Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me

Dog lovers aren't the only ones who will enjoy this uplifting story of Izzy who has a unique feeling for hospice patients. Mr. Katz relates the stories of some of their more remarkable visits as hospice volunteers, relating some of their entertaining stories. Although he lives on a farm with many animals including a sheep-herding border collie Rose, he finds a happy-go-luck lab puppy, Lenore, irresistible and brings her home to join his family.

He is my favorite author....involves his audience right away, makes the reader feel like extended family...has excellent balanced perspective., and captures the essence of his animals, and for those that share that love of animals, he gives us an extended animal family as well. And Yes, I have his other books about dogs also - his writing style is the same with each... When one of his books comes out, I purchase it, never disappointed. (He also has a website, by the way, also excellent)

This is probably Jon Katz's most personal book yet, and one of his finest. There is some soul-searching here, but also enough focus on others -- with extremely well-drawn portraits of his dogs and, most touchingly, the hospice patients they help -- to keep it from becoming self-centered. It is a continuation of the story of Bedlam Farm, but you don't need to have read Katz's earlier books to find this one moving, entertaining, and, in its examination of the human-animal bond, often thought-provoking and enlightening. Katz has become deeply engaged with photography in recent years (as chronicled on his excellent blog) and the beautiful black and white photos here add yet another dimension to a really lovely book.

Jon's story is really about many journeys intertwined. At the center is an abandoned dog named Izzy and the discovery of his amazing gift for shepherding humans through the most difficult transitions they will ever face. Along the way, Jon experiences a journey deep into himself, to a place he's avoided for too long. Thanks to Lenore (the adorable face on the cover), Izzy, Rosie, Elvis and a few very special humans, Jon was able to cross the valley of shadows and share a story of hope, love, compassion, and understanding. For anyone whose life has been touched by the unconditional love of a dog (or really any animal), this book will make perfect sense. I purchased it on a whim one particularly rotten morning on my way to work, and finished it the same day. Thanks to Jon, Izzy, Lenore and the others, I have new hope for my own journey...

Katz seems to have found a new voice for himself...a voice in which he can speak to the reader with more sincerity, more feeling, and to be honest an easier more flowing speech. This book reads like travel literature, moving easily from section to section, experience to experience. The dogs are once again front and center, but I felt as though their 'voices' were more distinct. I felt that this book was much easier to read and enjoy than his previous titles, although it should be noted that some of the subject matter may be a little too close to home for some. Katz approaches these moments with humor and at the same time sensitivity...dare I suggest the word grace. An excellent read for anyone interested in the power of dogs and the bond between spirits.

I've read all Jon's books and loved them all. But, this one is my all time favorite. It touched my heart so deeply. Jon portrayed beautifully the connection between dogs and humans. His honesty about not always finding the right words to describe this connection was refreshing. Sometimes things just don't have an explanation. They can only be felt with the heart. Jon does this so eloquently in Izzy and Lenore. My own dog, who is in a wheelchair, does therapy work with hospital patients and assisted senior facilities. What transpires when she interacts with them is absolute love on a level most times I cannot find words for. All I know is that I witness something bigger than myself. Bravo, Jon for sharing Izzy and Lenore with hospice and nursing home residents and now sharing those beautiful stories with the world... what a gift for everyone. ~Barbara Techel, Author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog