Lessons from Tara: Life Advice from the World’s Most Brilliant Dog
By David Rosenfelt
ISBN13: 9781250065766
Author website: http://www.davidrosenfelt.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
David Rosenfelt‘s loyal readers of the Andy Carpenter series are familiar with Tara, the golden retriever sidekick. Many also got to know Tara from Dogtripping, David’s nonfiction book about becoming a slightly nutty dog rescuer and the dog that started it all. Here, finally, is a book all about the inspirational canine who taught David everything he knows. Well, he did know how to tie his shoes before he met and came to love Tara, but that’s about it.
Through Tara, David learned about dating, about being able to share his emotions, and also about everyday stuff like who gets to use the pillow if several dogs are sleeping in your bed (clue: It’s not the human) and why random barking will never be something that can be eliminated. Lessons From Tara is infused with David’s trademark wry and self-deprecating sense of humor, and will move readers to tears and laughter.
Review:
I just want to say right away that I love David Rosenfelt. There now that I have that out of the way, I also want to say, this book deserves 10, 100, and more stars. One more point to make is I love dogs and I love do people. If you do not like dogs, if you are a cat only person, I think you may still enjoy this one. However if you hate dog people, go away and never come back. David Rosenfelt is always hilarious and his sarcasm always makes me laugh. I agree with him when he says “The world really does need more aging, overweight sports degenerates like me.” He says that because so many people agree with me that the world does need more amazing, unbelievably fabulous like him and his wife. This book is the lessons he learned from Tara and other rescues.
If you are expecting a life changing self-improvement book, you are looking in the wrong place. That is not David Rosenfelt. He writes with humor, with (my favorite) sarcasm, truth and reverence about their life with the rescue dogs they have saved. It all began with Tara. Tara was a golden retriever that David and his wife Debbie had when they first met. Tara was their everything. She passed way too young, but they made a promise to her that they would never leave a golden behind. So became Tara Foundation and their rescue life flourished. Over the years they have rescued thousands of dogs and taken many of them into their own home. They eventually moved from California to Maine. That adventure was told in David Rosenfelt’s Dogtripping.
In this wonderful book, Lessons from Tara, David tells the lessons he learned from all of these rescues, the process they went through to get many of the dogs, the way the dogs related to each other and them. The lessons are heartfelt and entertaining. No self-help book here, more a celebration of dogs, the love they give, the love they bring and all the wonderful ways they enrich one’s life. Some of them include – Tara taught me… about dating and women, senior dogs taught me… what rescue is all about, Tara taught me … to appreciate the little things in life, all the dogs taught me … about unwanted visitors and dogs everywhere have taught me … that they really can make you feel better. So many more wonderful lessons that I think we can all learn from and laugh about.
I would recommend this terrific book to anyone who rescues or is involved in rescuing, anyone that needs a good laugh or two or three or tons, anyone that loves dogs, has a dog or two or wants to have one. This is really a fabulous read. I absolutely love Rosenfelt’s humor and matter a fact writing. If you think this is one that will leave you in tears and sad, think again. Although most of it is very touching, the laughter abounds. One of the best books I have read this year for sure. I love dogs and I love Lessons From Tara.
