Ask Anna: Book review and giveaway!

Howdy, folks! John here. When Maggie received a copy of Dean Koontz’s new book Ask Anna (co-written by his adorable golden retriever, Anna) I snatched it from her. I’m a HUGE Dean Koontz fan. I love all of his books. Every. Single. One. He’s such a fantastic story-teller. He writes suspenseful books with interesting, relatable characters. Most of the time, though, the best characters are the dogs. He wrote a book several years ago about his dog Trixie who was a retired service dog, from whom he learned a lot about humanity and the inherent goodness of dogs.

Anyway, the book is a collection of letters written by dogs to Anna asking for advice. I’m not typically one who enjoys reading things written from the dog’s perspective. It tends to be too cutesy for me. However, the letters written to Anna, and her responses, are exactly how I imagine dogs conversing. For all of their nobility, gentleness, understanding, forgiving, and unconditional compassion, dogs are incredibly goofy creatures. The eat, smell, roll in, and just overall enjoy some very odd things. Regardless of the question, Anna has very sage, dog-like advice.

For example:

Charmin: “I love to shred these rolls of paper. I love to unravel one through the house and then follow it back, pretending I’m Hansel and Gretel, escaping along our marked trail through the woods, the evil witch close behind us. I love to sneak out at night to decorate the neighbors’ trees and shrubbery with one. Is this wrong?”

Anna: “It is so right that I don’t have the words to express how right it is. But please tell me you never drink from the toilet.”

How great is that? She tells Huckleberry, the beagle who steps on his ears when he’s sniffing, to act like a cat falling off a window sill and “pretend the dumb move was intentional.” She suggests that Cutie in Cleveland, who wants to get a job, to audition for the next Star Wars movie because Yoda has poor syntax, no fur, and “looks like a wrinkled turnip.”

This book is whimsical, entertaining, and will make think more about some of the things your pup does. The pictures are great, the advice sound, and the message clear. Dogs are silly and thoughtful, and that’s why we love them so much.

One last amazing note about this book is that 100% of what Dean Koontz receives from the sale of this book will be donated to Canine Companions for Independence, the nonprofit group that trains service dogs for individuals with disabilities. Also, Anna states up front that she is being paid in sausages.

And now you have a chance to win a copy! (Sorry, international folks, this one is U.S. only.)

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