Monday, February 24, 2014

Review: "Throw the Damn Ball" and A Contest!



Every so often a book comes my way to review. Granted, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool book-a-holic and pet books are always of interest but I read a wide range of books and they don't necessarily have animals in them.  Frankly, if I didn't have a book to read (and I'm so backed up now I don't know how I'll find time to read them all!) I'd read the cereal box in the morning.  It's just who I am.

Waiting in my TBR (To Be Read) pile was the hardcover book, "Throw the Damn Ball, Classic Poetry by Dogs," written by R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles, authors of the New York Times authors of "Bad Dog."  To be honest, I didn't read that one.  I don't think there are bad dogs, just uninformed owners who need to get help from a professional using positive reinforcement.

Obviously a book of dog poetry is aimed for the gift book market.  

I opened it thinking it would be full of cute little innocuous poems.  Well, some were cute and some are downright hilarious. Many are based upon classic poems, homages, if you will, to such notables as Dylan Thomas and Robert Frost. Each credited to a different dog whose name along with city and State, appears with the dog's picture and poem.  Some are odes to food and loss. Others, devoted to love, aren't necessarily of the, well, pure kind. Let's just say that this isn't a children's book.  I'm sure you get the point. And you'll be wondering if your dog is as literate.

Indeed, "Throw the Damn Ball" would make a wonderful gift, not just for the holidays but for any occasion.  Warning: if you give this book to a dog-loving friend who is in the hospital for surgery, be sure not to personally take the blame for any pain induced by laughter.  

"Throw the Damn Ball," by R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles is published by Plume and retails for $15.00.  It's for sale wherever books are sold.  

Now for the contest.  I have a copy of this book, courtesy of the publisher, to give away to one lucky reader!  To enter the contest, open to U.S. Residents Only, just leave a comment.  The winter will be announced on Friday, February 28th.  Enter now and feel free to share this blog post with friends!

NOTE: No money was paid or received for this review.  The review is the sole responsibility of the reviewer, Darlene Arden.  All that was received was a copy for review and a copy to give away to a reader.

21 comments:

Jim said...

Sounds like a good book.

If you like dog "authors", you should purchase or at least listen to "Talking with Tyler" by Allen Levi: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/talking-with-tyler/id314135842

Tyler was the inspiration for my dog Rusty writing letters to the editor at the LaGrange Daily News.

Darlene said...

Thank you so much for your comment, James Stagg. It's nice to know that a dog was your inspiration for your dog taking pen in paw. :-)

Unknown said...

Yes it does sound like a good book. My dog Fuzzy will be waiting to have the book to retrieve.

Darlene said...

It sounds like your dog is expecting to win. I wonder if he buys lottery tickets. LOL

Lynne Rutenberg said...

Billy, our 12 1/2 yr old very talkative Newfoundland, wants to know if this book is about our 3 yr old Dinah! She ALWAYS has her Jolly Ball in her mouth!!

rescuegal said...

This sounds like a fun book to read and a fun book to give as a gift. If cats can write poetry, then dogs most certainly can too.

Elaine Faber said...

What a cute idea. I wonder if the author wrote all the poems or took contributions from the various dogs across the country? Good question? Thanks for sharing a book review on a book I wouldn't likely buy on my own as I'm definitely a CAT-lady. But it does sound different and very cuts.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

Haven't seen that one, sounds cute!

Darlene said...

Thank you Lynne Rutenberg, rescuegal, Elaine Faber and Caren Gittleman for your comments. Elaine, each poem has a picture of a dog and where the dog lives. In this book they're all the the U.S. but there's a page in the book calling for photo submissions for future books by the authors. I think they asked for cat pictures as well as dog photos. As I recall, it didn't specify that they had to reside in the U.S.

Andrea Reynes said...

I'm intrigued: what would a poetic dog say? Or a dog writing an editorial? May we humans learn!

Andrea

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