What We Thought: Weekends with Daisy by Sharron Kahn Luttrell

 WHAT WE THOUGHT: WEEKENDS WITH DAISY BY SHARRON KAHN LUTTRELL

 Evening Book Club

Weekends with Daisy

Sharron Kahn Luttrell

October 2015 

“The weekend program for prison-raised service dogs sounded perfect. Pick up a puppy on Friday; return it on Sunday. A new puppy each year, no strings attached. Except that the pup is a Golden Labrador called Daisy…and Daisy is not a no strings-attached dog.”  -- Sharron Luttrell

Readers discussed the author’s story with mixed emotions. Some said they found the story boring and didn’t understand the author’s motivations about being involved with the NEADS  (The National Education for Assistance Dog Services). Others really liked the story and said that they can’t wait to talk to the author when she comes to Halifax in November. Further discussion revealed that the group consisted of “dog people” and those who didn’t understand the connection between human and canine interactions. None of the members had direct experience with service dogs so the author’s involvement with and dedication to Daisy and the program was quite a revelation for all of them. 

Readers decided that this was just not a story about a woman and her dog but also about changes in belief, behavior and the promise of rehabilitation. All were impressed with the author’s progress from her simple desire to train a dog to a woman with a realization of her own place in the world and her connection with others who had the same goals with different reasons than her own. She changed from her self-centered wish for a dog to rededicate herself to complete the project for the sake of Daisy’s other trainer. Readers decided that the lesson of the book was that dedication to a person or project like NEADS is for the greater good, and shows empathy and compassion for someone no matter how one feels about them.

Daisy changed during the course of her training from a curious and playful puppy to a dog with a purpose ready and waiting for a command to assist her companion. Readers suggested that perhaps we should be more service oriented like Daisy. Living in the moment would increase self-control and allow humans to be attuned to each other and reach their potential as well as Daisy did. One reader commented that she learned a great deal from the author’s experience with her daughter and that she wished she had read the book before she got a dog.  Another reader said although she had been a teacher for forty years she was surprised about how much she learned about behavior from reading about the interaction between the dogs and their trainers.

 

At the end of the evening’s discussion after all was said and done,  no one said that they would want to recreate Sharron Luttrell’s experience and train their own service dog. The “dog people” said they would not be able to give up a dog that they had brought into their life and the others said that it would be too much work for them.

More quotes from book club members: 

“I liked it!”

“I loved it! Learned a lot about training kids and dogs”

“Really liked the book, did repeat herself some, maybe I shouldn’t admit it, but my son’s first words were “bad dog”.

“Not heavy, but liked the topic, nice story.

“Book seemed very real; people could have been living next door. Charming because it was real.”

“I have always had dogs and have a yellow lab now that has a mind of her own. She has us trained. I think it must be rewarding when you see the dog matched with 

someone.”

Have you read Weekends with Daisy? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.

                  

This Month's Selection: Weekends with Daisy by Sharron Kahn Luttrell

What We Thought: Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

Evening Book Club

September 2015

Shotgun Lovesongs

Nickolas Butler

Shotgun Lovesongs, a story of four best friends and their enduring friendship growing from childhood into adult relationships resonated strongly with book club members. The discussion continued throughout the evening with intense comments about the motives of the characters and how they were influenced by each other. Readers noted that the level of emotion and depth of character’s inner lives were unusual in portrayals of male friendships in fiction. This would have been more likely if the characters were women. It worked for readers because the characters were likeable and Little Wing, Wisconsin felt like home for characters and readers alike. Readers all said they loved, loved the story and everything about it!

The author makes the readers wait for resolution in the story. His writing is so compelling that it is worth the wait. The characters make you want to know them, even when some of them are not likeable at times. Everyone agreed that the story was well written and that enduring friendship and reconciliation was believable. Some readers commented on how the characters’ narration changed with each chapter. Others said that they got used to it and it worked for them.

Beth, Hank’s wife, is the fifth character in the story. Their marriage acts as a sixth character in its effect on best friends Lee and Hank's lives. The marriage is poetry and Hank and Beth’s relationship with their children and each other radiates love and comfort to all that surrounds them. A crucial event disturbs their lives and it takes a few quirky events to take the high road and set things right. Kip and Ronny, the other two friends, are changed by events as adults but remain true to their characters and friendships.

You have to read this story to believe it and to feel it is to be reassured and comforted.

Don’t miss the story of Hank, Lee, Ronnie, Kip, Beth and their lives in the heartland of Little Wing, Wisconsin!