The book that inspired Marley and Me, published in the UK for the first time
Jon Katz has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, GQ and other magazines as well as having a regular column about dogs and rural life for online magazine Slate. He has written sixteen books, many of them about dogs, and co-hosts an awardwinning radio show Dog Talk. After the period of this book, he moved to a farm in upstate New York where he and his wife live together with their dogs, sheep, cows, donkeys, a barn cat and four chickens. His website is www.bedlamfarm.com.
Jon Katz understands dogs as few others do, intuitively and
unburdened by sentimentality. His keen insights cut to the heart of
the human-pet relationship - its immense joys and painful sorrows.
With wisdom and grace, he unlocks the canine soul and the
complicated wonders that lie within and offers powerful inights to
anyone who has ever struggled with, and loved, a troubled
animal
*John Grogan, author of MARLEY AND ME*
What distinguishes Katz's witty canine account from most others is
his absention from sentimentality ... The adventures described in A
Dog Year are the stuff of great fiction ... Part cautionary tale,
part love story, A Dog Year reminds us that adopting a pet is a
massive responsibility but one that rewards the owner with a rich,
more meaningful life
*Los Angeles Times*
Moving, funny ... a loveable mutt of a book
*Chicago Times*
Dog fans will chuckle and blub
*Daily Mail*
Adult/High School-Katz's smooth, flowing writing style and engaging manner of describing the personalities of his four dogs will captivate even reluctant readers. That he unobtrusively conveys lessons about dignity, discipline, and trust along the way is a bonus. In the opening pages, the family has two golden Labrador retrievers (Julius and Stanley) of tranquil and stately demeanor who have meshed perfectly into the rhythms of the author's daily writing routine and are beloved by neighbors in their suburban NJ locale. Then, he takes in Devon, a high-strung, two-year-old Border collie "with emotional issues." Surmounting the challenges presented by this beautiful and intelligent (but willful and anxious) animal, bonding with him and restoring equilibrium, fill many an entertaining chapter as the author cajoles Devon into accepting his new owner as the alpha male in the pack. Further adjustments are necessary as illness prematurely claims the lives of both Labs, and a Border collie puppy, Homer, is introduced into the household. In final chapters, wanting to satisfy the collies' native instincts as working dogs, Katz seeks out a training opportunity for them to experience herding sheep, and is rewarded by appreciation for their aptitude and high-energy intensity on the job. Throughout the story, adventures are touching, humorous, and winsome.-Lynn Nutwell, Fairfax City Regional Library, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
The story line of Katz's latest book can be summed up very simply two dogs die and two new ones join the family but its charm comes from an intricate blend of witty anecdote and touching reflection. Katz (Geeks, Virtuous Reality) has shared his affection for years with two low-maintenance Labs, whose "chosen work was to reflect on the state of the world, lick neighborhood kids, and accompany [him] through midlife." So it is somewhat surprising that he next adopts a frenetic and demanding border collie he occasionally refers to as "Helldog." His life turned upside down; his writing schedule disrupted, he learns to center his life around a dog's needs rather than vice versa. After adopting the homeless Devon, Katz adopts his second border collie, Homer, because Oprah Winfrey urges him to. (He appears on her show for his book about his Labs, Running to the Mountain.) He's fallen in love with the breed's intelligence and curiosity. In fact, both breeds seem to touch something in his soul the Lab his centered, peaceful side; the border collie his troubled side. Over the course of the year, Katz reflects on the importance of devotion to and understanding of any animal taken into the home; ways to live peacefully with border collies; and even the problems of midlife crisis. "Once in a great while," he muses, "the right person is fortunate enough to get the right dog, to have time to take care of it, to connect with it in a profound way." (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Jon Katz understands dogs as few others do, intuitively and
unburdened by sentimentality. His keen insights cut to the heart of
the human-pet relationship - its immense joys and painful sorrows.
With wisdom and grace, he unlocks the canine soul and the
complicated wonders that lie within and offers powerful inights to
anyone who has ever struggled with, and loved, a troubled animal --
John Grogan, author of MARLEY AND ME
What distinguishes Katz's witty canine account from most others is
his absention from sentimentality ... The adventures described in
A Dog Year are the stuff of great fiction ... Part
cautionary tale, part love story, A Dog Year reminds us that
adopting a pet is a massive responsibility but one that rewards the
owner with a rich, more meaningful life * Los Angeles Times *
Moving, funny ... a loveable mutt of a book * Chicago Times *
Dog fans will chuckle and blub * Daily Mail *
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