10 October

Rose: “Wouldn’t let me go…”

by Jon Katz
Linda Bulger's review

It’s been fascinating to me to see the grow in quality and influence of the user reviews on Amazon and other book sites. They are often so different from the professional reviews of  book reviewers. It isn’t that they are all positive – not at all – but that they seem much more knowing and thougthful and heartfelt to me, pro or con.  They consider things like cost, time and entertainment. There is a lot of loopy and amateurish stuff online, but the reviews I read now are much more likely to be the Amazon Early Reviewers than the New York Times.

These reviewers are quite experienced by now – many have thousands of books reviewed – and they are much  more accountable than any “professional” reviewers, as people can rate their comments in terms of being useful or helpful. Sloppy or pointlessly hostile reviews are themselves reviewed by other readers. As a result, the reviews voted the most useful or helpful rise to the top and get to review early editions of books. Several of these reviews have just astonished me in their clarity and sensitivity (and they have not all be happy with me, but they are all respectful and interesting, never dismissive or narcissistic the way so many reviews are, especially about dog books, much resented by the literary world. I note that some reviewers who don’t like my book say they don’t care for it, but “dog lovers” will, as if dog lovers don’t care if the books are good or not.)

Some reviews just get the book you are trying to write. Linda Bugler of Penn Yan, N.Y. – yes, they even give their names –  reviewed “Rose In A Storm.” She is a respected early reviewer in Amazon’s “Vine” Program.  Like Jennifer Bowman earlier this week, she intuitively grasped what I was setting out to do in her review. In fact, her review explains why I wrote the book.
“In our society of pampered pets, Rose is a very different sort of dog, still in touch with her wildness though her interests are fully alisnged with her human “pack.” Since I’m not well-versed in the research, I can’t begin to comment on how real Katz’s portrayal of a dog’s consciousness may be. I can only say that it felt real to me and was a thoroughly absorbing read. All keen readers have sat up far too late from time to time, absorbed in a book that just won’t let them go; which books grab you is a very personal thing. For me, those books often involve a struggle that tests the limits and the character of the protagonist. “Rose” is one of those books that wouldn’t let me go. This dog has so much heart, don’t be surprised if you feel like a stronger person yourself after reading her story.”

Thanks, Linda Bugler, hope to meet you some day. I think more than anything else, I wrote this novel because I wanted to try and capture the great heart of some dogs, and the odd and powerful realization I came to that if you want to work and train with a dog like Rose, you have to be a better person.   To see someone pick that up in the novel is very gratifying to me. You can see other reviews on my “Rose In A Storm” page, accessible at the top and right of this page.

10 October

Talking to us

by Jon Katz
They are talking to us

More and more, I believe we are having a great conversation the animals around us. I see this in th photographs I take of Maria and the donkeys, and they are talking to one another. I know what Maria is saying, but even though I can see it, I can only wonder what the donkeys and other animals are saying. But you can see it in the photographs. They are talking to us.

10 October

The Judy Baldwin Notecards

by Jon Katz
Judy Notecards are in

I am very happy and proud to report that the Judy Baldwin notecard set – part of Celebrating the Family Farm – are in. Judy is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever photographed – strong, competent, comfortable with herself. Like her father, she is hard-working and headstrong. She is a powerful working woman in a man’s world. When she first looked at me thorugh the lens, I thought she was going to slug me. But the look was determination, not anger.

The “Judy” notecards – one of them printed above, are now printed and available for sale through the Redux Gallery in Dorset, Vt., either online or by phone, 1 802 867-4211. Part of the proceeds go to benefit family farms. Help celebrate the family farm by raising consciousness about family farmers – they work hard, love their animals, need support. Many are going under. That would be a tragedy. If you can, buying the notecards could help a little. I am bringing them on the book tour and will be selling them for $16, (cash and checks only). Thanks.

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