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The Book of Pet Love and Loss
Words of Comfort and Wisdom from Remarkable People
by Sara Bader
ebook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 8 weeks
An animal's love is deep, uncomplicated, unconditional, and forgiving. "Affection without ambivalence" is how Sigmund Freud described the connection. "No matter how awful the day, or how awful I am behaving at any given moment, George doesn't care," writes journalist John Dickerson. "He finds me smoldering in my chair and dashes to my lap." Our lives are intricately intertwined with our pets, and together, over time, we establish rituals that are as steady as a metronome. It's no wonder the grief is crushing when they depart—even those who've had time to prepare describe feeling stunned, devastated, and cracked in two.
"We were a bit broken up over the death of our black Persian cat," crime novelist Raymond Chandler confessed. "When I say a bit broken up, I am being conventional. For us it was a tragedy." Nobel Prize–winning author V. S. Naipaul described the experience as "calamitous," and writer May Sarton called it a "volcanic eruption of woe." Poet Emily Dickinson was so bereft she asked for help: "Carlo died," she announced in a letter to her friend Thomas Wentworth Higginson in 1866. "Would you instruct me now?"
The Book of Pet Love and Loss is a collection of quotations—poignant thoughts and memories discovered in letters, journals, diaries, memoirs, and other original sources—from beloved cultural figures who understood this singular experience so deeply, they felt compelled to write about it. This book dignifies the profound connection we share with our animal companions, but it also provides solace as mourners document their heartache over the loss of their cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and other animals—even, in the case of Pablo Neruda, a mongoose. Their comforting and wise words are what every animal lover needs on this journey of heartbreak and healing.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 13, 2023 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781982134334
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781982134334
- File size: 21417 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 10, 2024
In the introduction to this poignant book about pet love and loss, editor, researcher and Quotenik.com founder Bader tells readers that the journey of collecting these quotes from various cultural icons began when she lost her beloved cat Snowflake. Trying to soothe her intense sorrow, she began searching for quotes from her favorite literary voices but could not find more than a few. She decided that this compilation needed to exist and continued researching. What follows is a series of quotes and short essays about the joy and pain of loving and losing a pet, broken into chapters with titles such as "Their Time Must Come" and "The Final Gift." This is an enjoyable compilation of quotes that range from the familiar to the obscure, and while not a requirement, some that have recently lost a pet will find it to be a therapeutic and comforting read. VERDICT This book will appeal to those searching for quotes regarding pet loss as well as stories about familiar personalities and their beloved pets. A worthy addition to libraries that see steady circulation of nonfiction that tugs at the heartstrings.--Elizabeth Majka
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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