“A touching, funny story about the mystery of love – human and animal –
—Carl Hiaasen
Dr. Robert Heller is one of New York City's leading veterinarians and his “Ask Dr. Bob” advice column is a must-read among pet lovers. More at home among animals than humans, Bob soon comes to realize that he, too, could use some advice. His father is angry and controlling, his mother is nearly invisible, and his brother seems bent on destroying not just his own life but also the lives of everyone around him. As for Bob’s wife, Anna, she is all but perfect, assuming one can ignore her own colorful but deeply dysfunctional clan. And then, just when Bob thinks he’s figured out what it takes to thrive in the human world as comfortably as he does among cats, dogs, and hamsters, tragedy strikes. How can he go on living when he is suddenly, soul-killingly alone? Ask Bob is a funny and poignant story about what it means to put your life back together.
It is a worthwhile read that will have you thinking, laughing, crying and commiserating throughout its approximately 300 pages.
The beginning of each chapter features a "letter" to "Ask Dr.Bob" which lays the ground work for the ensuing chapter.
In response to one of his readers' questions submitted via his advice column "Dr.Bob" responds "Everyone has some kind of scar-it's simply a question of how many we get and how we bounce back from them. Some scars are on the surface. Some disappear quickly. Some linger before fading. But every time we're nicked and scarred, we're altered. It doesn't mean we're a lesser of better version of ourselves, but we are different."
Bob, Anna, his father, mother, nephew, brother and other characters in this touching and witty book are ALL scarred (as all of us are), and through "Ask Bob" the reader discovers how each copes and in some cases, triumphs, in their own way.
Many of the responses that Dr.Bob writes to his readers are sarcastic, but they ALL contain the TRUTH. It's just a matter of if the readers will LISTEN and LEARN from that truth and ultimately, will Dr.Bob learn from his own advice?
Dr.Bob devoted his life as a vet to trying to "fix" damaged animals, but through the process he just couldn't "get away from all the damaged people."
From "Ask Bob", "With animals, you feed them, house them, pet them, and, when needed, you take away their pain-and for that they trust and love you. It should be that simple with humans, but of course it isn't. We try to make it that simple, but it never is"....that is what makes us human "We are not simple. We run from things we're attracted to. We destroy the things we love. We want the things we can't have. We take the things we don't want. We're hurt by truths and soothed by lies. We live for such a short time and all we yearn for is something that will last forever."
Peter Gethers is a hugely successful book editor, screenwriter, playwright, publisher and author. His previous books include The Norton Trilogy (starring Peter’s cat, Norton). Most of all Peter is a gifted storyteller. Smart and heartfelt, and with a cast of unforgettable characters (and more than a few exotic creatures), Ask Bob reminds us that the road to happiness – although bumpy – is worth it.
ENTER TO WIN!!!!! TWO READERS will win a copy of "Ask Bob" by Peter Gethers. One winner located in the U.S. will receive the hard cover book (A $25 value), and one winner OUTSIDE of the U.S. will receive a link to download a digital copy FOR FREE!
THE GIVE-AWAY IS OPEN NOW (to those over 18 years of age) and will end on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT 5PM. The winners will be chosen at random by www.random.org and will be announced on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th.
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave a comment telling me that you would like to be entered, that's it!
What a great book! We would love to be included in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
The book sounds like a great comparison to our dealings with both the animals we love and perhaps the people we'd like to love in kind. Looks like one I must read in that I may end up with a better understanding as to why it's so much easier to have such a complete and loving relationship with my cat family members as opposed to those who are two-legged.
ReplyDeleteThe Norton books by Peter Gethers were wonderful, and this sounds great, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Cody and Miss Caren! This sounds like another really great book and we hope you'll "count us in" on the drawing for a copy........
ReplyDeleteKitty Hugs, Sammy
We'll love to entered in the giveaway, please. It sounds like a very interesting book!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds pawesome. We thinks our Mommy could learn a lot from it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good informative read. Have a marvellous Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Caren - I love the new design! So cool and the green is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh if only humans were more like our animals...! :-) What a sage and wonderful book - thanks for these snippets too, Caren! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Sounds like a terrific read..FOUR PAWS UP...and even more spectacular...YOUR NEW BACKGROUND...I LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteBoy is there any animal lover who hasn't found a healthier relationship with their pets than their family...could just as well be my life same dad same mum same sister ...spooky really..count us in :) we love a good honest read Hugs Fozziemum xx
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to enter us because we have already read this book and enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I will love. Please enter me.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like a terrific book. I would love to read that book, so please enter us. Thanks for having this.
ReplyDeletegreat give away!xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteWhat a super giveaway! I'd love to be entered. This is a book I want to read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very compelling read. The human would like to read it to me :))))) xxx
ReplyDeleteThat does sound good and we would like to enter too please!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, paw me in to win...I can give it to Mom to read :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good book. The mom says she'd like to read it...since we don't read. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting sounding story!!
ReplyDeleteKisses
Nellie
Sounds really good. Please enter me. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteSue B
We would like to enter. It sounds like an interesting book. Lee and Phod
ReplyDeleteYeah, let's do the enter thing. Heh heh. I really mean it. Still loving your new look.
ReplyDeleteWe'd like to enter too. And hey, we LOVE the new blog look!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to enter....and my Mistletoe would like to enter also. While I read, she makes herself comfortable for a nice cozy nap. So, the more enjoyable the book for me, the longer the nap for my kitty girl.
ReplyDeleteSo if you are in the US and you prefer a digital download would that be an option?
ReplyDeleteI don't see why not! Sure! If the winner prefers that they can certainly say so!
DeleteIt sounds like a very interesting read. Please enter us in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get our mama to read it to us.
Purrs,
Cindi Lou & The Kitty Krew
What a lovely book, Cody. I think it's very educating too. Granny didn't find a Dutch translation, so we would love to be part of the giveaway. Pawkiss...no, make that a double Pawkiss for Good Luck to all the enterings :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Caren! Sounds like an awesome book. We'd love to be entered into the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMommy loves books and I love books that include cats and I love catlovers. Please enter us!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review! Count me in!Sounds like a book that I would like to read! :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Don't worry Joker survived the stomach torsion! The post you read, and commented on was a old post from this summer!
Sounds like a great book. Please enter us in the giveaway. We think our mom would enjoy reading it. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
ReplyDeleteWe would love our human to have this book. She needs it. We need her to get it. For our sakes. Please. Thank you, Bugs & Barney.
ReplyDeleteHey!! Love the new format!! --Nadbugs
ReplyDeletethank you!!!
DeleteSounds like yet another awesome book by Peter Gethers !
ReplyDeleteCount us into the giveaway too , please :)
XOXO