A Dog Story

(N if you read these, skip this entry)

I've been fortunate enough to have two wonderful dogs in my life. Sadly a little over a year ago we had to put down our first family dog. Then this past August we got another dog. We got Daisy when I was 9 years old, we had 15 wonderful years with her. It's amazing how attached you can become to a dog. It's amazing how they affect our lives. Laney is the complete opposite of Daisy, and we are still learning her personality. I still miss Daisy all the time. I knew we would need to get another dog at some point but I wasn't sure we could all love another dog. Laney doesn't replace Daisy by any means but somehow I've still fallen in love with her and her giant head and awkwardness.

Why am I talking about all this? A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas was my latest read. To be perfectly honest I couldn't remember why this book was on my list. I vaguely remembered it coming through the check in at the library and printing up its screen to add to my list. I couldn't remember anything about it though and I seriously considered just skipping it. I am so glad I didn't.

I haven't read that many books yet this year but so far this one was my favorite. It's a memoir of the authors and it mostly details her tragic loss of her husband to a brain injury. Her husband chased their dog into a New York street and was stuck by a car. I say loss not because he died but because he suffered a severe brain injury and was never the same. I related to the book in so many ways.

Every time I thought wow this book was written for me, I turned the page and found another reason to think the same thing again. After her husbands injury she ends up adopting two more dogs. The stories of how they come to her and the stories of the three of them together had me laughing and tearing up. She also briefly mentions her schizophrenic aunt and connects this experience with her current experience with her husband.

I cannot praise the book enough. Certainly not the greatest read ever, but for me it really fit. I have to say too, I'm somewhat glad I didn't read it over a year ago when it was added to my list, I read it at the exact right time.

Current Read: Push by Sapphire