Ellen Cooney

On SATURDAY evening Aug. 23rd at 7 pm, author Ellen Cooney will talk about her new novel The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances at The Jabberwocky Bookshop, at the Tannery, 50 Water St. Newburyport. A novel about kidnapping and rescuing abused dogs, a wise and engaging meditation on loss, love, recovery from pain, and the meaning and place of dogs in our lives, The Mountaintop School for Dogs has been garnering rave reviews. Library Journal says, “Cooney’s latest novel is both a joyful romp and a thoughtful meditation. The author’s delicate touch with the pain and trauma endured by abused animals and her sensitive portrayal of dedicated rescuers send a powerful message.” And from The Bark, “Must-read…a moving and joyous romp…All the dogs are wonderfully, fully drawn characters. This is a brilliantly crafted, uplifting book.” Publisher’s Weekly says, “Dog lovers rejoice! Cooney has crafted a feel-good, canine-filled tale of cross-generational friendship, healing, and solidarity.” Ellen Cooney is the author of 8 previous novels, including, A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies, and Lambrusco. She has taught creative writing at Boston College, Northeastern University, the (former) Seminars at Radcliffe, Harvard University Extension and Summer School, and most recently at MIT, as writer in residence. She currently lives in Maine with her 3 rescue dogs. This event is free.

Location: Street: 50 Water Street Additional: Tannery Mill Bldg 1 City: Newburyport, Province: Massachusetts Postal Code: 01950 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Dogs are welcome to join their owners for a reading of Ellen Cooney's latest novel.

Sanctuary. Place of refuge. Training school. Command center for The Network. Home for strays and rescued dogs. Evie is stuck at The Inn, managed by the stern and mysterious Mrs. Auberchon, although she’s supposed to join a training program at The Sanctuary. That’s what she signed up for—never mind that she lied and doesn’t know the first thing about animals except what she’s learned from a breed guide, from the notes someone keeps leaving, and from videos online, like one that asks: Please can more people be nicer to dogs?

Once up on the mountain with staffers, volunteers, and her dog students, Evie takes notes on the new things she’s learning. Alpha. Forgiveness. Play. Rehabilitation. Like the racing greyhound who refuses to move, the golden retriever who returns every time he’s adopted, and the rottweiler who’s a hopeless candidate for search-and-rescue, Evie came from a troubled past. She writes: “Rescue. Best. Verb. Ever.” As she creates her own training manual, she may even write an entry on herself.

Ellen Cooney is the author of A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies and other novels. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker and many literary journals. She has taught writing at MIT, Harvard, and Boston College, and now lives with her dogs Andy, Skip, and Maxine—who are, each, in their own way, rescues.

Location: Street: Porter Square Shopping Center Additional: 25 White Street City: Cambridge, Province: Massachusetts Postal Code: 02140 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

The Mountaintop School for Dogs by Ellen Cooney Thursday, August 7th, 7:00pm at Longfellow Books The Sanctuary. High up on the mountain, the Sanctuary is a place of refuge. It is a place where humans save dogs, who, in turn, save the humans. It is a place where the past does not exist, where hopelessness is chased away, where the future hasn’t been written, where orphans and strays can begin to imagine a new meaning for “family.” Evie is making her way to the Sanctuary. She has lied to gain entry. She has pretended to know more than she does about dogs, but she is learning fast. Once the indomitable Mrs. Auberchon lets her pass, she will find her way. Like the racing greyhound who refuses to move, the golden retriever who returns to his job as the Sanctuary’s butler every time he’s adopted, and the Rottweiler who’s a hopeless candidate for search-and-rescue, Evie comes from a troubled past. But as they all learn, no one should stay prisoner to a life she didn’t choose. This is the story of two women and a whole pack of dogs who, having lost their way in the world, find a place at a training school—and radical rescue center—called the Sanctuary. It is a story of strays and rescues, kidnappings and homecomings, moving on and holding on and letting go. And it is, ultimately, a moving and hilarious chronicle of the ways in which humans and canines help each other find new lives, new selves, and new hope.

"Cooney’s good-natured narrative teaches readers about many different aspects of dog behavior and training alongside Evie, making the book ideal for animal aficionados ... Dog lovers rejoice! Cooney has crafted an uncomplicated, feel-good, canine-filled tale of cross-generational friendship, healing, and solidarity." -Publishers Weekly

"The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances is both a joyful romp and a wise, engaging meditation on dogs, love, and recovery from pain. Come. Sit. Read!" –Lily King, author of Euphoria

Ellen Cooney is the author of A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies and other novels. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker and many literary journals. She has taught writing at MIT, Harvard, and Boston College, and now lives in Maine with her dogs Andy, Skip, and Maxine—who are each, in their own way, rescues. Join us forto hear Ellen share this beautiful story, ask your questions, and get your books signed.

Location: Street: One Monument Way City: Portland, Province: Maine Postal Code: 04101-4078 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Ellen Cooney discusses Lambrusco: A Novel.

"Join us for an Italian Evening with Lambrusco wine and pizza tasting. The extraordinary Resistance movement of the Italian people in the Second World War is brought to life in a story of a mother’s search for her son, by the author of the widely acclaimed A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies. The year is 1943. Nazis have invaded Italy; American troops have landed. At Aldo’s restaurant on the Adriatic coast, Lucia Fantini, wife of the late Aldo, entertained customers for years with her marvelous opera singing, but normal operations have ceased; the restaurant has been seized by nazifascisti, and a resistance squad of waiters and tradesmen has been formed, led by Lucia’s son Beppino. When he disappears after acting on his own to destroy a German truck, Lucia asks, “What kind of a partisan are you, blowing something up without telling your mother?” and sets off to look for him." (booksite.com) (SqueakyChu)… (more)