Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book so very much and am going to search out his others. The author chronicles his life as a newish care-taker of various animals including dogs, donkeys, sheep and even two cows. His rural neighbors are friendly but I guess think he's a little odd what with his penchant for taking in useless animals such as donkeys but it seems he's winning at least a few of them over as one asks him to "buy" a cow that he just can't bring to slaughter. The book is filled with love and pain and life lessons learned the hard way. It makes me want to sell everything and start a little sanctuary of my own. If only I had the cash :)
What I found odd about the book was the fact that his wife seems to live a separate life in another home and is very rarely spoken about until the very end of the book. There is one point where he considers re-homing the wife's favorite dog and then he just does it without any mention of the wife's thoughts on the matter. I think I need to read the earlier books to figure out how this works for them because it seemed quite a strange situation.
What I found odd about the book was the fact that his wife seems to live a separate life in another home and is very rarely spoken about until the very end of the book. There is one point where he considers re-homing the wife's favorite dog and then he just does it without any mention of the wife's thoughts on the matter. I think I need to read the earlier books to figure out how this works for them because it seemed quite a strange situation.
Helpful Score: 1
Another wonderful dog-centered book from Jon Katz. For anyone who has read his other books, it is like settling down with old friends, and meeting some new ones along the way. Lovely read!
Helpful Score: 1
I am a huge animal fan, i love dogs mostly. I am not a big fan of Jon Katz and his views of animals. many times in this book i found he was trying to justify things he did and said the same things over and over trying to make himself feel better about things he did to animals. Specifically Orson. I did not read 'A good dog' which is about him and his border collie Orson, who he has put down. You can tell in this book that he feels bad about that decision, as he brings it up a lot. I had a hard time reading about his views and feelings about his animals as they are not the same as my own. I would not read another book by this author. I did enjoy the pictures of the animals and the farm, that was the best part of the book!
Helpful Score: 1
Another great book by Jon Katz... my favorite part is about when the cows meet.. don't want to give away but I had tears in my eyes.
Sequel book. Journalist leaves big city, buys farm in upstate New York (near Vermont border, northeast of Albany).
I am a friend of Jon's; we worked together at the Philadelphia Inquirer in the '70s. That said, I think I am still an objective critic of his work.
Every dog-lover friend of mine adores Katz and is no-nonsense approach to finding an appropriate dog for your own needs and how to deal with that dog after that. He resists pandering to people who want to make dogs out to be what they are not. But he truly loves all of his dogs and their needs to be just dogs.
One of the saddest obligations of owning pets is that we are sometimes presented with making a life and death decision for them. I have found his advice in all areas of owning and raising dogs to always be positive and helpful.
And you don't have to own a dog -- or even want to own a dog -- to enjoy the tales he spins about his interactions with his dogs and his other farm animals.
Every dog-lover friend of mine adores Katz and is no-nonsense approach to finding an appropriate dog for your own needs and how to deal with that dog after that. He resists pandering to people who want to make dogs out to be what they are not. But he truly loves all of his dogs and their needs to be just dogs.
One of the saddest obligations of owning pets is that we are sometimes presented with making a life and death decision for them. I have found his advice in all areas of owning and raising dogs to always be positive and helpful.
And you don't have to own a dog -- or even want to own a dog -- to enjoy the tales he spins about his interactions with his dogs and his other farm animals.
For all animal lovers. Very good read, easy...light hearted. From Elvis the bull to Clem the yellow lab you just get drawn in and wish to stay. Do not miss this one, I look forward to reading more of his books.
Jon Katz has a love of dogs that is so rare. He also understands that sometimes dogs choose you not the other way around. it is a very good book, suitable for all ages. I and my 12 year old grandgirl have enjoyed it.
Karen D. (augieandlourock) reviewed Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm on + 117 more book reviews
i thought this book was okay.I didnt like how he called people who do sheep herding snobs.
I also didnt agree with how he treated his animals.If you really love your dog even if you have 4 you dont give one away to make it easier for you.Sometimes I wondered if he should be living on a farm at all.
I also didnt agree with how he treated his animals.If you really love your dog even if you have 4 you dont give one away to make it easier for you.Sometimes I wondered if he should be living on a farm at all.
A great story teller. And if you love dog stories it's a perfect match.
I enjoyed this book so very much and am going to search out his others. The author chronicles his life as a newish care-taker of various animals including dogs, donkeys, sheep and even two cows. His rural neighbors are friendly but I guess think he's a little odd what with his penchant for taking in useless animals such as donkeys but it seems he's winning at least a few of them over as one asks him to "buy" a cow that he just can't bring to slaughter. The book is filled with love and pain and life lessons learned the hard way. It makes me want to sell everything and start a little sanctuary of my own. If only I had the cash :)
What I found odd about the book was the fact that his wife seems to live a separate life in another home and is very rarely spoken about until the very end of the book. There is one point where he considers re-homing the wife's favorite dog and then he just does it without any mention of the wife's thoughts on the matter. I think I need to read the earlier books to figure out how this works for them because it seemed quite a strange situation.
What I found odd about the book was the fact that his wife seems to live a separate life in another home and is very rarely spoken about until the very end of the book. There is one point where he considers re-homing the wife's favorite dog and then he just does it without any mention of the wife's thoughts on the matter. I think I need to read the earlier books to figure out how this works for them because it seemed quite a strange situation.
