Customer Reviews

A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog (Thorndike Core)

5 star:		(126)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I love Dean Koontz's fiction, and I found this heartwarming nonfiction tribute to his late golden retriever, Trixie, just as absorbing as any of his novels. It portrays Trixie's life with the Koontzes, and her death, but mostly her life and the amazing impact she had on the lives of Dean and his wife, Gerda.

This innocent, joyful, intelligent, uncannily mysterious, dignified, fun-loving dog, retired before the age of three as a service dog with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), became part of the Koontz family in 1998. I was surprised to find out that many of Koontz's dog novels, including "Watchers," had been written before he ever had a dog; obviously he already had an affinity for canines. He and Gerda had been supporters of CCI for eight years before adopting Trixie.

I loved Koontz's account of how Trixie's intelligence and sense of wonder revealed that she had a soul, and restored his and Gerda's own sense of wonder. Trixie made it evident that dogs are not mindless mechanisms operating solely on instinct, as some animal behaviorists would have us believe, but rather that they do think, possess intuition, experience emotions similar to ours, have a sense of humor, and even a spiritual dimension.

Of course, there is real sadness in the account of Trixie's last days, and her death, and it brought me to tears. But there's also gratitude for the joy she brought to the Koontzes' lives, and hope that her spirit survives. On the whole, this inspiring memoir is joyous, delightful and lively, and much of it is very funny. I highly recommend this book to all dog lovers and to readers who enjoy Koontz's dog stories.

Dean Koontz's A BIG LITTLE LIFE, is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to his golden retriever, Trixie. Those of us who have read Koontz's novels know that dogs - and especially goldens - have always appeared prominently in his works; and Trixie's picture has graced many a book jacket, sitting happily with her human owner. So it was no surprise how much this dog meant to both Koontz and his wife, Gerda. Trixie was a dog who not only changed their lives, but showed them a glimpse of the truly spiritual. As Koontz so beautifully writes, "She lived to love and to receive love, which is the condition of angels."

A BIG LITTLE LIFE is a very spiritual memoir, and Koontz is clear that he saw Trixie as an angel (in the overarching, grandly sacred sense). One of Koontz's acquaintances referred to Trixie as a "holy soul," and that is just the way Koontz portrays her. In the memoir he describes incident after incident that reveals Trixie as an amazingly special being, with the ability to connect with the humans in her world, to differentiate between good and evil, and to see beyond the mundane. Whether or not you believe the stories Koontz tells, it's impossible to read this book and not feel the impact of this dog on the lives of her human owners.

I've read most of Koontz's novels - I have always found them to be both frightening and uplifting in their affirmation of the human spirit. Even his most disturbing novels (like INTENSITY) contain within them an element of hope that leaves the reader profoundly touched. My favorite Koontz novel has always been WATCHERS, in which a wonderful golden retriever named Einstein leads her human companions out of the darkness. That this novel was written over ten years before Koontz acquired his own wonderful golden is amazing!

Read A BIG LITTLE LIFE - it will move you in unexpected ways. Even if you're not a dog lover, you can't help but be inspired by this animal's impact on the humans in her life. Koontz writes, "We are a community of potential saints with a shared destiny, and each of us is a thread in a tapestry of meaning." Trixie is the one who helped Koontz see this and live this - and in that alone she was an angel. This is a lovely tribute to a very special dog.

As any writer will tell you, the most difficult thing to write about convincingly, without being excessively sentimental, is the transformative nature of love in all its dimensions. In the hands of an inept writer, the subject inspires unintended hilarity, ripe for parody. But in the hands of a writer who has spent a lifetime honing his craft and explicating it in novels, as Dean Koontz has done, the prose will sing and soar in an exultation of joy.

Joy is Trixie.

Trixie, adopted by Dean and Gerda Koontz, is at the heart of this book: We learn how Trixie came into and became an inextricable part of their lives; and then, by her untimely departure, made them realize that relationship, that "dance" (as Jan Strnad put it), was such an enriching and uplifting life experience. To Dean and Gerda, Trixie Koontz was an angelic entity who, by example, deepened and enriched their lives; she constantly reminded them about all the things in life that truly matter: experiences and trust and the deepening bond of friendship that blossoms into love and, finally, heartbreak when Trixie died. (Yes, they adopted another Golden Retriever, who actually is in Trixie's family tree. Small world.)

Dean is an exquisitely careful writer who, to my mind, has probed deep into the timeless relationship that we have with our canine companions that live for one purpose: to experience, and share, joy. It's a joy that Dean and Gerda nearly missed out on because, as they explained, they were busy with their lives and careers and didn't want to be irresponsible and not give the dog the attention she deserved. Finally, they realized that -- as in all things in life -- the perfect time to take action is NOW: not next month, not next year, or not ten years down the road when you "have the time." That day will never come. Thus: Carpe diem (seize the day). So they did, and their lives were transformed in ways they never imagined when they accepted Trixie into their lives and then into their hearts.

I've read MARLEY AND ME, and I've also read the book about Dewey, the library cat, but this book takes us to the next, higher level. Dean has given a lot of thought to the relationship he enjoyed with Trixie, and explained it so well that even someone who has never enjoyed the company of a dog will understand why our canine companions are singular--as is this book.

**

This may help explain why Dean's book resonated so deeply with me: After five years of caregiving for my mother-in-law in our home on a 24/7 basis, my wife felt bereft, with no one to look after and care for and fuss over. So we "adopted" a neighborhood cat that used to live two doors down. The cat slept on her bed at night and sat next to her all day on the couch, and became an integral part of her life. But when the cat went back home to our neighbors who counted him as an integral part of THEIR family, my wife soon realized that she missed the cat's constancy, the relationship of bonding with the cat that curled up on the bed and purred contently when scratched; so we adopted one, then a second, and will soon adopt a third cat. She had never had a cat or a dog in her house before, but now that they are a part of our lives, an important and irreplaceable part, our lives are immeasurably richer for it. (Like Dean and Gerda, my wife and I are, by choice, childless.)

Dean Koontz, in A BIG LITTLE LIFE, captures those little moments and the experiences of sharing and living life with a canine companion in a way that constantly reminds us of the irreplaceable role they play in our world. When you finish this book, you will understand how and why Trixie changed their lives, and you will come away with a deep appreciation for the role our canine (and, yes, feline, feathered, and finned) companions contribute to the human experience.

Another writer, Jan Strnad, wrote a touching essay--one of the best I've ever read--titled "The Toby Years" that explicated the relationship their late dog had with him and his wife. He begins his essay with this line that says it all: "Surely one of the most sublime dances of our species is the one we dance with our pets."

Dean and Gerda Koontz, I think, know that dance very well indeed. And now, so do I.

While I had heard of the author Dean Koontz I had never read any of his books. Until this gem entered my life. Have no dog in my life, just one heck of a special cat who has kept me sane since my husband died unexpectedly. But friends and family have dogs whom I adore. When I first got the book I being an animal lover assumed it would be much like other animal books I have read and owned. It isn't. Its so unique and wonderful in so many different ways.

The author and his wife have no children and are according to some of their friends even slightly obsessive compulsive when it comes to liking order and cleanliness. Thus when they considered getting this wonderful dog named Trixie they were questioned if they could handle he unclean ways as dogs as well as cats can be a tad unkept at times. Thankfully they got her and what a blessing she would become. And not just to the author and his wife, but everyone the dog encountered.

Its truly amazing when one encounters an animal who has the human sense to do certain things. Like how she refused to use home property for her bathroom. Or how when she developed an allergy to wheat and beef and would throw up, she would give fair warning and then head to the stone floor to throw up since it made for easier clean up. Or how when visiting a friend she just knew that a specific musical figurine was a gift from a beloved male that was the subject of the conversation and as such she got it and hid it under the table in order to have it play at the right moment.

Loved reading how she would stop, pause and look at the author or his wife in a way that they understood her unspoken thoughts. How she had such a keen almost angelic sense about things. Even when she died.

Its a truly wonderful NON sappy book that will make you laugh, smile, think, cry and in the end be blessed in ways you never even imagined. Also reminded me of why I like animals more than many people.

Beautfully written! If you have been fortunate enough to have a wonderful dog as a member of your family you will love every page of this book. Koontz brings all his wit and wisdom into telling the tale of a very special dog who left a legacy of love and laughter not only for her human "parents" but for those who have enjoyed the presence of the golden retrievers who have appeared in Koontz's novels. Trixie Koontz is "Everydog" in that she embodies all the finest qualities that we love in our own pets ... their intelligence and their unwavering capacity to give us unconditional love despite our flaws. This book is a dog lovers delight!

I avoid real life books about dogs, because, well - you know - it's got to be sad at some point. This is true of this book, but ... it's SO MUCH MORE. Laughing out loud, pondering the imponderables, and - yes - sobbing while sharing grief; this book takes you down all of these roads. The outcome is one of yet another shimmering prism of the wonder of life and God's creation - what a fabulous glimpse into the heart of and the message given by a dog.

From the mundane, to the hilarious, and the frightening, and finally the sad - Mr. Koontz gives us fodder for our mental and spiritual gristmills, while letting our hearts swell and soar with joy.

Read this book. You will be grateful.

Koontz has written an excellent tribute to his beloved golden retriever, Trixie. While those of us with dogs in our lives can feel the love for our canine family, Koontz is able to write about it in a way that makes us feel HIS love for HIS dog.
Trixie, a retired Canine Companion comes to live with Koontz and his wife after years of it being "just us two". Always a shocker, that first dog. Of course Trixie was not just any dog, and found her way into their hearts almost immediately. An immediate family member, she becomes their priority.
You will read this book with trepidation, because everyone knows how memoirs end. Don't let that get in the way of the enjoyment of reading about this family. Koontz is a prolific author who has a unique style. This shines through in this memoir. He has a self deprecating sense of humor and as you fill find by reading this book, a huge sense of devotion to those he loves. Trixie is an amazing dog, to be sure, but there are times when its a little over the top. One wonders if Koontz realizes other dog owners may feel the same about their dogs, or if he believes this to be impossible because of Trixie's extraordinary gifts. By the end, we realize Koontz will have the capacity to love again. Dogs do that for us. A good read for dog lovers.

What I Brought To The Reading Of This Book: I've loved animals all my life, and worked at an animal shelter for several years. I'm not a rabid (no pun intended) fan of the author, but I'm certainly a fan. I lost a very beloved dog only a few days before the Koontz family lost Trixie.

Reviewing this book seems silly. If you know, accept, have experienced the animal-human bond, you will love this book and will find yourself wiping away tears, especially if you've lost a pet before it felt like it was time. If you're not an "animal" person or have uttered the words "I like animals okay, but..." you're probably going to think Koontz has written an exercise in anthropomorphism. It's that simple.

The fact that I give it 5 stars tells you where I stand.

Trixie Koontz was a good dog. People who love dogs know that description is richer than can be expressed and imbued with as much love as a heart can contain. It's all any dog could wish to hear from her family. Good Dog. She was raised to be a service dog, and when an congenital issue with an elbow sidelined that, she went to be with the Koontz family and became part of that family. She became their daughter. If that last sentence seems silly, this is not the book for you.

C.S. Lewis wrote: "Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."

People who truly love animals know the truth of this and, like Dean and Gerda Koontz, chose to have their hearts wrung and broken again. In doing so, they know grace.

Reading this book was mostly a joy for me. By reading about Trixie, I recalled my own pets -- indeed, part of the book was read while sitting on the front lawn with one of my dogs, watching the birds feed, and not too far from the wildflower garden we planted only weeks before losing Riley, and weeks before the Koontzs lost Trixie. By reading about Trixie, I felt connected to the author, AKA Trixie's dad, who writes books. Of course, I knew the "ending" and knew I would cry, and I did. Like Trixie, Riley was diagnosed and gone too soon, and -- like Trixie -- I took him home to give him the best spoiling ever, only to find out that even that had to be cut short.

Okay, let me talk about something else, and why I picked the subject line I did. By reading about Trixie, we know better the heart of Dean Koontz. We learn about his childhood and the man he grew to be, and we learn a lot about his spirituality and what he values. For fans, it's an interesting glimpse into the heart of the author, must like King's On Writing tells you as much about the author as it informs you of the actual intended topic of the book. Koontz is a good guy!

The book that made me a fan, the one that I've bought as a present for people on probably more than a handful of occasions, is Watchers, the story of a special Golden Retriever -- since this is years before Trixie came into his life, you get the feeling that Trixie's Dad was perhaps exactly who Dean Koontz was meant to be.

If you are a dog lover and a Koontz fan, the second part I suppose being optional, read the book, but bring tissues. Then, remember that there are a lot of good causes surrounding dogs -- from their work with prisoners, to their assistance with disabilities,to the companionship they bring to seniors, to the tragic fact that animal shelters are full of animals needing homes, and consider what would be an appropriate way to honor the animals in your life -- even if that's only a long walk, a special treat, or a scratch behind the ears.

I am a major dog lover. I also am a fan of Dean Koontz. This book is one of the best that I have ever read. I have a new passion for Golden Retrievers, and now I know what a nice guy Dean Koontz is. He, and his wife Gerda, adored this dog. I have been telling everyone that I know what a great book this is.

I read this book several years ago and it still haunts me. Koonz's memoir of Trixie was so vivid and compelling that I actually cried when she died. (Sorry if this comes as news, but the dog always dies.)

If you love dogs, and especially if you love Trixie as much as I grew to while reading this book, be sure and search out the books that Trixie wrote (I understand Dean typed them for her). They are the most charming, fun, inspirational little books I've ever read. LIfe is Good and Christmas is Good are just beyond wonderful.