Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, edited by Louisa McCune and Teresa MillerLove Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, edited by Louisa McCune and Teresa Miller

Thanks to Ariel McCarter of Wunderkind PR, I am giving away one print copy of ‘Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals’.

Description Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals



Love can be, and sure enough is, moving in all things, in all places, in all forms of life at the same snap of your finger.”—Woody Guthrie

Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie said it first and best. This new anthology of poems and prose, Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, is proof of what love can be, as thirty acclaimed authors join together to champion life in all its forms. This is their gift to the world, not just the artistry of their words, but their vision of an extended community that includes cats, birds, frogs, butterflies, bears, dogs, raccoons, horses—a full-out menagerie of being that enriches us all.

This broad-hearted vision comes with responsibility, and that responsibility speaks to the mission of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, publisher of the book. The Kirkpatrick Foundation will donate all net proceeds of sales of this volume to animal charities in Oklahoma as well as honoraria donated to the contributors’ selected animal charities.

Authors featured in the collection are Julia Alvarez, Blake Bailey, Rick Bass, P. C. Cast, Wayne Coyne, Kim Doner, Delia Ephron, Reyna Grande, Joy Harjo, Amy Hempel, Juan Felipe Herrera, S. E. Hinton, Brandon Hobson, Dean Koontz, Ursula K. Le Guin, Jill McCorkle, Teresa Miller, N. Scott Momaday, Joyce Carol Oates, Susan Orlean, Ron Padgett, Elise Paschen, Diane Rehm, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Wade Rouse, Alexander McCall Smith, Lalita Tademy, Clifton Taulbert, Michael Wallis, and Mary Logan Wolf.

Praise Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, edited by Louisa McCune and Teresa Miller



Love Can Be—a wonderful book, so varied and rich with emotion. Love can be anything: tender, raucous, bittersweet, joyful, transcendent or ridiculous—but it’s always better when shared with animals!”—Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander Series.

“When it comes to the human-animal bond, this work is truly everything “Love Can Be.”  It’s an anthology for our time — inclusive, sympathetic, and joyful.  The contributors represent the broad, beautiful, and rich diversity of our nation, but there is something special that unites them here – their deep love for animals and their desire to celebrate them.”—Kitty Block, Acting President and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States.

“A touching tribute to the creatures we let into our hearts and homes….Literature fans will love the photos of authors and their animal companions that accompany each piece. In keeping with the spirit of the season, proceeds from sales of the book will go to animal charities. This is a heartwarming, hopeful anthology.”—BookPage

About Louisa McCune


Louisa McCune is Executive Director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation. McCune oversees all operations, communications, grant-making, and the foundations two programs, ArtDesk and Safe & Humane. At ArtDesk Magazine, McCune is Editor in Chief. She is a loving owner of three pets as well.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisamqn

About Teresa Miller:



Teresa Miller wrote the compelling historical novel, Remnants of Glory before a devastating eighteen year writer’s block and depression kept her from writing. Instead, she took her passion for storytelling and pledged to advocate for other authors, becoming the executive host and producer of the television program Writing Out Loud. On the show, Miller interviews many of the nation’s leading writers and performers and previously taught writing at Oklahoma State University. She has since written another novel, Family Correspondence, as well as a memoir, Means of Transit.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TessLMiller

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Giveaway Love Can Be: A Literary Collection About Our Animals, edited by Louisa McCune and Teresa Miller



This giveaway is open the U.S. only and ends on January 11, 2018 midnight pacific time.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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Review: The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 17, 2015
Posted in AnimalsBooks Read in 2015Memoir  | Tagged With: , , , | 13 Comments

Tom MichellDESCRIPTION OF PENGUIN LESSONS BY TOM MICHELL


‘I was hoping against hope that the penguin would survive because as of that instant he had a name, and with his name came the beginning of a bond which would last a life-time.’ 

Tom Michell is in his roaring twenties: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless summer holidays. He even has a motorbike, Che Guevara style. What he doesn’t need is a pet. What he really doesn’t need is a pet penguin. Set against Argentina’s turbulent years following the collapse of the corrupt Perónist regime, this is the heart-warming story of Juan Salvador the penguin, rescued by Tom from an oil slick in Uruguay just days before a new term. When the bird refuses to leave Tom’s side, the young teacher has no choice but to smuggle it across the border, through customs, and back to school. 

Whether it’s as the rugby team’s mascot, the housekeeper’s confidant, the host at Tom’s parties or the most flamboyant swimming coach in world history, Juan Salvador transforms the lives of all he meets – in particular one homesick school boy. And as for Tom, he discovers in Juan Salvador a compadre like no other… The Penguin Lessons is a unique and moving true story which has captured imaginations around the globe – for all those who dreamed as a child they might one day talk to the animals.
Watch for my review later in November, 2015.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE PENGUIN LESSONS BY TOM MICHELL

Tom Michell grew up in southern England and wanted to travel.  In his 20’s, he went to teach at a boys boarding school in Argentina so that he could make money and travel.  This was at a time when Argentina’s dollar value fluctuated widely from day to day.  He was given an advance of 1 million pesos and told to spend it all on anything he think he might need right away. Otherwise it wouldn’t buy as much the next day.

When the school was on breaks he got to travel.  He went to Uruguay for a few days and he discovered many penguins by the sea all covered in oil and dead.  However, there was one penguin that was moving and he decided to rescue him.  He took the penguin to the place he was staying and cleaned him up in the bathtub.  He tried to bring him back to the sea where there wasn’t noticeable oil but the penguin followed him.

He figured that the penguin’s feathers were no longer waterproof and felt there was no alternative but to smuggle him across the border to Argentina and bring him back to the school with him.  He named the penguin Juan Salvador and everyone love him.

Tom Michell shares many of the stories and escapades that ensued while Juan Salvador was with him.  He also shared his travels and the turbulent times in Argentina.  This is a tender hearted memoir with lots of laughs and, yes, some tears.  The writing is lyrical and the book was near impossible to put down.  It is a very fast read and enjoyable read.  I adored this book and highly recommend it!

5/5

I received the ebook for my honest review. 


Giveaway Alert 

There is are only 2 days left to enter my giveaway of one print copy of Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell.  Enter here: https://theteddyrosebookreviewsplusmore.com/2015/11/giveaway-the-penguin-lessons-by-tom-michell.html#.Vkro8XarS70


ABOUT TOM MICHELL


Tom Michell

Tom Michell was born and grew up on the rural downs of southern England, where he grew to love animals, birds and plants. After living in Argentina he returned home and settled in Cornwall where he helps with the family business, tends a small plot of what he calls ‘good Cornish soil’ and sings with a local choir. He is an amateur artist and in his spare time he draws and paints subjects from the wildlife around his home, specialising in birds of prey. Tom is an enthusiastic proponent of understanding how humans can live in genuinely sustainable ways. He is married with four children and three grandchildren.

National Cat Day- Meet Meeka

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on October 30, 2015
Posted in Animals  | Tagged With: , | 10 Comments

AmandaI just found out that today was National Cat Day.  As many of you who have been following my website for awhile, you already know that my dear cat Amanda passed on just before the new year. I loved her dearly and still miss her so much.

I kept meaning to give you an update on our family status but have just been crazy Busy.

In May, I found out about a Snowshoe cat that was in a foster home needed a new home fast.  I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a new cat in our family yet.  I always worry when I lose a pet that I will put certain expectations on a new pet if I get one too soon.  However, Bill and I decided to meet the cat in need, Meeka.  Of course, it was love at first sight for me and we brought her home.

Luckily, like Amanda, Meeka loves to cuddle and sleeps with me every night all cuddles against me.  She has really filled that void.  She also like to give and receive kisses.  However, she is the most vocal cat I have ever known.  She is very good at communicating what she wants and when she is displeased.

When we adopted her back in May, she was a hefty 15 pounds.  The vet insisted that she Meeka and Suanneneeded to be on a diet and only be fed canned food.  The reason for canned food is the higher water content.  So, I put her on a diet right away.  She didn’t mind the canned food at all, she just wanted more of it and has made that abundantly clear, every single day. Despite her protests, she has lost 3 pounds to date.  Two more pounds to go.  After she lost the first two pound she has been a lot more active, running up and down the stairs and following me everywhere!  I mean EVERYWHERE!  She cries outside the door if I am in the bathroom.  LOL! The good thing though is that she is now getting exercise without even realizing it is part of her weight loss plan.

Meeka is about 6 years old. She is the first non-black cat I have had.