Children’s Librarian Haley Christianson recommends The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love by Alice Hoffman.
As much as I hate to admit it, I am someone who, very much, judges a book by its cover. So, when one of my favorite authors, Emily Henry, shared she had contributed an essay to The Best Dog in the World on her Instagram, I was instantly interested.
This collection of fourteen different essays, each written by a different dog-loving author, was a combination of heartbreaking and absolutely heartwarming stories.
With Alice Hoffman as the editor, and authors such as Emily Henry, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, and Roxane Gay (to name a few) contributing their personal essays, this collection is delightful. One thing I really enjoyed about this collection was the variety of stories it told. From getting new puppies, becoming an “official” dog person, and having to say goodbye to your furry friend, these essays hit many topics.
Now with that being said, you may want to ask yourself before reading this collection; do I feel like crying today?
Because there is a good chance if you read through all these essays, you will do just that. I mean, Emily Henry starts her essay by stating “The dog dies in this. Before we go any further, you should know that.” If you aren’t looking to shed a tear due to dying dogs, I would probably stay away from Dottie, Alvin, Olivia, Ethan and the Afterward.
I am a dog lover; so, this is the kind of book that automatically jumps out to me. For those that aren’t obsessed with dogs and animals like me, this is a great read. The emotion brought out in each essay made for such great, quick reads. Plus, for those that do not understand the mind of dog lovers, I found that these essays may be a great peek in the mind of one!
