Short Leash by Janice Gary
Publisher: Michigan State University
Pages: 246
Format: eARC
Goodreads: Janice Gary never walked alone without a dog by her side-a big dog. Once she was a risk-taker, a girl who ran off to California with big dreams and hopes of leaving her past behind. But after a brutal attack on the streets of Berkeley, her youthful bravado vanished, replaced by a crippling need for safety. When she rescues a gangly Lab-Rottweiler pup she names Barney, Janice is sure she's found her biggest protector yet. But after Barney is attacked by a vicious dog, he becomes dog-aggressive, making walking him almost impossible. After years of being exiled by her terror and Barney's defensiveness, Janice risks taking him to a park bordering the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. There she faces her greatest fears, including loose dogs, strange men and dangers real and imagined. As the leash of the past unravels, Barney sheds the defensive behaviors that once shackled him and Janice steps out of the self-imposed isolation that held her captive for three decades. Beautifully written, Short Leash is more than a dog story or a book about recovering from trauma. It's a moving tale of love and loss, the journey of a broken soul finding its way toward wholeness.
Kritters Thoughts: A memoir of sorts that chronicles one woman's journey in becoming a writer and overcoming past fears and hurdles, while having a loyal four legged companion by her side through it all. Set in Annapolis, MD, I loved being close to the action and being able to imagine the weather and the park that she spent quite a bit of time in.
A little on the artsy side and chronicled the author's many feelings and thoughts, but enjoyable for this dog fan! Janice Gary had quite a few tragedies at a young age and I am not sure if even in adulthood she had dealt with them all. Through rescuing her companion and eventually nursing him through many ailments, I think she found some of the healing that she needed.
This book may not be for those who find extreme companionship in dogs. I have two pups who I spend a lot of time with due to the nature of my husband's job and I enjoy the personalities of each of them. I can appreciate the dependency on dogs, but this book took it to another level!
Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more
Ebook 2013 Challenge: 80 out of 50
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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