Hi! I so agree with the previous ‘vote' for "The Legacy of Beezer and " by Doug Koktavy.

There is ALWAYS something to take away from the writings of others, and this book is no exception. Whether you've experienced Doug's plight within your own life, or you can see it coming, all readers can surely find something from his outlook and determination to help them through this journey. I sometimes wondered if Doug had been in my head during my canine companion's fight with bone cancer, as the thoughts he expresses were so very similar to mine. Its great he got his down on paper (unlike me!) to share with us.

A wonderful addition to the writings are the beautifully done illustrations and craftsmanship - mine sits out as a coffee table book to be explored when folks come to visit.

Mr. Koktavy's "B Brothers Project", which donates 40% of the book sale to the nonprofit who supports the sale (If you know of a nonprofit have them check it out!), has and will have an impact on the fundraising of a non-profit close to my heart, Bone Cancer Dogs, Inc. I'm glad they have partnered with him, as they share not only the ties with dogs, but also with canine bone cancer AND what can be done to get through the journey. You can find more about their affiliate program with B Bros Press at http://www.bonecancerdogs.org/main/document/117

There are a lot of books out there that you read and forget about; however, the intentions behind Mr. Koktavy's writings and also within the book itself will have you recognizing that you CAN change the way you look at things in the future, and forgive yourself for things of the past. It's always great when a book drops a lesson in your lap.

This book is a gift on so many levels.  Enjoy the read!

The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer by Doug Koktavy is more than a book about living with dogs. This book is the story of a changed man because of the love and teachings of his two dogs. It's great for everyone and especially honoring of the tender men of the world who love animals. Great book that will help change us all for the better. Let's hope we continue to be open to the many life lessons our furry friends are willing to teach us!

Our two favorite books of 2009 are Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote and The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer by Doug Koktavy.  Both wonderful, beautifully- written accounts of living with beloved dogs and learning from them about both living and dying.  Worth reading more than once!

This is a terrific list!

I would add to your list the new book by Ingrid King, called Buckley's Story.  It's a tale not just of the life and death of a cat named Buckley, but on a deeper level, the life lessons that Buckley's life and death have to teach us all.

I love this book, and not just because I'm in it, and not just because I lived the story with Ms. King.  In the time I spent being Buckley's vet, Ingrid challenged my thought processes in at least two very important ways.  Her approach to medicine was very much focused on the quality of life to be gained; a goal we veterinarians sometimes lose unintentionally in our zeal to diagnose and treat.  Working with Ingrid as a partner in decision-making, my view of what compassion is was deepened and changed.

Buckley's Story holds much more than that, however.  The strongest challenge in it, for me, was to learn to let go of the useless energy spent worrying about what the future holds, and to live in and cherish the moment; to realize that all we have is the Now, and that this is not merely enough, it's truly an abundance of riches.

Even if I wasn't in this book, I'd list it as an all-time favorite.

I will have to remember some of these recommendations! I rarely have time to read but one of my New Years resolutions, like exercise, is to do both for 30 minutes every day!

I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, too; didn't care for Dewey, the Library cat much though. 

You might have recommended it in an earlier post, but I just got Speaking for Spot and it's on my nightstand now (I think it will help me speak to clients about their cat's care, too).

And Best in Show...just like real life cat show people, too. 

John: Thanks for this. I'm going to find your flick and watch it!! (Inspired by Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog?)

PS: My sister and bro-in-law make movies. Check out Shootdown (directed/produced) and War/Dance (exec produced).

Regarding the Film Movement DVDs - I am the writer/director of the short film mentioned, ""La Vie D'un Chien." (Thanks for the plug, by the way, Dr.!) I went to the Film Movement site but can't find any mention of my film - is it included on the "Mine" DVD?

Fans of independent films may also want to check out this all-dogs-themed collection of short films, which also includes my film:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3074699

http://www.officialbestoffest.com/giftsets/DogLoversGC.html

Happy New Year!

Sawtelle was a tough read, but his command of word and image was impressive. I recommend any of the several books by Jon Katz, who reinvented himself as a gentleman farmer with border collies in upstate NY. Izzy & Lenore recounts his experiences with his lab and bc as hospice therapy dogs. In mags, I recommend Bark, which captures "dog culture," and Cesar Milan's  Cesar's Way, which, despite the egocentrism and glitz, does have helpful information.

Check out "MINE."  This is the January DVD release of Film Movement (www.filmmovement.com). It is a full length documentary about the bond between humans and nonhuman animals set against the Katrina F*#Kup. It follows New Orleans residents as they try to reunite with pets.  Also the short film this month is "La Vie D'un Chien" (The life of a Dog) about a "scientist" wh formulates a serum that turns him into a dog.

Hurray!! Someone else who loved The Book Thief!  I have been recommending that book to all my book reading friends.  And, another one of my favorites - Life of Pi - was on your list.  Who knew ;)

Hated Edgar Sawtelle - well really liked it until the end and then I was just angry - what a horrible, frustrating ending (IMO).

Still Alice is very good.  And here's some more - dog books and not dog books:

The Truth About Dogs - Budiansky, The Chimp Who Would Be Human - Elizabeth Hess, Dog Man - Martha Sherrill, Tell Me Where it Hurts - Nick Trout, Alex and Me - Irene Pepperberg, The Elephant Keeper - Christopher Nicholson and I could go on - I read about a book a week.  

Happy reading!!

I recommend any of the books by Sy Montgomery, especially "The Good Good Pig" and "Journey of the Pink Dolphins".  Montgomery's beautiful, descriptive prose makes the stories come alive. I rarely read a book twice, but I could read Montgomery's books over and over.

Sassy, as well as Ariel and Elegy Beach by Steven Boyett (which as a scifi reader, I'm sure you'll like), if you want a cool twist on 'girl-powered' fantasy (with a dark unicorn base), check out Rampant by Diana Peterfreund.  I really liked it, and wished I was 14, reading it for the first time.   

Oooh yes, the Eragon series!  Loved that!  I'll keep an eye open for Ursula LeGuin's books - thanks for the tip!  And I'll look for Steven Boyett's books too.  My husband is a nonfiction only reader, but I love fiction!

As for non-fiction, I like Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog", and some of her other books.  Also 'Culture Clash' by Jean Donaldson.  I want to get some of Sophia Yin's books - they are on my want list.  She has a great one called "Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats" that I would love to have!

I third Ernie!!! It makes me cry, yes, but the photography is beautiful.

Oh I love the Ernie book!  I never bought it, just stood and "read" it in the store, but now that you say it's reissued I think I must buy . . .

Thanks for "The Book Thief" recommend. It's next on my list now.

Sadly, I think too many "animal" books these days (including some bestsellers) focus more on the human characters, most who are at some stage of crisis than on the animal. They also often are books that seem more interested in mass marketing or sales than in good writing. I tend to find them overly sentimental, short on plot and substance -- and highly repetitive, eager to stick to the formula of other successful "animal" books.

So I offer an alternative:

"Ernie: A Photographers Memoir."

Photographer Tony Mendoza shared a New York City apartment for two years with a woman who rented him a room and her tuxedo cat, named Ernie. While the book is centered around Mendoza's striking black and white photos, it's the narrative that's priceless: Mendoza and Ernie speak on alternating pages, chronicling the progress of their relationship. "Ernie" is short but proof that sometimes, less IS more.

When I first picked up and started reading this book in a San Diego gift store, I laughed so hard I thought they would ask me to leave. I loved it so much that I bought two: one for me and one for my then boyfriend (now husband), so we both would have a copy in the event we broke up. "Ernie" has been in and out of print, but now has been reissued and back on Amazon. Catch it while you can. It's an original.

http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Photographers-Memoir-Tony-Mendoza/dp/0811829634/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262202608&sr=1-11   

I second your recommendations of "Food Inc" and "In Defense of Food"! Both have changed the way I think about what I eat. I'm currently following up by reading "Omnivore's Dilemma" and "What to Eat" (Marion Nestle). That one is a few years old, but it goes into great detail about food labeling and provides some guiding principles on how to make food choices based on organic, local, and nutritional claims. She reveals the truth behind some dubious health claims attached to "food" items--that info will make your head spin! Next I'm going to read Marion Nestle's book "Pet Food Politics", and I hear she's going to have another book called "Feed Your Pet Right" coming out in May of 2010. Truly transformative reading!

"Merle's Door" by Ted Kerasote is one of my favorites!

My favorite animal read is "Sight Hound" by Pam Houston. It is the story of Dante, an Irish wolfhound, told from the perspective of all of the people and animals in his life (each one gets a chapter). This book has so much wisdom and beauty in it...I cry every time I read it. Plus there is a vet and veterinary student who are characters with their own chapters as well!

I picked up Homer's Odyssey after the mention on this site and adopting a blind puppy. Although I'm definitely a dog person, it was a great story and a fun read.

On the dog front, I really liked Randy Grim's Don't Dump the Dog. Randy Grim runs Stray Rescue in St. Louis and comes up with solutions for all the reasons that people return dogs to his rescue group. It's especially humorous if you do any work with animal rescue groups.

I loved The Book Thief. I read so many amazing books this year. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Not a one of them animal books, alas. But good reads nonetheless.

Dog-book-wise, the only two I read of real note were Tales of Two Species by Patricia McConnell, and Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt, which is something like a bible to me at this point.

Jacob L'Etoile, thank you very, very much for mentioning that book.  I didn't know about it and see it's available in paperback for not too much $, so I'll get myself a late present.

For those who might be interested in a scifi quest story with a different twist, I highly recommend, Ariel, by Steven Boyett, and the sequel, Elegy Beach.  I've read over a hundred books this year, fiction and non, and this was my favorite.  I hate to give any spoilers, but there are some cool animals in the book.

"Best in Show" is an absolute riot! I must watch that again soon. 

Life of pi was an excellent book, and the writting and descriptions actually made me believe that a tiger was in that lifeboat, and the ending came as a shock to me.

The Book Thief has the best final line in a book, ever. I loved your suggestions: Atul Gawande is an amazing writer. The book I'm looking forward to reading as soon as it comes to the library is Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals. His two earlier novels are a little bit precious but extremely moving, so I'm curious to see what he come up with this time around.

The other animal-related book I would recommend is Peter Lovenheim's Portrait of a Burger as a Young Calf: The Story of One Man, Two Cows, and the Feeding of a Nation. I never see this book publicized but I found it fascinating and engaging. Lovenheim really does show rather than tell and is not preachy, which is always good in the Meet your Food genre.

Sassy: If you're willing to go with dragons I have a slew of books to recommend. Apart from the Eragon series (which I love, though nearly not as much as McCaffrey's stuff) there's Ursula LeGuin's classics to explore. Don't miss her Earthsea series. 

Just finished 'Homer's Odyssey" last night.  Great book!  I loved 'Best in Show' - if you've ever showed dogs at all, you will be in stitches - and even if you haven't!  I loved the part where the handler (name escapes me) was injured just before going in the ring for best in show - her walk was hilarious!  Susan Conant has some great mysteries based on the life of a dog trainer (her boyfriend is a vet).  Also Laurien Berenson has a series of mysteries that are centered on dog shows.

I'm a sci-fi buff, and I love Anne McCaffrey's dragon-riders series. It's animal themed -if  you think of a dragon as an animal!  Also music is a big theme, and that aspect lures me as well.

I'm a big reader, and I have others to tell you about, but.....I have a book I want to go finish!

I have been working through a transcription by Derry Argue of Edmond Bert's "An Approved Treatise on Hawks and Hawking"  Writen in 1619 it shows that there is very little new, only what's forgoten:) 

Have added a few books (books on CD's) to my list and have one of my own to reccommend.   You can read it or listen to it (I listened to it 1st, then read it and am glad I did it in that order).  "HEALING SHINE"  A Spiritual Assignment....  Michael Johnson  A story of a man and his horse that has many, many, life lessons in it.  Only problem is you can't buy it at B & N.  You can go to his web site www.michaeljohnsonbooks.com and order it.  I have listened to it at least 6 times and have given many to my friends with the orders that if they want to share it they have to buy it and give it to their friend......  It is well worth listening to and reading.  Thanks.....

I concur on your recommendation of Food Inc, and have been perpetually intending to watch Best In Show.  I'll keep trying.  A couple of others you've listed sound like good reads -- Homer's Oddyssey and Complications.  (I guess the "Tough Sell" on the Book Thief is the setting.)

This year I read "Wildflower:  An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa," which is being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts, about  conservationist Joan Root, who lost her battle against the lawlessness and environmental devastation brought to her beloved Lake Naivasha in Kenya by the encroaching, burgeoning Rose industry.  She was an animal lover to boot.  What I liked most about it was that it is a story about someone who CAN'T HELP but do something, no matter how dangerous or unpopular.  She must fight for her lake, its animals, and environment -- doing anything else would be like spiritual death for her.  Sadly, the hope she nourished contained a kernel of remaining naiivete, which may have put her life in danger.

http://www.amazon.com/Wildflower-Extraordinary-Untimely-Death-Africa/dp/1400067367

Joan Root fights no more; she was violently killed.  Yet, you can now buy cheap roses from Lake Navaisha, exported internationally.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213070917.htm

Also this year read "Chosen by a Horse," a pretty short, sweet easy read about what loving, saving and losing a horse teaches a woman about herself.

http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Horse-memoir-Susan-Richards/dp/1569474192

Not one I read this year, but I still recommend Getting Lucky, about Angel's Gate Animal Hospice -- a different perspective on the lives and deaths of terminally ill pets. 

 http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Getting-Lucky/Susan-Marino/e/9781584794103 

My first read of the New Year will be Dean Koontz' book, "A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog." Picked it up in the book store and just reading the jacket made me weep so . . . had to get it.

 http://www.pawnation.com/2009/08/25/dean-koontz-writes-memoir-dedicated-to-his-dog/

Complications IS great, and so is his other book, "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance."

Sawtelle was too bleak for me, far far too bleak. I finished it and felt emotionally pummeled.

I second 'The Story of Edgar Sawtelle'.

Thanks!  I've just read a few pages at B&N and added it to my Wish List.  How about a list for the decade with some fiction thrown in?  I'm aware The Story of Edgar Sawtelle came out in 2008, but the paperback is out this year and this book should be on everyone's list.  It's one I'm looking forward to rereading, as I knew as soon as I finished it that there was too much there to capture in one reading.  The Art of Racing in the Rain is also out in paperback this year and while I wasn't as enamored of it as many were, the final two pages are part of my "grief control" tool kit.

"The Book Thief" is one of my new favorites as well.  You're right--it *is* hard to sell people on it, but it's amazing!