Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres

Going by the name Red Dog, this lovely Kelpi captured the hearts of anyone he met in the late 1970's while he lived in Dampier, Mt Tom Price and around Western Australia.  The stories which were gathered about this famous dog are true, brilliantly told and hilariously funny; and yet will touch your heart as you are taken along the life of Red Dog.  Even though he never says a single word during this book - and his human friends do all his talking for him - this account of this wonderful dog's life also gives you glimpse of the true Australian outback; its glaring heat, the desert and how truly hot and dreadful it can be.

Being an Australian, I can really connect with the characters of this book; especially seeing I've owned a dog as well.  However, my family never owned a dog quite like Red Dog.  This dog was most certainly a one of a kind.  Now, I think all us dog-owners can relate to the fart-in-the-car experience from our dogs, or the looks they give us when they're trying to tell us they didn't do anything wrong (when the exact opposite is the truth).  However, Red Dog was truly a friend to all in the vastness that is Western Australia; nobody truly owned him, he owned the land and its people.  He enjoyed life completely and - like they say - Red Dog enjoyed a dog's life.

Louis de Bernieres was born in London in 1954. After graduating in Philosophy from the Victoria University of Manchester, he took a postgraduate certificate in Education at Leicester Polytechnic and passed his MA, with distinction, at the University of London.

De Bernières’ first novel, The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts, was published in 1990 and won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best First Book Eurasia Region in 1991.

Other Colours by Orhan Pamuk

Famous for the book 'Snow', Orhan Pamuk writes in this rather thick novel about his passions of writing, books, family and life in Instanbul.  From chapters that only run for a few pages, to indepth dialogue about European authors who he loved when he was young - and why - Orhan speaks openly and lovingly through his own words and onto the beautiful, thick white paper about his passion that caused him to become a writer.

However, he takes this a lot further as you read further and he takes you into his life of the heat and bustling city that is his home; along with the smells, the shops, stalls, marketplaces, beaches and noises of where he and his family lives.  When you begin reading this book, you feel as though you're being transported overseas and you've become a welcomed visitor into his home; seeing what he's seeing, feeling and enjoying as the sun sets over the humming city of Istanbul and its inhabitants.

Orhan walks you through the horrible experiences of the 1999 earthquake that struck Instanbul at 3am; how his whole family barely slept, how he didn't feel safe anywhere inside his home.  He also explains how he quickly and decisively tossed out 250 books from his 12,000 strong collection because he was worried about its weight becoming too much after the quakes.

Yes, this book is worth pouring through; however, it's not like any book I've ever read.  I don't have to read from beginning to end.  I have found I can pick and choose my chapters as I please as none of the chapters are linked very much; and I like it that Orhan has worked this book like this.  This is the kind of book on writing, books and living I've been attempting to write, but have failed.  This book is beautifully written; as the words are written as though they are breath upon the page and I'm just here to breath them in, easily and quickly without effort; as a book should be.  Orhan Pamuk has written a visually gorgeous book in more ways than one.  Until my next post, happy reading. 

The Dog Who Healed A Family edited by Jo Coudert

For anyone who's owned a pet - or has thought about getting one - these are a collection of stories that will touch your heart.  There's the story of Bubba the Javelina that was found on the roadside and brought up as a family pet; until a new next door neighbour thought it was a Wild Boar and called the authorities and had it caught and released into the wild (and the poor thing without a clue on how to look after itself on the outside).  Then, there's Casey, the African Gray Parrot of Pat Myers who was firstly bought as a companion due to Pat becoming ill; then it turned out that - as time went on - she and the bird had a great report with each other.  This was until Pat went on holidays overseas for a while and on her return, Casey wouldn't talk to her; or would he?  

These stories are wonderful and heartfelt.  I can relate to a few bird ones - as I own a budgie - and so I think that anyone who owns an animal of any type would love to read these stories.  There's a few tear-jerkers; so keep the tissues nearby just in case.  Otherwise, this book is worthwhile reading when you have the time on a lazy weekend.