Book Review: A Three Dog Life

Amazon.com

June of Bye Bye Pie Hosted a Book Club Review of Abigail Thomas, Three Dog Night.  Here are my thoughts on this remarkable little book

Abigail Thomas has written powerfully and lovingly of her happy marriage turned upside down by her husband’s unfortunate accident in NYC. After her husband Rich is hit by a car and brain injured, this memoir chronicles her life with a man who has real no memories of the past and lives shattered in the today.

She tells of the first days when no one though he would survive, of the short time that she brought him home and he broke down into rages, and of the guilt she felt when she had to put him in a facility that deals with traumatic brain injuries.

Not only was Rich’s life drastically changed, so did Abigail’s. She writes poetically of the random thoughts her husband would relate when they were together. She speaks sadly of the times that she and Rich sit together quietly in the hospital and he would not remember who she was, then he would in the next moment say something very profound.

The Three Dog Life, also tells of the three dogs she surrounds herself with during this trying time. How they came into her life and how they helped her cope with her new reality.

I loved the poetry and beauty of this little book. Thomas is a wonderful writer. She opens to us the tragedy and joy of the new relationship she builds with Rich and of the three dogs that enhance her new life.

Evelina, History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

I recently completed a group read over at The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide of Evelina, it is a novel written by English author Frances Burney and first published in 1778. My stalking of Jane Austen this year has sent me to all things 18th Century, and the Gossip Guide.
I was aware from my reading of Jane Austen's memoirs and biographies that Fanny Burney had some influence on JA. It was subscribed to, by her family and her books are referred to in her letters. I wrote a little about the relationship here.
Evelina was written in the form of letters primarily to her foster father, the Reverend, Mr Villars but also to other characters in the book.  She was an orphan of dubious heritage, raised lovingly and sheltered by Mr Villars.When she is seventeen, he is convinced by Lady Howard to let her visit her at Howard Grove.  That visit ultimately leads her on a journey to London and the seaside near Bristol, growth and romance.  This is a sentimental example of early romanticism, definitely not a bodice-ripper. Her adventures lead her ultimately to that happy ending. 
This is not Jane Austen, While a good writer, Burney was limited in her characterizations by the viewpoint of the letters of Evelina.  You are looking at life through the eyes and sensibilities of a seventeen year old. You also have to look at this book as historical satire. Many of the absurd characters and situations were somewhat overblown and seemed contrived. Evelina is embarrassed by Captain Mirvan and Madam Duval.  Her new found relatives are social-climbing boors. and the hero Lord Orville bears little resemblance to Mr Darcy or Captain Wentworth, except in Evelina's eyes.
The story is compelling and by book two, I was hooked.  I tried to stay to the timeline of the group read, but found myself reading ahead to see what happens next.  There are several plot twists, a young man who tries to commit suicide, a seeming uncaring birth father, a repugnant French grandmother, and may other cads, fops and ne'er-do-wells. It is not a hard read, especially if you are familiar with literature of the time period. Gossip Guide has a review of an audio version you can down load here.
I liked the book, and plan to read more of Fanny Burney.

Join me in the 18th Century

                                                         Evelina by Fanny Burney
I am part of the group read of Evelina over at the Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide .  This past summer I reread some Jane Austen, and as I stalked her around the Internet I have come across some great blogs of 18th Century and actually extended my reading from Jane Austen to other characters and authors of the time.
Fanny Burney is an author of the time known to the Duchess of Devonshire and her ton whom Jane Austen read and may have been inspired by.  This particular read is an epistolary novel that Jane used in some of her juvenalia and the  first drafts of her more  famous writings.  The only novel that I know of, written in the form of letters is Lady Susan.  I don't think this form of writing continued with JA writings as I don't think it  leads to the character development for which Austen is so famous. Evelina is a great read and if you are interested you should go over to the Duchess's site and read more about this book and the times.