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A Big Little Life (Abridged): A Memoir of a Joyful Dog Named Trixie Audiobook
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(4.00) - 3,560 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In a profound, funny, and beautifully rendered portrait of a beloved companion, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz remembers the golden retriever who changed his life. A retired service dog, Trixie was three when Dean and his wife, Gerda, welcomed her into their home. She was superbly trained, but her greatest gifts couldn’t be taught: her keen intelligence, her innate joy, and an uncanny knack for living in the moment. Whether chasing a tennis ball or protecting those she loved, Trixie gave all she had to everything she did, inspiring Dean and Gerda to trust their instincts and recapture a sense of wonder that will remain with them always. Trixie lived fewer than twelve years; in this wide world, she was a little thing. But in every way that mattered, she lived a big life.
“A humorous, poignant portrait of [a] remarkable dog.” —Kirkus Reviews
“One dog book that everyone…will deeply enjoy.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A delightful read…an unusually effective brief for the joy that dogs bring us.” —The American Spectator
“A tender, insightful, loving homage…an inspirational book of love, hope and humor.” —Bookreporter.com
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"in this memoir of his golden retriever trixie, dean koontz celebrates all things dog; their joy, their heart, their soul, and especially their effect on us humans, who do not deserve their affection, but are given it freely anyway. as a life long animal lover, I loved reading the things I have felt and known, put into words as only dean koontz can, with his masterful use of language. when you read this book, you will laugh, and yes, you will cry, and you will be filled with love and hope. this book is good medicine."
— Paula (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
A Big Little Life Listener Reviews
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" This was a quick, fun read. There were some times that I felt like Koontz was a little too... twee? But overall a great book about a sweet dog who became part of the family. "
— Katlet, 2/15/2014 -
" Was an enjoyable book to listen to while walking in the woods with my dog. "
— Robyn, 2/7/2014 -
" The story of Trixie warms your heart and is an example of a very smart dog who is much loved. The final days and end of her life provide comfort and understanding for those who have lost a pet. "
— Edie, 2/5/2014 -
" I love this book! As a "mother" of a golden retriever ... it has so much insight and love! I loved knowing more about Dean Koontz and his wife even though his books are not my type of stories, I loved reading about his personal life! This is a must read for animal lovers!! "
— Marylee, 2/5/2014 -
" Lovely memoir of his Golden. Not what I expected of Dean Koontz, but pleasantly surprise. Of course, I cried my eyes out the last 2-3 chapters, but that is unavoidable with any dog story! "
— Brooke, 2/3/2014 -
" A wonderful dog book. He is a great writer. "
— Cindi, 1/31/2014 -
" I love Dean Koontz, but this memoir took his writing to a new level. . .pure love! :) I absolutely adored this book and I admire Mr. Koontz even more now because of it. If you're a dog lover. . . it's a must read for you and worth adding to your library. "
— Lori, 1/25/2014 -
" Excellent story. There's a spiritual aspect to this book that I didn't realize when I started reading, but really came to appreciate by the book's end. I may even read it again. "
— Kris, 1/13/2014 -
" I love dog stories and this one really touched my heart "
— Linda, 1/10/2014 -
" Absolutely loved this book-very touching story. "
— Scott, 1/1/2014 -
" I'd give this story 10 stars if I could. So very sweet... This is a book about friendship, love, and angels. "
— Crys, 12/26/2013 -
" I have never read one of his novels, and I don't really know anything about them, but this writing style was wonderful and the whole thing brought misty tears of sentiment to my eyes. A joyful dog indeed. "
— Stephanie, 12/12/2013 -
" If you love dogs, you should read this! Cute and quick read. "
— Nancy, 12/11/2013 -
" Absolutely loved it although the ending caused me to use a half a box of Kleenex! "
— Angelique, 10/12/2013 -
" What a sweet, wonderful story. Really enjoyed listening to this on my round trip to Jacksonville today. Never read any of Dean Koontz's books, but this one I loved! "
— Penn, 10/4/2013 -
" I have read a lot of Dean Koontz, but this one is totally different. I could really identify with it since I had a dog like Trixie. Of course, I cried at the end, because we know how all dog stories must end. "
— Pam, 9/1/2013 -
" Not 5 stars....but six or seven.....awwwwwww "
— Jacqueline115, 8/27/2013 -
" A great wonderful book if you love dogs especially Goldenseal "
— Karen, 5/28/2013 -
" A wonderful book! Full of love of a dog. Made me cry! "
— Lindamac, 4/26/2013 -
" beautiful memoir by Koontz about how the first dog he and his wife ever had changed their lives in so many positive ways. Koontz reads the audio and does it very well. I highly recommend the audio version. "
— Martha, 12/25/2012 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this. I suspect that if I was a fan of Dean Koontz's fiction, I would have an even deeper appreciation for the way Trixie affected his writing. As it is I found this memoir thoughtful, hilarious, touching, well-written. "
— Christina, 9/2/2012 -
" a Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog was a book worth reading if you are an aminal lover. You will find yourself relating to the love that is lavished on Trixie and also the love she gives in return. Definitely a book worth reading.... "
— Laura, 11/9/2011 -
" It's okay. He babbles a lot and gets off track. But I love Goldens, I don't think I'll be able to finish it though. I can't handle the dog dying. "
— Gale, 7/24/2011 -
" It's just a book of cute stories his dog did. "
— Cheryl, 7/14/2011 -
" A wonderful, beautiful book. A wonderful, precious pet. So touching, makes me remember everyday to hug my dog. "
— Charmaine, 7/14/2011 -
" It is the story of a dog. And even though I knew how it would end, I still enjoyed the ride. "
— Mandy, 7/1/2011 -
" If anyone has ever loved a pet, you need to read this book. It was a wonderful, wonderfully sad book. Made me cry. "
— Wendi, 6/29/2011 -
" This was a quick, fun read. There were some times that I felt like Koontz was a little too... twee? But overall a great book about a sweet dog who became part of the family. "
— Katlet, 6/7/2011 -
" Very well written, enjoyable even if you aren't a dog lover. "
— Julie, 6/2/2011 -
" I loved this book...it got a little wordy at times, but I love that I read it and "got to know" Trixie. I rec this book to anyone who has a dog that is only a dog in body, but has the soul of a human. "
— Kathleen, 5/17/2011 -
" So good I cried at every chapter. Sometimes they were happy tears, sometimes sad. Really a great read. "
— Mike, 4/27/2011 -
" Great book! Trixie was an amazing dog. "
— Kristen, 4/16/2011 -
" A very tender story. This dog really has a cute personality and you can see that come out of the book through the way Koontz writes it. I am a dog person anyway so I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to get a dog. "
— Christine, 4/14/2011 -
" Can't we all go on & on about our dogs? I read 170 pages of this book about Trixie but then wanted to get on to reading something else. Dogs are our wonderful & faithful companions. You might want to read this book. "
— Lola, 4/5/2011
About Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz is the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, including suspense thrillers and books for young readers. His books are published in thirty-eight languages, and his worldwide sales top 500 million copies. Several of his books have also been adapted into feature films and television miniseries. He has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” For more information, visit his website at www.deankoontz.com.