b'books, movies, music & more.A REGULAR COLUMN FEATURING REVIEWS OF DOG-THEMED BOOKS, MUSIC & FILM, REVIEWED BY THE NEW BARKER TEAMStarter DogMy Path to Joy, Belonging and With a dog now in their lives, Rona realizes that sheLoving This World and Paul have become more kind to each other. This bookby Rona Maynard isanabsolutetreasure.Itishonest,heartwarmingandPublished by ECW Press oftentimes funny. Not funny as in hilarious, but funny as2023 in, oh yeahbeen there, done that with my dog!Sometimes, when opposites attract, it can be the end ofa What I found most compelling about Ronas observa-relationshipbeforethe tions,afterallthoseyearsofheart has any chance of hernotbeingadogperson,gainingtraction.This washowsimilarlymatchedmight be especially true herthoughtsweretomine,when one half of a cou- someone who has loved dogsplelovesdogsandthe all her life.other half doesnt. WalkingCaseyeverydayAfter 40 years of broughtanewawarenesstomarriage, Rona said she Ronas world. And that is theandPaulhadmanaged beauty of having a dog. Theyfinewithoutadog. humble us, slow us down, andOther couples we knew showushowtoliveinthe Rona and Caseyhad buried their last dog moment. This is not a book about a dog. It is the story of aandwerehittingthe woman, in lifes third act, who finds joy and beauty in whatroadinanRV,Rona some may call the little things. And realizes she still has soargues when Paul wants much love to give. Thanks, of course, to a dog in her life. Uthem to get a dog. YetPaul seemed to think we should tie ourselves down. ForGods sake, why? the dogIt will be fun. Youll see, proffered Paul. A novel by David Paul Kirkpatrick and I chose my mentors based on words, reasons and Steven James TaylorPublished by Happiness Publishingideas. Casey reached out to me with paws, a nose 2018and a tongue. He pulled me into a realm of undiluted WhenAliceseestheangerburning inside her young son,feeling. For the first time, I didnt much care what she worries that hell grow upI thought or knew. Some things about being human tobeamirrorimageofthecant be learned from your own kind.boysfatherunhappyandmean-spirited.ShemakesExcerpt from Starter Dog by Rona Maynard excuses for her husband, Ted,to their son, Theo. The SecondRona takes the reader on her transformative journeyWorld War is over, and Ted hasfrom her what ifs arguments against living with a dog to returnedhomefromfightinghaving her senses awakened by a dog. They named him inFrance.Eleven-year-oldCasey. I had somehow spent a lifetime in a stiff heart that Theoloveshismother.Hewas finally beginning to expand, Rona writes. hates his father for the abuse heAlong the way, she shares the trials and tribulations of inflicts upon her.her marriage: raising a child.a successful career.her hopes Alice did not want to raise a boy who looked at lifeand dreams.the couples hopes and dreams. From the dif- askew. She wanted Theo to greet the day with elation. Sheferences and disappointments, Rona writes, we created wanted to raise her boy into a wholesome man. Every boyUs. And as Us, we brought Casey home. should have a dog, she concluded.46 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'