(This column is dedicated to two beautiful canines in my neighborhood, the serene Azura and the train-whistle-plagued Lulu)
Google me this: Why does the human species feel so strongly about its dogs? My personal, unscientific theory is that there’s some kind of genetic memory involved.
About 10,000 years ago one of our ancestors decided to take in a wolf cub and train it as a hunting companion. The rest is history. The relationship became mutually beneficial to both man and wolf, and over time – lots of time – the canine gradually evolved from working partner to beloved pet. It is for the doggie devotees that many dog books have been written.
Tammy at the library predicted that I’d love the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn, and she was so right. Even if you don’t normally read traditional mysteries you may like these fast-paced tales. Bernie is a private investigator living in the desert southwest, and Chet – a dog and the narrator – is his partner. Chet was trained for police work but washed out just before graduation because of an unfortunate incident involving a cat (He won’t admit exactly what happened.). Chet’s narrative style reminds me of an eager ten-year-old who loves playing with the big boys. And you enjoy the quiet humor of the story because you experience it all from inside a dog’s head with a dog’s perspective. This series starts with “Dog On It,” then “Thereby Hangs a Tail” (my favorite), “To Fetch a Thief,” and seven others. I can’t wait to read more.
Although Alice Hoffman can’t be classified as an author who writes dog stories, “Faithful” definitely has to be mentioned here. It tells the story of a guilt-ridden young lady who withdraws from life after a car accident puts her best friend in a permanent coma. Shelby doesn’t feel she has the right to move on and be happy. It takes some special dogs in need, some friends who are determined to show her she deserves good things, and a long process of forgiving herself and re-awakening to the possibilities of life. Hoffman’s stories all illustrate what it means to be human – and humane – in a sometimes cruel world. If you enjoy “Faithful,” then try some of her non-dog-centric books such as “The Ice Queen,” “The Story Sisters,” and “The Red Garden.”
If you search the internet for books about dogs, the name David Rosenfelt pops up over and over. So I read a book by him called “Dog Tags,” which is the second in a series about New Jersey lawyer and dog rescuer Andy Carpenter, a good guy with a sardonic personality. From the start of a Rosenfelt story you realize that he doesn’t do warm and fuzzy; it’s just fast-moving, gritty action with lots of dead bodies and criminal elements. “Dog Tags” is mostly a twisty legal procedural, but it’s also an Iraq war story and a military cover-up tale. The dog, Milo, is a former police dog who is instrumental in solving the murder case taken on by Andy. This book was a refreshing change of pace for me.
Mary Alice Monroe is known for her romances and family stories, most of which are set near the ocean. “Lowcountry Christmas” brings us ten-year-old Miller McClellan, who only wants a dog for Christmas. But his family is having financial difficulties and he’s told they can’t afford Christmas at all. Then Miller’s soldier brother Taylor returns from the war with PTSD, and the holidays get even sadder. Miller finds himself oddly envious of his brother because Taylor has his own dog, a service animal called Thor. Just when we think Miller’s bitterness will get the better of him, Thor becomes his hero in a most unexpected way. This heart-warming book would be perfect for any dog lover who enjoys Christmas stories.
In the mood for something leisurely-paced and upbeat? Try the Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith. These books feature a host of well-meaning characters living in the same London neighborhood, mostly human characters but also one terrier with the unlikely name of Freddie de la Hay. Freddie’s a mix of border collie and airedale, so we know he’s very smart. Each character has his or her own plotline in this quietly humorous and philosophical mishmash. I’m currently reading “The Dog Who Came In From the Cold,” which has our boy Freddie recruited for undercover work by MI6!
So there you have a few more dog-centric suggestions. Happy reading!
