Stanley and Sophie

Sharp, witty, insightful - Kate Jennings 'is' New York. Dense with intelligence, Stanley and Sophie is a cute page turner that I picked up and read cover to cover in an afternoon. Off to order some more of her books. Dean

If you want to read a book that's impossible to put down, that tugs at your heart, and reveals a woman's raw psyche, all the while delighting you with the prankish mischief and affections of two border terriers, then Stanley & Sophie is for you. It's rare to find such great writing, much less emotional honesty in a memoir. And what a marvelous and compelling tribute to love in all its manifestations.

This slim and potent book is a small masterpiece--and is a gift for all who have loved and lost, loved again and lost again and keep on going, all the better and worse for it. "Stanley & Sophie" is surely going to send, as author Kate Jennings repeats with bittersweet sureness, fishhooks into your heart. The two border terriers who are the subjects of the book are more than that: they are the conveyances of the lot of human emotions that connect us to everything around us; anyone who has fallen in love with a dog will understand why Kate Jennings was compelled to write their story.

This book is unforgettable. Yes--it's a dog book. But it is really a memoir by an author who cares about animals. Stanley and Sophie, two rescued border terriers, will break your heart as they create total chaos in the author's tiny New York living room. The dogs are adored, but not romanticized. They are real. In contrast, the author takes us on a trip to Indonesia and introduces us to Chico and Cheeky, two monkeys who become the light of her life. For them, unlike Stanley and Sophie, there is no freedom. Jennings asks tough questions about all kinds of animals. She answers the questions too. The writing in this book will make you wake up.

If you like sharp, insightful, unsentimental writing, then you'll like this book. Yes, the dogs are charming...but don't let that trick you into thinking this is a predictable "my-dog-is-so-cute-let-me-tell-you-exactly-how" memoir. Rather, it paints a broad picture of life as actually lived using a carefully controlled brush, taking you inside the life and mind of the writer. Frankly, I'm baffled by the PW reviewer's comment that Jennings doesn't make it clear why she gives up the dogs -- it's the central point of the book. It's a story of successful transitions and, in its own unique, unpredictable way, is inspirational...with a few laughs along the way. Highly recommend!