A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog

Overview

"In each little life we can see great truth and beauty, and in each little life we glimpse the way of all things in the universe."

DEAN KOONTZ thought he had everything he needed. A successful novelist with more than twenty #1 New York Times bestsellers to his credit, Dean had forged a career out of industry and imagination. He had been married to his high school sweetheart, Gerda, since the age of twenty, and together they had made a happy life for themselves in their Southern California home. It was the picture of peace and contentment. Then along came Trixie.

Dean had always wanted a dog--had even written several books in which dogs were featured. But not until Trixie was he truly open to the change that such a beautiful creature could bring about in him. Trixie had intelligence, a lack of vanity, and an uncanny knack for living in the present. And because she was joyful and direct as all dogs are, she put her heart into everything--from chasing tennis balls, to playing practical jokes, to protecting those she loved.

A retired service dog with Canine Companions for Independence, Trixie became an assistance dog of another kind. She taught Dean to trust his instincts, persuaded him to cut down to a fifty-hour work week, and, perhaps most important, renewed in him a sense of wonder that will remain with him for the rest of his life. She mended him in many ways.

Trixie weighed only sixty-something pounds, Dean occasionally called her Short Stuff, and she lived less than twelve years. In this big world, she was a little thing, but in all the ways that mattered, including the effect she had on those who loved her, she lived a big life.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews for this product are not available at this time.

Author Information

Bio of Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Bedford. He won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition when he was twenty and has been writing ever since. Mr. Koontz's books are published in 38 languages. Worldwide sales total more than 175 million copies, a figure that currently increases at a rate of more than 17 million copies a year. Dean and his wife, Gerda, live in southern California.

Customer Reviews

• A beautiful tribute to a very good dog

  Posted August 28, 2009 by JanetCinNC, North Carolina

  Devoted Dean Koontz fans know Trixie. Dean says that Trixie made him a better person. I don't know about that, but I think she made him a better writer. I always liked his books, but I found myself more deeply connected with his characters after Trixie came into his life. The one exception to that was his book Watchers - a book about an intelligent golden retriever named Einstein. Watchesr was written before he got Trixie, but that early book also touched my heart.
  
  Trixie's story is almost as amazing as Einstein's. She seemed more than a dog. Intelligent, brave, loving - she seemed more the Koontz' child than a pet. I laughed out loud reading about Trixie's insight into the character of people and dogs, about her Achey-Breaky heart, and about her joy when she realized she had a forever home. I cried through some of her story, and I sobbed at the end of her story.
  
  I was so touched by this book that I found myself constantly needing to give my own little dog cuddles while reading it. This book is a loving tribute to Trixie, a very good girl.

• A Must Read!

  Posted September 08, 2009 by Joyce, Detroit

  ONLY Dean Koontz could have written this book! You will cry and laugh, sometimes at the same time. If you've ever loved a dog you will "feel" this book. If you've never loved a dog, you will go out and get one!

• Cute story!

  Posted October 27, 2009 by Sarah, Manchester, NH

  I read about this book in People magazine and was excited to download it. As the owner of a dog, I could relate with some of the stories that Koontz shared about Trixie. This book was both funny and sad and I really enjoyed it! Not having read any other books by Koontz, I plan on downloading some others!

Additional Info

Imprint

Hyperion Press

Filesize

1.67 MB

Number of Pages

288

eBook ISBN

9781401394554