Synopses & Reviews
Jon Katz is one of America's best-loved dog writers, and his keen insights into the animal world have earned him the title of Squire of Bedlam Farm. His new memoir
Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable adventure of farm life. From little Jesus (the newborn donkey who becomes the farm mascot) to the surprisingly sociable steer Elvis (weighing in at 2,500 pounds) and his comparatively svelte sweetheart, Luna, the creatures at Bedlam Farm find new ways to challenge Katz, who writes, "The perfect life is like the perfect dog: Neither exists. And joy is a fraction of the experience of owning a farm."
Riding herd on the entire place is Rose, the workaholic border collie. Not even Rupert, the ram, can intimidate her. As for Pearl and Clementine, the Labs, their work is chomping down food (however revolting), tearing through the woods, and finding laps to snuggle on. The sheep, the chickens, and the cat all contribute to the hum (and occasional roar) of Bedlam. So do the vet, the carpenter, and the animals' tender-hearted nursemaid. Last but not least there's Izzy, the abandoned border collie, who, if all goes well, may soon become a Bedlam star.
In spite of the aches and pains brought on by his demanding lifestyle and days when Bedlam Farm truly lives up to its name (like the day Elvis pulled the fence down), the author is sustained in all he does by his wife, Paula. And on timeless summer days and in punishing winter storms, he continues his meditation on what animals can selflessly teach usand what we in turn owe to them.
With good neighbors, a beautiful landscape, and tales of true love thrown in, Dog Days gives us not only down-to-earth animal stories told in Katz's inimitable style, but a rich portrait of the harmonious world that is Bedlam Farm.
Review
"Despite the book's title, there's more here than dog stories....An appealing text showing off an author who's found his perfect genre. Readers can only hope these appealing and thoughtful dispatches will continue." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"A must-read for all animal lovers." Booklist
Synopsis
In
Dog Days, Jon Katz, the squire of Bedlam Farm, allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable adventure of farm life. The border collies, the sheep, the chickens, the cat, the ram, and one surprisingly sociable steer named Elvis all contribute to the hum (and occasional roar) of Bedlam. On timeless summer days and in punishing winter storms, Katz continues his meditation on what animals can selflessly teach us-and what we in turn owe to them. With good neighbors, a beautiful landscape, and tales of true love thrown in,
Dog Days gives us not only marvelous animal stories but a rich portrait of the harmonious world that is Bedlam Farm.
Praise for Dog Days:
“Anyone who has ever loved an animal, who owns a farm or even dreams of it, will read Dog Days with appreciation and a cathartic lump in his or her throat.”
-The Washington Post
“Katz proves himself a Thoreau for modern times as he ponders the relationships between man and animals, humanity and nature, and the particularly smelly qualities of manure.”
-Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Katz constructs the perfect blend between self-revelation and his subtle brand of humor.”
-The Star-Ledger
“City-dweller-turned-farmer Katz . . . returns with further adventures from his animal-filled upstate New York sheep farm. Charming.”
-People
“The perfect summer book . . . You will not be disappointed.”
-The Philadelphia Inquirer
“A new twist on the American dream.”
-The Christian Science Monitor
“Thoroughly enchanting.”
-The Dallas Morning News
From the Trade Paperback edition.
About the Author
Jon Katz has written sixteen books six novels and ten works of nonfiction including A Dog Year, The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, The New Work of Dogs, Katz on Dogs, and A Good Dog. A two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award, he writes columns about dogs and rural life for the online magazine Slate, and has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, GQ, and the AKC Gazette. He co-hosts an award-winning show, Dog Talk, on Northeast Public Radio. Katz lives on Bedlam Farm in upstate New York with his wife, Paula Span, and his dogs, sheep, steers and cow, donkeys, barn cat, irritable rooster Winston, and three hens.