Kinky's Celebrity Pet Files

I found Kinky's Celebrities interesting and enjoyed a brief insight into the lives of each one, many of whom are also favorites of mine. As a person always interested in animal personalities, a glimpse into the relationships between humans and their animal companions was also fun to read about.

This book was an absolute joy and a must read for any animal lover! Two of my favorite bits in the book are when the author says "I gather the animals around me like little pieces of my soul" as he prepares for bed and "I don't give a flea about people who don't care about animals". Readers who love their pets are right there with him. This big-hearted Texas man started a Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch and is friends with animal lovers from all walks of life who either support his ranch and/or started one of their own or support other rescue efforts. Pet Files is a walk down memory lane full of people we all have grown up with or read about and their pets. What is different about his book is the author is friends with quite a lot of them or worked with them now or in the past and share a very strong bond of caring for animals. Each chapter describes a different person with their own pet story and it is truly a walk down memory lane list of people. Ruth Buzzi, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Buffet, Dom DeLuise, Willie Nelson, Jim Nabors, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmylou Harris, Clive Cussler, Billie Holiday, Jerry Jeff Walker, Murray Langston (Unknown Comic), Fats Domino, Joseph Heller , Brian Wilson, Ann Richards, Richard Pryor (who knew the heartache he went through?), Hank Williams, Donny Osmond, Lily Tomlin and Johnny Cash among others. The author even interviewed the relatives of Winston Churchill (who knew he was so funny?) and others for their love of an animal story. The book cuts across a large swath of different people and professions all united in the simple love of animals. The story of each celebrity in his ongoing efforts to save the manatees or caring for a wild Amarillo named Dilly or rescuing and/or just loving the animals in his life ranging from horses, cats, birds and other creatures is both interesting and beautiful! This book is like no other book of its type I have read before. It briefly describes the pet owner so the reader understands why the person is drawn to a particular type of pet and/or its personality. The author's heart-warming descriptive relationship between the person and pet is what makes Pet Files so unique.

If you expect Kinky to give us a book about mushy animal stories like "Lassie",or "Marlie & Me,or even "The Cat in The Hat";don't be surprised if that isn't what this book is all about. Kinky Friedman ,marches to a different drummer;actually he beats his own drum and he is the Grand Master of his own parade as he travels his journey through life.The only thing that he is careful of is to not "step on a rainbow" too soon. I don't know if losing the election for Governor of Texas bothered him or not;after all,we all lost much more than he did on that endeavor. Now, Kinky has come back,stronger than before ,with a book that will endear him once again with his fans.Come to think about it,if Jesse Ventura could be Governor of Minnesota,and Al Franken could be a Senator,it would be a waste of talent for the Kingster to use his wisdom on such mundane activity. Kinky starts of this book with these three observations from life; Animals are more plesant to deal with than people. Animals,celebrities,photographers and editors are more pleasant to deal with than lawyers. and; Ernest Hemmingway was right."Fame is brother's little sister". Now,ain't that the truth. In 41 vignettes,Kinky talks about some of his friends,and other celebrities he has loved and admired and the pets that were important to them and brought them much love and happiness in return. In these short pieces ,Kinky is going to tell you things about these celebrities that you have never suspected and with words , descriptions and expressions in the way only Kinky can do. Just to show the range of people Kinky talks about;here are some of them.Winston Churchill,Jimmy Buffet,Willie Nelson,Emmylou Harris,Richard Pryor,Hank Williams,Ann Richards,Mark Twain,Molly Ivans,Fats Domino,Bill Clinton,Penn Jillette,Johnny Cash and many more. Not only does Kinky tell us about their pets, but he also adds very interesting comments made by them or by Kinky about them.For instance ,that Marty Stuart,famous for his rhinestone costumes,has abandoned them to wear black in honor of the passing of his friend and former father-in law Johnny Cash;to which Kinky adds,he also wears black;but "I do it so I don't have to wash my clothes". You are also going to find out about the great love,concern and contribution of time and money that Emmylou Harris puts into helping animals.Then you will find who gives her great comport during those long lonesome tours on the road. And did you know what great love and admiration Kinky had for Gram Parsons,Emmylous talented husband who tragically died so young?And then he tells you what he thinks of Garth Brooks. Kinky even talks about himself and about his cat,Lady Argyle--"she used to belong to his mother before she stepped on a rainbow--she sleeps on my head,with a ghotgun under my bed". If you know anything about Kinky and his writing ability ;you can expect to find lots of it here ,with things like this; "After I've slipped ou