Tag Archive | dog

Oliver’s Opinion: Love’s Gift (Book Review)

Mar7
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Oliver’s Opinion: Love’s Gift (Book Review)

My mom told me that there is a rogue dog in this Penelope Marzec’s latest novel, Love’s Gift. This dog loves to eat flowers. I’m not sure why because flowers don’t seem that appealing to me. Having said that, a book with a dog in it is always aces in my opinion!

I learned something new reading this historical novel set in 1903 in the United States. There was a Chinese Exclusion Act that President Chester A. Arthur signed in 1882 that forbid the immigration of Chinese laborers. It was the only law that ever excluded one ethnic or national group from coming here.

The main character of this book, Amaranth, is of Chinese origin but born in the United States. Because of this law, however, she lives in fear of being deported to a country with a culture and language foriegn to her. She was raised by nuns as she had been abandoned at birth. Now as a young adult she’s stepping out into the real world to face the discrimination and trying to have a job to support herself in the midst of strong bigotry against anyone Asian.

Amaranth is hired by Mrs. Tildon of Sea Haven, New Jersey, as a secretary. She soon discovers there are deep secrets in this family including a rude maid who is never fired for her words or behavior, a degenerate father, a brother who appears out of nowhere, and the oldest son, William who is obsessed with helping his mother’s asthma and concerned about status.

A lot of things go wrong as Mrs. Tildon, a leader of a suffragete movement, is vilified and other tragedies occur. Amaranth holds to the faith she was raised with in spite of it all and prays for this family she is now a part of, even if only as an employee. Can God heal the divisions in this family? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

The sweet dog, named Tulip, isn’t a horrible dog, but a sweet one. I won’t tell you what happens with her but I loved her character in the book.

I highly recommend this historical novella. It is timely given the current discussions and debates over immigration and the fears that some might have about being deported even if they were born and have lived her all their lives. While that fear may not be rooted in truth now (and yes, some might debate me on that, but remember, I’m a dog), it gives the reader a sense of what that might be like but also how faith can preserve even in the midst of real and imagined fears. I recommend Love’s Gift and give it five bones, because I’m a dog and I don’t have thumbs.

This is me, Oliver, keeping watch so my mom can read these great books (and write awesome ones as well!) It’s what dogs do.

Ode to Benji

Mar28
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Benji – a rescue we adopted as a senior dog in September 2020 with many issues, put down in March 2022 due to biting combined with neurological decline.

Benji was an old pup, overweight, beset with quirks
Peeing in the house was high on the list of what would irk
He could be kind of bossy, and a bully when he played,
But most of the time he snuggled, my Velcro dog by day. 

Spoiled rotten he was and a piggy to boot
He'd scare himself whenever he'd toot.
He lost the weight and the allergies too
But with focal seizures and shaking, his brain was going to-da-loo.

He'd nip and growl if he didn't get his way,
Or perhaps when he was surprised, 
Instead of moving out of the way
He'd lunge and with his teeth - swipe. 

He'd finally crossed a line with the one he loved most
One quick movement and his future was toast.
He took a bite out of my calf, through jeans he left his mark
It was with relief and sorrow that we'd finally come to part. 

I never thought it'd come to this
The decision needed to be made.
A dog that bit was too high a price
For what I'd have to pay. 

To walk around my home in fear
Out of love for a dog so dear
And worry about our friends who came
It was time, but just the same

To say good bye is hard, even when you're hurt
To lose a loved one so cute and bury him in dirt

But I've learned things and know I tried
To give him his best life before he died.
He was loved and cared for, free to run,
And now his journey is over and done.

Bye-bye, Benji with those big soulless eyes
Your whimpers will no longer awaken me before the sunrise
I will not miss your belly bands or cleaning up your pee
But I will miss you snuggling right up next to me.

Spaztle Speaks: Donuts & Detours (Book Review)

May26

Reading Time: 2 minutesFinally, my mom has put me into a novel. I know, it’s not really me. I don’t like to talk about my past personally. I’m a rescue dog much like Shazam/Cooper is in book six of her Orchard Hill Romance Series: Donuts & Detours.

B.J. is a young mechanic in a volunteer ministry that fixes cars for single moms. She finds a dog in the trunk of a donated car. She rescues the animal and hopes to adopt it. Titus (aka Ty), decides to adopt the dog. He also wants to reach this young mechanic but doesn’t realize the boy is not quite what he seems.

He’s really a she.

Bethany Joelle has a rough past not too dissimilar from the rescued dog and is hurt when Ty adopts the dog before she can. Ty is also showing interest in Bethany Joelle but letting him close means risking her closely held secret–that she is really B.J.

Titus has his own dark past that he carries around. Secrets collide and are revealed making for some interesting relationship challenges.

Spatzle Baganz, book reviewer for the silygoos blog because that’s how we roll.

Of course, the best part of the book is the dog which I know my mom based on me. Titus showed up in Bratwurst & Bridges so it’s fun that he finally gets his chance at love. I give this book five bones because I’m a dog and don’t have thumbs.