Dog Lovers Book Club - July 2016

Written by Australian Dog Lover 15:25:00 - 0 Comments

From acclaimed animal photographer Elke Vogelsang comes a charming, personal collection of portraits of her three dogs: Noodles, Scout, and Ioli. 

NICE NOSING YOU: FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE, DOGS AND PHOTOGRAPHY
by Elke Vogelsang

Nice Nosing You presents Elke’s expressive portraits of her much-loved dogs; a collection compiled over two years in what became a personal and touching project for Elke and her husband, Carsten. 
One year on Christmas Day, Elke’s dogs suddenly started barking outside the bathroom door. Investigating the commotion, Elke discovered Carsten collapsed in the bathroom. 


He had suffered a major brain haemorrhage and the dogs had in fact saved his life, discovering him at a crucial time. The months immediately following were filled with much uncertainty and in an attempt to establish some sort of routine and find something to lift her husband’s mood, Elke started taking photos of their dogs to show Carsten in the hospital.

As Carsten slowly recovered, Elke’s project became an obsession. 

Gathered here in a stunning collection, Elke’s photographs are captioned with inspiring quotes, illustrating the personal encouragement she and her husband found in these intimate and playful images. 

Hardback, 160 pages
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books (UK); 24th September 2015

RRP: $29.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


JONATHAN UNLEASHED
by Meg Rosoff

The first adult novel from the million-copy bestselling, prize-winning author of How I Live Now, is a blisteringly funny, touching story of a man whose love life is going to the dogs.

'Real adult life seemed to exist over there, somewhere as distant and unreachable as Uranus. He had no idea how people crossed over to this place, or why; over all, the demands of being grown up seemed exhausting. He wondered why no one had written a book called How To Be A Person.' 

Jonathan Trefoil's boss is unhinged, his relationship baffling and his apartment just the wrong side of legal. His girlfriend wants to marry someone just like him - only richer and more organised with a different sense of humour!

On the plus side, his two flatmates are determined to fix his life - or possibly to destroy it altogether. It's difficult to be certain because, being dogs, they only speak dog.

Poor Jonathan. He doesn't remember life being this confusing back in the good old days before everyone expected him to act like a person, but one thing he knows for sure: If he can make it in New York City, he can make it anywhere. But can he get out of advertising, meet the girl of his dreams and figure out the gender of his secret crush? Given how it's going so far, probably not. 

Paperback, 288 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 27th January 2016

RRP: $27.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


BORN TO BARK:

My Adventures with an Irrepressible and Unforgettable Dog
by Stanley Coren

Wife, husband, and terrier form an awkward triangle in this quirky blend of history, science, and personal experience by psychologist and trainer Stanley Coren (who also wrote The Intelligence of Dogs). His new book reveals how Coren's unruly terrier, Flint, increased the author's insight into canine-human interaction—while straining husband-wife relations.

When Flint loudly awakens the couple at 3 A.M., Coren goes into historical detail explaining to his wife, Joan, that "terriers are bred to bark." She is not impressed. Nor is she amused when she wakes up to find Flint has deposited a dead mouse on her chest. Infuriatingly for Joan, Coren sees these and other antics as delightful proof of Flint's terrier-ness. The author has a lot to teach us about dogs. About marriage, not so much. 

Paperback, 303 pages
Publisher: Free Press, 16 August 2011

RRP: $34.00 at www.booktopia.com.au


Book Club - Kids' Corner

FRANKIE POTTS AND THE SPARKPLUG MYSTERIES

by Julie Jacka, illustrated by Phoebe Morris

This is the first book in Juliet Jacka's addictive new Frankie Potts series. Meet Frankie Potts, the village of Tring's number one girl detective. She has flaming red hair, a questioning mind and an addiction to gobstoppers. And she is REALLY good at solving mysteries.

When Frankie is adopted by a dog at the window of her favourite sweets shop, there's detecting to be done. The dog, Sparkplug, is adorable. Even Frankie's formidable Grandma M goes all soft and goopy in his presence. 

Sparkplug can ride a skateboard like a pro, high-five, dance on his hind legs and sniff out a mystery two houses away. He's the ideal dog for a detective. Sparkplug wants to stay with Frankie, and Frankie would dearly love to keep him - but where is he from?

There are other mysteries to solve, and they all seem to be linked: trails of ants; Grandma M's odd behaviour; her secret tattoo . . . What? When and WHY did cardy-wearing Grandma get a tattoo? A circus has just arrived in the village - it seems a good place to start looking for clues. But first, Frankie will have to get Sparkplug past Tring Dog Control and her arch-enemy, Ralph Peter-McGee.

Paperback, 112 pages
Publisher: Penguin NZ (Imprint:Puffin), 27th June 2016

Ages: 7-10 years

RRP:$9.99 at www.booktopia.com.au

FIZZ AND THE SHOW DOG JEWEL THIEF
by Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Meet Fizz - the daring dog detective!

In Book Three of this hilarious and action-packed series for newly confident readers, Fizz becomes an undercover police dog and his first case is to catch the Show Dog Jewel Thief.

Fizz's heart is beating fast. Today he begins his first case as an undercover police dog. It's going to be tricky. At the last three show dog championships the winner's tiara has been stolen. Now Fizz must go deep undercover as a contestant at the Pemberley Show Dog Trials. 

Fizz and police dog Remi have to perform at their peak to try to catch the show dog jewel thief red-handed.

Paperback, 80 pages
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 22nd June 2016
Ages: 6-9 years

RRP: $12.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


MY DOG DASH
by Nicki Greenberg

The hilarious adventures of Dash - a highly unusual pet who gets up to all kinds of mischief. 

Dash isn’t a very well behaved pet— he doesn’t behave at puppy school, he chews books and wrecks the garden, he’s not very good at playing fetch and he takes absolutely ages to go for a walk. He dribbles, leaves puddles and makes a mess which makes mum mad. What a naughty puppy! 

Dash’s owner, and we the reader, believe Dash is a dog, but after exploring their world, we discover that Dash isn’t a dog at all but a misunderstood snail! A highly entertaining and hilarious picture book that celebrates the ups and downs of pet ownership and the power of imagination. 

Hardcover, 32 pages
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 27th April 2016
Ages: 3-6 years

RRP: $24.99 at www.booktopia.com.au

I HAVE A DOG (an inconvenient dog)
by Charlotte Lance

A new puppy can be the perfect new playmate. Or it can be IN THE WAY ALL THE TIME. But even the most mischievous of puppies can grow up to become a very best friend. This adorable and funny picture book will charm dog lovers of all ages. 

I have a dog. An inconvenient dog. When I wake up, my dog is inconvenient. When I'm getting dressed, my dog is inconvenient. And when I'm making tunnels, my dog is SUPER inconvenient. 

But sometimes, an inconvenient dog can be big and warm and cuddly. Sometimes, an inconvenient dog can be the most comforting friend in the whole world. 

Hardcover, 32 pages
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 1st May 2014
Ages: 3+ years old

RRP: $19.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

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