A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

Published by: Hyperion

Year of Publication: 2009

Categories: Adult Non Fiction, Animals/Dogs, Memoir

Pages: 288

Summary (from goodreads.com): 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.

Review: To be honest, I’ve never read a book by Dean Koontz until I got this one for my mom for Christmas. She loves books about dogs, and I thought she’d enjoy this one. When I went up to the counter to pay for it, the lady there said she read it and really liked it.

My mom was pretty excited to get it for Christmas, and about a week later she told me that I HAD to read it. I got didn’t get around to it til last week, but I have to say, it lived up to her enthusiasm. I enjoyed it a lot. Dean managed to describe Trixie perfectly, you felt like you knew her almost as well as your own dog.

Dean has a great sense of humor. I don’t know if it comes out as well in his other books, but I loved it in this one. It really felt like you could relate to him more.

I know there are a lot of dog memoir type books on the market. I’ve read a lot of them. But I think so far this is my favorite one. The ending was a tear jerker, and I was sad (and even cried a little) when the end came for Trixie, though I’m sure it didn’t compare to what Dean and his wife Gerda went through. But at the same time it wasn’t sappy like a lot of these kinds of books can get like.

All in all I’d definitely recommend this book.

Disclosure: I bought this book for my mom.

Image: goodreads.com