The holidays are all about family. They are times of reunion, fellowship, joy, giving, and, of course, love. But this year, my holidays were going to be dark and excruciatingly painful. That's because Jake — my beloved dog of 15 years — wouldn't be around. He died peacefully in his sleep September 30th. For 12 years, Jake was my family, and as he got older and more feeble, I thought it was unlikely he would be around for these holidays. My grieving was beginning to overwhelm me, heading into Thanksgiving week.
Then a friend of mine (and Jake's), called me the week before Thanksgiving with what he said was the perfect thing for me to read, also the most therapeutic.
“I'm giving you a copy of a book filled with dog stories. You need to read this,” he said. I told him I was NOT ready to read a book like that.
“Give it a chance,” he said. “Trust me on this … it will help with your grief. If you don't want it, re-gift it, donate it to the library, whatever. I'll understand. But read it.” And then he hung up.
The book came to me a few days later and once I finally summoned the nerve to pick it up, I couldn't put it down.
There are 19 stories about dogs and the effects they had, and still have over their humans. Dogs bring out the latent humanity in people and they do so because their innocence and loyalty can seldom be found in humans. In that way, they are superior creatures, it has been said. They touch every emotion of their owners and friends and Dog Stories for the Soul [Sartoris Literary Group; edited by Mardi Allen] are not tragic in tone even if some of the stories end sadly. I still found comfort in them, being reminded of how special Jake was.
Instead of grieving myself into a deep depression, I was uplifted. Three of the authors are literary giants: John Steinbeck (Travels With Charley), Willie Morris (My Dog Skip), and Mark Twain (“A Dog's Tale”). But some of the short stories written by other writers — some obscure and some not-so obscure — are in their own way just as captivating as those from the masters.
Steinbeck’s writing style and clarity have always taken my breath away and it sets the gentle, reflective tone for the rest of the book. Once Steinbeck hypnotized, I dove right in. And soon the fear of deepening my grief was gone.
Among the stories that initially got my attention was Annie Oeth's “Brothers from Different Mothers” about an inseparable dog and cat. The title of James Bell's story, “The Adventures of Sherlock Hound,” transported me back to long ago, with the story about child sleuths and their canine detective. You may want to brace yourself for Cory Mesler's “She Loved That Dog,” but once you have a firm grip on your heartstrings, you'll not only appreciate Mesler's writing skills, but also how delicately Mesler turns a sad story, even shocking in a couple of places, into a bittersweet and reflective work.
Jere Hoar's “Setter Man” takes you into the world of bird dogs and bird hunters that most readers have never considered, much less experienced. But Hoar's vivid characters and smooth, flowing dialogue from rough people have a haunting, atmospheric way of pulling you in and leaving you wanting more.
“The Three Amigos” by James L. Dickerson is brilliantly quirky as he takes you back to his youthful hunting experiences, where he first felt a bond with dogs. His observations and reflections are keen and punctuated with dry and wry humor.
All are fine stories, and some are great stories, but the one I found most captivating was Maria Goodavage's “Story of a Marine Hero.” Service canines do not get much attention outside of the military but this story tells about Mamma Luca, a decorated heroine who served in Afghanistan, saving many Marines from hidden explosive devices.
Dog Stories for the Soul lives up to its title. It's a splendid idea, skillfully assembled by editor Mardi Allen, who has her own dog story to tell.
After my initial read, I went back through the anthology a second time, and whenever my heavy grief returns, I re-read the stories with which I feel the strongest connection. The tales in Allen's book have effectively illuminated and amplified the wonderful memories I have of Jake and, as a result, the dark memories of the weeks before Jake's death are fading away. The holidays, all of a sudden, aren't as grim and daunting as I feared they would be.
A dog owner, dog lover, or even a prospective dog owner will be reminded of and perhaps even rediscover the depths of his own humanity in these stories. It’s a perfect gift for dog owners and a must-read for those missing their canines this holiday season.
Dog Stories for the Soul will be available December 10th at Amazon.com. You can also visit sartorisliterary.com.