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Oct
22
Just Read It: YOU HAD ME AT WOOF by Julie Klam
2010 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Set for publication October 28, 2010 by Riverhead
Julie Klam’s You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness is part memoir, part how-to guide, and one hundred percent a love letter to pets. Sure, in Klam’s case, the pets in question are adorably bug-eyed Boston terriers, but you need not own a Boston terrier or even a dog to appreciate the warmth, humor, and unflinching candor with which Klam remembers the dogs who made her life busier, her apartment more crowded, and her heart bigger.
Klam’s story begins when she is in her early thirties, living alone in New York and almost convinced she will never find “the one.” Then she has a dream about a dog named Otto and takes it as a sign (she confesses to being easily swayed by apparent omens at that stage of life) and, after some internet research and the discovery of a Boston terrier rescue group (“I sort of figured it had to do with rescuing Boston terriers in peril. You know, stuck up in trees, stranded on ice floes.”), begins her first solo adventure in dog ownership. It’s love from day one, and Klam finds herself rushing home at the end of each day to see Otto and receive his excited puppy kisses. And she discovers that even the inconvenient bits—walking him several times a day even when it’s raining, planning her schedule around his needs—are worth it for the companionship and unconditional love. “Having Otto,” she remarks, “opened my world.” It also opened her to a new and deeper understanding of herself and restored her faith in the possibility that she had what it took to share her life with a human partner. Being a dog person taught her how to be a better people person.
My relationship with Otto made me realize that if you love someone, you’re more than willing to compromise to meet their needs.
Klam doesn’t have to wait very long to try out her newly discovered relationship skills, and she is simply delighted when her beau (and, eventually, her husband) Paul falls in love with Otto, too. And as anyone who has ever loved a pet knows, the excuse to be silly in the name of entertaining and expressing affection for your pet is one of the best parts.
Together we came up with dozens of songs about him and no less than forty nicknames of endearment for him. Maybe one or two of them actually came from somewhere, the rest made no sense, but they all meant We love you, Otto! You’re #1. I believe Otto found most of them undignified but tolerable.
After Otto comes Moses, another rescue, who wins Klam’s heart in a way she never expected and teaches her that love is not a zero-sum game. She can love her dog with reckless abandon without sacrificing any of the devotion she gives to her family.
With Moses I began to understand that “dog” was its own category of “love.” Sometimes you just need to hold and kiss a member of the dog species. Even when humans are available.
Klam continues You Had Me at Woof with reflections on her experiences volunteering for a Boston terrier rescue group (“I felt like I was more than a drop in the bucket; I was on a team of superheroes.”) and an insightful discussion about dealing with the death of a beloved pet. (I’m not going to lie. Tears were shed over that chapter.) She highlights the special communities we become part of when we share our lives with dogs, and she remarks that “there’s a framework in place for dealing with human death that doesn’t really exist for animal companions.” Rescue groups, friends at the dog part, and members of the dog-people community help us build the framework for ourselves, and that, as Klam illustrates beautifully, is invaluable.
Though there is much to be learned from You Had Me at Woof, there is also a great deal to be entertained by, and that’s part of what makes this book so special. Klam tells of the rescue dog whose manic behavior tore her apartment—and nearly her family—apart, and she remembers an incredibly obese Boston terrier named Sherlock. She describes trying to fit him with a collar as “like trying to harness a whale with a ponytail holder.”
Like the dog-loving life she writes about, Klam’s book is by turns serious, silly, informative, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny, and anyone who has ever shared a home with a dog—or any animal, really—or wondered what it might be like will find something to love.
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I’m thinking this would render me a puddle of tears, joyful and otherwise. We lost our best friend Meggie 7 years ago, and are still grieving. I think I want another though. Stories like this give me dog sadness.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Homer & Langley – EL Doctorow audio
You know, generally I stray away from (pun intended) books about pets because I turn into a sobbing mess. That said, I’ve heard so many good things about this one I don’t think I could NOT read it!
Jenn’s Bookshelves´s last [type] ..Guest Review- Pet Semetary by Stephen King
The book had me with its cover – I want to bring that adorable dog home. I’m a dog lover and have got to get hold of this book!
Thanks for the review. I love novels with dogs.
Ann
Cozy In Texas
Well, it had to happen–The Boston Terrier Book That Came Out Before I Could Write Mine.
I have to think that there’s room in the world for two. Besides, Chet Baker’s story isn’t finished yet.
I’m looking forward to reading this. Lovely review. Off to take a long walk with Chet. Thank you!
Julie Zickefoose´s last [type] ..John James Audubon and Me
[...] Just Read It: YOU HAD ME AT WOOF by Julie Klam [...]
I can’t wait to read this book! I have had rescued Boston Terriers for years and currently have 5 of them. My husband and I treat them like kids – even though we have grown children and young grandchildren. We LOVE our Bostons and they bring us so much joy and happiness. It’s so rewarding to adopt a rescued Boston and give it a better life and watch it thrive in a loving home.
Thank you in advance Julie for writing such a wonderful book!
I love boston terriers ever since my husband talked me into getting our 1st BT Norman over 1yr ago. Altho I’m allergic and depend on allergy meds I adopted a 2nd one. I only wish we had a BT rescue place closer. I can’t wait to read this book!! It sounds like a great read!
[...] You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam: Because we all know someone who will read anything with a dog on the cover, and this one is actually very good! [...]
I love books about dogs. I love dogs. I am a veterinarian and I take offense at some of Julie Klans comments regarding our profession. Are we not supposed to charge for what we do? I owe over $120,000 in student loans from vet school — perhaps she would like someone to write off this loan so I do not have to pay it? I understand the frustrations of having to pay for vet care, but human doctors are paid for by insurance or by law (because they cannot refuse basic care). Pet owners see the full costs. I have seen some bills, for example from when my daughter was born — normal bitrh, no complications. The actual bill from the hospital was $20,000. I did not have to worry about that bill thankfully, but I can honestly say that a veterinary bill of the same care would have been a tenth the cost. And as far as continuing education and “wild” guesses — we are required to do continung education and most vets I know are happy to do so. Medicine is not cut and dry, I know many people who have undergone test after test and spent years trying to find a diagnosis for their ills to no avail. It is not always black and white and I think Julie Klan makes our profession out to be horrible and uncaring. Shame on her.