The Dog Year by Ann Garvin

The Dog Year Reviews

• 
  Sonja Yoerg

  
  What a fabulous book! Lucy is my favorite character of 2014: whip-smart, quirky without being weird, sympathetic and oh-so troubled. In fact, the entire cast is memorable (I have been missing them since I finished) and the story moves faster than a terrier after a rabbit. Garvin's voice is original and her talent considerable.
  
  Don't miss this one.
• 
  Kate Moretti

  Lucy Peterman, a well-respected reconstructive surgeon, is a bit of a control freak. When tragedy strikes, she barely keeps it together, and develops a bit of a kleptomania habit in order to cope. After she gets caught, she must choose: rehab or lose her job.
  
  I loved everything about this book! Lucy is the kind of character you root for, despite the fact she barely seems to be rooting for herself. She's smart, fierce, prickly and funny. The cast of characters in this novel is brilliant: never cliched, always interesting, colorful and complicated. No one is two dimensional, no one is glossed over. Everybody has a story, and the way those stories are interwoven is the real gem of the book. Mark, the recovering alcoholic, Sidney, the dog-walking anorexic, and Sara, who stole the show for me with her wounded animal attitude and multitude of demons. The supporting cast was simply wonderful.
  
  The writing is beautifully descriptive and the plot kept me guessing. This is a novel I'd highly recommend!
• 
  Eileen Goudge

  This is a well-crafted novel about loss and its aftermath. I wasn't sure where I was headed when I first encountered grief-stricken reconstructive surgeon, Lucy. She was caught stealing medical supplies. She was mourning her dead husband and unborn child to the point of blindness to the suffering of others. But I watched her slowly emerge from her shell as the healing process took place, whether she wanted it to or not. An interesting plot twist (which I won't reveal because then I'd be a spoiler) has her in a dilemma, but it also forces her to confront buried feelings. A fine example of women's fiction at its best, reminiscent of Ann Tyler and Elizabeth Berg.
• 
  Brandi Scollins-Mantha

  What I like best about The Dog Year is that even though the characters aren't perfect--they accept that and find ways to celebrate their differences and come together to support each other. It is a beautiful reflection of what life could be or perhaps should be.
• 
  Susan Gloss

  I adore author Ann Garvin's writing for her ability to find the funny in what would otherwise be sad situations.
• 
  Marin Thomas

  This is the first book I've read by Ann Garvin and I can’t say enough about what a gifted writer she is. She tackled a tough subject in a way that wasn't depressing and leaves the reader feeling hopeful. The main character Lucy hides behind her wry sense of humor which made her more believable and human to me.
  
  And the title—The Dog Year—fit this book perfectly. The meaning of a Dog Year…."one will feel that much more time passes than what actually passes because the time will pass very slowly"…With so many things happening to Lucy all at once as she struggled to accept the death of her husband, baby and figure out a way to move forward with her life, of course she must have felt like she was slogging through The Dog Year. And Ann Garvin's secondary characters are just as well developed as Lucy—you can’t help but cheer for the whole cast of misfits. I highly recommend this book!
  
  
• 
  AdiTurbo

  I'm a sucker for survival stories, real or fictional, but this one was just cute, not more than that. A little superficial, even though it was dealing with major issues. Still, it had warmth and heart, and was an enjoyable enough read.
• 
  Shira

  2.5 כוכבים
  מאכזב ביותר.
  הגיבורה היא מנתחת מוערכת המראה סימנים ברורים של קלפטומניה לאחר שאיבדה את בעלה ואת העובר שלה בתאונת דרכים, ונאלצת להצטרף לקבוצת אלכוהוליסטים אנונימיים כדי לשמור על הרשיון הרפואי שלה.
  הנושא הטעון מטופל בשטחיות מקוממת והגיבורה מתנהגת יותר כמו ילדה בת 12 מרוכזת בעצמה מאשר אישה עצמאית ורופאה בעלת שם המתמודדת עם אובדן וההשלכות שלו.
  היו כמה רגעים מקסימים וגארווין כותבת טוב, אבל זה פשוט לא היה מספיק ובחצי הספר החלטתי לא להמשיך.
• 
  Heidi

  Lucy Peterson's life comes unraveled after two tragic losses and now she has "a couple of problems...three, maybe. Or four." She struggles with her own humanness even as she is surrounded by a band of characters with every human condition. You quickly get to know these misfits, join in their lives, and learn the wisdom and gifts each has from life's lessons. Will this perfectionist surgeon be able to accept the bounty of her new life? Garvin's witty style and clever descriptions build a very enjoyable read. Oh and the canines! If you have life challenges, this book may end with you adopting a dog!
• 
  Holly Robinson

  I usually steer away from "cute" novels that seem to feature animals as near-characters, and I've probably read dozens of novels about women recovering from grief after losing a spouse or child (or, in this case, both). However, I have to say that The Dog Year is truly wonderful. Ann Garvin delivers quirky characters, lovely writing, and tangled relationships aplenty. While those qualities might make this a terrific "four star" read among novels in this genre, I have to say that Garvin's snappy humor, particularly in the dialogue, really sets this book apart from the rest. The terrific writing and original characters carry us through this heartfelt story. And, yes, I cried.
• 
  Beth

  One of the great things about Garvin’s writing is that she can tackle serious subjects and make me laugh, often while reading the same page. There is profound heartbreak within the pages of this story, but it is so well balanced with humor and wit that it never pulls the narrative into darkness. Dr. Lucy Peterman is a richly drawn, complex and quirky character, and those who surround her add unexpected layers to her damaged life. Events that I never expected kept me turning pages late into the night, and, as an animal lover, I was drawn to the added bonuses the dogs brought to this story.
• 
  Kara

  This is going to be my first DNF in awhile. It's not poorly written or anything, but it is boring. And I quit on page 56, and I still haven't seen a dog. Isn't this book supposed to have animals in it? Why am I reading about a kleptomaniac with no redeeming qualities whatsoever? I hardly think that an animal coming into her life would improve her personality any.
  
  I just have no interest in continuing and this book makes me want to not read. That's how I know it's time to pick something else up and put this down. :(
• 
  Lynne Knowlton

  Ann Garvin writes like she's your best girlfriend and you are sitting with her as she tells you a story. Like a best girlfriend, she will make you laugh and fret and sigh with her character's antics. She knows how to turn a phrase in a way that's new and heart breaking while still keeping a smile on your face. She's one to watch and I hope she get's the kind of popularity that Elizabeth Gilbert got in Eat Pray Love. The Dog year is one of those books. You'll see.
• 
  Becky Loader

  OK, OK. I admit I judged a book by its cover and had to read this one with the adorable Dalmatian on the front. I have learned something.
  
  My goodness. I can't believe there is still a market for rote romances. Think Harlequin romance with several trendy topics (e.g. AA, acceptance of all, damaged-not-ruined, ready availability of a hunky guy with a heart of gold, baby fever, stupid mistakes that make for happy endings) and you have this book.
  
  Oh, my.
• 
  Emily-Jane Orford

  I was very disappointed in this book. I was looking forward to a story about a dalmation, one who sneaked into the heart of a lonely, sad person and turned that person's life around. Do you know, there was not even a dalmation in the story - anywhere! There were a lot of different dogs, but no dalmation. And yet, the cover clearly indicates a dalmation-looking dog. Very misleading. The story was difficult to follow at times as it jumped around and it used a lot of run-on sentences. The first sentence talked about Lucy (who we find out is the main character) observing another woman putting a baby into a car seat. Sentence two reads: "Her husband stood hovering over her..." Okay, who's husband? Lucy's husband or the lady with the baby that Lucy is watching? Very unclear. And since we don't find out until much, much later in that first chapter that Lucy's husband is dead, how could we know which husband the author was referring to? Dog, whom Lucy names Little Dog, appears several chapters later. She rescues him/her (we really don't know which until much later) and carries him on her lap home where she washes him/her in the kitchen sink. Now, we know for sure that the dog can't possibly be a dalmation, right? And, okay, maybe I'm a little fussy about these things, but you don't wash a dog in the kitchen sink, the bathtub is okay, but the kitchen sink? Really? This happens again much later with another dog. And, Lucy dries off the dog with kitchen towels? Really? She's a doctor. Doesn't she understand anything about the need to keep the kitchen, at least, clean????? The poor dog is never let outside in the first few chapters after he/she appears in Lucy's life. Don't know where he/she does his/her business. She does take him outside once, meets a fellow tragedy case and suddenly there's a collar and leash to take Little Dog for a walk? Really? It's mentioned briefly that Lucy picked up leash the previous day, but the story said that she drove right home after rescuing the dog, so I don't know how. Too many inconsistencies. The story continues to jump around like that, confusing the reader. The last chapter is the most confusing. All of a sudden, we're two years later??? Really??? This might have worked if it had been called an Epilogue instead of a chapter. But, too many things are summed up too quickly and too haphazardly to make sense. So much for a good dog rescue story with a decent plot. I think the story itself has some merit, but it needs a lot of work and I'm surprised that it is being released so soon without a proper edit. Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford, award-winning author of "The Whistling Bishop" and "F-Stop: A Life in Pictures".
• 
  Theresa Alan

  Lucy is a successful plastic surgeon who helps women with reconstructive surgery after battling breast cancer. Eight months ago, her husband died, which triggered a latent kleptomaniac side of Lucy—she steals supplies from the hospital and doesn’t know why she does it. She’s ordered to go to therapy, and her therapist suggests that she attends an AA meeting because it’s the only self-help group in their small town.
  
  Until Lucy gets caught on tape stealing supplies and is told she has to get help or get another job, Lucy’s only friends were her husband and her brother. She spent so much of her time focusing on her work that she figured that’s all she needed. Now that her husband is dead and she can’t work until she gets help, she meets new friends through therapy and AA—a woman who’s anorexic and recovering alcoholics, including a police officer Lucy went to high school with. Through this eclectic group of friends and befriending dogs in need of rescue, Lucy does indeed grow and change. The humor and pacing make this a fun, light read despite the difficult topics of mourning and behavior disorders. I liked reading about a kleptomaniac and an anorexic. The woman battling the eating disorder tells Lucy, “Most people, when I talk about my eating disorder say really stupid things like ‘It’s not cancer, all you have to do is eat.’ Or, ‘I wish I could get anorexia for a few days.” Lucy never says those things, because she doesn’t understand why she does the things she does either—who is she to judge?
  
  My favorite quote of the book, however, is “If you understand that you have limited time, you won’t want to waste a moment watching reality TV, fighting about a parking space, or stealing . . .”
  The animals and quirky characters make for a fun read.
  
• 
  Carrie

  This book does not have enough dog material to even warrant the title. As someone in The arena of Surgery, who loves dogs, as feel as though mine rescued me, I thought this was the ultimate book. It, instead, is endless mental issues. I felt it dragged me down into the high, weedy, marsh, and then had a pop ending that left me still feeling depressed. I only finished it, because I bought it on Audible and didn't want to waste the credit. As far as the issues dealing with the hospital, what was written to have happened, and Administration's remedy- not plausible. This book started out in fantasy land for me from the beginning. In addition, the female characters are withering little fools, and the men seen as their escape. I just was so tired of the constant sniveling, that I wanted to slap everyone. There are two string female characters, but they are significantly knocked down by the end of the book. By the way, where was the promised Dalmation?! If this author has ever owned a dog in her life, I would be greatly surprised. If she has, someone should check in on it's well being!
• 
  Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com

  Books affect us in all sorts of ways...some make us happy, others make us think, while others make us feel...The Dog Year made me feel. Life is not perfect, we are not perfect. There are things that happen that change us, make us do things we would not otherwise do. We are human after all, right? This is a book about loss, grief, moving and and coping the best we can. There is something for everyone in this novel...4 stars!
• 
  Stephanie

  I feel totally cheated by this book. As someone who loves dogs, I was lured in by the cover and the promise of a story about a woman's connection with a new companion. What I got instead was a story about a self-absorbed klepto obsessed with having her dead husband's baby ... who, oh yeah, happens to find a stray dog. I think the most the poor dog is mentioned is in the context of being left in the car while the woman goes about her business. Don't waste your time on this one.
• 
  Lesley Kagen

  A wonderful story about family dynamics that is also beautifully written. Kudos!
• 
  Joni

  Very sweet story, interesting characters and dogs ❤️
• 
  Susan Becraft

  Pure delight
  
  The Dog Year has it all. As a dog lover, I was initially drawn to the book by its cover. First, however, I met Lucy Peterman, a tightly-wound plastic surgeon whose husband and unborn child were killed in an automobile accident. Her perfectly ordered life was destroyed.
  
  Forced to attend AA, she met a cast of quirky, yet endearing characters. She also began volunteering at the Humane Society, opened her heart to the abandoned animals and adopted one. This was a turning point for Lucy.
  
  As the story progressed, dogs played a role in the lives of each character. Anyone who loves dogs can relate to the bonds that formed not only between the dog and its owner, but also among those who owned dogs.
  
  I loved every character, including the canines, in this book. Each was so well developed that I felt like a member of the circle. To me, that is a hallmark of a well-written book. And kudos to Ann Garvin for her subtle advocacy of rescue.
  
  Thank you, Ann, for writing such a story filled with humor and love. On a personal note, I want the blue bedspread festooned with poppies.
• 
  Cheryl

  This book is more then just about a dog story. It is about love, not being perfect, good friends, and second chances. I liked Lucy. She was imperfect and a hot mess but this is why I liked her. She felt real to me. I could totally understand what she was going through even why she stole the hospital supplies. Not in the literal sense that I have gone through the same thing as Lucy but that if my husband was suddenly taken from me, I would be devastated.
  
  So glad that Lucy found "Little Dog". Dogs are great therapy. I have always had dogs and currently have 3 dogs. They are loveable and know when I or my husband need a shoulder to lean on. The titles of each chapter were funny. This is what kept the book from being a downer...the laughs. Even though Lucy was depressed she was upbeat about it and could joke about herself. This is a cute read.
• 
  Ali

  The book had a great start - Lucy's loss and kleptomania initially made her an intriguing character. But, for all that this is a book sold on the premise of being for animal lovers, it sure took the titular dog a long time to show up, and then things go downhill from there. Lucy clomps aimlessly through the plot, constantly leaves her dog in the car while she goes to meetings and appointments, and then randomly picks out dogs for other people, including surprising someone she barely knows with a living, breathing animal to take care of. Nope. Not cool.
  
  Anyhow, for a book targeted to dog-lovers, it sure left me cold as Lucy demonstrates poor animal-related judgement over and over. I hoped for a nice easy read full of loveable dog. Instead, there was a meandering plot and a mostly passive protagonist whose main issues are magically resolved through luck and other people.
• 
  Laura

  I am a dog fanatic and was looking forward to this novel having more to do with dogs than it turned out it did. That being said, it was a most interesting story. A female surgeon is caught stealing supplies from the hospital where she practices. Her husband had died about a year earlier and she is very lonely. She is forced to go to AA meetings in order to get her job back. There she meets some interesting people, including a town policeman who she knew in high school. The dogs in the story really only serve as a way to connect people to others and it definitely isn't a story about dogs. I was really interested in why she stole hospital supplies, how AA meetings work, and in finding out her personal story. I liked this book!
• 
  AuntieErrica (audiobooks=life)

  Full Disclosure: She is currently my grad school professor!
  I really enjoyed this book! It was a very simple and light read that just sort of flew by, like watching a good chick flick on TV. But it also had a little bit of the heavier stuff, like death and mental disorders. I really enjoyed the romantic relationship that awkwardly developed between the main character and the cop. My favorite character of all was Sydney, who is suffering from Anorexia. I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder for almost a year now, and her feelings really hit home with me. Garvin definitely did her homework!
• 
  Amanda

  Dr. Lucy Peterman had it all. She was a successful plastic surgeon, had a wonderful husband and a baby on the way when an accident took it all from her. Left alone to pick up the pieces of her life she is struggling. After getting caught for stealing medical supplies her life spirals out of control but with the help of some misfit friends and some canine companions things start to look up.
  This is a heartwarming story that dog lovers and people lovers alike will enjoy.
  
• 
  Janna

  I read this fairly quickly and it's easy to read, but it was SO incorrect about being a dog owner. It felt like the author had never owned a dog before. This wasn't the only unrealistic thing about the book: the relationships and the main character's reactions to events seemed really unbelievable. Reading the book passed time, but I wouldn't really recommend it.