Customer Reviews

Buckley's Story

5 star:		(23)
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I just finished reading Buckley's Story. Wow! I must say that it made me feel things inside my soul that were waiting to come out. My emotions went from joy to love to pride to understanding to sorrow to spiritual acceptance. The way that Ingrid King describes and paints her picture of the story of this beautiful, lucky little cat is inspirational. I could feel her emotions as I read on. It certainly is a page turner, I read it on a flight from Florida to New York. I could not put it down. She made me appreciate the things that I have in my life and even though she says that Buckley taught her things about life, Buckley taught me things about life too and I've never met her, just by reading her story.
I anguished with Ingrid as she tried to have Buckley fit into her life. I swelled with pride as she described how her cats waited for her at the top of the stairs when she came home. I read with joy as she described her life with her two adoring cats. I cried when Buckley got sick. I was happy when she got better. I don't want to give away too much so I will stop there. This is a wonderful book for any cat lover. They will truly understand and appreciate Buckely as I do. I would have loved to have known Buckley but by reading this wonderful book, I feel as if I do know Buckley. I certainly would like to thank her for the things that she taught me, but somehow, I think she knows!

Buckley's Story is an intensely personal journey through a series of life lessons gifted to a deeply caring woman by the life and death of her beloved cat. Fortunately for the reader, Ms. King found relief from her grief in the chronicling of these lessons. The story is spellbinding, by turns uplifting, sorrowful, funny, and profound. It is also absolutely accurate; I can attest to that, because I am the veterinarian who was privileged to care for Buckley.

I love this book, for reasons that go far beyond simply having lived the story along with Ms. King. In the time I spent being Buckley's vet, Ingrid challenged my thought processes in very important ways. Her approach to medicine was very much focused on the quality of life to be gained; a goal we veterinarians all too often unintentionally misplace in our zeal to diagnose and treat. Working with Ingrid deepened and changed my view of what defines compassionate care.

Her experiences were common to many a pet owner with a terminally ill pet. Health care decisions, which many mistakenly believe are simple and straightforward, were often fraught with uncertainty. Guilt over causing stress by the act of treatment struggled with guilt over not treating. Ingrid had to learn to listen to her instincts, and to trust them; and to stand up against those who would judge her without understanding, who would try to convince her to subject Buckley to treatments that they thought were right even when she disagreed. Most of all, she needed to learn how to shed the heavy coat of dread and fear, in order to be able to share the joy of each new day with Buckley.

Buckley's Story will speak to every pet owner who has ever asked themselves, "Is it time yet?" or struggled to find the courage to do what they feel is right for their pet, even if it goes against established norms. For me, though, the most valuable lesson I learned from Buckley and Ingrid was to let go of useless energy spent worrying about what the future holds; to live in and cherish the moment; to realize that all we have is the Now, and that this is not merely enough, it is truly an abundance of riches.

Buckley's Story is not only the tale of a little cat who changed her human mommy's life forever, but is also a book loaded with information about cat health and heart disease. The narrative envelops the reader as they journey with Ingrid through the many medical decisions that have to be made while her heart is breaking over the possibility of losing her beloved little girl forever. However, Buckley proves to be so very much more than that frail little feline in a diseased and failing body. Little did Ingrid know that Buckley had much bigger plans in store for her -- an amazing future beyond her wildest dreams. And all this came about because of this amazing little tortie who stole Ingrid's heart the first moment they met. She had so much to give to Ingrid as well as others that she continues to do so today.

I have avoided reading any book that tells the story of the loss of a furry companion. Having walked that path I felt it would be too sad. I decided to give this book a shot and I am so glad that I did. The story is heartwarming and very sad but it also shares the author's first hand experience in a way that would have been helpful to me 12 years ago when I lost two of my precious fur babies to agressive illnesses. I highly recommend this to anyone facing the challenge of coping with any ailing/aging pet. Great job Ingrid!

I've been thru quite a few books concerning the loss of a furry loved one, but this one surpasses them all. I feel that it is my story concerning my little girl that crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, in my arms, on 11/8/98. This story speaks of a very special relationship-soulmates-like I know I had. I couldn't recommend it any more highly-I LOVED IT!!!

I promised myself I'd finish reading Buckley's Story tonight. I didn't realize just how many emotions would run through me not only for Buckley, Amber & Ingrid, but also the memories of all my feline family members who we've loved through the years. Buckley is truly a great teacher and continues to teach after her passing. This story is a great reminder that our 'pets' are actually family members and communicate on different levels, energetic levels. You feel her purrs, her meows and her energy. Her story is a great reminder to pay attention and remember to send loving vibes to your four legged family members.

The author's depiction of life with Buckley from those first days through sickness and letting go is absolutely dead on. Heartrending, but in a good way. Buckley has lessons for us all.

Not simply a typical story of love and loss, Buckley's Story is also filled with helpful information. From learning important questions to ask your veterinarian during a pet's illness to learning to create your own experiences and find joy in every moment, the book is intelligent, hopeful and filled with love.
A must read for all animal lovers.

Any of us that has had the privilege of sharing the unconditional love and devotion that a pet can bring to our lives, will surely come to fall in love with Buckley, a sweet, joyful, and wise beyond her years little cat that was the inspiration for Ingrid King's book, Buckley's Story.

Buckley was a stray cat with a deformed left hind leg that was brought by chance into the veterinary hospital where Ingrid worked as a manager. Falling instantly in love with this inspirational feline who had no concept of a disability, Ingrid eventually adopted her and brought her to share her forever home with her other residing cat, Amber. Buckley was then diagnosed with heart disease after only two years of living with Ingrid and the rest of Buckley's Story is detailed by Ingrid with enormous gentleness, kindness, compassion, wisdom, and frank honesty, as she shares how the illness defined the bond between the two of them, as well as other people who knew Ingrid and Buckley (and Amber too).

Although I admit the book was extremely difficult for me to read and probably will be so for anyone that has had to deal with pain of losing a cherished pet, I still highly recommend it as a "must read." Meeting Buckley through Ingrid's poignant words is very much worth the effort as the story tugs at your heartstrings and you root for this little cat with all of your might. You will come away from this read a far better person as you learn from the profoundly simple message of Buckley, which is to live your life in the wondrous possibility of the present moment, rather than defined by outward appearances and past circumstances.

I have just finished reading this lovely heartwarming story of Ingrid, Buckley and Amber....I shed bucket loads of tears and used countless tissues during the read of this short and beautifully written story.
It has been perhaps the most loveliest and saddest little book i have read and have never added a review to any other book before today.
It gives insight into caring for a sick cat and the decisons that need to be made regarding their health and when to say goodbye. Ingrid and Amber did this in their own ways.
I too have a tortiseshell cat called Seven and she is the only cat I have had that has given full body cuddles and headbutting kisses.. Seven is also the only cat we have had that has my husband is head over heels in love with. She is also besotted with her "dad". Seven is 9 years old.
With me, she communicates through her tail and we have great conversations.
We also have another cat called Nikki. She too is special being the daughter of my precious Samantha who was given to me by my longtime friend shortly before she
committed suicide and then a short time later died giving birth to 8 kittens, Nikki was the only one to survive. Nikki is now 20 years old and although she has slowed down some,i know that soon we may need to make a decison.