Sep 14, 2010

Book Review: A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill



Title: A Dog Named Slugger
Author: Leigh Brill
Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (April 7, 2010)
Source: Galley provided by the publisher
Objective rating: 4.75 out of 5  
"Slugger," I said, and then paused, building the suspense for my audience as well as for my dog, "pills!"  He surveyed the items quickly, then fit his jaws around the bottle and placed it in my hand.
(ch. 14. Quote taken from a galley copy; the final print copy may differ).

In this candid memoir, Leigh Brill talks about living with cystic fibrosis and the physical limitations that require a service dog to help with small but vital chores, to assist her walking or in a wheelchair, and to provide the confidence as well as physical support she needs to live a full and satisfying life in spite of her disease. A yellow labrador retriever named Slugger came into her life and changed it in many ways.

Comments: A deeply moving and informative book that tells about Leigh's life with Slugger, how he changed what she could do and achieve. We learn about service dogs, why they are needed, how they are trained, and how they help people with disabilities by being valuable helpers first of all, and incidentally by also being pets at home. Leigh also tells us about meeting her husband Pranav and his involvement in her world of service dogs. There are several pages of pictures as well as a reader's guide at the end of the book. Dog lovers, those who want to learn more about help for the disabled, and anyone who likes a rewarding memoir will enjoy the book.

About the author: Leigh Brill  is a writer, speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities. Her publications include articles in Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body & Soul, Soul Menders: Listening to the Animals, and the magazines Just Labs; A Celebration of the Labrador Retriever and Pets: Part of  the Family. Leigh lives with her family in rural Virginia. You can visit her at http://www.leighbrill.com/

Hosted by MizB, Teaser Tuesdays asks you to choose two sentences at random from your current read. Identify the author and title for readers.

13 comments:

  1. Wonderful teaser! Sounds like a great read - I've always thought service dogs are really amazing.

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  2. Service dogs are really something! those eyes!!!

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  3. What a great teaser, I have to have this book, I love books about dogs. This sounds like a great book to read.

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  4. Oh this sounds like a very moving book. I have a big yellow lab and they are wonderful in so many ways. :)

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  5. Sweet teaser. Such a fascinating story.

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  6. There's a reason why they say a dog is a man's best friend. Great teaser!

    here's my Tuesday Teaser for the week

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  7. Some dogs are truly amazing!

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/09/teaser_13.html

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  8. Sounds like an interesting read!

    My teaser: The Search

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  9. It is a wonderful book, isn't it! I reviewed this today at my blog as well! If your readers would like to read it, it is at htt://sharonsgardenofbookreviews.blogspot.com

    Sharon

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  10. Great teaser! Though I don't have plans of having a dog as a pet, but Labradors are simply adorable. Adding this book in my TBR list. =) Thanks for dropping by my site. =)

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  11. Dogs are your best friends - in fact the only friends you can buy! The heroine in the book I am reading is also a dog person but for different reasons. Here is my teaser

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  12. Great teaser! This sounds like a really moving book.

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  13. This sounds like a very moving memoir, and who can resist the look of the lab on the cover!

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