A little book full of funny and down-to-earth stories, Pure Joy put a smile on my face at times, but it also made me uneasy with some of the author’s opinions about rescued dogs and dog breeding, which I’m afraid I disagree with.
The book covers the famous author Danielle Steel’s family relationship with dogs, although mainly focused on Mini, her teacup chihuahua. It was interesting to read about the wonderful life the author provided for some of her dogs but not for others.
I especially liked reading about the love and bond between the author and her chihuahua and the stories about many dogs she and her family have had through the years. Parts where family reunions, where most of her nine kids would bring their dogs and some of her favourite dog’s personalities are described, were a highlight. The same goes for the chapter about when the dogs passed away, which made me stay awake late at night thinking about the touching stories.
On the other hand, some topics like dog costume dressing, dog auctions and her opinion about some breeds are the complete opposite of what I believe. Worse was how some of the dogs were given away to other families because they were not a “good match”, which read a bit like dogs being dispensable. Another downside is that the author repeats herself quite a lot in the book.
Although the book is not at all actionable, it is still an interesting read with funny and heartfelt parts about the author’s relationship with dogs, especially her love for her little chihuahua.
Finally, the book has many great pictures of puppies, including photos of the family’s Boston Terriers, a breed that I absolutely love. Check our own Boston here.
Cheers,
Ademar
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