Elizabeth Abbott (1) (1942–)

I received an ARC through Goodreads.
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Wow, just wow! Such an inspirational memoir. The unwavering devotion and unconditional love of a beloved pet inspires countless people to go above and beyond, sometimes moving mountains to do what it takes to save and protect their beloved pets.

Getting a chance to read about the horrors and neglect that the dogs that Elizabeth has encountered, it's hard not to get emotional, especially when you read about the dogs' happy endings after a harsh start to show more life. There are a lot of amazing people out there, who's tireless efforts (rescuing every animal they can from being slaughtered or put down for being unadoptable), for deserves huge recognition for everything they have done and what they have sacrificed.

Every pet (cat, dog, doesn't matter) deserves a second, third and countless chances at happiness. After all, they don't let their past or disabilities get them down once they find their forever home or chance at redemption. Just like Bonzi, Pochi, and so many others to name.

Reading this book was heart-warming and heart wrenching, and it has certainly opened my eyes to the greater world of adopting and volunteering. At the end of the day, it makes me want to hug my dog even closer and savour every moment we have. show less

Abbott’s survey of celibacy throughout the ages and across the globe is a feminist take on the ways that celibacy has empowered some and crushed others. The first few chapters look at the celibacy from the Greeks and Romans through early and later Christianity. The book does tend to focus rather more on the West, but the author clearly made an effort to look at other cultures and religions. After a chapter examining other major religions, the book divides its look at celibacy by topic – show more celibacy to preserve semen, empower women, as a duty, for a cause, coerced etc. The last chapter picks up the more linear historical look at the 20th century. It’s a survey so sometimes there’s jumping around and each individual section is short – it would be easy to find more in-depth information about, for example, Elizabeth I and Florence Nightingale. However, the analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of celibacy is good and the nuanced situating of various forms of celibacy in context makes the book well worth reading.

Abbott is at her best in her vivid descriptions of the lives of strong, unconventional women – early Christians (real or apocryphal) who could be reformed prostitutes, desert-dwelling virgins or rebellious daughters; the Beguines, a loose spiritual community of women who did good deeds; Catherine of Siena – her extravagant asceticism gave her a power she could never have had in a conventional life but is also somewhat disturbing; powerful virgin priestesses – the Roman vestal virgins and the Incan acllas; Joan of Arc and the Crow warrior Woman Chief; artistic women in Boston marriages. For women who voluntarily chose to become celibate, the rewards could be immense – equal or superior status to men, control of their bodies and future, freedom from drudgery and childbirth. But of course many women were forced to remain chaste in some way – forced into a convent, victims of the double standard in multiple ways. Men who chose to be celibate often saw women as, at best, a distraction and at worst a sinful inferior being. Abbott is clearly writing from a feminist perspective. For the most part, she seems sympathetic to or at least gives a very good description of the power of the draw of celibacy. However, it is clear that patriarchal society and the church hierarchy are often the villains in her summaries. She notes “I seek spirituality in my religion, Christianity, but exploring its roots as I researched this book left me instead struggling to retain my religious faith.” Her contempt in some of the sections – on the role of Hindu widows, Chinese foot binding, female genital mutilation, American slaveholders and 19th c. English attitudes towards prostitution – comes through.

This being a history of celibacy, there are some queasily memorable bits – Abbott’s description of actual chastity belts, the horrifying-sounding impotence tests in pre-Revolutionary France, the multiple methods of castration that were described. Overall very interesting. show less

I received this book as a First Reads via Goodreads in exchange for a complete unbiased review.

This started off as a heartwarming memoir of life of a woman and the dogs she lost. The author explained how as a child she wished for dog, but her parents wouldn't allow it. Once an adult Abbott had plenty of dogs, some more special that others, and she explored the life as a dog owner/parent (which ever you prefer). It is because of this memoir style beginning I give this book a three star: the show more writing is phenomenal, the stories tug the heart strings and the dogs come to life on the page. How many of us have had dogs that have impressed upon our hearts for the rest of our lives because of their bravery, uncompromising love and loyalty?

Unfortunately the book doesn't continue in that direction. I have had extremely negative experiences with rescue organizations in the area that Abbott describes. When I was younger and my then long term partner and I wanted to get our first family dog. The rescues pointed out insulting things such as: lower than desired income, not married, living in an apartment, me being a full-time student. Many passages in this book lit me with fury: the children of the possible adopters who were horrified when the dog had diarrhea on the deck (they're children!), the distaste for a lower income man who could not afford to retrieve both of his dogs from the pound and chose only one, and the glorification of all rescue efforts. The world is much more complex than this short book realizes.

Rescues are a wonderful idea, filled with people who love animals to attempt to find them a home with a suitable family. Unfortunately, my own experiences have made me bitter to the rescues in my area which in turn made reading this book less enjoyable. The dogs my now ex-boyfriend purchased because we were considered unsuitable for pet ownership are beautiful, lively Border-Aussies who are loved and spoiled by their one owner. My dogs are my children, my family, regardless of whether I am married, have high income or how angry they make me (because they do!).

However, regardless of the content regarding rescues, the memoir of a woman who went from her first dog to finding meaning in life by helping other creatures is one that I enjoyed. I thank Elizabeth for sharing her own personal stories of her dogs, immortalizing them as I wish I could do for my own. I also enjoyed learning about the Serbian street dogs and the efforts in their own home countries.

This is a book that will appeal to dog lovers, rescue believers, memoir enthusiasts, those who just like a good cry (Tommy! What a sad story!) and those of us who like pretty pictures to put names to the human and furry faces featured in the stories. show less

A brilliant and poignant story of human deprivation. This is a surprisingly deep study that shows celibacy to be debilitating, neurotic, and at times empowering.