At a time when people found entertainment in fairs, circuses and other traveling shows, Beautiful Jim Key was a phenomenon. Believed to be as smart as a 6th grader, the horse could read, do basic math, write, and sort mail (among many other things). His trainer and partner was a former slave, a self trained vet, and an early advocate of training with patience and gentleness rather than force. This is a wonderful read, and one that I've used as a gift. Thank goodness author Mim Eichler Rivas found an old brochure about this amazing team and wrote Beautiful Jim Key: the Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World.

There are many, many books about dogs and the amazing things they've done. My most recent read on this subject is Man's Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs, by Ace Collins. I was quite pleased with this collection, most of the dogs were mutts, and most of the stories were ones I'd not read before. We are lucky indeed that dogs consider us worthy of their attention!

Dog Heroes of September 11th: a Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs, by Nona Kilkore Bauer. I see now a second, 10th anniversary edition is available, but I read the first and even now, all these years later cannot even type in the title without tearing up. Moving pictures and text, this is an extraordinary book, but have a box of tissues near by.

I read Lassie: a Dog's Life, the First Fifty Years, by Ace Collins many years ago. I could not find a copy locally so used the information I found at amazon to jog my memory. There's lots of information here: the history behind the story, the trainers and dogs who have portrayed Lassie in tv and film, and all the various Lassie collectibles. There's the original book, too, of course, Lassie Come-Home, by Eric Knight, and, I found a new-to-me true story of a WWI Lassie who saved a sailor's life. Lassie (always played by a male dog) lives on in many movies and shows, lots of books, and in animation.

Found in the battlefield ruins of France, the dog known as Rinty would become a radio, tv, and movie star (his many silent films saved a failing movie studio). Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend, by Susan Orlean, is his story. As with Lassie, the legend continues today.

Reading Hermit With Dog

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magical reads?

Half Magic on hold

Back in my post of July 19, 2014, I suggested the first book about the Waverley family, Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen. There is now a sequel! First Frost, and I enjoyed it as well. There is something magical about these books. They just sort of ..... shimmer. Each member of the Waverley family has some sort of talent (odd talents!) which make for all kinds of interesting situations. :-) Other books by this author are good, too.

Reading Hermit With Dog