Don't Tell Your Dog He's an Animal - Especially while he's driving.

The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I originally read this book many years ago when I got it from the library as a child. I had just got a dog so they were my favorite topic at the time. Also, the edition I checked out had a picture of a dog behind the steering wheel of a car on it. Nuf said? Well, this is me, so not yet.

This book by Canadian author, Farley Mowat, is taken from his own experiences with the family pet who thought he was a person. It's not a fantasy novel with talking animals, but rather an anecdotal, comic telling of the funny and odd things their dog did as a result of his belief. I won't give away any more than that except to say it is more an amusing book than laugh out loud. But if you have a pet that holds this similar belief, then I guarantee you will find yourself with a big grin on your face more than once as you relate to this true to life story.

Even though it revolves around children, it was written many years ago and Farley Mowat is not the average hyper-kindergarten teacher type of children's book author, so it will be appreciated by people of all ages. I gave this very popular author just an average rating because I've never been much of a Farley Mowat fan. I find his stories okay but personally hard to connect with his thought processes, writing style and vibe. But I am definitely in the minority. It's an enjoyable, clean read that one gets much more out of once you're an adult, for sure. I'm glad I stumbled upon it again here at Goodreads in a list of "Wholesome Books to Read Out Loud to your Children".

This book is available at most libraries, so I encourage you to check out the book and the Goodreads list too. It's also a great find if you are a parent wishing to do something fun to connect with your kids.

Thanks for reading my review.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

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GUBLER-LAND

I very, very rarely give a critique or review of a website. Especially a personal website. But I came across one, quite by chance (which is I suppose the point of ‘surfing the net’ ) and I thought I would describe it to you.
It’s , uh …. well, it’s kinda like a … No. It’s actually much more like a …
Ok. Ok. Just give me a second.
I suppose if I had to put it in just one word, this website I’m talking about is completely …, uh.
 
Hmmm. This may be a bit harder than I anticipated. Let me start by telling you what you WILL find in it, instead of trying to sum it up.
There’s some … [pause] …, uh, some noises that sound like a person with bad digestion, the themes from the “Golden Girls” and “Cheers” (with most of the words just hummed), …  [pause] … a pink hat made of 80% cotton and 20% Lycra which causes allergies, a photo of a cute, little white dog, a floating top hat, (yes. I said “floating”),  doodles everywhere, … [pause] … some sort of Godzilla monster, a Ferris wheel, … Um. What else.






 

For all the years I’ve been writing and all the words I know, I don’t suppose I’m sounding very clever. But I’ll keep trying to describe it.
There are some sections with familiar titles that I recognize,  like “Radio”, and “Movies” and “Links”. And when one clicks on them you will be taken to … ?
ALRIGHT ! Let me try to start again from the beginning  …
I very, very rarely give a critique or review …
Oh. Never mind !
If you care to enter the bizarre, the unique, the complex, the humorous and one-of-a-kind mind of Matthew Gray Gubler, it is definitely worth your while to click your way over.
But DO NOT expect the usual, the average or the mundane, because you will be disappointed.

 
Matthew Gray Gubler plays DR. Spencer Reid on the TV show, “Criminal Minds”. That part I’m sure about. But the rest of it, …





It’s not the typical website of a Hollywood actor. He is not there to promote his acting career. You will not find 8x10 Glossy Photographs, or him bragging about the fact he has directed some of the Criminal Mind episodes, or what he does in his free time, or whom he dates, Etc..
But in a world  where people are always trying to “be like” and “out do” all the other people, I can’t help but admire Matthew for “marching to a different drummer”. Or in his case, probably a entire “different band”!
Matthew Gray Gubler: A breath of fresh air in an Internet filled with the “same ol, same ol” stagnant banality.




“Thank you God for people who ‘dare to be different.  What a boring world this would be without them.”
Oh. If you don’t hear from me for a while. It’s because I’ve backed my bag and headed for an extended holiday to Gubler Land.

“Having a great time. Wish you were here.
Love Laura-Lee xxoo”






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NOTE: Drawings done by Matthew Gray Gubler