Customer Reviews

Paws and Reflect: Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although I'm a "dog" person, I don't like or read "doggy" fiction for the most part because, in general, I find that real life is almost always much more interesting than anything anybody could make up. So when a great entertaining book of NON-fiction dog-related stories comes out, it's cause for celebration.

The things that happen to people and the lives they live, both in the grand sweep and the little detail, are fascinating -- especially in the hands of a master storyteller and a top-notch reporter like Plakcy and Sakson. The fact that this book is also about dogs is just the icing on the cake for dog lovers.

Alternately funny and touching (in the sense of touching the emotions -- not in the sense of sad or weepy) each story is like opening a little present. Read this book and you won't think about people OR dogs in exactly the same way again!

I am a dog person, so maybe I'm biased, but this is a fantastic read. I didn't stop until I had read the whole book from the first page to the last. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me miss my dogs that are long gone, and appreciate my current fur-people family even more. I was so moved that I bought more copies to give as gifts, and they were very well recieved. If you like dogs, or just enjoy reading about real people situations, you will enjoy it too!

If you love dogs and appreciate the unique relationship they have with people (men or women) you will enjoy this book. It's warm, funny and lovingly written. I especially loved "Puppy Whipped," by Donald Hardy. Just wonderful!! I highly recommend this book.

In the interest of full disclosure, let me first say that you can't trust my review in the least. I know two of the writers featured in this collection, Jeff Ricker and Michael Wallerstein. They are great people. Their dogs, Dakota and Bonnie, are great people too. And yes, Dakota really is that big, and Bonnie really is that deaf.

The stories are well and thoughtfully written. Even if you're not a dog person, there is something in this collection for you. These stories aren't so much about dogs; they're about the people who love them. Whether blending a household, learning sign language, or getting a little red cart for nightly walks, this book is really just about the things you find yourself doing when you love something, and the ways you're willing to adapt to make room for something in your life. Even a cat enthusiast can find something to appreciate in that.

Some of us have dogs because we loooovvve them. Some of us have dogs because they literally, figuratively or allegedly followed us or a family member home. If you have a dog, have ever had a dog or can't figure out why on earth those of us who do have dogs have them, read this book! If you "get" the dog thing, you'll love it. And if you don't get the dog thing, at least you may quit looking at the rest of us oddly. Paws and Reflect is about more than dogs, it's about life---but the fact that dogs are at the center of all the stories makes it can't-put-down reading for those of us who love them. The book is one of those that shows us our "same-nesses" rather than our differences. Some of the people whose stories are included are well-known, some are not. [...]But if you've ever seen a dog interact with a human, these stories will touch you and make you look at your fellow creatures in a different light.

One of the best books of dogs and humans ever! It is so touching. Some of the stories are sweet, and some are sad, but probably my favorite ones are the really funny ones. It's so funny to read Edward Albee talking about the dogs who chased him down the street when he was a Western Union telegram boy. The story where the guy says the dog outed him is hilarious-- and the dog is so brave. the story about the man who had to train his friend's Dachshund not to pee is hysterical -- maybe this is how we should be training our dogs! It's just a great book about people and their dogs. I read all the stories, and I think I will probably read all of them over again a few times more. then keep the book on the shelf and read it again next year.

A celebration of the joy, growth and healing offered to *all* of us by the dogs in our lives. Beautifully written, Paws is a cornucopia of universal human emotions: have tissues handy for a steady stream of tears of joy, sadness and laughter. I love this book! Thank you, thank you authors Plakcy and Sakson for bringing these real-life stories to light for dog lovers everywhere. That said . . .

Author Sharon Sakson's bio is missing from the above description. Here it is, from the book:

Sharon Sakson is a journalist and television producer who has worked for ABC News, NBC News, Court TV, Food TV, and local stations in Baltimore, Chicago, and San Francisco. She has an M.F.A. in creative writing from the New School. She is an AKC dog show judge and breeder of champion Whippets and Brussels Griffons, and author of the forthcoming Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manual for Brussels Griffons. Sharon, her dogs and her horses are currently New Jersey-based.

I bought Paws and Reflect for my partner for Valentine's Day. He loved it and put it on my reading stack. And I'm so glad that he did. As the proud owner of a sweet one year old dachshund, we just recently decided to get his new baby half-sister, who is now five weeks old. We were a bit skittish about introducing a new dog into our household. Through stories both humorous and touching, Paws and Reflect has made me more aware of our bond with our current boy and made me excited about welcoming a new little girl into our family.

The writing in this anthology is superb. The short vignettes by both well-known and (to me) unknown gay men touched on so many points of dog ownership. Both the positive and the negative bonds were addressed, without a sense of respect and veracity

Neil Plakcy has amassed a series of stories about the bond between gay men and their dogs which is a fascinating read. Each story brings out a different side of a human/canine relationship and was interesting.

About halfway thru this book, my own dog (a Chinese pug) had a turn for the worst and had to be put to sleep. There are stories in this book about other dog owners who faced similar situations at the end of their pet's life and this was very helpful/comforting at my time of loss. There are many happy/funny stories too and I could identify with many of the owners (and their animals) throughout the book.

The stories are not too long and you can go thru at a leisurely pace (as I did) or plow right through. You don't have to be gay, or a man, or even a dog-lover to enjoy this book. I recommend it highly.

I grew up with dogs, and reading this book gave me such a feeling of nastalgia and longing for those simpler times in my life. I found myself going through so many emotions while reading it that I didn't know what was coming next. ANYONE who knows what it's like to love a dog and in return be loved by a dog needs to read this book. Beware: If you don't own a dog currently, you may find yourself owning one...or two.