b'Please Write, A Novel in Lettersby J. Wynn RousuckBancroft Press, 2023www.JWynnRousuck.comReviewed by Anna CookeWe usually limit the number of stories written in dog voice Rousuck is a fan of letters and letter-writing, which is fastto feature in The New Barker. It is a personal editorial choice, becomingadyingart.Emailsandtextmessageswith the feeling that perhaps its something only a Disney ani- cannot replace the individual touch and heartfelt emotion mation crew can tastefully pull off. So it was with some trepi- that goes into a personal letter, said Rousuck. In addition todation that I replied yes to an authors inquiry about our humorandsolace,Please Write demonstratesthepowerofinterest in reading the book. imagination, and I hope it will spark readers imaginations asIn her note, she mentioned her career as the award-win- well. And maybe, just maybe, a few readers will be inspired toning theater critic for The Baltimore Sun. She included that write a letter or two. Uher dog history ran deep. My father was a dog judge and hisolder brother, E.J. Rousuck, wrote one of the first books aboutThe letters that Zippy and Winslow write to theirBoston Terriers, back in the 1920s. The clincher in her email was a quote about her book Grandma Vivienne are funny, sad, and absolutelyfrom Martha Teichner, CBS News Correspondent and author believable as they reveal a very human story, toldof The New York Times bestseller, When Harry Met Minnie. I in the context of love. This is the perfect book forlove Martha Teichner, and, well.have you seen the story onHarryandMinnie,aNewYork all those people whove gone on trips and secretlyCityfairytale,onCBSSunday wished they could phone their dogs.Morning?ItairedonJanuary31,2021, and is a lovely piece of story- Martha Teichner, CBS News Correspondent.telling.When I sat down with my copyof Please Write, I could not put itdown. The charming story drew mein, immediately tugging at my heartandworkingonmyhumor.Rousucks epistolary novel has a bitof a twist in that it chronicles thecorrespondence between Vivienne,thealteregoofarecentlywidowedClevelandartist,andZippy, amixed-breedTerrier,rescuedoffthestreetsofBaltimore. Zippys letters recount her antics and ambitions,along with her literacy lessons and typing skills, taught bythehouseholdsBostonTerrier,Winslow.Theuseofdifferent fonts in the book helps to visually distinguish theletter writers. Zippys owner, Pamela, is a harried journalist whose life isunraveling. Zippy writes what is going on in their household,and Vivienne responds in her letters with advice for Zippy andWinslow. When Vivienne begins baking dog treats to researcha cookbook she wants to write,Zippy and Winston are theexcited recipients of samples, mailed to them with some of herletters. In their letters to Vivienne, they respond with reviewsof the treats, and funny advice on how to improve the taste.Iwasgobstruckbythebookslastchapter,andhavere-read it several times since finishing the book. What an amazingconnectionwehavewithourdogs,andtheywith us.www.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 47'