On Pets and Men
By Claude Lambert
These micro-stories are like a box of Belgian chocolates. Eat one at a time: each one has a different flavor. Most will make you smile, some will let you wonder. Bugs, flies, lizards, spiders, mice, birds, rabbits, cats, dogs, goats, boars and men are presented through the large lens of compassion.
Mutt-ologies I received this book as a gift, and I am finding it a light and charming read. More like browsing, really. The title would suggest a more limited scope. Lambert's purview is far reaching, though--it's sort of My Dog Tulip reimagined as a series of pensees by Barthes. Sure, like most self-published works, it could have benefited from more rigorous proofreading, but the author's insights to such varied topics as fast-food coffee, the deaths of the Rosenbergs, and 12th-century Chinese poetry reveal her to be a woman of the world, an empirical thinker, and a bit of an eccentric. In the span of 96 pages, Lambert ponders animal psychology (at one point wondering whether birds "like" to fly), dogs' perception of human speech, and the justification of anthropomorphism. I liked this book, primarily for its quirks. There is no sustained argument or narrative here, but if you enjoy intellectual provocation in small doses, this is the little book for you. Charming! What a charming little book. Guaranteed to bring a smile to all who read it. Her stories include moments of whimsey and wisdom. Read the stories in order or just flip to any page and enjoy the lyricism of this delightful writer. If you have ever marveled at the antics of animals, you will love this book. I am giving it to everyone for Christmas.
