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Summary: "Pack of Two"
Review: I'm 3/4's of the way through this book. Wow, what a great read. Ms. Knapp certainly has made it clear to me that there is PLENTY to be said for the human, dog relationship. Anyone who owns a dog or has ever thought about owning one, should read this book. I'm giving this book as gifts to all of the dog owners I know. My thanks to Ms. Knapp for providing such great insight.
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Summary: One book I'll be reading over again.
Review: In this book, Caroline Knapp writes about her relationship with her dog Lucille, as well as relationships between people and their dogs in this day and age. She had been through a lot in her life--breakups, losing her parents, alcoholism-- until one morning she woke and decided she was going to get a dog. She found Lucille at a shelter and her life was changed. Lucille brought her happiness, and caused her to examine the special relationship between people and their dogs. If you are a dog lover, you will be able to relate to her insights and won't want to put the book down.
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Summary: A beautiful book representing the canine-human relationship
Review: Knapp is a very gifted writer: engaging, humorous, insightful, and original. I didn't want to stop reading this book--it was simply delightful. Being a devoted dog lover, I was touched by the unique ways in which Knapp described why we love dogs and how they are so important to our well-being. I truly would recommend this book to anyone who has had a special relationship with a dog and cares about understanding and deepening their relationships with animals.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book representing the canine-human relationship
Review: Knapp is a very gifted writer: engaging, humorous, insightful, and original. I didn't want to stop reading this book--it was simply delightful. Being a devoted dog lover, I was touched by the unique ways in which Knapp described why we love dogs and how they are so important to our well-being. I truly would recommend this book to anyone who has had a special relationship with a dog and cares about understanding and deepening their relationships with animals.
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Summary: a classic for dog lovers
Review: last month, my maltese dog, priscilla, died. i had gotten her when she was 6 weeks old, fell in love with her instantly, and stayed in love with her for the next 16 years. my husband bought Pack of Two after reading a book review. in the review, the relationship between caroline knapp and lucille reminded him of myself and priscilla. my husband's concern was that my reading it might be too upsetting for me. on the contrary, knapp's insights into the interdependence between people and their dogs was enlightening, entertaining, and heartwarming. the strenght of the book lies in the psychological assessment of why we bond so strongly to these animals. knapp has really done her homework, citing interviews with psychiatrists, psychologists, veterinarians, and pet owners, as well as reporting research done on the human companion-animal bond. what results is a book that explores the connection we make with dogs. we fall in love with our dogs and they accept us for w! ho we are. we relive our past lives through our dogs and they bring out the best in us. they provide us with constancy and companionship. as i read through the pages, i kept repeating "yes, oh yes, i know houw you feel". i will grieve for my priscilla for a long time to come, but the comfort i derive from these shared experiences found in the pages of this book help ease my pain. bravo to knapp!! this book is bound to become a classic for dog lovers everywhere.
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Summary: Lucille, fetch an editor!
Review: Ms. Knapp used to be one of those bright, perceptive, hideously self-absorbed women whose only topic of conversation was herself. Then she got a dog, so now she has two topics. Well, sometimes that's all it takes, and PACK OF TWO is a charming book. An able editor could have trimmed a hundred pages and PACK OF TWO would be a minor masterpiece in the annals of canine appreciation. As it stands, Ms. Knapp looks a gift dog in the mouth for an inordinate length of time which, this reader at least, found rather tiresome. Still, there's a lot of love and celebration in these pages, so buy the book or, better yet, get a pup of your own.
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Summary: Dogs is dogs, but we love them
Review: Pack of Two lives up to its subtitle--it is an intricate and subtle exploration of the relationships between people (mostly single) and their dogs (often plural). Knapp appears in the book to be working through her reservations about the strength of her attachment to her dog Lucille. There is some pretty convoluted introspection, but she eventually comes out with a very life- and dog-affirming position--in the best cases, we love our dogs for themselves, not as replacements for kids, partners, etc. Well, no kidding. I think she approaches, but does not look straight at, the possibility that the affirmation we receive from our dogs makes us stronger--because we have dogs, we don't need people as much, and may be happier to be without partner or kids--although she makes the point that dog people tend to be more sociable and have more friends (often other dog people)... Alone (if you call hanging with the mutts alone) more, but less needy. Not a bad way to be.One footnote. Knapp unfortunately confuses operant conditioning/positive reinforcement with no training/no discipline. In fact, operant conditioning/positive reinforcement training requires a great deal of discipline--it's just the discipline doesn't take the form of strangling your dog, pinching his/her ears, etc. People who don't train their dogs are really irresponsible. People who believe you have to hurt your dog to train it are either misguided or sadistic. Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash" makes these points clearly and forcefully.
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Summary: True dog lovers will enjoy this book!
Review: Since I have a bond with my dogs which is similar to the relationship Ms. Knapp enjoys with Lucille, I could relate to this book. From the toy-strewn living room, to the romps in the woods, to the wonderful feelings of companionship, I nodded with recognition at every chapter. Anyone who has a strong, close bond with their dog should enjoy this book.
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Summary: the most touching and compelling book I've read in years.
Review: This book is perfect for people who own -- and love -- their dogs, yet are stymied when their non-dog lover friends say, "Sure, Barkey is cute, but he is JUST A DOG." Caroline Knapp has truly communicated the joys of "dog cohabitation" (as opposed to "dog ownership") in a way that even non-dog people can appreciate. Her largely anecdotal work will both resonate with those who have a dog, and will help to shade in mysterious and perplexing areas for those who don't -- and who wonder how people can get so darn attached to an animal. And, perhaps best of all, Ms. Knapp avoids most of the preposterious dog-as-human-in-little-fur-coat anthromorphism that many writers of less talent and intelligence have used to convey that difficult to describe feeling of being engaged in a reciprocal love relationship with a dog. As a writer myself, I am impressed -- and a little bit jealous of -- Ms. Knapp's use of language and phrasing to convey both complicated concepts and strong emotions. And, there are quite a few instances of humor in the book as well -- any dog owner who, as Ms. Knapp recounts, is convinced that a neighbor overhearing him or her speak to the dog would think "I'm a goon" will certainly empathize. Again, the tone of this book is appropriate for both "dog people" and those indifferent to dogs alike. And, for those individuals (you all know who you are) who have fretted while dining out -- or, better yet, refused a dinner invitation altogether -- because of not wanting to leave Rover home alone, this book will speak to your soul.
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Summary: A must for dog lovers
Review: This is a great book for anyone who has dogs or who is thinking about having dogs. When Ms. Knapp talks about dog toys strewn about the living room floor, and dog beds where coffee tables typically are, you can feel relief that you're not the only one who obsesses. More importantly, she helps you understand why your relationship with your dog can seem so strong - and why that's okay. Her obsession can help you understand how your own obsessions develop and why they need to be understood.
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