Book #18: A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas

Okay, I'm way behind on my reviews, so this is my attempt to get caught back up.

Abigail Thomas wrote her memoir "A Three Dog Life" focusing on her life after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury. The title is a play on the phrase "A three dog night" used by Australian Aborigines to describe the coldest of nights since they slept with dogs to keep warm. Her three dogs help to keep her going and normalize her life after it is turned upside down following her husband's accident.

Although the book is written because of a tragedy, I don't think it is dark or depressing. In fact I find it inspirational that this woman, who has had her normal life ripped away, keeps going and starts a new "normal" life. In this new life, her husband lives in a care facility, sometimes speaks in riddles and has lost his short term memory. Still, she loves him just as she always had.

The timeline of Ms. Thomas' life is not set out chronologically in the book. Some people may find this to be disjointed, but I was not bothered by the fact that it jumps back and forth. I found it to be reflective of how her husband's life must have been after the accident; no real consciousness of the passing of time, just now.

As a dog lover, I think this book subtly states how much some of us rely on our pets for normalcy. In order to be able to keep going, the simple act of napping with a dog can be refreshing.

Book #7: Ever By My Side by Dr. Nick Trout

This book was yet another win from the First Reads program from GoodReads.com! I had not heard of Dr. Nick Trout when I saw this book, but I can never resist an animal memoir. I signed up and was thrilled when I won.

Dr. Trout has written a lovely memoir in "Ever By My Side." It isn't just a look back at the pets in his life, but more of a memoir tracing his journey from a young boy in England, wanting to please his father; becoming an adult and following his own path; to moving to the United States and starting his career and family.

I found it very touching how much Nick as a boy (even later as a grown man) wanted to please his father. He shows a strong bond between the two of them and my heart ached when he had to tell his dad that he wasn't going to be the kind of veterinarian his father wished he would be. Instead of being the country vet, he wanted to be a surgeon and that is what he did. Not to mention, he did it in another country across the ocean.

It was also very touching to see how he reacted differently to the varied pets in his life. His grandmother's dog, Marty, left quite the impression on him! Dr. Nick Trout gave me reason to believe that when I take my own pet to the vet, the doctor has probably been in my shoes at one time or another. I guess you could say, this book humanized the veterinarians in my life.

I will certainly be reading more books by Dr. Nick Trout. In fact, I just added his book, "Tell Me Where It Hurts" to my to-read list. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

This was a book that I received for free from the author. Winning a copy in no way influenced my review of the book or the author. The opinion expressed in this review is my honest opinion about the book.