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Summary: What a delight!
Review: A dear friend gave this to my husband for Christmas. While his head was turned, I opened the cover and delved in, loving absolutely every syllable. From the opening scenes, Boy reveals his wit and wisdom and a marvelously resilient outlook on every aspect of life. What a thrill it gave me when I turned to the back of the dust jacket and saw Boy's photo. He looks just like my dog Echo, a Bouvier mix!
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Summary: A Dog's Life
Review: A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle is a hilarious canine confessional giving us a glimpse from the view on all fours. "Boy" (a stray who was adopted by the author in Provence) has a clearly defined, condescendingly sophisticated French voice that throughout the book provides us with witty, entertaining commentary on human actions and human nature...from the point of view of man's best friend. His caustic, biting wit is evident from the very beginning of the book: "My story is based on actual events. However, following the current autobiographical custom adopted by politicians in their memoirs, I have adjusted the truth wherever it might reflect unfavorably on myself (Author's Note)." Facetious and urbane, Boy recounts his numerous adventures: his humble beginnings at the "limited outlets of the maternal bosom", "mano a mano" wrangles with the cat in the garage, run-ins with French plumbers and dilettante painters, "ordeal by chicken", and finally becoming a full-fledged member of the Mayle household. We also hear his acute observations on the foibles and idiosyncrasies of everyday living with his biped "masters", as well as what he has to say about babies, cats, hygiene, poodles, crime and punishment, and "vets who insist on taking one's temperature the old fashioned way." The humorous, quirky drawings by Edward Koren are an added bonus and really capture as well as enhance the story's flavor. While A Dog's Life is definitely an enjoyable read, it is not to be mistaken for one of those sweet, feel-good stories with a happy ending that pulls on the reader's heartstrings. This book is by no means a saccharine paean to the dog, rather it is an ironic satire on humans and their habits and eccentricities, using a canine's perspective as a pretext. It may even make you stop and ponder the unconditional love and unfaltering loyalty you receive from your own pet (Boy explains that humans are a dog's "most convenient support system"). Being an animal lover, I particularly enjoyed this "dog memoir". I was able to relate much of Boy's actions (particularly the "seven gestures of appeasement") to those of my own adopted stray, Pixel. A Dog's Life is a must-read for anyone who owns a dog. Four paws up!
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Summary: jucy and deliciously funny! a must read for teens!
Review: A funny view on human life from a dog's perspective!Light and interesting,with funny thoughts underlying Peter Mayle's words.Together with comical illistrations and a realistic view on a dog's life.I find this book a excellent read. Recommended by Mrs Gn,my English Langauge teacher
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Summary: A Dog's Life
Review: A truly enjoyable book and view of life through a dog's eyes and the analogies between dogs and people's lives.
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Summary: This is hilarious
Review: Anyone who has read Mayle's non-fiction "Provence" books has already been introduced to his dog "Boy". However, A Dog's Life, goes into great detail into Boy's life--from birth to middle age (in dog years). It is well written and truly funny. If you're a dog lover like me, you'll find yourself chuckling and nodding in agreement throughout the book. (Rosie, my Labrador, gives this book Five Biscuits!)
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Summary: Funny and well written
Review: Anyone who has read Mayle's non-fiction "Provence" books has already been introduced to his dog "Boy". However, A Dog's Life, goes into great detail into Boy's life--from birth to middle age (in dog years). It is well written and truly funny. If you're a dog lover like me, you'll find yourself chuckling and nodding in agreement throughout the book. (Rosie, my Labrador, gives this book Five Biscuits!)
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Summary: An Entertaining Light Read
Review: Being a cat lover, I wasn't sure how receptive I'd be to a story told by a canine. I mean, I like dogs, but I LOVE cats. Peter Mayle is an excellent writer. His words flow beautifully and Boy's escapades are thoroughly amusing. While reading the book I began to wonder if my cats see the world as Boy did. We humans must baffle domestic animals and I've been catching myself feeling foolish talking baby talk to my kitties. Do they think I'm a nut job? Probably. But they love me anyway. What did disturb me about the book was the two or three descriptions of animal cruelty. Butchers weilding brooms and neighbors swatting Boy with dead chickens did not make for pleasant reading. But overall I loved "A Dog's Life" and recommend it highly to anyone that owns pets. P.S. Excellent illustrations!!!
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Summary: A real dog lover's dog book
Review: Both my wife and I have read this wonderful book and believe it truely describes what a dog woould say if he/she could talk. Our Labrador is so much like BOY that it is remarkable. Anyone owned by a medium to large dog will certainly enjoy this book.
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Summary: a warm, witty, over-too-soon read
Review: He did not have an auspicious start in life - his lineage was questionable, his father deserted him prior to his birth, and, after bursting into this hard scrabble world, he had to fight his 12 brothers and sisters for every dollop of milk. Nonetheless, Boy, Peter Mayle's beloved canine, overcame these earthly vicissitudes to lead a very cushy life in the south of France. So delighted is Boy with the way things have turned out that he wants to tell us all about it, and he does in the rib tickling "A Dog's Life." Now, Boy is no ordinary stray pooch who wins the hearts of an affluent couple. Boy is a manipulating, crafty, sly four-footed friend who twists his master and mistress around his begging paw. Edward Koren's drawings bring this shaggy shyster to life as Boy shares his attempts to be dog-master of all he surveys, his romantic trysts, his run-in with arch enemy, Hepzibah, the house cat, and his disdain for Homo Sapiens, although they are necessary to toss him under the table tidbits. Peter Mayle is in top form, delivering a warm, witty, over-too-soon read. I highly recommend it. - Gail Cooke
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Summary: Dog Owner
Review: I am a Peter Mayle fan. However, I was less entranced with this book than with some of his other works [ie: A Year in Provence; Hotel Pastis, and others]. A Dog's Life gives me the impression that Mayle is running a bit low on new ideas.
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