenses that further diminish its beauty and obscure truths that await recognition. Complexity implies meaning, and we are afraid of meaning.”
• “…the only significant measure of your life is the positive effect you have on others, either by conscious acts of will or by unconscious example. Every smallest act of kindness – even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, the compliment that engenders a smile – has the potential to change the recipient’s life.”
I checked out A Big Little Life from the library to read, but I appreciated its wisdom so much that I think I will go buy my own copy for my library. Over the years, I have become choosier about what I buy and keep, and this one is a keeper!
• A line from “East Coker,” by T.S. Eliot: “The only wisdom we can hope to acquire / Is the wisdom of humility.”
• “As any dog is remarkably grateful for each kindness it receives, Gerda and I were grateful for every day this joyous creature graced our lives. The only wisdom is humility, which engenders gratitude, and humility is the condition of the heart essential for us to know peace.”
• “Because we are imperfect beings who are self-blinded to the truth of the world’s stunning complexity, we shave reality into paper-thin theories and ideologies that we can easily grasp, and we call them truths. But the truth of a sea, in all its immensity, cannot be embodied in one tide-washed pebble.”
• “We go wrong when we don’t admit the unknowable complexity of reality, but we go dangerously wrong when we claim that one pale story – or an anthology of them – is truth. We arrive at the paleness to avoid consideration of the daunting truth in all its fierce color and infinite detail.”
• “In each little life, we can see great truth and beauty, and in each little life we glimpse the way of all things in the universe. If we allow ourselves to be enchanted by the beauty of the ordinary, we begin to see that all things are extraordinary. If we allow ourselves to be humbled by what we do not and cannot know, in our humility we are exalted.”
• “…the joy arising from innocence, from harmony with nature and natural law, must be the most exhilarating feeling either dog or human could hope to experience…the flight from innocence so characteristic of our time is a leap into absurdity and insanity.”
• “…God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one.”
• “This world is infinitely layered and mysterious. Every day of our lives, we see far more than we can comprehend, and because the failure to comprehend disquiets us, we lie to ourselves about what we see. We want a simple world, but we live in one that is magnificently complex. Rather than acknowledge the exquisite roundness of creation, we take it in thin slices, and we view each slice through tinted, distorting lenses that further diminish its beauty and obscure truths that await recognition. Complexity implies meaning, and we are afraid of meaning.”
• “…the only significant measure of your life is the positive effect you have on others, either by conscious acts of will or by unconscious example. Every smallest act of kindness – even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, the compliment that engenders a smile – has the potential to change the recipient’s life.”
I checked out A Big Little Life from the library to read, but I appreciated its wisdom so much that I think I will go buy my own copy for my library. Over the years, I have become choosier about what I buy and keep, and this one is a keeper!
kayceslitlife's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book. Capital L-O-V-E-D!
This is such a great memoir of an amazing Golden Retriever named Trixie! I have never read a Dean Koontz book before, mainly because he writes a genre that is not my cup of tea, but he is a laugh out loud author. There were SEVERAL parts of this book that I laughed to myself and read the story with a smile. I took my time with this book because I wanted to enjoy Trixie's life through her memory. She was indeed a VERY special dog.
I cried too. :( I had fallen in love with Trixie early on with this book and it was hard to read about the end of her life. It brought back memories of dogs from my past that it was devastating to lose. It's a heartbreak like no other. But one day when we are reunited in Heaven, it will be the most wonderful feeling in the world to see all those dogs rushing towards me, happy and healthy and to spend an eternity together.
I can't wait to meet Trixie up there, too. I highly recommend this book to any pet owner. Grab a blanket, curl up by the fireplace, and get to know a really special dog named Trixie.
Kudos to Dean and his wife, Gerda, for giving this dog a blissful life and for honoring her memory both in the writing of this story as well as the other efforts they do for Canine Companions for Independence.
This is such a great memoir of an amazing Golden Retriever named Trixie! I have never read a Dean Koontz book before, mainly because he writes a genre that is not my cup of tea, but he is a laugh out loud author. There were SEVERAL parts of this book that I laughed to myself and read the story with a smile. I took my time with this book because I wanted to enjoy Trixie's life through her memory. She was indeed a VERY special dog.
I cried too. :( I had fallen in love with Trixie early on with this book and it was hard to read about the end of her life. It brought back memories of dogs from my past that it was devastating to lose. It's a heartbreak like no other. But one day when we are reunited in Heaven, it will be the most wonderful feeling in the world to see all those dogs rushing towards me, happy and healthy and to spend an eternity together.
I can't wait to meet Trixie up there, too. I highly recommend this book to any pet owner. Grab a blanket, curl up by the fireplace, and get to know a really special dog named Trixie.
Kudos to Dean and his wife, Gerda, for giving this dog a blissful life and for honoring her memory both in the writing of this story as well as the other efforts they do for Canine Companions for Independence.
ofearna's review against another edition
5.0
Jim Warren's fund-raiser painting 'minds me so much of why I love this book.
emilyknap's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, I loved this book! What a fun idea and a great book for anyone who loves their dog like a family member. My dog had some of the same mannerisms as Trixie including the "speaking," the eye-brow looks, and all of the lovable qualities. I lost my Halley-dog to a tumor on her stomach a little over two years ago and reading this book brought back so many loving memories of her. I cried like a baby at the end because I remembered my family's heartbreak when we lost her. What a great way to celebrate a life that had so much impact on so many others!
runsonespresso's review against another edition
5.0
I laughed, I cried and I recalled all the special moments with all my pups.
balibee146's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 memoir about a sweet girl. Just missed 5 from me as there was a tad too much reference to Koontz's faith for my taste.
tsenko2's review against another edition
5.0
Heartwarming and funny. As a dog lover, especially of Labrador & Golden Retrievers, this book was irresistible to me. I haven’t read other books by Koontz (I don’t like to be scared) and I had no idea he could write with such gentle humor. I’ve known, and loved, several Retrievers and they truly are joyous. I have some personal connections to this story, having lived in Newport Beach and sharing the same veterinarians, Dr. Lyle and Dr. Whitaker. Unfortunately, the ending is hard to take as it so often is in dog stories. We know we have our beloved companions for far too short a time and I wish authors would realize that they can stop their story before the final day. I have lived that heartbreak; I don’t want to read and experience it again.
threesixtyrhi's review against another edition
5.0
I had been searching for this book for years when I finally stumbled across it in a Goodwill. My sweet soul dog, Lola, passed away just a few weeks later. I read this in my grief and feel so grateful for the comfort I received by this book.
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me THINK. It is such a beautifully written book about a very special dog and all throughout it reminded me of happier times with my girl. Also, learning about the effects of dog ownership on Koontz's (my favorite author btw) writing was both touching and interesting to read. This is a must read for any Koontz fan and dog lover!
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me THINK. It is such a beautifully written book about a very special dog and all throughout it reminded me of happier times with my girl. Also, learning about the effects of dog ownership on Koontz's (my favorite author btw) writing was both touching and interesting to read. This is a must read for any Koontz fan and dog lover!
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this again
Trixie's life was amazing, because she changed her people and everyone who has read "her" books by Koontz, and, via the funds from those books, the charity that provides assistance dogs from which she came. I wish I'd met her. She was clearly a remarkably beautiful dog, inside and out.
Trixie's life was amazing, because she changed her people and everyone who has read "her" books by Koontz, and, via the funds from those books, the charity that provides assistance dogs from which she came. I wish I'd met her. She was clearly a remarkably beautiful dog, inside and out.