Before I gush all over myself praising this book, let me just say I wish I wrote half as well as LB does. If I could, I could make a good living at it!
The Book of Barkley...a book about one woman's black Labrador Retriever. I'm a dog person...I more than "get it" when it comes to loving a dog, and what they can mean to you, their human. But WOW! LB has truly scripted a wondrous tribute to Barkley, and in doing so, brought out many aspects of growing up in the latter 20th century America.
This book touches on childhood bonding, adoption, love, faith, loss, broken hearts, and dog hair. And bacon. Always bacon. And the JATO-like qualities of a canine digestive tract.
LB has a gift for light humor, as well as a gifted touch for the more heartbreaking aspects of life. Barkley was both Court Jester of her home, and Counselor, the one being she could talk to any time, about any thing, even those things she could not tell her closest family.
Add to it, that LB is quite the photographer, sharing many photos of Barkley that could not be printed in the book (no pictures to keep costs down). These photos and expanded stories are available on the Book of Barkley Blog. It's a site well worth investigating, especially for the photos of a handsome Lab.
This is a book about a life well lived--one human , one canine. I am honored to consider LB a friend, though we have yet to meet in person. LB, I want to thank you for sharing your stories of Barkley with us all, and for making my Christmas gift shopping so much simpler! If you enjoy quality prose, and love a good dog, then this book is for YOU!
The Book of Barkley is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback) and B&N Nook (and paperback) and on iTunes. There should be a link in my side bar for Amazon, or you can go to the Book of Barkley Blog for more links in those other formats.
Great review! I've read a number of dog books. There are some really great ones out there.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for spreading the news about it. The feedback I've been getting has really brightened my day. Losing both Barkley and Big Bro there in a span of a few weeks was so hard, and writing the book really helped in remembering them both.
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