Reviews

The trend in best-selling memoirs about dogs sparked by John Grogan's Marley & Me bodes well for this engaging new work by National Outdoor Book Award-winning author Kerasote, who introduces readers to a stray Labrador retriever mix to whom he became attached while on a camping trip in Utah. Their paths cross on the banks of the San Juan River, and for dog and man, life is forever altered. Merle is a free spirit with an enormous zest for life, good survival skills, and the dangerous habit of killing calves-he needs training! But Merle's lessons, Karasote writes, aren't as much about training as about partnership. Drawing on an extensive and exceptional list of references and including informative background on how animals learn and perceive their world, Kerasote gives readers much to consider that will enrich their own relationships with their pets. His book is highly recommended, but it does come with a tissue alert. And, because people seem to love well-written dog stories as much as they love their dogs, libraries may also want to stock up on similar titles, such as Jon Katz's A Good Dog.-Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Humorous, jubilant and touching by turns, this story of the relationship between man and dog is informed by the author's grasp of animal research and his attachment to Merle, a stray dog he adopted. A Labrador mix, Merle first appeared while the author was on a camping trip. Kerasote (Out There: In the Wild in a Wired Age), an award-winning nature writer, decided to take his canine friend home to rural Wyoming. This chronicle of their 13 years together is interspersed with studies by animal behaviorists that strengthened Kerasote's desire to see Merle as a responsible individual rather than a submissive pet. Merle set his own eating schedule (though not without early mishap), refused to hunt birds (although not elks) and, according to the author, possessed a range of emotions and sentiments similar to those of humans. Kerasote tends to anthropomorphize Merle's every look and movement, but this narrative is entertaining and Kerasote's strong love for Merle and enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers. Kerasote's joyous relationship with Merle is balanced by a bittersweet account of a close relationship the author had with Alison, a neighbor and fellow dog owner. Kerasote's last weeks with the dying Merle are beautifully rendered. (July) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

"A thoughtful look at animal intelligence and the human-dog connection." "[T]his summer's "Marley"? In his memoir cum training manual, Kerasote waxes poetic about his mutt Merle and provides tips for deepening the dog/human bond." "Kerasote gives readers much to consider that will enrich their own relationships with their pets. His book is highly recommended, but it does come with a tissue alert." "Merle's Door is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book." "In telling Merle's story, Kerasote also explores the science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world. Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute treasure of a book." "It is no exaggeration to say that "Merle's Door" could be the best book ever written about a dog or dogs--one dog in particular, the magnificent Merle of the title, but also about dogs in general.... It is beautifully written, a real page turner, often funny, always fascinating, and very moving. It's a book you will never forget." "Reading "Merle's Door" involves more than just sailing through an engaging biography of a man sharing his life with a rare and free-spirited dog since it contains islands of useful and scientifically sound information about dog behavior as well. To be entertained and educated at the same time time is rare in dog books, which makes this one definitely worth reading." "This exquisitely written book is sure to be controversial, but it raises important questions that every thoughtful dog owner should consider." "Humorous, jubilant and touching by turns... Kerasote''s strong love for Merle and enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers." "[T]his summer''s "Marley"? In his memoir cum training manual, Kerasote waxes poetic about his mutt Merle and provides tips for deepening the dog/human bond." "Merle' s Door is a love story for grown-ups-- an intense reciprocal relationship between a dog and his man, and how we and our dogs genuinely share feelings and emotions." "Kerasote has created a whole new work of art. "Merle''s Door" is the best, the most utterly compelling translation of dog to human I have ever seen. A terrific book, a superb book, I can''t think of a single other book that conveys the love of a human for a dog so well." "In telling Merle''s story, Kerasote also explores the science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world. Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute treasure of a book." "Beginning with "Jock of the Bushveld" in 1907, many biographies have been written about wonderful dogs whose lives have crossed the borders between the wild and the tame, but none surpasses "Merle''s Door," It is a joyous, sad, gripping, and deeply moving testament to the fulfilling relationship that can grow between human and dog." "Reading "Merle''s Door" involves more than just sailing through an engaging biography of a man sharing his life with a rare and free-spirited dog since it contains islands of useful and scientifically sound information about dog behavior as well. To be entertained and educated at the same time time is rare in dog books, which makes this one definitely worth reading." PRAISE FOR BLOODTIES "The world is lucky to have this book."--ELIZABETH MARSHALL THOMAS, author of THE HIDDEN LIFE OF DOGS PRAISE FOR OUT THERE "[A] sly, funny, and wise look at the world beyond the walls that we erect to keep ourselves safe from the wilderness and to keep the wilderness safe from us."--ALEXANDRA FULLER, author of DON'T LET'S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT PRAISE FOR MERLE'S DOOR "Charming."--Entertainment Weekly "This summer's Marley."--People "Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in Merle's Door."--The Christian Science Monitor "Merle's Door is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book."--Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation "A truly wonderful book--iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written." --Delia Ephron, author of Hanging Up and Frannie in Pieces PRAISE FOR MERLE'S DOOR Charming. Entertainment Weekly This summer s Marley. People Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in Merle s Door. The Christian Science Monitor Merle s Door is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book. Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation A truly wonderful book iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written. Delia Ephron, author of Hanging Up and Frannie in Pieces" PRAISE FOR "MERLE'S DOOR" Charming. "Entertainment Weekly" This summer s "Marley." "People" Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in "Merle s Door." "The Christian Science Monitor" "Merle s Door" is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book. Temple Grandin, author of "Animals in Translation" A truly wonderful book iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written. Delia Ephron, author of "Hanging Up" and "Frannie in Pieces"" PRAISE FOR "MERLE'S DOOR" "Charming."--"Entertainment Weekly""This summer's "Marley.""--"People" "Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in "Merle's Door.""--"The Christian Science Monitor" ""Merle's Door" is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book."--Temple Grandin, author of "Animals in Translation" "A truly wonderful book--iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written." --Delia Ephron, author of "Hanging Up" and "Frannie in Pieces" PRAISE FOR "MERLE'S DOOR" "Charming."--"Entertainment Weekly""This summer's "Marley"."--"People" "Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in "Merle's Door"."--"The Christian Science Monitor" ""Merle's Door" is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book."--Temple Grandin, author of "Animals in Translation" "A truly wonderful book--iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written." --Delia Ephron, author of "Hanging Up" and "Frannie in Pieces" PRAISE FOR"MERLE'S DOOR" "Charming."--"Entertainment Weekly""This summer's"Marley"."--"People" "Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in"Merle's Door"."--"The Christian Science Monitor" ""Merle's Door"is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book."--Temple Grandin, author of"Animals in Translation" "A truly wonderful book--iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written." --Delia Ephron, author of"Hanging Up"and"Frannie in Pieces" PRAISE FOR "MERLE'S DOOR" "Charming." "Entertainment Weekly""This summer's "Marley"." "People" "Anyone who ever loved a dog will find something to enjoy in "Merle's Door"." "The Christian Science Monitor" ""Merle's Door" is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book." Temple Grandin, author of "Animals in Translation" "A truly wonderful book iconoclastic, mind-blowing, and gorgeously written."  Delia Ephron, author of "Hanging Up" and "Frannie in Pieces"