Attention dog and book lovers! Laugh, cry and hold your dog close, whether you are curling up inside in your comfy bed, or laying by the pool, these are the books you want to be reading this summer.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Poetic, moving, with just all-around beautiful writing, Racing tells the story of Enzo, the dog of up-and-coming race car driver Denny Swift. Told from Enzo’s perspective on the eve of his death, the novel poignantly captures the heartbreak and rewards of what it means to be family, from one wise puplosopher.
How Dogs Love Us by Gregory Berns
Neuroscientist Gregory Berns is on a quest: to find out if his dogs truly feel love. The answer to this question turns into a scientific research project that not only results in intriguing insights into the canine brain, but also indelibly strengthens the bond between Berns and his adopted dog, Callie. A must-read for not just science geeks (the book is remarkably free of jargon), but all pup parents.
A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Here’s another puplosophy tale, but this has a reincarnation twist. Bailey’s search for the meaning of life takes him through three lives, all as different doges. Take dashes of insight and spice them with literally laugh at loud funny moments, and A Dog’s Purpose handles with surprising grace the great question we all face: why are we here?
Dog Years: A Memoir by Mark Doty
With the world becoming ever-sadder around him, and a long term partner losing his battle with AIDS, Doty adopts a new dog to join the pack. This memoir details the lows of human tragedy and the highs of just being alive with a light and poetic touch.
Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, by Larry Levin
You’ll love the heartwarming true story of a former bait dog that beat all the odds, not only to survive, but to find the perfect forever family. In 2002, Larry Levin and his sons took their terminally ill cat to the vet to be put to sleep. What began as the worst day ever quickly took a turn when a dog, missing an ear, his face covered in scars from an early life as a bait dog, walked right up and stole their hearts. This is the true story of Oogy, the desperate fight to save his life, and the family that gave him the spoiled, loved forever home he’d always deserved.
These are only a few of the many wonderful books out there. Did we miss your favorite?
