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22nd out of 146 books
—
105 voters
To Dance With The White Dog
by
Terry Kay
A moving story of love, grief, and coming to terms with death, this is the story of elderly Sam Peek, who is mourning the death of his beloved wife when a mysterious white dog appears.
Hardcover
Published
October 1st 1990
by Peachtree Publishers
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A Profoundly Beautiful Short Novel Filled With Insights About Life, Loss, Mystery And Hope! Not To Be Missed!
To Dance With The White Dog is one of the most beautifully written, poignant, tender, memorable, albeit at times heartbraking, books I've read in quite some time. While short in length, the book, to quote the Los Angeles Times, "moves like poetry...is a loving eulogy to old age...and is a tender celebration of life, made poignant by death so close at hand."
I won't describe the book's plot...more
To Dance With The White Dog is one of the most beautifully written, poignant, tender, memorable, albeit at times heartbraking, books I've read in quite some time. While short in length, the book, to quote the Los Angeles Times, "moves like poetry...is a loving eulogy to old age...and is a tender celebration of life, made poignant by death so close at hand."
I won't describe the book's plot...more
TO DANCE WITH THE WHITE DOG by Terry Kay is one of those books that I know I'll continue to read every few years for the rest of my life. All that he can fit into less than two hundred pages leaves me and every other reader of this book breathless and crying a mix of tears from joy and sadness.
TO DANCE WITH THE WHITE DOG primarily concerns itself with an elderly man, Sam Peek, who is a man in his early eighties that has recently suffered the loss of his wife of fifty-seven years, Cora. Once a st...more
TO DANCE WITH THE WHITE DOG primarily concerns itself with an elderly man, Sam Peek, who is a man in his early eighties that has recently suffered the loss of his wife of fifty-seven years, Cora. Once a st...more
I finished this book several days ago, and I'm still thinking about it. (That's significant for me; I tend to walk away from books, even good ones, and forget them almost instantly!)
I'm not going to give away plot points, but I'll say that there is a strong supernatural element to the book. Interestingly (and it's a rare thing when this happens in a supernatural-type book), the mystery is clearly secondary to the characters and relationships. The mystery is even left dangling a little at the end...more
I'm not going to give away plot points, but I'll say that there is a strong supernatural element to the book. Interestingly (and it's a rare thing when this happens in a supernatural-type book), the mystery is clearly secondary to the characters and relationships. The mystery is even left dangling a little at the end...more
Terry Kay has a wonderful way of making readers truly sympathize with his characters. I felt awful for Sam Peek -- Neelie nagged me just as much as she nagged him; his meddlesome daughters unnerved me with their stupid antics; and I wished I could've seen him with his wife, Cora, just as much as he wished she were still living.
I'm very sensitive to the feelings of the elderly. Each time I see or read of their loneliness, helplessness, or depression, I get choked up. I don't look forward to that...more
I'm very sensitive to the feelings of the elderly. Each time I see or read of their loneliness, helplessness, or depression, I get choked up. I don't look forward to that...more
Terry Kay is a marvelous writer. Having watching him being interviewed on his website www.terrykay.com after reading the book I found it interesting to hear him say that southern writers are more apt to write for characters than plot. This book is based on his dad. It was made into a Hallmark movie (as was three of his books) and older readers might remember it starred Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy. I came away rethinking relationships of grown children to their elderly parents, the ability to b...more
A lovely little tale about growing older and recovering after loss. An old man, now alone after the death of his beloved wife, adjusts to his life. And during this time, he is befriended by a white dog, that at first, no one else can see. But he and the dog develop a wonderful understanding, and the old man doesn't let a little thing like age stop him from living. The discussions that the old man's daughters had while worrying about him in a widowed state made me smile, for kids never seem to r...more
I think that this story is sweet, because after this elder man's wife passed away he is left lonely and without many companions. Then he finds this white "almost ghostlike" dog that won't let any one but the old man see him. i feel happy in this part of the story that he has a companion to live the most part of the rest of his life with. the people that are his naighbors and family think he is crazy and losing his mind to old age because they don't see the white dog because it is shy and doesn'...more
The whole dog/wife concept was a bit odd, but I still liked this book a lot. I thought it was interesting that the story was based on true happenings in the author's father's life. And I especially liked the interplay between the family members. I like that these books chosen for my church book club are ones that stretch my book choices and make me think about different things and situations. I hope that I am the type of old person that my family cares for and about, like the children in this st...more
I had seen the Hallmark movie years ago. Well, the book is even better! I just loved the story. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. It's a love story and a story about growing old. Sam Peek was lost when Cora died, but he wanted to keep his independece. His daughters were a real pain in the rear! At times his teasing them was a little cruel but understandable. I really liked the son in laws, who were very helpful and supportive of Sam. When Sam finally asked for help, I was...more
I suggest you not read this book. It's about old people when they get old. You know how old people are. You won't like this book. It's about families dealing with old people--fretting and fussing and worrying and calling each other all the time. You won't like reading about that, I guarantee it. Stubborn old people; you know how they are. No use reading about them. Driving slow down the road. Muttering about stuff you've already heard and don't care about. You know how it is. Why read some story...more
I had seen the Hallmark series production of Terry Kay's "To Dance With the White Dog" when it was on TV in the early '90s and remember being very inspired by the story; however, I had never read the book. I met the author at a writer's conference I attended in Athens, Georgia in 2003 and purchased an autographed copy. I'm so happy that I had the chance to be re-introduced to this tender story. As well as being inspirational, this is one of the best character-driven novels I've ever read. Terry...more
This was a very sweet story.
Sam Peeks wife of over 50 years has just passed away. He misses her but remains stubborn. He still wants to take care of his apple plants, live alone in his house, drive around in his beat-up pick-up, much to the dismay of his overly concerned daugthers. Its funny when he baits his daughers concerns. If he cranks up his pick-up in the middle of the night, within seconds both daughters lights turn on.
Then a white dog appears and for the longest time no one sees it but...more
Sam Peeks wife of over 50 years has just passed away. He misses her but remains stubborn. He still wants to take care of his apple plants, live alone in his house, drive around in his beat-up pick-up, much to the dismay of his overly concerned daugthers. Its funny when he baits his daughers concerns. If he cranks up his pick-up in the middle of the night, within seconds both daughters lights turn on.
Then a white dog appears and for the longest time no one sees it but...more
This is a book I picked because Nicholas Sparks said it is one of his favorites. It is an old book and was made into a movie. Nicholas said it was one of the best examples of a good old-time southern story. he was right. I liked it very much. And it is such a quick and loveley read. Probably I'd mark it more of 4.5 stars.
The children are watching their very independent father age, diminish physically and then they suspect his mind is going. He knows all this. Hears them whisper to each other, fe...more
The children are watching their very independent father age, diminish physically and then they suspect his mind is going. He knows all this. Hears them whisper to each other, fe...more
So beautifully succinct in the storytelling! Elder life/death experiences, the depth of small lives. This book is so well written. I read it in one sitting. Plot points were so well crafted that each time there was a rise in worry, I was surprised by a simple twist that made the story new. I chose this book because Nicholas Sparks said it is one of his favorite Southern Novels in an article in Southern Living.
Terry Kay is a very gifted story teller; I saw the made for TV movie years ago but I am so glad that I read the book. The story is more complex than the movie could convey; dog lovers will love this book. It is based on Terry Kay's parents and is a remarkable account of two people who loved each other. The sentences are simple but elegant and I could see each character in my head including the white dog.
I picked this because of the title as I loved my white dog so much. I found that it was not only about a white dog, it was a touching story's about love, loss and aging. It was also the story of children of aging parents. Sam wanted to keep his independence as long as possible, but his family was there for him when he suffered cancer. Apparently it was based on the authors real life parents, Sam and his love for Cora
I read this because I got it for a dollar for the Kindle and because I remember seeing the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie when I was a kid; I remember it distinctly because it was the first movie to touch me enough to bring me to tears. Either the movie was a lot better, or my taste has improved significantly in the past twenty years. (Oh, let it be the latter, please!)
I don't know...
The review I read of this book was much much better than the actual thing.
It reminded me of "The Memory Keeper's Daughter", which also got raves that made it seem like a must-read. It means to pull at your heartstrings, but the story is manipulative, predictable, and studied. The "magic" is forced, the characters irritating and flat.
Don't bother.
The review I read of this book was much much better than the actual thing.
It reminded me of "The Memory Keeper's Daughter", which also got raves that made it seem like a must-read. It means to pull at your heartstrings, but the story is manipulative, predictable, and studied. The "magic" is forced, the characters irritating and flat.
Don't bother.
I saw "To Dance with the White Dog" as a Hallmark Special and I loved the movie. It starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn as the aging couple. I believe they were married in real life. When I saw the book was out in paperback I bought the book. I love the book as much as the movie. I highly recommend the book and the movie. I read this sometime in the 1990s.
I gave this book 5 stars because it was perfect for what it was- it made me think of my Memama (as we watched this movie together before) but also because it is written about the challenges of growing old, having your family busting all around you. The last paragraph of this book gave me chills.
Read- it's sweet, doesn't take long, but will stay with you.
Read- it's sweet, doesn't take long, but will stay with you.
Wonderfully written book with a great story of love & loss. I was also pleasantly surprised to read the author's note at the end of the story that it is "loosely" based on real events he experienced with his mom & dad & that by changing the story he doesn't want to "offend the truth. I only wish to celebrate its spirit." I feel he succeeded!
This is a wonderful book written from the point of view of the older, ailing person. A friend recommended it to me and she was right. It really helped me to understand how the ailing person sees the help you want to offer. Kind of difficult to read in parts because it is not necessarily what you might want to hear. But good to hear, nevertheless.
Feb 10, 2010
Anita Anders
added it
I loved this book, even though it's a little "out there." If you've lost one parent and the mate is still living, it's a wonderful picture of the grieving process of the one left, especially someone who's been married for a long time. Very nostalgic and sentimental, but one has to suspend a little reality.
Already fussing with the idea of leaving my engineering career to try my hand at writing when I read this book (on Gary Carden's recommendation), I was startled to discover that Terry Kay lived just down the street. I called him. We discussed writing. In a nutshell, his advice to me was: don't quit your day job.
Now that I'm a Georgia resident it's about time I read some books by Georgia authors. I started with Terry Kay because I recently heard him speak at a meeting I attended. This book is about aging, love, loss and family. I loved it. The main character lives in Georgia has just become a widower. His grown children start treating him as if he doesn't know anything. He befriends a white dog who ends up being his companion, but he's the only one can see the white dog. Of course his family thinks he's...more
This book is definitely a Five Star book. And like the white dog dances into the protagonist's life after his wife of many years dies, this book danced into my life at a time when I needed to be enchanted and lifted up by a tale. I fell in love with the character who goes on a journey; who couldn't empathize with him as he encounters trouble and puzzlement on his adventure? This is simply a delightful book.
This was a wonderful book - sad, funny, heartwarming but not saccharine. The relationships among Sam Peek and his children felt very authentic. And Kay has a fine ear - all the dialogue sounds absolutely real. Based on the life of the author's father. I liked it so much that after I finished it, I went right back and skimmed it a second time. Great read.
Southern Living quoted this as Nicholas Sparks favorite book. It had me crying in the first or second chapter. I liked seeing Sam's new life as a widower from his perspective. Hope it will help me be more understanding about how unnerving it is to become more and more dependent. I liked the story, it was an easy read, but I like Sparks' books better.
The story of an elderly man whose wife dies unexpectedly, this certainly started out very sad. It's not all doom and gloom - he befriends a stray dog, and the rest of the story catalogues his memories and what his life is like after the death of his wife.
It's fairly short - I'd recommend it to everyone.
It's fairly short - I'd recommend it to everyone.
Our club enjoyed the book as a break from some heavier ones recently read. Lots of discussion about why some people see the dog and others don't, different ways families cope with death and illness, and whether Sam's children were justified in their concerns.
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TERRY KAY, a 2006 inductee into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, is the author of The Book of Marie, recently released by Mercer University Press. Kay has been a sports writer and film/theater reviewer (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), a public relations executive, and a corporate officer. He is the author of nine other published novels, including To Dance with the White Dog, The Valley of Light, T...more
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Jun 28, 2012 08:19pm