Walking Ollie: Or, Winning the Love of a Difficult Dog - Softcover

Foster, Stephen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0399534296 ISBN 13: 9780399534294

Publisher: Tarcher, 2008

Synopsis

Britain's answer to Marley and Me-the hilarious and heartwarming international bestseller about learning to live with a troublesome dog.

Like many first-time pet owners, London-based novelist Stephen Foster was upbeat as he began his search for a puppy to adopt. How hard can it be to take care of a dog, he thought-read a guidebook or two, buy a few supplies, and get on with it. But all the books and supplies in the world couldn't have prepared him for life with Ollie, a willful and moody adopted dog who quickly demonstrated his displeasure at the notion of being told what to do.

Walking Ollie tells the funny and charming story of how a growling, skittish man and his equally growling, skittish dog broke each other in, came to see eye to eye, and decided to become best friends.

About this title

About the Author

Stephen Foster is a MacMillan PEN shortlisted story writer and novelist, and the author of several books of nonfiction including Walking Ollie and Fetching Dylan, both of which appeared on the London Sunday Times bestseller list. He lives in Norwich, England, with his partner and fellow writer Trezza Azzopardi, and their lurcher puppy Dylan.

Reviews

British writer Foster (It Cracks Like Breaking Skin) chronicles the many trials and misadventures of first-time dog ownership as he and his girlfriend consider various breeds, traipse through the woods with an eccentric vizsla breeder, scour animal shelters—and finally meet their match in Ollie, a fearful, stubborn saluki-greyhound mix. Resembling a Giacometti sculpture and profoundly defiant with strong ideas of his own about everything from mealtime manners to walks in the park, Ollie dispels Foster's hopes for a gentle canine companion; he leads the author into a series of comedic calamities—an unsuccessful attempt at discipline known as the Incident of the Smack, a visit with Attila the animal psychologist, a wild chase through the park and across several busy streets and the disastrous afternoon of the fishing competition. Along the way, Foster and Ollie meet new human and canine friends, attempt to grow into their new roles as owner and pet, and ultimately discover how to love each other. Ollie makes for an entertaining and completely unpredictable subject, and this book will delight animal lovers with its warmth and wit. (July)
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Reveling in his own curmudgeonly nature, Foster, whose writing credits include both fiction and nonfiction, delivers an absolutely delightful tale of man and dog, a British counterpart to the very popular Marley & Me (2005) but with its own considerable charm. After waxing long on the behavior and habits of dogs in general (poop is mentioned in a variety of contexts), Foster turns his attention to his own dog, Ollie, rescued as a puppy and named after one of literature’s more famous orphans (think Twist). Part Saluki and part greyhound, Ollie was never more at home or more graceful than when he was off leash, racing, almost flying, across the park. But as a house pet, Ollie had issues. Wind, sirens, and buzzing flies frightened him; but most problematic was Ollie’s inexplicable fear of Foster himself. In crisp, heartwarming, and honest chapters, Foster encapsulates the pair’s difficult journey toward love and trust, an account that delivers not only an abundance of laughs but also an insightful glimpse of who dog lovers really are. --Stephanie Zvirin

Edition details

• Publisher: Tarcher
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0399534296
• ISBN 13: 9780399534294
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192