Ask the Animals: A Vet's-Eye View of Pets and the People They Love [Hardcover]

Bruce R. Coston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Reminiscent of James Herriot’s wonderful books, Coston’s memoir offers zany, sad, and touching stories about a medical practice where the patients cannot speak, yet communicate deeply

Bruce R. Coston’s first book is a warm, funny, and amazingly fulfilling celebration of the wonderful world of animals as seen through the eyes of a small-town veterinarian.

The patients are an eclectic and surprising cast of characters who display incredible bravery and nobility at times, and unbelievable goofiness at others. There’s Sandy, the dog who resurrected herself from death. There’s Daphne, the transvestite cat who taught Bruce to be a cat person. And the owners are no less engaging, ranging from the angelic to the squeamish, teaching Bruce what it really means to be an animal doctor.

Readers will gain insight into the pathos and passion, the mundane and extraordinary, the thigh-slapping humor and the crushing sadness of a vet’s life as he seeks to mend and restore people’s treasured companions. Written with great warmth, this book imparts a deeper understanding of the pets who daily enrich our lives.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Virginia veterinarian Coston cobbles together a number of his columns from a local newspaper in this moving account of his practice. Heartbreaking vignettes include the pitch-perfect opening depiction of an elderly man's anguish over putting his dog down, Coston's own grief at the death of his beloved cat and a series of linked chapters about a wealthy man's love for his miniature dachshund. Coston leavens the somber stories with lighter moments—his first encounter with a sick chinchilla, for example, and his hilarious failure to convince a concerned caller that she isn't killing a baby chick by boiling an egg for supper. When writing from inside his practice and about his training to become a vet, Coston comes off as competent and compassionate, but too much of the collection draws from the author's mundane home life; more pet and less vet might have made for a Herriot-class book. (Sept.)
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Review

"A punctilious glimpse into the lives of the creatures we love most dearly--our pets. This memoir is a reflection on what makes us human.  It's a must read for anyone who cares about the lives of animals."--The Sacramento Book Review

 

"Veterinarian Coston writes warmly of his life as an animal doctor. With self-deprecation and humor, he tells the story of how he became a small-town veterinarian....This worthy addition to the large genre of veterinary memoirs is among the cream of the post-Herriot crop."--Booklist

“Herriot might be a hard act to follow, but Coston has proven himself up to the task."--Best Friends Magazine

"A book that brims with insight, warmth, and charm.  The life of a country veterinarian has never been as accessible since the bestselling books of James Herriot."--The Tucson Citizen 

"Ask the Animals is a beautifully written memoir that not only explores the daily life of a veterinarian, but also the sacrifices it takes to get there. Dr. Coston has accomplished what all veterinarians aspire to, a companionate relationship with both his patients and their humans."--Jeff Wells, DVM, author of All My Patients Have Tales

                                                                                        

   

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312382952
• ISBN-13: 978-0312382957
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #645,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coston was born in Denver, Colorado to parents who had little interest in animals. From an early age he planned on becoming a veterinarian and indulged his animal interests through caring for orphaned blue jays, working with the horses at camp and working for veterinarians. Bruce graduated from Southern College in 1983 and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. After completing a one year internship in Rochester, New York, Bruce joined a practice in Waynesboro, Virginia where he practiced for three years. In 1992, he founded a small animal hospital in Woodstock, Virginia which he still owns and operates. He continues to pursue his professional passion as a full time small animal veterinarian. He began writing monthly articles for a local newspaper which became the outline of his first book, Ask The Animals. Bruce and his wife, Cynthia, currently have three cats (Flinn, Web, and Phelps) and one dog (Starr) who live with them in the Shenandoah Valley. For fun, Bruce loves to write, spend time on the lake, take pictures, and golf. Check out his website at www.brucecoston.com.