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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Cute. Reminiscent of "Marley and Me" Nothing that profound just a cute memoir about the author, his family, and his rascally adopted pound dogs.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I loved this book. I had pre-ordered the hard cover and it sits proudly on my shelf of favorite authors. I had noticed that, like Bridge of Clay, Zusak was the narrator. Well, that sealed it, I needed to listen to this story vs. read it. He is a wonderful narrator. He read with his heart and soul. It was simply beautiful.
I really enjoyed the nuggets of information that Zusak talked about along with the tales of the dogs. It was interesting to hear his thoughts on the books he has written. Maybe thoughts isn't the best word because he doesn't talk about the books, but rather the process of writing them. The ins and outs of writing, editing, publishers, book tours. And even these are told only as part of a dog's story.
Like the Zusak's we rescue dogs from "group homes" as well. I found this book almost therapeutic as he relayed his stories. Our rescues are the best things in our lives, dogs and cats. But every pet comes with one challenge or another. Even the fancy purebreds and designer dogs. We have several in the neighborhood and we know they too have their own issues in one way or another. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Buying from a breeder does not a perfect dog make. I found encouragement in his words and experiences. From pets in the past and pets in the now we second guess ourselves, we feel great love, but also at times despair and frustration. Ultimately though we feel love. And this book expressed that so well.
I really enjoyed the nuggets of information that Zusak talked about along with the tales of the dogs. It was interesting to hear his thoughts on the books he has written. Maybe thoughts isn't the best word because he doesn't talk about the books, but rather the process of writing them. The ins and outs of writing, editing, publishers, book tours. And even these are told only as part of a dog's story.
Like the Zusak's we rescue dogs from "group homes" as well. I found this book almost therapeutic as he relayed his stories. Our rescues are the best things in our lives, dogs and cats. But every pet comes with one challenge or another. Even the fancy purebreds and designer dogs. We have several in the neighborhood and we know they too have their own issues in one way or another. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Buying from a breeder does not a perfect dog make. I found encouragement in his words and experiences. From pets in the past and pets in the now we second guess ourselves, we feel great love, but also at times despair and frustration. Ultimately though we feel love. And this book expressed that so well.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
”They change our lives for the messier, but the mess is outrageously memorable.” - Markus Zusak
Anyone who reads my reviews will soon learn that I have been a long-time and devoted, doggie mama of so many adorable, and amazing doggies in my life. Anyone who personally knows me knows that I talk about my fur babies like they are my children. As a childfree couple, hubby and I dote on our doggies and spend our days loving and caring for our fur babies and, of course, talking to them like they totally understand what we’re saying. Thank goodness we have friends and relatives who are exactly the same way or we would be considered that wacky couple with the dogs. Who knows, maybe we are, but we’re certainly in wonderful company.
”At our place, we call it like it is, our dogs come from the pound. But recently, I’ve taken it further, the pound becomes the group home.” - Markus Zusak
Well, it seems the Zusak family, of Sydney, Australia is in that same wonderful company. I love how they call the pound or some rescue organization the “group home” a place where orphaned children doggies live until someone adopts them. That’s how hubby and I found our fur babies, at the group home. Zusak reminisces about the trials and tribulations of his family’s “three wild dogs”, Reuben, Archer and Frosty that over the course of 16yrs took over the family’s home while owning the family’s love and devotion and imprinting on them lifelong memories of joy and pain and gratitude for making life so much more fun and meaningful.
”One of the more useful parts of dog ownership is they get you out of bed every day. If you’re sick, they get you moving. If you’re down, they get you up. They’re the best personal trainers in the world.” - Markus Zusak
LMAO!!! I second that. They can’t help themselves! I loved the stories of how upon opening his eyes every morning, he was faced with some dog staring at him just waiting for him to get up. Some of the best stories were of the escapes at the various dog parks and walks around the city. I loved the story of how Reuben would always slow down when Zusak’s young children would walk him and how he was so very gentle when he was with the kids.
”One of Reuben’s better habits was he never really pulled on walks and for me that was non-negotiable. You can’t have a dog bully you on the street. The dog can’t be in charge.” - Markus Zusak
Like so many other dog parents have discovered, getting a second dog is the true definition of insanity of doing the same thing over again and expecting different results. Enter the Archer, the big, blond and beautiful scoundrel. Needless to say, Reuben and Archer had a rough start, but eventually developed into what Zusak called the “two dog mafia”.
”In all those years, I never had to pay another dog’s vet bill. Isn’t that a baseline for things to be proud of.” - Markus Zusak
Lol, I certainly know that feeling and gratitude! To a stranger or a non-dog parent, a pair of dogs rough-housing and wrestling around and using their mouths to grumble and nip each other may look scary and dangerous, more times than not, it’s just dogs playing with each other. A good doggie parent can tell the difference between playing and fighting.
There were also the incredibly devastating incidents that brought tears to my eyes and that I had to actually close the book and set it aside. One incident had me thinking that I am so grateful that in all of my doggie mama years, I never had to deal with that kind of incident. Unfortunately, the other incidents had me remember the heartache of my own experience with that type of incident.
This is only the second book I’ve read by Zusak, but it won’t be the last. I will definitely check out his other work. I love great stories, especially ones about amazing doggies. This is a really good story about three amazing doggies. I laughed and I cried and I loved how it brought back so many memories of the joy and heartache that my own fur babies gave me over the years. I don’t rate non-fiction the same way I do a work of fiction. For non-fiction, I just rate on the material provided and the way in which it was provided. I’m glad that I listened to the audiobook. It felt more like a conversation with Zusak. I got to hear him laugh and curse and I even got to hear him get choked up. I don’t care how well written a story is, you can’t get that kind of emotion from an ebook. I listened to this in two sittings and I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4.25star review.
Anyone who reads my reviews will soon learn that I have been a long-time and devoted, doggie mama of so many adorable, and amazing doggies in my life. Anyone who personally knows me knows that I talk about my fur babies like they are my children. As a childfree couple, hubby and I dote on our doggies and spend our days loving and caring for our fur babies and, of course, talking to them like they totally understand what we’re saying. Thank goodness we have friends and relatives who are exactly the same way or we would be considered that wacky couple with the dogs. Who knows, maybe we are, but we’re certainly in wonderful company.
”At our place, we call it like it is, our dogs come from the pound. But recently, I’ve taken it further, the pound becomes the group home.” - Markus Zusak
Well, it seems the Zusak family, of Sydney, Australia is in that same wonderful company. I love how they call the pound or some rescue organization the “group home” a place where orphaned children doggies live until someone adopts them. That’s how hubby and I found our fur babies, at the group home. Zusak reminisces about the trials and tribulations of his family’s “three wild dogs”, Reuben, Archer and Frosty that over the course of 16yrs took over the family’s home while owning the family’s love and devotion and imprinting on them lifelong memories of joy and pain and gratitude for making life so much more fun and meaningful.
”One of the more useful parts of dog ownership is they get you out of bed every day. If you’re sick, they get you moving. If you’re down, they get you up. They’re the best personal trainers in the world.” - Markus Zusak
LMAO!!! I second that. They can’t help themselves! I loved the stories of how upon opening his eyes every morning, he was faced with some dog staring at him just waiting for him to get up. Some of the best stories were of the escapes at the various dog parks and walks around the city. I loved the story of how Reuben would always slow down when Zusak’s young children would walk him and how he was so very gentle when he was with the kids.
”One of Reuben’s better habits was he never really pulled on walks and for me that was non-negotiable. You can’t have a dog bully you on the street. The dog can’t be in charge.” - Markus Zusak
Like so many other dog parents have discovered, getting a second dog is the true definition of insanity of doing the same thing over again and expecting different results. Enter the Archer, the big, blond and beautiful scoundrel. Needless to say, Reuben and Archer had a rough start, but eventually developed into what Zusak called the “two dog mafia”.
”In all those years, I never had to pay another dog’s vet bill. Isn’t that a baseline for things to be proud of.” - Markus Zusak
Lol, I certainly know that feeling and gratitude! To a stranger or a non-dog parent, a pair of dogs rough-housing and wrestling around and using their mouths to grumble and nip each other may look scary and dangerous, more times than not, it’s just dogs playing with each other. A good doggie parent can tell the difference between playing and fighting.
There were also the incredibly devastating incidents that brought tears to my eyes and that I had to actually close the book and set it aside. One incident had me thinking that I am so grateful that in all of my doggie mama years, I never had to deal with that kind of incident. Unfortunately, the other incidents had me remember the heartache of my own experience with that type of incident.
This is only the second book I’ve read by Zusak, but it won’t be the last. I will definitely check out his other work. I love great stories, especially ones about amazing doggies. This is a really good story about three amazing doggies. I laughed and I cried and I loved how it brought back so many memories of the joy and heartache that my own fur babies gave me over the years. I don’t rate non-fiction the same way I do a work of fiction. For non-fiction, I just rate on the material provided and the way in which it was provided. I’m glad that I listened to the audiobook. It felt more like a conversation with Zusak. I got to hear him laugh and curse and I even got to hear him get choked up. I don’t care how well written a story is, you can’t get that kind of emotion from an ebook. I listened to this in two sittings and I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4.25star review.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
Loved the stories regarding adopting shelter dogs that no one else wanted and their crazy antics. Reminds me of our own dog who was returned to the shelter and we adopted at 18 months. She's crazy but she's our crazy! ARC from Netgalley!
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
To say I loved this memoir is an understatement. It is a fast read, heart felt and interesting. The love this family has for “wild dogs” is admirable. I will read Zusak’s fiction in a whole new light.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
emotional
funny