Tag Archives: Animal Fiction

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

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We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

 

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Description:
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

 

 

Review:

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida is a Japanese novel that became an international sensation.  The story is a vibrant and charming celebration of the powerful healing of cats.   The mysterious clinic is an old building in a narrow alley, that offers unique treatments, especially for patients who are struggling in their lives. The doctor is kind of weird, as well as the receptionist; depending on the patient’s situation, they prescribe a cat for their wellbeing. Each of the patients are given a cat, for two weeks or more, and surprisingly they do begin to reach their own self-discovery and healing.

Each cat is different, as they become wonderful therapeutic companions that help guide the owners with comfort, warmth and hope; with many of the patients wanting to keep their cat.  Each of the patients were had different issues; an unhappy businessman finds himself enjoying physical labor; a young girl at school having problems; a middle age man who struggles, a bag designer tries to control her emotions and another woman who tries to find her lost cat.

Each of the cat have their own interconnected short stories:

 Bee, female gray cat – around 8 years old
Margot,  female mixed breed – 3 years old
Koyuki – white kitten – 2 ½ months old
Tank – Male shorthair – 2 years old
Mimita – male Scottish fold – 5 months old

 Each of the owners will find their way to happiness and comfort; though some of the cats will be given back to the clinic, and eventually find their own cat.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was a cute story line, with people finding transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, adorable, and endearing cats.  We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was very well written by Syou Ishida.  This is a different kind of read, which has become an International sensation in Japan.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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When The Echo Calls by Steve N. Lee – a Review

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When The Echo Calls by Steve N. Lee – a Review

 

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Description:
Sometimes a dog isn’t just a dog — it’s hope.
Left for dead in the gutter, Rio struggles to his feet and lurches into the shadows for a place to hide. Life has always been brutal, thanks to a monster of an owner, but at least he’d had food, a bed, a place to call home. Now…?

Ben’s life ended when he lost his family. Drink no longer dulls the pain; therapy is a joke; friends have moved on. He’d had everything, yet now…?

But when the broken man meets the broken dog, they discover something neither had ever dreamed could exist… a reason to go on.

In a story as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, When the Echo Calls explores how hope can be found in the most unexpected of places if only we have the courage to look for it.

 

 

Review:

Where the Echo Calls by Steve N Lee is another one of his standalone novels that centers on a dog.  Having read the previous books by Lee, I looked forward to reading this one.  I really enjoyed this book, though I did have mixed feelings, which I will detail later in this review. 

We meet Rio at the start, when he is kicked out of a car; badly injured, he struggles to get up and hide in the shadows. Rio’s life has always been rough, being a dog fighter, and with a mean owner.  As Rio tries to heal a bit, he is desperate to find food, and keeps an eye out for his missing owner (who never comes); he doesn’t understand why people are mean, and looks at other dogs, who seem happy.  After a short time on the outside, animal control will capture Rio, and bring him to a hospital, with the Vet fixing his bad injuries.  I really liked the hospital assistant (he called her Wierdo), who was so wonderful taking care of Rio, and desperately trying to find a home, knowing the people tend to shy away from a dog that did fighting.   I will say close to the first half of the book, it was very emotional and depressing to see what Rio had to go through.

It was difficult to read when Rio was adopted, by not really good people.  The story changes when Rio meets Ben, who lost his family a long time ago. Both Ben and Rio were broken, and perfect to help each other. I loved how Ben did everything make Rio learn how to be a dog, and I got a kick out of Rio seeing other dogs in the park.  To say too much more would be spoilers, as the last half of the book was very well done as well as emotional; so much happens at the last quarter of the book, that you need to read.

Where the Echo Calls was a heartbreaking, as well as heartwarming story.  I loved Rio, and Ben, and some added characters later on.  My mixed feelings were the first half of the book, which had me putting the book down for a bit, since it was depressing; and I do love dogs. Where The Echo Calls was well written by Steve N Lee.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade – a Review

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Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade – a Review

 

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Description:
A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.

Exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group’s glittery annual fundraiser.

Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself.

 

Review:

Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade is a cute fun romance, with adorable dogs.  Morgan Pearce, our heroine, is a veterinarian, who is overworked and somewhat burned out, and when she faints on the job, she knows she needs to take a break.  I was surprised to learn that many Veterinarians have a high rate of suicide, due to the stress and pressor that takes a mental toll. 

Morgan loves dogs, and when one of her customers offer her a chance to spend a few months at Nantucket, while they are away, to watch over their dog, Bernadette; she accepts. Other then the people offered her the chance to get a good vacation, Morgan hides that she is a veterinarian, and claims only to babysitting the dog.  Bernadette was a sweet lovable dog, which was easy for Morgan. But she is asked to foster a challenging and anxious dog, as well as help with the local rescue group’s annual fundraiser. Morgan is happy and content in beautiful Nantucket, allowing herself to relax and enjoy the friends she has met, as well as both dogs she is taking care of; and now she finds herself meeting hot hunk.

Nathan Keating, our hero, has been pushing his new flavored drinks, which he hopes will escalate into a successful business; he is also very friendly with everyone in town.   is the gorgeous guy who is friendly to all. He meets Morgan, and in a short time a slow build romance begins, with them spending a lot of time together, as well as him training Morgan how to surf. 

What follows is a lighthearted, fun, enjoyable story, which also deals with stress, burnout & mental health. This book does give us a look at the harshness of the veterinary profession.  I really liked Morgan and Nathan, and hoped they could get past some personal issues to stay together.  I will say I absolutely loved the dogs, especially Bernadette and Hudson, who Morgan slowly trained her to overcome his fears.  

Dog Friendly was a very good story line, with a great couple, wonderful fun dogs, and so very well written by Victoria Schade.  This was a charming read, that kept me unable to put the book down.  I suggest you read Dog Friendly.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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