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I've got a copy of Travels with Charley on a bookshelf somewhere in the house. It's been years since I read it. "Sick Puppy" by Carl Hiaasen - love his stuff. "A Boy and His Dog" by Harlan Ellison. And there's Mouse in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books. He often gets a star supporting role in those adventures.
Yes, I love Steinbeck - and that's one of his better books, in my opinion! It's mostly fictional, though, despite it being cataloged as nonfiction. I'm a librarian lol. He did go on that journey, but in real life the dog didn't actually come with him. Sooo yeah.
I would also recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain. That one is (100%) fiction, and told mostly from the perspective of Enzo the dog.
Your description of the factuality of Travels with Charley (or lack thereof) inspired me to go read the Wikipedia entry. The factualness of the events portrayed has been questioned by some. However, no mention is made of Charley being absent from whatever road-tripping Steinbeck actually did. FWIW.
As the Herriot books are now regarded as mostly fictional, which has greatly disappointed me, I'm not emotionally ready to give up on Steinbeck on this. It's ok by me if he used stories out of their context in reality. But whole cloth, and no Charley? "Say it ain't so, Joe?"
As the Herriot books are now regarded as mostly fictional
Huh? This is news to me. I know that the stories are not entirely autobiographical and are "loosely based on real events and people" but I wouldn't call them fictional, especially because he was an actual vet.
Huh? This is news to me. I know that the stories are not entirely autobiographical and are "loosely based on real events and people" but I wouldn't call them fictional, especially because he was an actual vet.
It was news to me, also. Very disappointing news. You can read all about the why over at Wikipedia. I still love the original stories, so, like a gift horse, I'm not looking any farther any more. It is what it is. Like Steinbeck's telling of "Travels with Charlie", the telling is good. I'm sorry now that I even said anything to spread the "news". I shouldn't have said anything at all. Should have just let it be.
It was news to me, also. Very disappointing news. You can read all about the why over at Wikipedia. I still love the original stories, so, like a gift horse, I'm not looking any farther any more. It is what it is. Like Steinbeck's telling of "Travels with Charlie", the telling is good. I'm sorry now that I even said anything to spread the "news". I shouldn't have said anything at all. Should have just let it be.
Talk about crying: [I]Old Yeller[/i] (but I still loved it).
For a completely charming but definitely anthropomorphic dog, I highly-highly recommend Edward, who is the dog in Brian Doyle's great book, Chicago.
That's the kind of book that stays with you. I read it when I was 12 or 13 and many many years later, just seeing that title brings back such powerful memories. Yes, it brings tears, but it's such a worthwhile book to read.
Yes, I love Steinbeck - and that's one of his better books, in my opinion! It's mostly fictional, though, despite it being cataloged as nonfiction. I'm a librarian lol. He did go on that journey, but in real life the dog didn't actually come with him. Sooo yeah.
I would also recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain. That one is (100%) fiction, and told mostly from the perspective of Enzo the dog.
I was so perturbed by your post that I actually went and researched it.
First of all, my particular edition has a preface where it talks about Steinbeck asking his wife about bringing the dog, so I was pretty sure that your saying the dog didn't come was wrong. Then I actually called two Steinbeck academic centers and both confirmed that Charley was with Steinbeck. So that is true, and I'm guessing that maybe your information that it's fiction may well be incorrect, too.
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