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171st out of 192 books
—
35 voters
Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me
by
Jon Katz (Goodreads Author)
In his previous books, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz introduced us to the delightful menagerie at Bedlam Farm, including Izzy, the unforgettable border collie rescue. Now, in Izzy & Lenore, Katz delves deeper into his connection with the beautiful, once-abandoned dog, learning yet again about the unexpected places animals can take us. Affectionate and intu...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
September 23rd 2008
by Villard
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As I made my way halfway through this book, I discovered I had alternately cried, laughed and awwwwed repeatedly. The warmth and friendship that seaps from this book is very effective. While listening I feel as if Jon is sitting here, telling me his story himself, like a friend coming over to share a tale. I loved how frank and open he was about his battle with depression and how his dogs helped him get through to the light. His hospice work with Izzy was what touched me the most. The stories of...more
First, I would be amiss to not mention that Katz says in the beginning of this book that "No dogs die." Thank you for that.
Moving on. This is the story of two of his dogs, Izzy and Lenore obviously. That is Lenore on the cover as a puppy. Izzy is a sweet-looking, intense border collie. Izzy was an abandoned dog living by himself basically on a farm in upstate New York. Katz was persuaded to take him in and gained each other's trust and friendship. Katz lives on a farm, Bedlam Farm, in upstate Ne...more
Moving on. This is the story of two of his dogs, Izzy and Lenore obviously. That is Lenore on the cover as a puppy. Izzy is a sweet-looking, intense border collie. Izzy was an abandoned dog living by himself basically on a farm in upstate New York. Katz was persuaded to take him in and gained each other's trust and friendship. Katz lives on a farm, Bedlam Farm, in upstate Ne...more
Jan 12, 2013
Hassinger
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommended to Hassinger by:
Mum
Shelves:
do-not-reread
Izzy and Lenore is a schizophrenic work, alternating between touching and strangely egotistical. The stories within the pages of this book are heart-wrenching and inspirational, but they are not well-written. There is no apparent structure or organization; the chapters are haphazard constructions with little flow between or within them, leaving the message of the work muddled. The writing is riddled with broad, sweeping conclusions that often feel out of place. In fact, the majority of Katz's wr...more
The first thing I noted about this book was that it was very much unlike the previous Katz books I've read. For one, there was no long discussion of how he fought with a particular dog to get the poor thing under control. Most of his relationships with dogs have been fraught with tension. This was the first time he seemed to either get dogs who were relaxed or who he didn't try to train through sheer will and craziness. Maybe that's why the two dogs he focuses on in this book are so much better-...more
http://memizuki-judgingabookbyitscove...
Like many books I read, I find books about humans and animals fun and feel good. There is no helping in getting the warm fuzzy when reading books like “Marley & Me” or “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, and that is why Jon Katz’s book “Izzy and Lenore” is another feel good, warm fuzzy, happy tears read. Having never heard of Jon Katz and going solely on Judging a Book by Its Cover, I picked up this unlikely favorite as a “buy two get one free” deal at Ba...more
Like many books I read, I find books about humans and animals fun and feel good. There is no helping in getting the warm fuzzy when reading books like “Marley & Me” or “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, and that is why Jon Katz’s book “Izzy and Lenore” is another feel good, warm fuzzy, happy tears read. Having never heard of Jon Katz and going solely on Judging a Book by Its Cover, I picked up this unlikely favorite as a “buy two get one free” deal at Ba...more
*preface - I listened to this book :)
Oh my poor tear ducts! To be honest, I was pms-ing and admist some pretty serious familial stress, BUT, that being said, cried through almost the entire thing. More so than The Art of Racing in the Rain!!! And get this...the author starts the book with the gaurantee that NO DOGS DIE IN THIS BOOK! And he was true to his word. So I guess you can figure out what made me so emotional...? The true and simple joy of it. The beautiful spirits of dogs and those who l...more
Oh my poor tear ducts! To be honest, I was pms-ing and admist some pretty serious familial stress, BUT, that being said, cried through almost the entire thing. More so than The Art of Racing in the Rain!!! And get this...the author starts the book with the gaurantee that NO DOGS DIE IN THIS BOOK! And he was true to his word. So I guess you can figure out what made me so emotional...? The true and simple joy of it. The beautiful spirits of dogs and those who l...more
This is not the first book I have read by Jon Katz. I really enjoy his conversational storytelling style and I recommend any of his books. This book is about a couple of things near and dear to my heart....animals (dogs specifically) and learning to deal and live with mental illness.Mr. Katz talks passionately and emotionally about his love affair with his three beautiful dogs... Rose, Izzy and Lenore. And what he describes in his very personal story is something I have always known.... an anima...more
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I think I've read all of Jon Katz's books about dogs. My favorite one was his first, _A Dog Year_, because I read it just as my own adolescent pup was driving me crazy. I understood what it meant to love a dog you didn't understand and didn't know how to communicate with. Such a dog story is, you get the sense, embedded in _Izzy and Lenore_--it's the months of training Izzy, another border collie, whom Katz mercifully rescues when his owners abandon him. But that story isn't the focus of this bo...more
Feb 28, 2012
Kyra
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
no one
Recommended to Kyra by:
a sentimental friend
Sloppily edited drivel. With all due respect, Mr Katz had one semi-decent dog book in him, and this is not it. I guess it's tough walking away from the cash register.
Is it a middle-aged man or a young man, you support rescue but there is nothing like getting a dog from a breeder, you have a 'working' farm but you keep a pet steer - oops, TWO pet steers, you love your Labs but you gave them away. I guess it's tough writing a new book a year without getting a new dog each time to write about. Kind...more
Is it a middle-aged man or a young man, you support rescue but there is nothing like getting a dog from a breeder, you have a 'working' farm but you keep a pet steer - oops, TWO pet steers, you love your Labs but you gave them away. I guess it's tough writing a new book a year without getting a new dog each time to write about. Kind...more
Ostensibly, this is another of Katz's books on dogs. However, this book also deals with his struggle with depression, and his work as a hospice volunteer.
I won't say too much as this book is very much worth a read. Katz rights simply and poignantly about the individuals he met through his hospice work, and we learn a little about their lives and their deaths in ways that are achingly true, and therefore hideously painful and astoundingly beautiful. Katz focuses his memories of these moments on...more
I won't say too much as this book is very much worth a read. Katz rights simply and poignantly about the individuals he met through his hospice work, and we learn a little about their lives and their deaths in ways that are achingly true, and therefore hideously painful and astoundingly beautiful. Katz focuses his memories of these moments on...more
I've enjoyed Katz's previous books as I find his writing both moving but not overly sentimental. In fact, his perspective upon the relationship between humans and their dogs, helped me approach the difficult decision to euthanized my beloved dog.
In this book, Katz continues to explore the bond between dogs and their people but now with a twist. He states at the beginning of the book, no dogs die, and I was relieved to think I would not be sobbing my way through the book. Wrong! He ends up volun...more
In this book, Katz continues to explore the bond between dogs and their people but now with a twist. He states at the beginning of the book, no dogs die, and I was relieved to think I would not be sobbing my way through the book. Wrong! He ends up volun...more
Once again I enjoyed Katz' self-exploration accompanied by dogs. This book describes two new canine characters, rescue border collie Izzy and sweet lab pup, Lenore. Izzy turns out to have a mysteriously effective presence as a hospice dog, helping dying people become calm and focused. The effects on the dog of these encounters is part of the picture. Katz describes several of his hospice encounters, which largely focus on his dog but provide a fair amount of information on hospice volunteer trai...more
This is only the second book of his I've read, but I noticed that he repeated some stories. I don't think I would've noticed if I hadn't read the other one earlier this month, though.
This installment details how he got Izzy and Lenore (but the book deals a lot more with Izzy). Jon and Izzy become hospice volunteers so a lot of the chapters deal with that. (They meet a hospice patient, Izzy makes them feel better, but they die, because they are hospice patients and that's what they do.)
Still, th...more
This installment details how he got Izzy and Lenore (but the book deals a lot more with Izzy). Jon and Izzy become hospice volunteers so a lot of the chapters deal with that. (They meet a hospice patient, Izzy makes them feel better, but they die, because they are hospice patients and that's what they do.)
Still, th...more
I listened to the audio version of this book. The story was told by a good actor, his voice and delivery were pleasant.
Potions of the story are very touching and sweet when Jon writes about his relationship with the dogs in his life and how they work together to comfort and bring joy to hospice patients. I found parts of the book to be emotionally intense especially since Jon also wrote about working though his own depression during that time. A warning to you if you are uncomfortable reading ab...more
Potions of the story are very touching and sweet when Jon writes about his relationship with the dogs in his life and how they work together to comfort and bring joy to hospice patients. I found parts of the book to be emotionally intense especially since Jon also wrote about working though his own depression during that time. A warning to you if you are uncomfortable reading ab...more
Another inspiring book from Jon Katz. In this one, he describes how he adopted another border collie and how she helped him and many others improve their lives. He used her as a hospice dog which made a tremendous improvement on many people's lives. The dementia patients all calmed down and were able to be bathed or medicated much easier after visiting with her. The dying were able to relive positive parts of their lives and experience again the comfort of petting a loving animal. Katz has to wo...more
Dec 08, 2008
Claudine Taillac
added it
I keep wondering when he is going to get to the point, and I am really only enjoying the stories about his dogs. But then he keeps dumping his dogs on other people, although he profusely professes to "love" them, and then goes and gets new dogs. His unrealistic and sad need to find that "one perfect dog" in his lifetime is so obvious. His wife should have read the manuscript and told him to go to therapy instead of publishing this book. He seems very narcissistic to me, and his arbitrary disposa...more
This book touched me deeply and I cried at the end of several chapters. The photography is absolutely breathtaking - reaching into the depths of the dogs' souls. I would enjoy just a photo book by this author. The chapters that dealt with his hospice volunteer work with Izzy made me think back to my own hospice volunteer days, some of the most rewarding friendships and memories come from this time for me. The only disappointment for me in this book was reading about the author's own depression....more
I had previous read Katz' "Dogs of Bedlam Farm" and have been following his posts on Facebook, so I decided to check out "Izzy and Lenore." What a lovely book. Izzy is an Australian Shepherd Katz rescued from a house where he had been abandoned for several years (fed by neighbors) who became a first class therapy dog for Hospice. Lenore is a Lab that Katz adopted as a puppy, who helped bring Katz himself back from the depth of depression. Just a nice, good story of a man and his dogs and how the...more
I enjoyed this book. Jon Katz wrote about the parts his dogs have played in his life. I relate to his stories because I know how my sheltie, Kayte, has helped me through difficult times in my life. I also enjoyed reading about his experiences with his dog in hospice care. I've been interested in getting involved with a dog to visit the elderly. I do take Kayte into the nursing home to visit Mom and Mom loves to see her. Since Kayte is not trained specifically for this type of work, I try to keep...more
Dog lovers rejoice! I am so happy to have found Jon Katz, who writes lovingly and insightfully about his life with dogs. This book focuses on his work as a hospice volunteer and his relationship with two of his dogs in this endeavor. Some parts of the book are tough to read -- as death and the dying are always sensitive subjects -- but Katz's tales are respectful and focus on what he and the animals can give during times of need rather than the suffering of those they hope to help.
And the pictur...more
And the pictur...more
In this Jon Katz explains the impact that animals can have in our lives and how they can help you even when you don't realize it. If you are an animal lover you will probably enjoy this book. I liked it for the most part, but I felt that the chapters didn't flow very well together. He would write about his life on the farm, and all the animals he has, and then talk about certain people he visited with Izzy in Hospice, and then he would talk about his own troubles and being depressed. I think if...more
I picked up this book without reading the back cover, lured only by the cute puppy on the front and the need for something cute, light and mindless.
Instead--as probably even a cursory glance at the back would have revealed--I got a very personal and touching account of a man volunteering in hospice care and dealing with his own depression, and the two dogs that helped him along the way. The two themes were not very interconnected. Izzy, the border collie, takes the spotlight in chapters dealing...more
Instead--as probably even a cursory glance at the back would have revealed--I got a very personal and touching account of a man volunteering in hospice care and dealing with his own depression, and the two dogs that helped him along the way. The two themes were not very interconnected. Izzy, the border collie, takes the spotlight in chapters dealing...more
Nov 12, 2008
Chanita.Shannon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
animals,
depression,
dogs,
heard-the-interview-on-npr,
hospice,
inspiring,
memoir,
pets,
recommend-to-everyone
As trained hospice volunteers visiting homes and nursing facilities in upstate New York, Katz and Izzy bring comfort and canine companionship to people who most need it. An eighty-year-old Alzheimer’s patient smiles for the first time in months when she feels Izzy’s soft fur. A retired logger joyfully remembers his own beloved dog when he sees Izzy. As Izzy bonds with patients and Katz focuses on their families, the author begins to come to terms with his own life, discovering dark realities he...more
In the introduction, fourth paragraph, "The animals on my farm are simple creatures." This first use of 'farm' will not be the last and I looked at Also By and see 'The Dogs of Bedlam Farm.' Seventh paragraph, he mentions Annie, The Bedlam Farm Goddess. Eighth, "I share Bedlam Farm with..." Twelfth, "morning rounds on Bedlam Farm." Thirteen, "rural upstate New York, where the population of my farm, Bedlam Farm, keeps expanding."
Someone's Hit the Jackpot as a dog owner/lover when they meet that s...more
Someone's Hit the Jackpot as a dog owner/lover when they meet that s...more
Not a dog lover (or even a dog liker), so I was glad to find the book was not all about the dogs, and more about the owner, and part of his journey in life.
I enjoyed the accounts of his hospice volunteer work (a little voice whispering to me again?), the stories of the people he met and helped through the end of their time on earth, and the bits of faith that were sprinkled in (always room for more).
The narrator was an older man's voice, which matched the character perfectly & added to the b...more
I enjoyed the accounts of his hospice volunteer work (a little voice whispering to me again?), the stories of the people he met and helped through the end of their time on earth, and the bits of faith that were sprinkled in (always room for more).
The narrator was an older man's voice, which matched the character perfectly & added to the b...more
I enjoyed it. in many ways I am sure this book isn't different from a lot of tender animal books. But the author's involvement in Hospice was a motivation to me. I thought that would be something I could enjoy doing. The main character in the book, Izzy, a border collie (Lenore is a black lab and is on the cover), was a gifted dog who obviously could sense the needs of the hospice patients and actively try to comfort them, not just sitting by their sides and letting them pet him.
First NO DOGS DIE! Izzy is an abandoned stray that eventually helps Jon in his volunteer hospice work-intuitive and full of love for many who themselves have been abandoned by the fear of death. Lenore is a ray of sunshine who enters their lives. Together they comfort Jon as he slids into the maw of depression (not caused by hospice but his own early difficult childhood). A lovely read and reaffirming story of a good life lived. Repeat No dogs die.
This is the third book by Katz that I've read, and it's the best of them, I think. Wonderful dog stories combined with poignant musings about the author's struggle with depression, which involved confronting his childhood traumas. Nothing too maudlin--just a compelling personal story about the joys and sorrows of one man's life up till late middle age. And the usual message from Katz: dogs (animals, really) make everything better.
I love Jon Katz books. This book is a quick read, but a very enjoyable one. In it, he introduces us to Izzy and Lenore, the two newest members of his family. The best part of the book in my opinion is the stories about the hospice work that he does with Izzy and the patients that they meet. More than one time I was sobbing from being so moved by the relationship that Izzy forms with each person during this difficult time.
This is a moving and inspiring book blanketed with dignity for the dying and the wonder of the ever elusive relationship between man and his best friend. This is not a suspense, or book that keeps you up all night, but the thoughts that it invokes will live with you and may fill your thoughts at night.
Favorite line:
"Dog lovers always want a dog, of course, and continually grapple with the impulsive desire to have one more."
Favorite line:
"Dog lovers always want a dog, of course, and continually grapple with the impulsive desire to have one more."
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Jon Katz is an author, photographer, and children's book writer. He lives on Bedlam Farm with his wife, the artist Maria Wulf, his four dogs, Rose, Izzy, Lenore and Frieda, two donkeys, Lulu and Fanny, and two barn cats. His next book, "Rose In A Storm" will be published by Random House on October 5.
He is working on a collection of short stories and a book on animal grieving.
More about Jon Katz...
He is working on a collection of short stories and a book on animal grieving.
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