Dog Lover's reading guide
We love dogs here at Readings! We are always delighted whenever a dog walks through our shop doors. If you follow us on Instagram, you're sure to have seen many photos of wagging tails between the shelves!
If you love dogs as much as we do, then this blog is for you! whether you're young or old, whether you read fiction or nonfiction or just want to be closer with your four-legged friend, there's something for every dog lover.
For those with a dog that's naughty but loveable . . .
Three Wild Dogs and the Truth by Markus Zusak
'There's a madman dog beside me, and the hounds of memory ahead of us. It's love and beasts and wild mistakes, and regret, but never to change things . . . '
What happens when the Zusaks open their family home to three big, wild, pound-hardened dogs – Reuben, a wolf at your door with a hacksaw; Archer, blond, beautiful, deadly; and the rancorously smiling Frosty, who walks like a rolling thunderstorm? The answer can only be chaos: there are street fights, park fights, public shamings, property trashing, bodily injuries, stomach pumping, purest comedy, shocking tragedy, and carnage that needs to be seen to be believed . . . not to mention the odd police visit at some ungodly hour of the morning. There is a reckoning of shortcomings and failure, a strengthening of will, but most important of all, an explosion of love – and the joy and recognition of family.
For the romance lovers . . .
Love Unleashed by Melanie Saward
When Bigambul woman Brynn Wallace leaves her Brisbane home to pursue her big dreams in the Big Apple, she imagines herself landing a fabulous career at a New York City publishing house and acquiring a collection of Louboutin shoes, not working in a doggy daycare with a boss from hell and a wardrobe from her nightmares.
Yet good things are always possible in New York, especially when you believe in them hard enough. Bec soon finds herself making meaningful friendships, and engaging in some flirty flings, including with the gorgeous Sienna, also known as dancer Scarlett Belle. But when she stumbles on a handsome, single dog-dad and a commissioning editor for a big publisher, Brynn decides if she can convince him she's more than just a dog-sitter, all her NYC dreams will come true . . .
For the Japanese fiction lovers . . .
The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase, translated by Alison Watts
One dog changes the life of everyone who takes him in on his journey to reunite with his first owner in this inspiring tribute to the bond between humans and dogs and the life-affirming power of connection.
Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, a young man in Japan finds a stray dog outside a convenience store. The dog’s tag says “Tamon,” a name evocative of the guardian deity of the north. The man decides to keep Tamon, becoming the first in a series of owners as the dog journeys south to find the boy whom disaster tore him from.
Over the course of five years, Tamon will be taken into six vastly different homes, the final one belonging to his beloved first owner, Hikaru, a boy who has not spoken since the trauma of the tsunami. An agent of fate, Tamon is a gift to everyone who welcomes him into their life.
For the poetry fans . . .
Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver
In Dog Songs, Mary Oliver celebrates the special bond between human and dog, as understood through her connection to the dogs who across the years accompanied her on her daily walks, warmed her home and inspired her work. The poems in Dog Songs begin in the small everyday moments familiar to all dog lovers and become, through her extraordinary vision, meditations on the world and our place in it.
Dog Songs includes visits with old friends, like Oliver’s most beloved dog Percy, and introduces still others in poems of love and laughter, heartbreak and grief. Throughout, the many dogs of Oliver’s life merge as fellow travelers and as guides, uniquely able to open our eyes to the lessons of the moment and the joys of nature and connection.
For the younger dog lovers . . .
Queen of Dogs by Joe Weatherstone
Maddy’s family are talented and ambitious – sporting trophies, top grades, they collect them all. But Maddy would rather spend time with her best friend, her pug Gusto. When Gusto disappears . . . her world changes.
Her search for Gusto reveals a surprising talent and Maddy can't believe her ears. She can understand everything the neighbourhood dogs are saying and suddenly Maddy becomes the go-to canine problem solver. But when more and more dogs go missing, Maddy finds herself with a much bigger problem
. . . and she is going to need a lot of friends, two-legged and four-legged, to help her solve it . . .
For dog lovers in the making . . .
100 Dogs by Michael Whaite
'Small dog, tall dog, playing with a ball dog, big dog, dig dog burying a bone.'
Can there really be 100 dogs doing 100 doggy things packed into the pages of this picture book? Follow the bouncy rhyme as it weaves its way through an array of hilarious hounds (from petted pugs to silly sausage dogs) and find out . . .
This silly celebration of dogs is bursting with funny details to spot and crazy, characterful dogs to fall in love with – a bark-aloud book to return time and again.
For those wanting to connect more to their dog . . .
What Dogs Want by Mat Ward
Mat Ward is a leading behaviourist and he really can understand what our dogs are thinking. His advice comes with funny but accurate pictures explaining everything you need to know – including what different woofs might mean, how to read a dog’s ears and why they wag their tails (it’s not always what you think).
Our pets may seem straightforward but learning some key training basics and thinking about little details (like what kind of collar to put on them) can make all the difference. Understanding and respect mean your dog lives a contented life – and if the dog feels happy, then so will you!
For those who love to take their dog everywhere . . .
Dog Trip Melbourne by Evi O and Andrew Grune
Rather than leaving your four-legged friend at home when seeking a nature adventure, Dog Trip Melbourne offers 52 getaways that both dogs and their people can enjoy, all within a 130 km radius of the CBD.
Escape the urban chaos with sandy escapades at the beach, splash about in waterfalls or bound through tranquil coastal rainforests. Every adventure has been tested, photographed and given an enthusiastic paw of approval.
Presented in a user-friendly format, the collection includes maps showing walking routes and facilities, on and off-leash information, and a guide to trip highlights. Fire up your adventurous spirit and get those tails wagging with Dog Trip Melbourne.
For the architecture lovers . . .
Resident Dog: Incredible Homes and the Dogs That Live There by Nicole England
Just as every home is different, so is every dog.
In this stunningly photographed book of architecturally superb houses – many of them architects’ own homes – we see how the presence of a dog brings warmth and life to the most dramatic spaces. From mid-century raw brick to a penthouse apartment, gracious Edwardian to Scandinavian modern, from beach house to country retreat, there is always room for a dog or two.
Seemingly oblivious to designer furniture, heritage considerations or serious design aesthetics, dogs can make themselves at home anywhere. In fact, the rooms in this book are all the more appealing because of their resident dog.
And for those who need some doggy advice and a laugh . . .
The Wisdom Of Dogs by Alex Cearns
Everyone's best friend just happens to be your best therapist.
Move over, Socrates and Plato! In this heartwarming guide to living your best life, award-winning photographer Alex Cearns shares the sage advice of our four-legged furry gurus. Their profound insights and goofy enthusiasm will remind you to cherish friendship and love, celebrate our differences and respect the need for a good nap.
So sit, stay and enjoy the wisdom of dogs!
