Dog book for a friend

October 4, 2010 5:23 PM

Looking for a nice dog book.

A friendʻs dog just died. I want to donate money to the library she works at and suggest a book. I am looking for a lovely, non-preachy, uplifting book about dogs. It can be fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose. The library already has Marley and Me, and I kind of hate that book.

My friend is a poet and a Tibetan Buddhist. The dog was a beloved companion of no specific breed or religious bent.

posted by fifilaru to Pets & Animals (23 answers total)

Oh my. The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's fiction, written from the dog's perspective, and the dog believes in the concept of reincarnation. And it's beautiful, and sad, and not treacly or sweet. However, her library probably already has it.
posted by headnsouth at 5:28 PM on October 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Timbuktu by Paul Auster. Er, it's not exactly uplifting though. But it's a good book.
posted by amro at 5:29 PM on October 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

My husband enjoyed this one a lot:

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:35 PM on October 4, 2010

Seconding The Art of Racing in the Rain. A beautiful book that conveys the perfect sentiment for such a circumstance.
posted by tzuzie at 5:39 PM on October 4, 2010

Seconding "the art of racing in the rain".

If you're looking for dog training books, "good owners, great dogs" is a good one.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:40 PM on October 4, 2010

I hated The Art of Racing in the Rain with a dark, ferocious passion.

Good Dog. Stay. by Anna Quindlen?
posted by Jeanne at 5:41 PM on October 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I am so sorry for your friend's loss. A book I read and enjoyed recently may be of interest: Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, by Alexandra Horowitz, a psychology professor. Her library may already have it, but I had to get it through an interlibrary loan, so they may be interested in acquiring it if there's a demand.
posted by trip and a half at 5:44 PM on October 4, 2010

I enjoyed Uncle Boris in the Yukon by Daniel Pinkwater. It's non-fiction, funny without being a joke book and shows the authors deep love of dogs.
posted by jessamyn at 5:45 PM on October 4, 2010

Heh. Her Dorkness beat me to it.
posted by trip and a half at 5:47 PM on October 4, 2010

James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories. Oh my. I worship this man. No, really. When he wrote his first book, there was a rush of applicants to veterinary school, like CSI did for forensics. They're not medical stories, just stories about the animals.

Before I die, I want to visit Thirsk, the author's town.
posted by magnoliasouth at 5:53 PM on October 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I should add, some are humorous, some touching. Just great stories by an excellent story teller.
posted by magnoliasouth at 5:55 PM on October 4, 2010

Also, for the kiddies, make sure the library has a copy of the fabulous Go, Dog. Go!
posted by trip and a half at 6:02 PM on October 4, 2010

A Small, Furry Prayer is a memoir about dog rescue.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:11 PM on October 4, 2010

My Lead Dog Was a Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--the World's Most Grueling Race.

Puppies a book of photos by Wegman.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:19 PM on October 4, 2010

Albert Payson Terhune books, like Lad, a Dog. I particularly enjoyed The Heart of a Dog, which is a collection of unrelated short stories (unlike most of his dog books, which center around a single dog).
posted by galadriel at 6:26 PM on October 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap. Wonderful photos, and marvelous puppy poetry by Roy Blount, Jr.
posted by Dolley at 6:33 PM on October 4, 2010

For the children's section Art Spiegelmen's Open Me... I'm a Dog! It's the story of an adorable pup who's been magically turned into a book.
posted by Sara Anne at 7:09 PM on October 4, 2010

Samsara Dog. A beautiful picture book about love, loss, dying & friendship -- Buddhist reincarnation through the story of a dog.
posted by barnone at 7:30 PM on October 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

My cousin gave me a copy of My Dog Tulip when my Lennon died.
posted by brujita at 8:56 PM on October 4, 2010

I really liked Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. It's a really lovely interesting story about an independent dog, but it's got a lot of death in it, if that affects your decision.
posted by calistasm at 10:13 PM on October 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sifting through my AskMe history just now, I found this. Still highly recommend both those books mentioned in the second paragraph.
posted by trip and a half at 2:47 AM on October 5, 2010

I like Elliot Erwitt's lovely black and white photography books: Dog Dogs, Dogs, and/or Woof. They really capture the love between people and dogs without being too sentimental or sugary. Really beautiful images that will make any dog lover reminisce about how wonderful dogs are to be around.
posted by dog food sugar at 6:13 AM on October 5, 2010

I just finished A Dog's Purpose and absolutely loved it. It's first-person fiction with a doggie narrator. It's also a fairly recent release so your friend may be less likely to have it.
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 1:22 PM on October 5, 2010