Clara the Early Years: The Story of the Pug Who Ruled My Life

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Summary: We have a fifteen year old pug . Remembered her younger days
Review: Laughed so hard at times my husband knew I was reading about Clara. We have had the pleasure of having two pugs in our lives and the antics they get into are truly funny. They rule the roost and I have seen the most unruly children taken under their spells. Long live the PUG!!!

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Summary: CAT PERSON LIKES PUG BOOK
Review: I read Clara... because I like Margo Kaufman's personality as it comes through on NPR. The book started out well (she knows how to make things sound amusing) and I kept reading and reading... I did think at the beginning, "How in the heck can she keep up my interest in her dog for much longer?!" Let me tell you, she DOES. Of course there's much that went on in Ms. Kaufman's life during the period covered that was funny, aggravating, touching, and maddening, and this makes for good entertainment. Pick it up, cat lovers, you'll get a kick out of it. Even if it IS about a DOG.

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Summary: Required Reading
Review: I have assigned this book as required reading to any and all of my friends who think that I am just a little out of touch with reality when it comes to my Pugs. Perhaps it will prove to them once and for all that Pugs are not dogs and should never be treated as such.

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Summary: Enjoyed by this Pug Mom
Review: I had a hard time liking Margo Kaufman at first, she is quite superfical (which she herself admits). However, as a Pug parent I understood and enjoyed Kaufman's memoir. Before we got Madi, I had no idea what quirky, funny dogs Pugs are. Kaufman does a good job of capturing the fun and frustration of having a Pug in your life. I also found myself engrossed, and ultimatly moved by the adoption part of the story. This is where Kaufman really won me over.

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Summary: Kaufman's humor and writing are outstanding.
Review: As I read this story of Clara Bella, I found myself laughing out loud over and again. You can imagine how tickled I was when I discovered my pug, Mopsie, and Clara have the same dad! Small (dog) world!

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Summary: A Fun and Light-Hearted Read
Review: Ms. Kaufman does an excellent job of detailing how a pug dog ruled her life. This is a must read for anyone who shares their life with an animal. I am owned by four pugs and they are such a joy. I laughed throughout the book and contemplated now that Nicholas is in his terrible two's, if the Kaufmans had wished they would have stuck with only pugs. I couldn't put the book down. It was great fun!

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Summary: A First Hand Account of Life on Pug Planet
Review: I was instantly captivated by this hilarious story of how a small black pug stole the author's heart, and almost everyone else's who came into contact with "Miss Personality." Having pugs myself, I loved how the author captured the essence of the breed. It definately is a must read for anyone who has lived with, or has had the good fortune to know a pug. But even if you just love animals, the author's wit and sense of humor makes this an enjoyable way to spend the night instead of sleeping (as I can attest to.) Although the story towards the end about adopting an baby in Siberia seemed almost like a seperate book, I enjoyed the author's honest and funny style so much I didn't mind accompanying Kaufman on that adventure as well. I especially liked how the author was willing to laugh at herself and her own eccentricities along with Clara's. I am quite willing to borrow some of the author's joyful and humorous outlook on life for my own run-ins with alien pugs, pampered poodles, and the cast of "celebrity" people in my own saga.

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Summary: Clara almost, but not quite, steals Kaufman's spotlight!
Review: Oh this is a wonderful book and our lead, Clara, is so beguiling that I was half way through the book before I just sat it in front of me for a second and thought "man this Kaufman babe can write!" This book is a joy. Funny, honest, personal -- just great. I wound up liking Kaufman as much as I did Clara because she allows us into her life with such candor. Just because I don't shop at Barneys doesn't mean I can't recognize a solid, funny, good writer for christssakes! The pugs waddle into my heart and just sit there while Kaufman spends her tale. Just a great smart package of a book -- Kudos to all involved! Canine and Human!

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Summary: For pug lovers only.
Review: Who is Margo Kaufman kidding? Only an obsessed pug lover could be expected to plod through the 308 pages of this drivel. But if you are pug lover, what wonderful drivel it is. I read the book in one sitting and couldn't stop laughing. I only wish that Kaufman had written two books instead of one. The two stories (Clara's and the Russian baby's) are about as similar as Auntie Mame's and Anna Karenina's. I suspect that those readers who bought the book to read Kaufman's adoption story felt the same way as I did and probably wondered throughout why that damn social worker ever approved Kaufman's application to adopt in the first place.

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Summary: Clara - the pug who even cast her spell on me from a book!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much laughing out loud to be had when reading (I had to read portions to my mother after I laughed out loud a time too many - she joined me in laughing). Pugs; either you adore them or you don't - I do (having owned two who had four puppies). I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves pugs and maybe even to those who don't.