Hounded: The Lowdown on Life from Three Dachshunds
Self-described “cranky” author Ziselman has learned a number of things from owning three dachshunds, which he imparts in this charming and funny memoir. In common with all dog lovers, Ziselman is obsessive about his dogs, but unlike the common canine-centric pack, he is able to tease out and articulate life lessons from what he’s observed in his dogs. Weaving tales from the dachshunds into memories and stories of his own life, he delves for the truisms common to both and ends each chapter with a Dachshund Life Lesson. Several poignant chapters pair the early deaths of Ziselman’s parents and the parallel lessons from their lives and the lives of the dachshunds. What saves this book from treacly sweetness and makes it hard to put down is Ziselman’s wonderfully sharp, witty voice. --Nancy Bent