In this book, Finney Boylan discusses in a larger sense, her life as it has changed from being a kid into an older adult and how her love of dogs has grown over the years. She details her first family and individual dogs while being a kid and how those went on to shape not only her as a person but also the love of dogs she continues to harbor in her life. Finney Boylan raises the important connection between happiness, fulfillment, and having unconditional love regardless of what you look like or what internal struggle you may be going through. In Finney Boylan's text, dogs are always there for you to love you and give you support.
The stories she tells in this book are so touching and realistic. We've all known those dogs or been those dog owners who are either our of control or just don't understand what is going on. There is a very human element in dogs as well as an element that helps reify our humanity. She says in this book that there are dog people and there are cat people, and I can't agree more. But there are also people who love both. As I write this, I have a kitten perched on my shoulder. Don't mind the fact that she climbed my back with her razor claws, as if I were a rock wall. Along with her, I love dogs just as much; they are just very different animals. I feel like what is at the root of Finney Boylan's book is that love is universal. We all want someone or something to love and everyone and everything out there deserves love regardless of your identity, what species you are, or what you may be going though.
This idea is one that isn't directly presented in the book. You could literally take this book at face value and read a memoir of Finney Boylan's life in conjunction with the dogs she has owned or had in her family. You could also read this a bit deeper, as an expose on love and appreciation. I think she makes some pretty strong statements in this book about love and belonging and how dogs (especially) can show us those two hard-to-grasp concepts, quite easily. While cats sometimes do this, dogs pretty much represent love and affection; they are the embodiment of these sentiments. I love that Finney Boylan chose dogs for this memoir and found a way to honor those she and he has loved thorough their life and the lessons they were taught through being a pet owner and lover.
The stories she tells in this book are so touching and realistic. We've all known those dogs or been those dog owners who are either our of control or just don't understand what is going on. There is a very human element in dogs as well as an element that helps reify our humanity. She says in this book that there are dog people and there are cat people, and I can't agree more. But there are also people who love both. As I write this, I have a kitten perched on my shoulder. Don't mind the fact that she climbed my back with her razor claws, as if I were a rock wall. Along with her, I love dogs just as much; they are just very different animals. I feel like what is at the root of Finney Boylan's book is that love is universal. We all want someone or something to love and everyone and everything out there deserves love regardless of your identity, what species you are, or what you may be going though.
This idea is one that isn't directly presented in the book. You could literally take this book at face value and read a memoir of Finney Boylan's life in conjunction with the dogs she has owned or had in her family. You could also read this a bit deeper, as an expose on love and appreciation. I think she makes some pretty strong statements in this book about love and belonging and how dogs (especially) can show us those two hard-to-grasp concepts, quite easily. While cats sometimes do this, dogs pretty much represent love and affection; they are the embodiment of these sentiments. I love that Finney Boylan chose dogs for this memoir and found a way to honor those she and he has loved thorough their life and the lessons they were taught through being a pet owner and lover.