Synopses & Reviews
In the tradition of Marley and Me, an anthology of essays about the world's oldest friendship.
In the introduction to this canine-themed anthology, Elizabeth Marshall Thomas writes that few books truly capture the essence of dogs; Woof being the rare exception. Pithy observations and heartfelt confessions from the acclaimed writers who love them lay bare the relationship of human and dog. Original personal essays include Rick Bass's poignant tale about the week his hunting dog, Point, was given a fatal prognosis. Abigail Thomas writes about the hilarious maneuvering it takes to share a bed with three dogs. 2007 National Book Award winner Denis Johnson gives voice to The Colonel, his bullmastiff, who recounts a day in his and Johnson's lives. And editor Lee Montgomery describes life with a schnauzer that masturbates with clockwork regularity.
Like the memoirs Marley and Me and Dog Years, Woof probes the sometimes tumultuous, often selfless love affair between dogs and their human companions. At times irreverent and funny, at others heartbreaking, Woof is sure to become part of the literary canon of animal writing.
Review
"[
Woof!] will touch the hearts of canine owners everywhere."
-Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
As the popularity of
Marley and Me attests, people love their dogs?and everyone else?s too. For all the time spent on grooming, petting, and other care?it?s as if owning a dog is a religion unto itself. Woof! brings together original essays from acclaimed writers ruminating on the sometimes tumultuous, often selfless love affair between human and dog. Alternately poignant and hilarious, these collected stories of mutts and purebreds alike will win the hearts of the millions who?ve ever loved a member of the world?s most loyal species.
About the Author
Lee Montgomery is the author of The Things Between Us: A Memoir, winner of a 2007 Oregon Book Award, Searching for Emily, and Whose World Is This?, winner of the 2007 Iowa Short Fiction Award. She is currently the editorial director of Tin House Books and executive editor of Tin House magazine.