The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
by Sy Montgomery
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 632)
Read in January, 2008
I just finished this book last night after buying it Saturday afternoon. I started crying near the end and didn't stop for about 30 minutes. It reminded me of all of the animals I've loved, and it expressed the relationship I had with most of them. Especially my doggies, Sidney and Ruffles. (I actually told them they were "good, good doggies" over and over again when they got old and didn't feel good. So you can imagine the waterworks that followed when I got to the end of the book.
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Read in December, 2007
I wasn't sure what to expect when delving into this one. I think pigs are cute, but hearing about a couple raising a monster pig didn't quite sound like my thing. But in reading this book, I not only got to know the pig (and love him) but also to really appreciate the author's unique perspective on life. She built a family around her of friends and animals that was far from ordinary, but so complete. I was suddenly envious of her crazy, small town where neighbors would come from miles around...more
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Read in April, 2007
I'm wasn't real thrilled to read this book. It's about a woman who is given a runt pig and raises it. Doesn't sound to interesting does it? Well, I was quite pleasantly suprised. It is a non fiction book (I don't read non fiction very often-generally avoid it). The author has a sense of humor and I found myself laughing about this pig's escapades. His christmas card pictures are hillarious and his love of food made me envious. Sprinkled througout the book are little known facts about pigs...more
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I heard Sy Montgomery, the author of this book, speak about it at the Children's Literature Institute at Simmons College in July 2007. I knew I had to read it. It's a true story about her amazing pig Christopher Hogwood--and about how he brought the author close to other people in her small town in New Hampshire. I absolutely LOVED this book! It's like the "Charlotte's Web" for adults. I give "The Good Good Pig" my highest recommendation.
Sy's husband, Howard Mansfield, ha...more
Sy's husband, Howard Mansfield, ha...more
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Read in July, 2007
A quirky read-alike to Marley and Me, The Good Good Pig chronicles the life of a family pet pig, Christopher Hogwood. Montgomery, a naturalist and vegetarian, inadvertently acquires a piglet that she raises to a 750 pound pig named Christopher Hogwood. The book outlines many of Chris’ comical moments from his notorious escapes from the “Pig Plateau” to his rather sloppy eating habits. We are also introduced to Christopher’s more tender side as he truly touches the lives of all those who ...more
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recommends it for:
animal lovers & fans of James Herriot.
The Good, Good Pig is the true story of just that - a porcine member of a human family, who loves him very, very much. Christopher Hogwood grows from a tiny piglet to an enormous hog, all the while providing the people around him with stories of affection and wisdom. While it is the biography of Christopher, it is even more so the tale of the small town in which he and his family live, work, and play.
Sy Montgomery has written a quick read that is sweet without being sappy. If you l...more
Sy Montgomery has written a quick read that is sweet without being sappy. If you l...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
animal lovers, pet owners
When I started reading this book I didn't think I was going to like it much, but I ended up thinking it was fairly entertaining and a sweet story. The author gets sort of preachy and smug at times but overall she's a good storyteller. I'm still not sure, however, why her pig was so famous, considering that having a pig as a pet isn't unheard of. I don't know if I'd give the book three whole stars because the subject matter wasn't as interesting to me as some other three-star books I've read, ...more
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recommends it for:
everyone
This was a wonderful book. It would be enjoyed by anyone who has had a special bond with animals particularly unusual pets. Sy Montgomery has chronicled the extraordinary life of an extraordinary pig. She took him in as a runt who wasn't expected to survive and survive he did. He became well known locally and around the country in print as well as being featured on television. She has traveled around the world and authored many books on wildlife world wide. I learned how intelligent pigs are...more
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Read in August, 2008
What a pig! No really, this book is about so much more than the adventures of an oversized porker. It's about the amazing connection that we have with animals and about how they so easily fill in the holes of our soul often left empty by other humans.
Sy Montgomery weaves a sweet tale of love, devotion and the power of community.
'Christopher Hogwood, Lilla said to me shortly after he died, "was a big Buddha master for us. He taught us how to love. How to love what life gives you ...more
Sy Montgomery weaves a sweet tale of love, devotion and the power of community.
'Christopher Hogwood, Lilla said to me shortly after he died, "was a big Buddha master for us. He taught us how to love. How to love what life gives you ...more
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Read in January, 2008
Reading this book was like looking back into my childhood while growing up on a farm. I remembered so clearly visiting the baby pigs in the barn and hearing their grunts and squeals. Then later, cornering the larger, yet still baby pigs and carrying them around. Unlike the author, my interest in cuddling a pig ended at about the time they became more than an armful.
But I don't think you have to have played with baby pigs to appreciate this book. It's an incredibly well-written story about ...more
But I don't think you have to have played with baby pigs to appreciate this book. It's an incredibly well-written story about ...more
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Read in February, 2008
This is Sy Montgomery's loving tribute to her pig. It's as touching and enthralling as anything written by James Herriot, with the added charm Montgomery brings to any topic. In fact, I believe Montgomery herself was the most fascinating character in this book. She is a wonderful person to hang out with, she tells a great story and thinks interesting thoughts. And, personally, I am just grateful to this book for introducing me to her. O...more
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Read in January, 2008
Not my favorite but I don't like James Herriott either. I'm hoping it makes a good book discussion book. I got a little tired of all the adulation for a pig. It sort of reminds of people who are a little over the top about how wonderful their kids or pets are (which is what Christopher Hogwood is) and as a result when they go on and on about how wonderfully their kids/pets affect others...you stop believing them after awhile. I'm at that point. But I chose this book for my book discussion s...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Anyone
You don't have to be deeply interested in the porcine to enjoy the story of Christopher Hogwood--named after the conductor on NPR. From inauspicious beginnings in a shoebox as the stereotypical runt-who'll-probably-die, to the enchanted life of an archduke of a town, dining on bakery goods and enjoying "pig spa" with friends, Chris is some pig. But there's more, quiet threads of a story of family secrets and the change of life with aging parents...Sy Montgomery has given us something...more
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Read in August, 2008
My mom left this book with me and also bought my kids the children's version (Hogwood steps out). It is fine- it's about a pig, its entertaining. However, I really cannot relate to Sy Montgomery and the story is as much about her as it is about Christopher (the pig). I like animals but I clearly do not relate to them in the same way she does (I would notice (and have noticed) if a bird pooped on my head). Anyways, if you love animals you will enjoy this book.
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Read in July, 2006
This is the incredibly sweet and entertaining story of a very special pig. Montgomery is a nature writer who has always felt more at home with animals than with other humans, but when she adopts Christopher Hogwood, a runty piglet, she begins to make connections with other people she never would have expected. Christopher is an endearing pig, and this is a fun, fast read that made me much more well-disposed towards pigs than I had been in the past.
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Read in July, 2008
This is such an endearing true story of a pet pig, his loving owner, and the community he lives in. It's a must read for any animal lover and a very good read for anyone who wants to rejoice in all the good things about living in a neighborly community in which people watch out for each other (including your pet pig). :) I highly recommend this for someone who wants to escape the reality of all the bad things we see in the news on a daily basis!
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Sorry - I was fooled into buying it, convinced by the cute book jacket of cute little porker peeking round the corner and by chance, opened it to the only interesting page to have a sample read. Sorry I spent the money. Was like being trapped on a date with a person you dislike and having to sit through a crap movie. Sorry - the pig dies at the end - he ate himself to death I think. I really don't know as I never finished it. Thumbs down!
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Read in June, 2008
I love pigs, so I found this book to be a wonderful, feel-good read. It is about Christopher Hogwood, a runt of all the runts who was never supposed to live but who ended up living for 14 years as a pet to Sy and Howard. He is black and white furry pig with a great personality. Read about pig plateau and pig spa and all his friends as well as the notoriety Chris receives in New England. Sy is also a wonderful writer.
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I met the pig in this book! We were camping years ago at Seven Maples in Hancock, NH. Imagine my delight when I read this book and remembered this. Plus, Mary and George Iselin who give Sy the pig live in my town, and I taught their son in my English class. Cool connections. Despite my misgivings and attitude about reading this, I liked the story. I thought it was cute, and I think it's a book that teens would like.
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Read in July, 2006
The runt of his litter, Christopher Hogwood was no ordinary pig. The author took him in, and he changed her life for the better, opening her life to many things, including children, enjoyment of food, and the pure pleasure of just being. Good-hearted, affectionate, and accepting, Christopher was a wonderful companion to Montgomery and her husband. The only part lacking in this book is the inclusion of photos. Durr.
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