* In fact, she had me in 2012, when she published the dog** parody of Poe's "The Raven." I'll have you know, I am still finding (under layers of dusty dog hair) dried up remnants of my blown mind in the crevices around my computer desk.
** The dog in the Poe parody is named Kekoa, an endearing black lab rescue, who also has a prominent role in the book.
by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang
From the publisher: "ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN is a humorous and touching memoir that will appeal to anyone who has loved an animal or lost hours in James Herroit's classic veterinary stories."
I wouldn't know about the James Herroit thing; I've not lost even a minute in his stories (simply because they've never before crossed my path to read). But I will say this: if Herroit's writing is anything like Dr. Vogelsang's, I'd be smart to click over to the Kindle store as soon as this review is published!
My summary of ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN: A memoir (meaning real-life, first-person life story/non-fiction) about a self-described nerdy female human who discovers - among other things - she's an animal person (after getting a dog as a kid), grows up, eventually gets married, goes to vet school, has some kids, and gets a job. Oh, and she gets a couple other dogs and a cat along the way, and learns a bunch of poignant lessons (from her dogs) about the life-altering love of animals. (Bam!)
Oh, and *full disclosure* some pets die. And maybe a person. And there are some really gross scenes in a morgue (unless you're a pathologist, and enjoy morgues. Speaking of morgues, Dr. V, what the heck was in that bag?! No, really, I need to know).
Wait a second.
What kind of lame review is this, anyway? I'm trying to convince you to READ this book, right?!
Oh. Kay.
So, it's really funny (I awkwardly cackled and snorted a few times at my neighborhood pool). And I rushed to tell my husband a few of the crazy vet clinic stories.
I also sobbed (in between snort fests at the neighborhood pool), but not because anyone died (I misted a little when those happened). I sobbed because *I* (from about age 12) wanted to go to vet school, too - was accepted and enrolled in a pre-veterinary track at N.C. State University, even. But at the last possible minute - and as a complete surprise - I received an appointment to attend a military academy (100% free education), which started me on a life trajectory as far from veterinary medicine as I could imagine.*** My point being, parts of the book were emotionally hard on me. But I'm better for it, you know? A little ugly cry (while submerged in the 5-ft section of one's pool) can be incredibly cathartic. Also, shedding tears underwater is odd (like my face was all squished up and stuff, but I couldn't feel anything coming out of my eyes. Never mind☺).
*** Until five years ago, when I acquired two corgis, and installed a revolving door on my house for abandoned and misfit cats. Then those events serendipitously necessitated my beginning this blog, with which I have realized my previously repressed dream of being an animal-related comedy writer.
Random, subliminal message meme. |
OK, people. Whether you need further persuasion or you're like me, and have a tendency to skim straight to the bullets in blog posts, you're in luck: take a look at this list and see if you (or someone you know well enough to pass a book to) fits any of these types. If yes, then you should probably go ahead and read the book.
People Types Who Should Read "All Dogs Go to Kevin":
- Ladies who work in jobs that require occasional bending, stooping and lifting of large, often squirmy, items.
- People who have had to pick up, wipe/scrub off, smell or look at poop which is not their own.
- Those who've had (or plan to have) babies and dogs at the same time.
- Crossword puzzle and Scrabble fans (you're gonna learn some new words****).
- People who've ever taken a pet to the vet.
- People who've ever been teased.
- Busy people who only have a couple hours a day, if that, to read a book (this one is a page-turner).
- Anyone who's ever wondered about the presence of pets in the hereafter.
**** Including (unless you already know it) "sonorous." (Note: If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you might recall I once denounced the word and refused to speak it aloud in public. Well, as of today, I retract that statement. HOWEVER, I still strongly recommend never using it as your dog's name.)
So, did you recognize yourself (or anyone else) in that list??
Well, hold on a minute! Before you run off to Amazon, the publisher is giving away a hardcover book to one of my readers (who's based in the US or Canada)! Yay!
To enter, LEAVE ME A COMMENT with the name and breed/species of your first (cherished) pet! (Mine was my Siamese cat, Thomas, whom I got when I was in kindergarten.) Once you do, click the Rafflecopter widget (below) and record your entry (I'll use the Rafflecopter to randomly select the winner). One entry per person, please!
Good luck!
(I'll announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter, the morning after the contest closes.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So, did you recognize yourself (or anyone else) in that list??
Well, hold on a minute! Before you run off to Amazon, the publisher is giving away a hardcover book to one of my readers (who's based in the US or Canada)! Yay!
To enter, LEAVE ME A COMMENT with the name and breed/species of your first (cherished) pet! (Mine was my Siamese cat, Thomas, whom I got when I was in kindergarten.) Once you do, click the Rafflecopter widget (below) and record your entry (I'll use the Rafflecopter to randomly select the winner). One entry per person, please!
Good luck!
(I'll announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter, the morning after the contest closes.)
I had a hamster named Brownie.
ReplyDeleteI had a hamster and 3 gerbils once (not at the same time). They are sweet little things. :)
Deletewhen i was little we had a boston terrier, named blackie, but he was the family dog, then i had a pony, name real gusto, then a min. schnauzer in college, called rose, now i have 3 little girls, all min. schanzuer girls, evie, tressa and harley.
ReplyDeleteWell, you must like min schnauzers like I like corgis :) And you had a REAL pony! How cool!
Deletewould love to have this, used to get her emails but they stopped for some reason. she is a great writer. very funny.
ReplyDeleteWe had lots of pets when I was a kid, fish, hamsters, mice, birds and a dog but when I started living alone I had 3 cats, Sasha, Shula and Pichevkes (Hebrew) and Pichevkes remains in my mind and heart to this day.
ReplyDeleteAw, Pichevkes must have been a real sweet kitty. :) How cool that you grew up around so many animal types!
DeleteI might fit into a few of those categories.... My first love was a beagle puppy named Barney when I was about 2. We were puppies together.
ReplyDeleteYou were puppies together. ♥☺ When I think of beagle puppies, I think of velvet ears.
DeleteDog - Mutt from the Humane Society. Rascal
ReplyDeleteMutts rock. So does the name Rascal. :)
DeleteOh my gosh! Thank you so much- I love this review!!! I could tell you what was in the bag but I really don't think you want to know. :D
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, and thank you for the read! :-)As for the bag, though, you underestimate my intestinal fortitude. My favorite TV show - when it aired - was Dr. G: Medical Examiner. I have stories. :-)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had a black cat named Spooky. I was young that's all I remember about him, no her?
ReplyDeleteWell, Spooky isn't really a boy or a girl's name! oops!
DeleteMr. Kitty, yellow tabby. He kicked off a whole line of yellow/red pets!
ReplyDeleteSo funny! I've never even thought about keeping it in one color family, though, I've had lots of brown tabby kitties!
DeleteAs a former dog/cat/hamster/gerbil/fish owner I would think this would be a good read.
ReplyDeleteI've had all those things, too!
DeleteI can't wait to read the book! We always had pets when I was growing up, so many to love. Believe it or not, I had a cherished goldfish named Wilbur that someone else "won" at the fair and gave me on a cold fall night. I didn't think it would survive the night...he lived 5 glorious years and grew quite big! I loved that that goldfish and I'll never forget him. :)
ReplyDeleteJenny Lewis, Pixel's Mom
Oh, Wilbur must have been a very special goldfish, Jenny! That's a looong time for a fish to live, under any circumstances. I can totally see how you could get attached, too (shoot, I got attached to my son's aquasaur - Herman - a few years ago). He was a lucky fish.
DeleteThat sounds like an incredible book and it's a WONDERFUL review! Even though I'm a cat, I might just need to read that book about dogs, myself. Yup, just might need to read it, for sure.
ReplyDeletePurrs,
Seville
Thank you, it was! You should DEFINITELY read it. It speaks to all animal lovers.
DeleteLacy, was a purebred German Shepherd dog that my parents had two years before I was born so I grew up with her. I was 12 when she passed away. After her I got my own puppy, a male German Shepherd named Dante.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love German Shepherds. My grandmother had a shepherd mix when I was little and she was the reason for my wanting a dog of my own (when I got out on my own). Such distinguished and majestic animals!
DeleteElizabeth, you are one wacka doodle, girl! In the best possible way, I mean... :-) Really enjoyed your review. Have grown up with animals and kept them around as a grown person. Love 'em a lot. I'm sure I'd love the book, too!
ReplyDeleteHehe, well, at least I'm not a cockamamie wacka doodle. Cocka-doodle-doooooo! Thanks for reading, Jody!
DeleteSounds like a good book. Ma's daddy bought a puppy named Fifi when she was born. He also bought a boat but mamaw made him sell the boat and ma had her pup to grow up with. Fifi was 16 when she passed away. She would have lived longer but some drunk woman drove up into our driveway too fast and ran Fifi over. The lady was in the wrong driveway
ReplyDeleteOh Carma, I am so sorry about your Ma's little Fifi! How tragic & heartbreaking. It must have been so special to literally grow up with Fifi, Bunny. I know you will see her again one day. <3
DeleteOh dear, what a SAD SAD way to lose your sweet pet! I hope when you think of Fifi, you think of all the happy times (and not that). ♥ Your mother was a smart lady.
DeleteThat sounds like an amazing read! To answer your question, I've had two very special previous pets. My dog Moe who was an ACD/Golden mix and Chloe who was a chinchilla. Chloe was the love of my life and she sadly passed away due to a mistake on the part of a vet tech during anesthesia for a tooth filing. I was heartbroken and nearly 6 years later I still have days where I can't talk about her. Some animals are just really special and she and I had an amazing bond that a lot of people who own chins don't get to experience.
ReplyDeleteYou're the first person I've ever known who had a chinchilla. So sorry about the tragic vet accident. How terrible. :-(
DeleteGreat review, thanks for sharing, you crazy lady! Sounds like a great book. I always had pets growing up: cats, dogs, fish, you name it. Later it was hamsters, turtles, and birds. I can't imagine how sad and lonely the lives are of people who don't live with pets!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christina. :) I'm right there with you, not getting how some people don't seem to want the company of a pet. I guess they don't know what they're missing.
DeleteI had a silver Persian cat who appeared at our door when I was 2. Her name was Fluffy. She liked to sleep in the wheel well of our car and was hurt when we were going on vacation one year when she jumped out when the car started. We rushed her to the vet and left her while we went on vacation. I cried for about 2 days. She lived for about 6 more years (I think she was about 6 when she got hurt).
ReplyDeleteFluffy was lucky! My cat Thomas also got injured sleeping under the car hood. His rear leg was crushed, and needed surgery to repair the bone. I cried and cried, too, but was thankful that he pulled through (though, he had a limp for the rest of his life).
DeleteMy first pet was a female tabby cat named, "Patches." I loved that cat, but one day it was just gone. (I think my mother may have had something to do with that ... we had tom cats all night long outside, howling.) Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I hope Patches was OK, wherever s/he went. :-(
DeleteMy dad raised tri colored beagles and daddy let one named lady be mine until she had 13 puppies and he decided to sell all puppies And my Lady :( I was devisated! I'd go over to my dad's friends garage and just sit and talk to her and her beautiful babies!!
ReplyDelete13 puppies? Oh my! So sorry you lost Lady after that, though. How heartbreaking!
DeleteMy dad raised tri colored beagles and daddy let one named lady be mine until she had 13 puppies and he decided to sell all puppies And my Lady :( I was devisated! I'd go over to my dad's friends garage and just sit and talk to her and her beautiful babies!!
ReplyDeleteIf you recommend it, I want to read it!
ReplyDeleteMy first pet, and my first memory in life, was a German Shepherd puppy we got when I was two. His name was Storm.
If the book is half as funny as your review, I've got to read this.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know I'm not the only person who fondly remembers Dr V's The Raven. :)