With a sick kitty at home, I have animals on my mind a lot these days. There is nothing quite like the connection between a pet and its person, whether it’s a dog, a cat, or something more exotic.
Speaking to that connection are so many books that come out on the subject every year. There’s the runaway hit from a couple of years ago, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, by John Grogan, or any of Jon Katz’ books, if you’re a dog lover. Aelurophiles may want to try A Cat Named Darwin: How a Stray Cat Changed a Man into a Human Being, by biologist William Jordan, who takes in, and gets taken in by, a flea-bitten, mangy stray. My Cat, Spit McGee, by Willie Morris (who also had a dog named Skip), is another one that speaks to that irresistible feline allure. If all that dander gets to you, though, you can try The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship, by Joanna Burger. One of my all-time favorites on the human-animal relationship is Allen Schoen’s Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way We Live. Veterinarian Schoen’s beautiful descriptions of how he learned about healing on all levels from his golden retriever and other animals are incredibly heart-opening.
When it comes to fiction, beastly puns tend to rule the roost. Several of those titles are featured on our Animal Mysteries booklist. Beyond that, though, another favorite of mine is the author, Jennifer Crusie. Anyone But You features a pathetic, yet insistent, basset hound, and she knows exactly how to depict the way those furry friends can insinuate themselves into our lives. Lastly, I couldn’t possibly feel complete with this post without mentioning Mutts, the comic strip that looks cute, but can bite when you least expect it.
Of course there are many more. Let us know some of your favorite books with animals in them!
-Kaarin
Eleventh Stack 