In "Dog Days," Jon Katz, the squire of Bedlam Farm, allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable ...
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Aug 11, 2008
Lynn
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I began with 'A Dog Year' several years ago and it will always be on a short list of favorite books for me. 'Dog Days' is the continuing story of Jon Katz and his life on Bedlam Farm(with several other books in between). He continues to adjust to now a variety of animals, but with special emphasis on his dogs and their roles in his life and on the farm. He is very open about his struggles in life and how animals have played a strong role in life changes he has made. It in no way makes me hav
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Jan 26, 2011
Julia
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I read this because Jon Katz, who lives a few counties away, came to my public library (standing room only!) to talk about his writing, his newest novel Rose in a Storm, writing in general, living with dogs and other animals on a farm in Upstate New York.
I live in Upstate, some of my friends live on farms, but I do not. And I've never had a dog. I don't want to live on a farm, thank you! I'm more of a cat person. (Please don't hurt me, all you dog lovers!) I like a lot of what he had More...
I live in Upstate, some of my friends live on farms, but I do not. And I've never had a dog. I don't want to live on a farm, thank you! I'm more of a cat person. (Please don't hurt me, all you dog lovers!) I like a lot of what he had More...
Nov 13, 2009
BarkLessWagMore
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I enjoyed this book so very much and am going to search out his others. The author chronicles his life as a newish care-taker of various animals including dogs, donkeys, sheep and even two cows. His rural neighbors are friendly but I guess think he's a little odd what with his penchant for taking in useless animals such as donkeys but it seems he's winning at least a few of them over as one asks him to "buy" a cow that he just can't bring to slaughter. The book is filled with love and
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Aug 14, 2011
Michelle
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This book is written by an ignorant man. He buys MULTIPLE border collies, without any experience and ends up having his "heart dog" killed because he couldn't be arsed to take the time to properly train and manage him. If he worked with a behaviorist, I could respect his decision, but he didn't. He was treating a working animal like a pet, when the temperaments are completely different. He also throws one of the dogs with the sheep to teach itself--a recipe for disaster.
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Apr 08, 2009
Gemma
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Another wonderful installment of Katz's life on a small farm in West Hebron, NY.
I picked up my first Katz book entirely on a whim. I saw a border collie on the cover, scan read the blurb, and threw it onto a huge pile of library books I was collecting. Once I started reading, I was hooked, and I've been eagerly tracking down his books ever since.
In this installment, we're reminded of the animal cast at his farm, and introduced to new faces. Katz continues to write with a More...
I picked up my first Katz book entirely on a whim. I saw a border collie on the cover, scan read the blurb, and threw it onto a huge pile of library books I was collecting. Once I started reading, I was hooked, and I've been eagerly tracking down his books ever since.
In this installment, we're reminded of the animal cast at his farm, and introduced to new faces. Katz continues to write with a More...
Apr 09, 2009
Cjusti
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This book gives the individual who has an aspirations of becoming a farmer or wanting to have a ranch a hard reality check. Farmers and ranchers who raise animals as a means of making a living, have to make some very hard decisions and they make them matter-of-factly and swiftly. Jon like most city folks wants to treat every critter as if they were a pet. He comes to find out that it is one thing to go to great lengths to care for a dog, no matter the medical costs, but an entirely different
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Mar 15, 2008
Melissa
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I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The dogs were awesome, and the pictures were great, but this guy is no James Herriott. His writing was repetitive and just not all that interesting in a lot of places. I want to read about your kick-ass dogs, not the Grunt-and-Grumble-whatever.
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Apr 13, 2010
Forrest
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I enjoyed reading this book. This is the first Jon Katz book I have read. After reading this book, I will seek out books written by him. I picked out this book only as a lark, but happy I selected it. I agree with Katz philosophy about dogs - that they are animals, companions and soul-mates, but they are not human. Katz does a good job in communicating his love for his dogs, Rose, Izzy, Pearl and Clem. Each dog, two of them working dogs, have their own characteristics, personalities, and ab
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May 06, 2010
Eva
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I wasn't sure what I'd think of Dog Days because I'm kind of picky with the dog books I read. I ended up enjoying this and not picking up anythng else while I was reading this. If we had the option of half stars I'd give it a 3.5 for sure. And I'm definitely more eager to read more of his books, especially the two or three I already have stashed somewhere.
Katz isn't your average dog owner. This is the reason I recommend it to "open-minded" dog lovers and owners. I wasn't really More...
Katz isn't your average dog owner. This is the reason I recommend it to "open-minded" dog lovers and owners. I wasn't really More...
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Apr 14, 2011
Angela
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 19, 2008
Sfdreams
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I have been a fan of Jon Katz for many years. I REALLY enjoyed his suburban dectective series--I wish he still wrote mysteries. But his nonfiction dog books give me a glimpse into his life. And it almost makes me want to have my own small farm. (But I know I am too lazy to all the work it takes to keep a farm going, and would need lots of $$$ to hire others to do it for me!)
I read this book in two days, then gave it to my 85 year old father, who read it in about the same time frame. More...
I read this book in two days, then gave it to my 85 year old father, who read it in about the same time frame. More...
May 25, 2010
Barb
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I listened to this on audio. This one was just okay for me. It's about life on the farm where dogs are herding sheep, donkeys grazing in the pasture and how the dogs know their jobs so well. I know there's a little more to it than that. The author seems to be a good writer and I will try a few more of his books and see how that goes. I love dogs, but this one was just a little bit boring.
Jun 09, 2011
Red
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I enjoyed hearing the stories of life on this hobby farm. But I'm not sure I like Mr. Katz' writing style enough to seek out any of his other books. The book it seems is a collection of individual, stand-alone essays, and as such, when read one after the other, they are very repetitive on some aspects. Even within an essay he tends to repeat himself a lot. I found that to be pretty tedious, and boring. Other then that one aspect, the content was very enjoyable.
Feb 21, 2010
Helen
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Jon Katz seems to have moved away from his original purpose of writing books about the challenges of raising dogs. Although there are some chapters in this book about his beloved dogs (Rose, Izzy, Pearl, Clementine), much of the book is about the trials and tribulations of becoming a farm owner. His menagerie grows to include several donkeys, a rooster, cows and of course, sheep. The book reads like a series of memoirs - with chapters focusing on one or more of the animals or people in his wo
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Jul 14, 2009
tana
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I absolutely adored "A Dog Year" and had great expectations for this book. But I was floored when I found out that he had had Orson killed, and I could not read this book with an open mind. I lost respect for the man and can never read one of his books again.
Aug 03, 2011
LeeAnn *the crazy, hell on wheels crip*
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i love this book! i am almost done with it, on chapter 17 [of 20]. i'm listening to the audiobook this time... if you love any animal created, especially dogs - read this or get the audio version. you'll laugh, cry, want to be in the story itself!
Jun 01, 2010
Cheryl
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I ran across this book while looking at gardening books, and took it home because of the picture on the cover. I liked this book for a relaxing easy read - really just stories from the farm...about the animals and the neighbors and of course the dogs.
May 26, 2009
Sue
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Naturally, people refer me to pet books all the time, but this one came highly recommended because of the way it was written, as well as the content. I am SO glad I picked it up (and couldn't put it down.) Now I must read all the other 16 in the series!
Jul 07, 2011
In my opion this book was really good because of the fact that it gave a story about a man and his farm with four dogs, sheep cattle, a cow and donkeys. Three of his dogs are sheep dogs and one is a yellow lab.
Feb 20, 2009
Linda
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i devoured this book in a weekend. i love books about animals and like my other pick the "Daily coyote" the author leads my dream life of giving up surburban-urban life for country-farm living. very good book
Feb 19, 2010
Suzanna
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A nice happy read about a man trying to do right by his dogs, and admitting he's not perfect. Humorous anectedotes about sheep, cows, dogs and people. I read this book when I want to feel better.
Nov 01, 2009
Brittany
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So far this book has made me realize that deep down I'd rather be outside all day working with the animals than sitting at a desk... even if I only live vicariously through this writer. Great book for those who wish the same...
Feb 01, 2009
Kim
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Very sweet and an honest look at time on his farm, his relationships, and himself. I very much enjoyed his relationships with his animals and how he grew because of them.
Apr 18, 2011
Sherry
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 07, 2009
Stacey
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This is a book not just about a wonderful farm but it is a story about an individual's journey to his own peace and life meaning. It is a glorious read - something that instills a sense of the sacredness of life.
Aug 12, 2011
Sara
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This is the fifth book I've read by Katz. I enjoyed it as much as the others. He returns to telling of life on his farm with his beloved pets/animals. If you enjoy reading about animals and their role in modern times, give it a read.
Feb 24, 2008
Lisa
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"In Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm", Jon Katz shares his stories of living on a farm in Vermont with dogs, sheep, donkeys, chickens, a couple of cows and various other animals. Motivated to move north to give his beloved border collie a place to herd sheep, Katz began to take in animals and adapt to life on a farm. Each chapter is a stand-alone story in which we learn more about the animals on his farm, his neighbors and fellow farmers, and mostly Jon Katz. Katz has written a
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May 30, 2011
Melissa
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I LOVE the Jon Katz books about his dogs and farm. They are always a fast read for me because I cannot put them down.
Feb 24, 2011
Love Jon Katz's stories about his dogs and the adventures they have and where loving dogs leads him in his life.
