I’m still on a memoir kick. I find it delightful to read about other people’s lives. I searched through many books until one of them caught my eye: Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family–and a Whole Town–About Hope and Happy Endings by Janet Elder.
Janet and Rich Elder were the proud parents of an only child, Michael. He had been eagerly awaited, as he was not a child of their youth. They filled their time with him with books, many of them about dogs. It was no surprise when Michael began asking for a dog of his own. Living in a New York apartment, the Elders felt there was no room for a dog. However, when Janet is diagnosed with cancer, they decide that Michael shall have a dog after all. Enter Huck, an affectionate toy poodle. This book follows their bond with Huck as they search for him after he runs away from a family member’s home.
I know all about dogs running away. We had a dog when I was a child that constantly ran away. Not unlike Huck, she was hard to catch. When we would catch her, she would bite us; we should have just let her go on her merry way. However, Huck is a dog you want them to catch. He inspires an entire town of strangers to search the streets and woods for a tiny, stubborn dog.
Janet Elder is an excellent writer, as to be expected as a senior editor at The New York Times. She draws us into the story as she describes Michael’s campaign for a dog, her battle with cancer, and their quick attachment to Huck. The portrait she paints of the town’s residents is a tribute to their kindness and generosity to a family that not only wants to find their dog, but needs to find him. Your heart lurches every time they are close to finding Huck, only to miss him.
I definitely recommend Huck and give it five bookmarks. In part with Leeswamme’s Literary Giveway Blog Hop, I am giving away a copy of Huck to one lucky reader. To enter, comment below about your most memorable pet. If you’ve never had a pet, just tell me about the best book you’ve read lately. Please do either of these things–but not both–for your MANDATORY entry.
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The giveaway will end on 6/29/11 at 11:59 CST. It is open to international readers that live in the countries The Book Depository ships to only:
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Disclaimer: This is a post of my own opinions. I was not compensated in any way for this review.
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Life is a picnic. You just never know when there will be ants.
Most memorable pet was the “cat with many names.” My brother and I got the cat from the animal shelter. It wasn’t the one we wanted.
It wasn’t the cat we originally walked out of the animal shelter with.. We were kids, barely at the driving age, which leads to sometimes forgetting important factors such as a cat carrier when trying to bring home a cat. Everything went well, we signed the papers and walked out of the shelter. I was holding the cat when I heard this horrible lion roar coming from my arms! This cat was terrified of cars and we were in a parking lot; it clawed its out of my grasp and flew under a parked vehicle. It took the employees at the animal shelter to get the cat out and they told us to “take the other cat” (the litter mate to the one we wanted). We did as they told us and took the other cat home.
The first name this cat was given was “wild cat.” She hid behind every piece of furniture, to the point where all of the furniture was in the middle of the room until she became more comfortable with us.
During my college years, the cat was known as “fat cat.” No reason to explain, right?
That cat lived for 19 years; Dad swears she had 9 lives. She was good at letting her thoughts be known – such as swinging her paw hard at the food bowl and watch it fling across the room – empty food bowl is never a good sign for fat cat. Dad said he didn’t like cats, but could be seen holding her and calling her “his buddy.”
Her final name was “old cat.” She died from cancer in her paw. My parents didn’t have the heart to put her to sleep. They tried and went back and got her before she was given the shot. She died at my parents’ home.
I miss her to this day. I grew up with her, changing with her and felt that she would always be there.
My most memorable pet was my first dog whom I grew up with. She was a gorgeous husky, was extremely spoiled, but she was the best part of our family. She greeted us at the door, slept at my bedside, and always knew when we needed some love! Sadly we had to put her down a few years ago, and it tore us up to do it. Today, although not a replacement, my family owns a cat and a dog who still keep us running for our money!
The best pet related book I have read in a while is A Dogs Life by Peter Mayle.
Better know for his books on Provence, this is a hilarious read from a dogs point of view that every pet owner should read.
Thank you for the giveaway and for being prepared to ship worldwide.
Carol T
My most memorable pet is our current dog, Dale, who is 12. His transformation from a frightened abused shelter dog, to the time we adopted him right after 9/11 to his current chilled out persona has been incredible and an experience I will never forget. He taught me the power of love, sounds sappy but it is the truth.
Thanks for the giveaway!
My most memorable pet is definitely my current cat. We named him “Piggie” and he acts like a dog. He’ll follow people around like a loyal dog and I’ve even managed to teach him how to “sit” and “up” (which is like “beg” for dogs). He’s weird, that cat, and i do love him so.
Thanks for the giveaway!
My most memorable pet is my cockatiel, Shegecko. He lives during the school year in my school library. When people come into the library, he squawks: “READ!!!”
I’d love to win this book and share it with my daughter-in-law who is also a reader and a fellow animal lover.
Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!
My mother has been sick and I never got around to signing up to participate in the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop. But I’ve started a monthly giveaway on my blog and I’ve got a June Giveaway going on this month at my blog, and I’d love to invite you to stop by and throw your name in the hat for Anna and the French Kiss! It’s a US giveaway only this month, but next month, I’ll be offering an international giveaway for a $25 Amazon card!
My most memorable pet was a little stray kitten that we found and took in named Deiter. He was adorable. We lived in a place that didn’t allow pets, but we really enjoyed taking care of him until we could find him a new home.
Thanks for the chance to win!
My most memorable pet was a snake I had when I was about 12 or 13. One day it got loose in the house and my poor mother found it when she was in the bathroom. She made me get rid of it after that and it broke my heart.
Thanks for the giveaway
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My most memorable pet was the cat my family had when I was born that lived to be 16. Her name was Toddles C. Cuddles. She was one of the most patient cats ever. I could play with her and being so young I wasn’t always as gentle as I should have been (nothing serious but just a little awkward and rough). However, she would just walk away when she had enough or she would just give me a little bat with her claws in.
I became a follower on Twitter as Bookloon.
I was given a stray Siamese cat that had been abused. He came in a very rigid mesh & wood carrier. I set in down telling him he would not need it, but left it in the room. This cat was so intelligent, expressive & loyal that he would walk 2 miles to meet me at the bus when I came home from school, talking all the way home about his day!
Never met another cat like him.
Most memorable was Igor The Great Dane who filled the house & our lives. A big, gentle giant of a dog.
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I follow Twitter – maryloucoolumralph
All of my pets have been memorable – wonderful dogs. I suppose the one I loved the most was our first Labrador Retriever, Chet. He was a benevolent protector & took his job very seriously.
I’d love to read Huck – thanks for the chance to win!
The best book I’ve read recently would have to be A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin.
Thanks for the giveaway!
My most memorable pet is my current dog, Pippa. She won’t let me forget her, even for minutes. She is a crazy, persistent springer spaniel. Thanks for the competition.
My most memorable pet was my previous dog, Blaze. He was a stag red miniature pinscher. He loved to take walks and we walked for 2 miles 5 times a day. He was 4 when we adopted him from the shelter. Unfortunately, he passed away 5 years later from renal failure. But I had 5 years of unconditional love from him in the meantime. And I was in great shape from all the walking, too.
My most memorable pet was porkey. He was a dog. I think he was most memorable because my dad wanted me to hold his feet so he could shoot him. (somwthing had happened and he had to go)
I’ve had so many pet memories, so I’ll just tell you my earliest pet memory and hopefully my two dogs and my cockatiel won’t find out. (They can’t read anyway.)
My very first pet was a guinea pig I named Darcy (not after Jane Austen). I was 5 and I carried my guinea pig EVERYWHERE. Most little girls liked to put their dolls in carriages (I had one of those old-fashioned-looking carriages for little girls), but I liked to push my guinea pig up and down the sidewalk in my bright red Strawberry Shortcake carriage. One day an elderly lady from down the street came over to talk to me. She wasn’t a neighbor I knew particularly well, but I knew her well enough to know she was safe. She asked if she cute see my cute baby. Delighted, I pulled back the shade of the carriage to show her my “baby.” She started screaming bloody murder!
“A rat! She’s got a rat!”
I was confused. How could someone so old and so “wise” not be able to tell a guinea pig from a rat? Why, by that age, I knew the difference between male and female box turtles and could identify various species of reptiles and other animals (I told you we had a lot of pets.)
With all the indignation my 5 year-old self could muster, I cradled Darcy and said, “She’s not a rat; she’s a guinea pig!” I nodded my head to affirm it. Then I added, “Would you like to pet her?”
The old lady did not want to pet Darcy and she never asked to see my “baby” again. She was also quite grateful when I got a Yorkshire Terrier to walk around, instead of a guinea pig. She did pet the Yorkie.
Following you on Twitter (@artsybookishgal)
I have had quite a few pets in my life, and I can not chose one as more memorable than the other. I know you said not to do both for an entry, but I am hoping you will accept my entry since I am answering both in one comment, not trying to get 2 entries out of it….lol! I just felt that I should answer the 2nd question as well, since I didn’t say much about my pets, and I love to talk books!! Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine were great reads!
My most memorable pet was a puppy named Winky I got as a gift from my teacher when I was small. My mom eventually gave him away because he killed my mom’s chicken.
Twitter follower @aikchien
My most memorable pet was Horace the Hamster. He’s the only ever pet I’ve ever had so he doesn’t have much competition. He had a unique skill of escaping but then not going very far from his cage!
Great giveaway!
Hello and Ty for this possibility!
My favourite pet was maybe the bunny Petunia, she was a black dwarf rabbit with white paws and tail…I use to like her a lot and when she got sick I took care of her but I wish I could have done more.
Tbh I can’t wait to have another bunny now after many years
I now follow you via Twitter, I am @Tirabaralla on Twitter
I have always had pets. Growing up my family had several dogs & cats. As an adult, I have many cats my husband and I have rescued off the streets – some we adopted out, some we’ve kept! All of my pets are memorable so I’ll tell you about my family’s cat, Nanny. Nanny was a beautiful, adorable cat with soft grey fur with tan and white spots who my sister & I found while vacationing on Nantucket in the early ’80s. My parents let us adopt Nanny. We took her home to Long Island, NY with us. Nanny did okay on the long ferry trip & car ride. She was a friendly, loving cat most of the time! Nanny loved to play with long string toys which she would run after, looking like she was dancing! Nanny also loved to play with people’s hair! Nanny would sit behind a person on the top edge of the couch or chair they were sitting in & part their hair with her paws & play with the ends batting them around, chewing lightly on them & patting the person on their heads! Nanny rarely got angry but when she did she’d start growling from the pit of her stomach and you’d hear it building up until she’d open her mouth & a huge, loud meow would errupt! Nanny was the sweetest cat.
Thank you for this great giveaway!
~ Amy
Hi! My most memorable pet would probably have to be my pet hamster Esmeralda. She was the biggest hamster I’ve ever had, my other hamsters were all the small ones. Everytime she would run away from her cage, she wouldn’t be far and I would call her name then no matter what she would always come back to me
That was one smart hamster xD I also loved my pet hamster, Diamond, she was so adorable! I remembered whenever I would lay her on my stomach and covered my blanket over her, she wouldn’t move, so it’s like she was sleeping! xD
Followed on twitter! My twitter username is MaskedVampyre13
Thanks for the great giveaway:)
The best book I’ve read recently would have to be either If I Stay by Gayle Forman or Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
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