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The Dog Stays in the Picture: Life Lessons from a Rescued Greyhound
“Morse’s touching and sometimes laugh-out-loud memoir reminds us that in the act of rescuing someone else, we often end up saving ourselves.” —Lee Woodruff, bestselling author and contributing reporter for CBS This Morning
It is November 2009, and after mourning the loss of Arrow, their beloved Australian shepherd mutt, Susan and David Morse and family are finally ready to adopt a new dog. David’s acting jobs keep him away from home for long stretches of time, the last two teenagers are on their way to college, and this time it’s Susan’s turn to pick the dog. She probably should have thought a little more carefully before falling for a retired racing greyhound.
Enter Lilly, who lands like a disoriented neutron bomb in Susan’s comfortable suburban home after living the first three years of her life in the rugged and ruthless world of the racetrack. Instantly lovable but hopelessly inept at domesticity, Lilly turns out to be more than Susan bargained for, throwing all Susan and David’s plans for their long-anticipated, footloose empty-nest years into complete disarray.
In The Dog Stays in the Picture, Susan Morse tells the hilarious and moving story of how an anxious dog and a high-strung woman find tranquility together.
It is November 2009, and after mourning the loss of Arrow, their beloved Australian shepherd mutt, Susan and David Morse and family are finally ready to adopt a new dog. David’s acting jobs keep him away from home for long stretches of time, the last two teenagers are on their way to college, and this time it’s Susan’s turn to pick the dog. She probably should have thought a little more carefully before falling for a retired racing greyhound.
Enter Lilly, who lands like a disoriented neutron bomb in Susan’s comfortable suburban home after living the first three years of her life in the rugged and ruthless world of the racetrack. Instantly lovable but hopelessly inept at domesticity, Lilly turns out to be more than Susan bargained for, throwing all Susan and David’s plans for their long-anticipated, footloose empty-nest years into complete disarray.
In The Dog Stays in the Picture, Susan Morse tells the hilarious and moving story of how an anxious dog and a high-strung woman find tranquility together.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
25 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Susan Morse
7 books5 followersBestselling author Susan Morse was educated at Williams College and has worked as an actress in L.A. and New York. She now lives in Philadelphia with her husband, actor David Morse. She has edited fiction, although The Habit is nonfiction. Mostly. She promises.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 27, 2020
Not as much about the dog as I would have thought, but still a well written story about what it is like to be a slightly neurotic woman married to a chaotic actor, raising a chaotic family and rescuing a very neurotic greyhound. It amuses.
August 27, 2014
I received this via Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
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A sweet read :) I loved reading about Lilly and Susan, and Susan/David's efforts to bond with Lilly and give her her "Forever Home"
The named Morse sounded familiar but I couldn't place it... some pages later, I learned her husband was David Morse:
There was a good balance of the Morse's life and Lilly's... it was a little heavy on the owners but Susan/David and their family were so interesting that I didn't mind. The pictures and little snippets from Lilly's point-of-view were precious, never failed to make me smile.
Lilly reminded me of Tasha, in how sweet she was sometimes.
*Side Note: Loved the bit were Susan was researching her genealogy, some interesting stories on her family tree*
"Mother Brigid" was a colorful lady... though a certain antecdote with puppies had me glaring and gritting my teeth.
I loved learning a little bit about greyhounds... all I knew before was that they were beautiful dogs and that some people raced them. I commend Susan/David for adopting Lilly and making such an effort to connect with her. I wouldn't want a greyhound myself but I can see why people love them.
Susan's a talented writer... her personality and voice shine through wonderfully :). She's one of those people I would love to meet and have lunch with, to pick her brain.
Would recommend :) A quick read that'll make ya smile.
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~~~~~
A sweet read :) I loved reading about Lilly and Susan, and Susan/David's efforts to bond with Lilly and give her her "Forever Home"
The named Morse sounded familiar but I couldn't place it... some pages later, I learned her husband was David Morse:
There was a good balance of the Morse's life and Lilly's... it was a little heavy on the owners but Susan/David and their family were so interesting that I didn't mind. The pictures and little snippets from Lilly's point-of-view were precious, never failed to make me smile.
Lilly reminded me of Tasha, in how sweet she was sometimes.
*Side Note: Loved the bit were Susan was researching her genealogy, some interesting stories on her family tree*
"Mother Brigid" was a colorful lady... though a certain antecdote with puppies had me glaring and gritting my teeth.
I loved learning a little bit about greyhounds... all I knew before was that they were beautiful dogs and that some people raced them. I commend Susan/David for adopting Lilly and making such an effort to connect with her. I wouldn't want a greyhound myself but I can see why people love them.
Susan's a talented writer... her personality and voice shine through wonderfully :). She's one of those people I would love to meet and have lunch with, to pick her brain.
Would recommend :) A quick read that'll make ya smile.
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January 11, 2015
First off, I got this book free through the goodreads first reads program.
This book at times was laugh out loud funny, but at other times, the book felt like one was trudging through nothingness and rambling about something that seems so minute and not necessary.
The dog was oddly missing considering how strong the emphasis was on the dog. I get it, the book was supposed to show how the dog helped her with her empty-nest syndrome, but it focused more on David, Susan Moore's husband. There was a five chapter spell with minimal interest in the dog.
But a cute read, and fun at times.
This book at times was laugh out loud funny, but at other times, the book felt like one was trudging through nothingness and rambling about something that seems so minute and not necessary.
The dog was oddly missing considering how strong the emphasis was on the dog. I get it, the book was supposed to show how the dog helped her with her empty-nest syndrome, but it focused more on David, Susan Moore's husband. There was a five chapter spell with minimal interest in the dog.
But a cute read, and fun at times.
Read
November 21, 2024Mainly read this to get dirt on my friend’s childhood 😉 and to see the sweet pictures of his family and pets
September 22, 2014
Down to earth and fun, Susan Morse's new book was a quick, happy read one sleepless night. A fairly anxious woman approaching the empty nest adopts a rescue greyhound with demons of her own. Who saves whom? Yes, you already get it. Is there anything new here in the genre of "Dog book"? Maybe not, but I really liked her voice and greyhounds deserve their own love letter. Thank you, Vromans, for the chance to read it.
February 18, 2021
"The Dog Stays in the Picture: Life Lessons form a Rescued Greyhound"
by Susan Morse
Reviewed on 18 Feb 2021
Every dog has a story, and every person has a story. Sometimes, these two collide with each other. This story just happens to be more about the author Susan Morse and her actor husband than it does about the rescued greyhound dog. The dog is the main reason why I picked up this book. Dogs can help people through all sorts of loneliness, depression and ailments. They are amazing creatures.
I'm very big into authors who can write well. It's a skill that many people (including me) can not master. The sentence structures need to perfect. The plot needs to be enticing. It's not fair for me to rate a memoir about someone's struggle as an empty nester. However, if you are going to write a book about it for others to read, I can give a rating on how much I felt connected to the characters in the story.
This book may be useful for other people who's kids are leaving the home. If you're picking it up purely to learn more about dogs, there are other titles that are much more interesting, helpful and entertaining.
by Susan Morse
Reviewed on 18 Feb 2021
Every dog has a story, and every person has a story. Sometimes, these two collide with each other. This story just happens to be more about the author Susan Morse and her actor husband than it does about the rescued greyhound dog. The dog is the main reason why I picked up this book. Dogs can help people through all sorts of loneliness, depression and ailments. They are amazing creatures.
I'm very big into authors who can write well. It's a skill that many people (including me) can not master. The sentence structures need to perfect. The plot needs to be enticing. It's not fair for me to rate a memoir about someone's struggle as an empty nester. However, if you are going to write a book about it for others to read, I can give a rating on how much I felt connected to the characters in the story.
This book may be useful for other people who's kids are leaving the home. If you're picking it up purely to learn more about dogs, there are other titles that are much more interesting, helpful and entertaining.
August 7, 2018
More of an Empty Nest story where the author happens to have a dog, rather than a story about greyhound rescue and the impact it has on a family. Maybe 15% of the book is about the greyhound, which is disappointing given the title, and that I got this book specifically because of the greyhound. Nice insight into the health problems suffered by the author and her actor husband, David Morse.
December 26, 2016
2 stars: "it was ok"
There did not seem to be that much about the dog! - - The greyhound was the reason that I wanted to read it in the first place.
There did not seem to be that much about the dog! - - The greyhound was the reason that I wanted to read it in the first place.
April 25, 2021
Breezy rambling story of the author's experiences with empty nest, a rescue greyhound with anxiety issues and the meaning of life while aging.
July 28, 2021
I wish it had more about dogs in it.
July 9, 2024
Reading it was like listening to someone talk on and on, often about irrelevant stuff. Good info about greyhounds tho
January 8, 2016
The Dog Stays in the Picture was just a bit of a disappointment, mostly because the dog - a rescue greyhound called Lilly - wasn't the focus for so much of it. Okay, I should have read the sub-title. I was expecting a book about a recue greyhound and instead it's a book about the author. They do tie in from time to time, such as when author Susan Morse talks about her family origins, before going on to Lilly's - and of course, greyhound owners do that, because their lineage is so carefully recorded. They all trace back to a very few dogs, and many have distinguished doggy forbears (fordogs?) I've been through it all with the rescue in our family, Milly: it's easy when you have the dog's kennel name and ID to look her up online and even see her racing history. Even if you don't approve of racing there's something about knowing your about own dog's life, and like Morse, I also got interested in, and researched in a desultory - but for a day or two obsessive - way. And I'm glad that Morse takes time to make clear some of the horrors of racing, which make our survivor dogs so much more precious and admirable - you went through all that, and you can find so much love and warmth for us? Of course you can have the sofa to yourself, darling, and let me get you some cheese.
I suppose, too, that Susan Morse and I have more in common than a rescue grey - much of the book centres on the disabling condition she develops, eventually diagnosed as anaplasmosis, a tick-born disease. While looking for a diagnosis she inevitably went down other routes with a nod to hypermobility syndromes and similar, but I must admit to having lost my evangelical interest in chronic conditions, and I wanted more about the dog, dammit!
If you're thinking of adopting a rescue greyhound, this might be a good place to start, especially if you are interested in recent American television series (Morse's husband is an actor). I don't think you'd emerge with any illusions about just how demanding a grey can be, especially when they haven't had much socialisation, or a proper puppyhood. But you might also get just an inkling of how rewarding and lovable they can be. Here's Morse on one of my favourite characteristics:
"I can't get enough of Lilly's glorious thirty-second speed demonstrations. have to catch her in the right mood, usually sometime in the late afternoon, when she rouses from her nap and starts hinting about dinner... she gets this goofy grin on her face, spinning madly in place for a while sort of winding herself up, and then she's off for a few gleeful laps around the yard, just for the joy of it."
Yup, recognise that - Milly even chooses the same time of day.
My copy was courtesy of NetGalley.
I suppose, too, that Susan Morse and I have more in common than a rescue grey - much of the book centres on the disabling condition she develops, eventually diagnosed as anaplasmosis, a tick-born disease. While looking for a diagnosis she inevitably went down other routes with a nod to hypermobility syndromes and similar, but I must admit to having lost my evangelical interest in chronic conditions, and I wanted more about the dog, dammit!
If you're thinking of adopting a rescue greyhound, this might be a good place to start, especially if you are interested in recent American television series (Morse's husband is an actor). I don't think you'd emerge with any illusions about just how demanding a grey can be, especially when they haven't had much socialisation, or a proper puppyhood. But you might also get just an inkling of how rewarding and lovable they can be. Here's Morse on one of my favourite characteristics:
"I can't get enough of Lilly's glorious thirty-second speed demonstrations. have to catch her in the right mood, usually sometime in the late afternoon, when she rouses from her nap and starts hinting about dinner... she gets this goofy grin on her face, spinning madly in place for a while sort of winding herself up, and then she's off for a few gleeful laps around the yard, just for the joy of it."
Yup, recognise that - Milly even chooses the same time of day.
My copy was courtesy of NetGalley.
November 11, 2014
There is separation anxiety and emotional dependence, but also much humor and down-to-earth wisdom in this memoir about a Hollywood actor's family and their rescued Greyhound dog. Is it a blessing in disguise or a Freudian slip that, just as the nest is emptying with the last kids off to college, and Susan Morse having a chance to travel to movie locations with her husband, she decides to rescue a retired Greyhound in need of a Forever Home?
Lilly, the soulful needy former racetrack dog, stole my heart with her actions and occasional comments, as translated by the author. I also empathized with Susan, the wife of actor David Morse, hoping she wouldn't have to make a choice between Lilly and her husband. Lilly's needs were so critical that Susan had to take precautions and make dog-sitting arrangements when leaving the house, even for small errands.
I enjoyed this family's story and found them appealingly unusual, an actor's family living like ordinary people, not like Hollywood types: Susan and David in their first marriage celebrating 30 years together, moving to Philadelphia after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Perhaps moving away from Hollywood kept them 'normal.'
Besides the ups and downs of caring for Lilly, there were the usual unexpected crises with three nearly-grown children away at college, and Susan's mother, who had become a Christian Orthodox nun after leaving her marriage. The various episodes read smoothly and kept me turning the pages, but the telling of Susan's mysterious illness seemed overlong. She had become suddenly and strangely ill after the nest emptied and David was on location in New Orleans, leaving her alone to nurture Lilly in her(Susan's) decrepit condition. I was glad when a diagnosis was revealed, as I had worried it was psychosomatic and Susan finally undone.
But Susan and Lilly were ever the heroines in this lively book of incidents and insights with family and dog.
Lilly, the soulful needy former racetrack dog, stole my heart with her actions and occasional comments, as translated by the author. I also empathized with Susan, the wife of actor David Morse, hoping she wouldn't have to make a choice between Lilly and her husband. Lilly's needs were so critical that Susan had to take precautions and make dog-sitting arrangements when leaving the house, even for small errands.
I enjoyed this family's story and found them appealingly unusual, an actor's family living like ordinary people, not like Hollywood types: Susan and David in their first marriage celebrating 30 years together, moving to Philadelphia after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Perhaps moving away from Hollywood kept them 'normal.'
Besides the ups and downs of caring for Lilly, there were the usual unexpected crises with three nearly-grown children away at college, and Susan's mother, who had become a Christian Orthodox nun after leaving her marriage. The various episodes read smoothly and kept me turning the pages, but the telling of Susan's mysterious illness seemed overlong. She had become suddenly and strangely ill after the nest emptied and David was on location in New Orleans, leaving her alone to nurture Lilly in her(Susan's) decrepit condition. I was glad when a diagnosis was revealed, as I had worried it was psychosomatic and Susan finally undone.
But Susan and Lilly were ever the heroines in this lively book of incidents and insights with family and dog.
August 31, 2014
After mourning the death of their Australian shepherd, Arrow, and with their youngest two children about to start college, it's time to add a new dog to the family. Or so Susan Morse thinks. Husband David is not so sure. He's especially not sure they want a rescue greyhound. But since David had more or less sprung Arrow on her as a surprise, all those years ago, Susan figures it's her turn to choose, and she's become fascinated by greyhounds.
Lilly is sweet, loving, intelligent, wary of men, suffering from separation anxiety... She's not going to be an easy dog, but Susan is in love. She sets to work helping Lilly adapt to her safe, comfortable new life, and to weave her into her and David's new life with the children out of the house, leaving Susan free to travel with him to his acting jobs on location.
Then Susan gets ambushed by a health crisis threatening to upend all her plans and hopes.
This is a short, charming memoir. Susan has a sense of humor about the challenges she faces, and the members of this family love and respect each other in all their individual quirkiness. Her storytelling style is cheerfully non-sequential, and family history and the challenges of raising a secure, happy family around the challenges and unpredictability of David's acting career are interwoven with the challenges and issues of Lilly's emotional recovery and Susan's own health problems.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley.
Lilly is sweet, loving, intelligent, wary of men, suffering from separation anxiety... She's not going to be an easy dog, but Susan is in love. She sets to work helping Lilly adapt to her safe, comfortable new life, and to weave her into her and David's new life with the children out of the house, leaving Susan free to travel with him to his acting jobs on location.
Then Susan gets ambushed by a health crisis threatening to upend all her plans and hopes.
This is a short, charming memoir. Susan has a sense of humor about the challenges she faces, and the members of this family love and respect each other in all their individual quirkiness. Her storytelling style is cheerfully non-sequential, and family history and the challenges of raising a secure, happy family around the challenges and unpredictability of David's acting career are interwoven with the challenges and issues of Lilly's emotional recovery and Susan's own health problems.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley.
October 7, 2014
I was so hopeful for this book! :( It drew me in when I read this woman had an Australian Shepherd and when it died she got a retired Greyhound. The love of my life, my Aussie, my son, my life had to be euthanized from cancer at the young age of 11 this year! It nearly killed me! My doctors and family pushed me into getting another dog that I never planned on getting. This is my Lucy, the retired racing greyhound. I was so excited thinking, this book is just for me, I can't believe we have something so similiar.
Well, I'm sorry but this book didn't mention the Aussie but a few times and didn't mention Lilly the greyhound too much either. It was mostly about her trying to find something to fill her time when they have the empty nest of the kids going to college, her husband who is the famous actor we all know (by face for me not the name), back and forth from when the kids were young to when they were grown.
She mentioned a few things about retired hounds that are true and people should know, but the book was worthless to me in the fact that I was looking for a kindred spirit from what the book stated. I'm not saying anything bad about the author because I love memoirs about people, I read them all of the time. It's just this was supposed to be about her dogs and some of her life from what I thought I read and it just wasn't. It was sad for me when I wanted to read about her love for her Aussie and Greyhound :(
Well, I'm sorry but this book didn't mention the Aussie but a few times and didn't mention Lilly the greyhound too much either. It was mostly about her trying to find something to fill her time when they have the empty nest of the kids going to college, her husband who is the famous actor we all know (by face for me not the name), back and forth from when the kids were young to when they were grown.
She mentioned a few things about retired hounds that are true and people should know, but the book was worthless to me in the fact that I was looking for a kindred spirit from what the book stated. I'm not saying anything bad about the author because I love memoirs about people, I read them all of the time. It's just this was supposed to be about her dogs and some of her life from what I thought I read and it just wasn't. It was sad for me when I wanted to read about her love for her Aussie and Greyhound :(
October 16, 2014
A chatty writing style, filled with digressions, filled with fun, and somehow always getting back to the point because Susan Morse is a mother and mothers by definition cope really well with distractions, and dogs, it seems... but where was I? A chatty fun-filled writing style characterizes this tale of an emptying next, a worrying mother, and a dog.
Actually, it’s also the story of a good wholesome family with photos where Dad looks like an ex-con, terror tales are told in school, college applications devour the household, and a well-packed earthquake kit lurks with the cat in the basement. But Lilly the greyhound’s the star, and I’m bound to be hooked since my brother and sister-in-law have greyhounds. Did you know...? No, let the author tell the tale. Greyhounds are cool, they’re not like other dogs, but you’ll have to find out for yourselves.
There are detours through alternative medicine, genealogy and more, fascinating visits to the world of movies and TV (via husband David Morse) and to Japan, strange flushing toilets and a wealth of good friends and good dialog, all making this a thoroughly enjoyable short read, especially for anyone who’s ever been a mother, wife, daughter or dog-lover. Guys might like it too. In fact, guys might learn a thing or two about their wives... but I’m digressing. I love this book.
Disclosure: I was asked if I’d like to review it and I said yes please.
Actually, it’s also the story of a good wholesome family with photos where Dad looks like an ex-con, terror tales are told in school, college applications devour the household, and a well-packed earthquake kit lurks with the cat in the basement. But Lilly the greyhound’s the star, and I’m bound to be hooked since my brother and sister-in-law have greyhounds. Did you know...? No, let the author tell the tale. Greyhounds are cool, they’re not like other dogs, but you’ll have to find out for yourselves.
There are detours through alternative medicine, genealogy and more, fascinating visits to the world of movies and TV (via husband David Morse) and to Japan, strange flushing toilets and a wealth of good friends and good dialog, all making this a thoroughly enjoyable short read, especially for anyone who’s ever been a mother, wife, daughter or dog-lover. Guys might like it too. In fact, guys might learn a thing or two about their wives... but I’m digressing. I love this book.
Disclosure: I was asked if I’d like to review it and I said yes please.
June 2, 2015
My husband and I are the proud parents of two retired greyhounds, an ebony minx named Jenna and a mellow brindle gentleman named Trey. We are very familiar with the unique rewards and challenges faced when introducing these beautiful and underappreciated dogs into the family. When a greyhound leaves the track and becomes a pet, life is filled with new and unexpected experiences.
When Susan Morse adopts Lilly, both are entering the second stage of their lives. The Morse children have left home to go to college, leaving Susan uncertain about what the future will hold. Both Susan and Lilly have difficulty adapting to the changes in their lives. Although the trials they face are different, there is a common underlying current. Some events lead to laughter, others frustration. On the whole, life is filled with love and joy, and challenges are transformed into opportunities.
The Dog Stays in the Picture is a delightful memoir about a maturing woman finding ways to redefine her life after her children have left the nest. Lilly plays an integral role, but the book does not center around her.
I would recommend this book to greyhound lovers, people who enjoy memoirs and biographies, and women who enjoy a frank and humorous book about life after motherhood.
--Crittermom
When Susan Morse adopts Lilly, both are entering the second stage of their lives. The Morse children have left home to go to college, leaving Susan uncertain about what the future will hold. Both Susan and Lilly have difficulty adapting to the changes in their lives. Although the trials they face are different, there is a common underlying current. Some events lead to laughter, others frustration. On the whole, life is filled with love and joy, and challenges are transformed into opportunities.
The Dog Stays in the Picture is a delightful memoir about a maturing woman finding ways to redefine her life after her children have left the nest. Lilly plays an integral role, but the book does not center around her.
I would recommend this book to greyhound lovers, people who enjoy memoirs and biographies, and women who enjoy a frank and humorous book about life after motherhood.
--Crittermom
October 2, 2014
I am not usually one for reading celebrity memoirs (the sweet dog face on the cover clearly distracted me from reading the book’s description more thoroughly!), but Morse’s husband, David is the more famous of the pair and from the book’s very first pages it is obvious the large role that Hollywood has played in their lives. This memoir is written in a surprisingly intimate manner but it is certainly an engaging and shockingly relatable read. It moves along at a fast pace and I admit to enjoying it more than I expected after its opening scenes.
The inclusion of the family photos are nice, but parts of the book read a bit too much like a diary for my liking. These sections slow down the overall pacing, but it’s still a quick read - I read it cover to cover in just one evening. I think greyhound lovers will find this to be an even more fun read, and I admit that it has convinced me that I am not sure one of these remarkable dogs will ever join our family. But, this book is a nice way to experience that and I imagine those readers that have a greyhound lying beside them will certainly connect with this in an even deeper fashion.
The inclusion of the family photos are nice, but parts of the book read a bit too much like a diary for my liking. These sections slow down the overall pacing, but it’s still a quick read - I read it cover to cover in just one evening. I think greyhound lovers will find this to be an even more fun read, and I admit that it has convinced me that I am not sure one of these remarkable dogs will ever join our family. But, this book is a nice way to experience that and I imagine those readers that have a greyhound lying beside them will certainly connect with this in an even deeper fashion.
December 18, 2014
Susan's book is a great example of how dogs quietly lace up our lives before we realize it. The book isn't about the dog, as the author notes on a page prefacing the story, but the dog makes a difference in the lives of this family. I didn't know much about greyhounds and learned much reading this account.
The book is lighthearted throughout with plenty of humor. The author is married to actor. The story follows a segment of their lives, with children and greyhound, and cat. It's entirely human and down to earth. The dog weaves throughout their lives and changes everything in subtle ways, that many of us wouldn't think were so subtle. This family rolls along in their own different lifestyle that is nonetheless relatable at some level for many readers. The author suffers a debilitating illness of little-known origin and overcomes it. The children grow and depart, in fits and starts as many children do. This is a funny, funny lady. I'd love to meet her.
Readers who enjoy this kind of story should relish this delightful book. I received the book from GR giveaways.
The book is lighthearted throughout with plenty of humor. The author is married to actor. The story follows a segment of their lives, with children and greyhound, and cat. It's entirely human and down to earth. The dog weaves throughout their lives and changes everything in subtle ways, that many of us wouldn't think were so subtle. This family rolls along in their own different lifestyle that is nonetheless relatable at some level for many readers. The author suffers a debilitating illness of little-known origin and overcomes it. The children grow and depart, in fits and starts as many children do. This is a funny, funny lady. I'd love to meet her.
Readers who enjoy this kind of story should relish this delightful book. I received the book from GR giveaways.
July 15, 2015
Dear lord but this was a fun book to read.
I picked it up as an ARC from work thinking it was going to be about a rescue dog (I was on a kick at that time) and set it aside to read later. Just re-found it the other day. Started reading it and could NOT put it down until I realized I needed to get at least four hours of sleep that night or I'd be wiped the next day. Finished it the next day.
What I thought it was it only kind-of-sort-of was . It IS about a rescue dog but it's far more about a middle-aged woman coming to terms with the fact her kids have grown up and she needs to remember who she is.
I am a middle-aged man (and THAT was hard to type) and I found this book hilarious! At times, touching but mostly downright funny. And at a few times, laugh-out-loud funny.
I can whole heartedly recommend this to people with interests in memoirs and dog books. It does jump from topic to topic with abandon, but so does life. And the formatting of dialogue took me a little while to get used to.
A damn FUN book to read. FUN!
PS I shamefully admit it took me FAR too long to realize who her husband is. Apparently it's been that long since I've watched TV.
I picked it up as an ARC from work thinking it was going to be about a rescue dog (I was on a kick at that time) and set it aside to read later. Just re-found it the other day. Started reading it and could NOT put it down until I realized I needed to get at least four hours of sleep that night or I'd be wiped the next day. Finished it the next day.
What I thought it was it only kind-of-sort-of was . It IS about a rescue dog but it's far more about a middle-aged woman coming to terms with the fact her kids have grown up and she needs to remember who she is.
I am a middle-aged man (and THAT was hard to type) and I found this book hilarious! At times, touching but mostly downright funny. And at a few times, laugh-out-loud funny.
I can whole heartedly recommend this to people with interests in memoirs and dog books. It does jump from topic to topic with abandon, but so does life. And the formatting of dialogue took me a little while to get used to.
A damn FUN book to read. FUN!
PS I shamefully admit it took me FAR too long to realize who her husband is. Apparently it's been that long since I've watched TV.
July 13, 2015
I received this book from goodreads first reads.
As a dog lover, I enjoyed reading this book. Morse has a lot of fun anecdotes about her experiences adopting and bonding with Lilly, and it was fun to see all of Lilly's pictures and watch her adjust to her new home. I really loved how Morse used this book to bring awareness to the issue of racing greyhounds: I feel like this book will cause more people to consider adopting a rescue greyhound or donate to support the cause. The only thing I didn't enjoy about this book was that sometimes the book would focus too heavily on the author's personal life, such as tracing her family history or traveling without her dog, and I felt like more of the story should be dedicated to Lilly. Overall, it was a fun, lighthearted read and I would recommend it to other animal lovers.
As a dog lover, I enjoyed reading this book. Morse has a lot of fun anecdotes about her experiences adopting and bonding with Lilly, and it was fun to see all of Lilly's pictures and watch her adjust to her new home. I really loved how Morse used this book to bring awareness to the issue of racing greyhounds: I feel like this book will cause more people to consider adopting a rescue greyhound or donate to support the cause. The only thing I didn't enjoy about this book was that sometimes the book would focus too heavily on the author's personal life, such as tracing her family history or traveling without her dog, and I felt like more of the story should be dedicated to Lilly. Overall, it was a fun, lighthearted read and I would recommend it to other animal lovers.
September 15, 2014
Book #85 Read in 2014
The Dog Stays in the Picture by Susan Morse
This book tells a different type of love story....between a woman and her rescued greyhound. Susan is an actor's wife whose children are heading off to college. To fill a void, she adopts a rescued greyhound, Lilly, whose racetrack career has come to an end. Lilly bonds with Susan and cannot bear to be separated from her. With patience, Susan's husband wins Lilly's over, and with finesse, Susan gets Lilly to be able to stay home alone with wrecking the place. This was a nice read. I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a honest review.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Dog Stays in the Picture by Susan Morse
This book tells a different type of love story....between a woman and her rescued greyhound. Susan is an actor's wife whose children are heading off to college. To fill a void, she adopts a rescued greyhound, Lilly, whose racetrack career has come to an end. Lilly bonds with Susan and cannot bear to be separated from her. With patience, Susan's husband wins Lilly's over, and with finesse, Susan gets Lilly to be able to stay home alone with wrecking the place. This was a nice read. I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a honest review.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
March 3, 2020
I borrowed this from hoopla because the subject of "empty nest" caught my eye. Even though I'm now 11-1/2 years beyond that kind of scary time in my life, I am interested in how others have handled it. Susan Morse is the wife of actor David Morse. I had to look him up online and recognized him as someone I usually like but never know his name. To paraphrase the author: lots of people know him but they figure they went to high school with him. Anyway. This book was totally secular but funny and honest and relatable for a lot of moms. I especially enjoyed how, without any warning, the narrative occasionally slipped into the dog's voice. Well-written, entertaining read.
May 14, 2015
Sweet book about the rescue of a greyhound and the lady who adopts her. Susan Morse is married to a famous actor but they do not live a Hollywood life by any means. I had read her first book "The Habit" and loved it so this was on my reading list since it came out. It is a quick read with a peek into the life of another and sometimes that is just what you need to help you forget your own life for a moment.
February 17, 2015
This is an endearing memoir about an empty-nester and her newest baby, a rescued greyhound. Although it was generally an enjoyable read, there really wasn't much about the dog. It was more of a story about Susan's life as she transitioned from a full-time mom to having all of her kids away at college. All in all, it was a sweet story.
*Obtained through goodreads first reads.
*Obtained through goodreads first reads.
October 30, 2014
I wish Morse was my neighbor so we could sit and drink coffee and chat about our common anxieties. This is a great book club title. Sure she's the wife of a famous actor but you can relate to the struggles of an empty nester who needs something to nurture; enter a wacked out greyhound that won't leave her alone for a second and who has never used stairs before.
October 22, 2014
Listened to audio. Susan is a great narrator with an easy cadence to her voice. Surprisingly open about life, love and challenges of dog ownership & family. She also has a great ability to laugh at herself.
January 9, 2015
I love pretty much any book about rescue dogs. But this one was even more interesting since it was written by the wife of actor, David Morse, so you go a little insight to life married to an actor as well. And it made me feel better knowing that we aren't the only ones so nuts about our dogs!
February 23, 2015
Remember David Morse in St. Elsewhere, or in The Green Mile? This book is by his wife who is facing an empty nest and decides to rescue a very needy greyhound. Morse writes with clarity, humor and candor about her special needs husband and dog.
May 11, 2015
Funny and refreshingly honest memoir. Most,if not all women of a certain age can relate to the emotional upheavals when kids leave home and hormones betray you at the same time. I enjoyed and could totally relate to the joys and frustrations of "parenting" a dog also.
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