Carol Prisant (1938–2021)

This poignant and sparse memoir is an absorbing read. A tale of marriage via the dogs the couple adopts, it is, at times, unsettling in the offhand way the dogs are treated, as if they are property to be obtained and given away, like unwanted furniture.

But, at times, it made me think of how my life would have been different with or without a pet. Would I have met him without that cat? Could I have moved there if I had not been tied down to a dog?

Ultimately, I think the writer makes mostly show more correct, if selfish, decisions, about the dogs she keeps. And, overall, dogs enrich and influence her life. show less

I just recently joined Library Things "Early Reviewers" program.
I thought it might be fun.
Well I got a book my first time choosing and what a perfect book it was for me!
Carol's story of her 42 year marriage and the 10 different dogs they had through the years sounded so much like my life!
I have only had 4 dogs and I hope I am a better chooser of breeds than she was at times. Her quick wit with the stories of her dogs made me chuckle out loud many times to where I was annoying my husband. show more Which leads me to her relationship with Millard, her high school sweetheart! It is so refreshing to read about a real couple. The things they loved and shared and the things they just put up with. Their love was deep and special and I am glad Carol chose to write about their life.
If you love dogs, fixing up houses, antiques and especially have a good long lasting marriage, I think this book will give you a few good evenings of pleasurable reading! show less

Some people have comfort foods—usually something not too healthy for the body but soothing to the 'inner child.' I have "comfort reads"—books that don't do much for my intellect but provide non-demanding interludes as I climb Mt. To-Be-Read. As a comfort read, Dog House: A Love Story by Carol Prisant is as good as they come—a soft cushion upon which to rest a tired psyche, a friendly package of canine devotional anecdotes, a humorous, warm tale of tails…sprinkled with house show more refurbishing and gardening, and, as the title promises, love.

If books were strawberry shortcake, this one would be a towering mound of frothy indulgence, topped with the freshest berries.

I am unabashedly a dog person. I also love nest-making, sprucing up houses, furnishings and gardening, mostly by watching the Home Network, but at least my intentions are good. Anyone who shares these traits will probably love this book.

There are losses, partings, and deaths in this story, straightforward but gentle reminders of the inevitability of love and loss. Taken as a whole, Dog House is my 'macaroni and cheese' type of book--so good in the reading but sad when the end comes. show less

A delightful, honest, heartwarming book! It reads like a memoir about the writers married life, motherhood, her career choices and the unfolding of her love of dogs through the years. She is above all, honest about her shortcomings and questionable decisions especially where it involves her pets. That honesty is what makes the book so charming. It is also about the ebb and flow of life, accepting with grace and dignity that which is before us. She had a lovely marriage, though she makes it show more clear that it wasn't an especially romantic union but rather based on mutual respect and deep affection along with the shared enthusiasm for their son, dogs, gardening and renovation, in that order I believe, the last four which were cultivated over time. Like all of us she adapted to her circumstances. The reader feels a part of this story including the shock and sadness at the untimely death of her husband, who died in his own bed with his dogs nearby, his wife at his side and her shaky attempts to find a way through her grief, as if a best friend is confiding her thoughts. Through her story interspersed with the acquisition of many beloved dogs are the anecdotes, often hilarious, about their adjustment, readjustment and adaption to the wildly differing personalities and challenges placed before them by their various pets. The stories of the dogs, of longing, love and loss ( and yes, occasionally forfeit) enlarges our understanding of how we deal with all of life's uncertainties, facing love head on, letting go. Being a dog lover, animal lover and book lover, this story was well suited to me. For someone who had not grown up with dogs, the writer adapted quite well. I could really identify with her frustration as various dog "issues" arose and though I didn't wholly approve of her giving the "problem" dogs up, I know that sometimes that is the best choice and much harder to come to than you realize. She was able to find them very good homes and that is all anyone could ask. A lovely, satisfying read! show less