Anna Quindlen offers a toast to dogs
| Anna Quindlen -- one of my favorite writers, one of the reasons I subscribe to Newsweek and one true dog lover -- was in town the other night to speak at the Stevenson University Baltimore Speakers Series.
I wasn't able to attend, but Baltimore Sun columnist Susan Reimer was there and caught up with Quindlen during a dinner earlier in the evening. They chatted about Good Dog. Stay., Anna Quindlen's wonderful book about her black Labrador Retriever Beau. Below is what she told Susan about the book, life with a new pet and dogs that eat off the floor: |
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| "I wrote a column in Newsweek about my dog, and my editor, who has an unerring sense for the little book, suggested that I turn a 900-word column into a 10,000-word book. I balked at the idea, then she spoke a number to me and I thought, 'Damn. Everyone should write a dog book.'
"Afterward, I was really glad I had. I really had something to say. And for my family I am glad. "We waited the statutory one year of mourning before we got a new lab. His name is Gus, and he is singularly badly behaved. He has the body of an adult dog and the mind of a tinker toy. "Bea, the yellow lab, is not happy. Gus tried to be the alpha dog, but (Bea) is more of a mother substitute. Among the humans, it is axiomatic that my husband is the alpha male." Her dog Beau used to eat everything that landed on the floor. Bea and Gus don't do that. "So I am like, 'What is all this stuff on the floor?'" She raised her glass to her fellow diners at the dinner and said, "Cheers to dogs." |
Comments
Hi Anna,
I liked your column about the humane society pets. We have adopted a handful of pets from shelters and I think they make the best pets.
Have you thought about featuring famous people and their pets? I think that would be fun. Also, it would be interesting to see if they look alike!
All the best, Laura
Posted by: Laura | February 26, 2009 11:15 PM