Book Review and Giveaway: Another Bad Dog Book

By Cindy Roesel



**Giveaway is now closed**

An American Bulldog smoking a cigar is on the cover of Joni B. Cole’s fifth book, ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK – Tales of Life, Love and Neurotic Human Behavior, and lucky me, I got to review it. It’s a compilation of 28 essays, and even before I read one of them, I fell in love with this book. With that cover, how can I resist? I think we’ve established that I’m a dog fanatic!

Joni is the author of the acclaimed book for writers and teachers, TOXIC FEEDBACK – Helping Writers Survive and Thrive. She also created the three-volume THIS DAY SERIES, including WATER COOLER DIARIES – Women across America Share Their Day at Work. In those books, she observed other women’s lives, but this time, she shifts the attention to her life. So buckle up honey, it’s going to be quite a ride.

ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK takes Joni into the humor memoir writing arena of authors like Jen Lancaster and Laurie Notaro, also affectionately known as the “laugh until you pee your pants” or “laugh until whatever you’re drinking shoots out of your nose” writers. You need to know that Joni is one smart cookie. She has the unique talent for taking low moments in one’s life and turning them into high comedy, or at least making you chuckle. To quote Joni, "perfecting the art of learned helplessness." She has her Masters from Dartmouth College and her book features a 2011 Pushcart Prize-nominated essay called, Strangers on a Train.

Throughout the essays in ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK, Joni is able to find the rich texture of unremarkable days and turn them into something interesting. For instance, she captures an extremely personal, tender moment with her father at a nursing home in the essay "Rest Home," but then turns the story when it risks getting too sentimental: "I was jealous of dad’s lap of luxury known as 'the Garden Spot.' When the Respiratory Therapist came to give my father a treatment, I asked him if I could have a breathing treatment, too, but he acted like I was kidding. I thought about getting a breathing treatment, much like getting a hit at one of those trendy oxygen bars."

Some of Joni’s essay topics explore the special challenges of mothering a 'tween; whether or not she’s Vermont-y enough to fit into the Vermont Landscape; how she’s always going to be a little girl to her mom; discovering the secret of "The Secret;" and one of my favorites, is she emotionally well-adjusted enough to walk the labyrinth? These and many more topics are served up in ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK.

Reading Joni’s essays is like having a gossip session with a close girlfriend. You’re dishing about what’s going on in your neighborhood or family. Overall, some of the essays are funnier than others, but when they hit, it’s huge.

Joni lives in Vermont with her husband, two daughters, cat and one (slightly) bad dog that inspired this book. She is the co-founder of the Writer’s Center in White River Junction, Vermont and she’s a frequent Speaker and Instructor at Writing Conferences across the country.

ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK comes out September 13th. I’m sure by the time you finish reading Joni’s book you will come to know her and her family (and dog) well.

ANOTHER BAD DOG BOOK is the kind of book you want to spend some time with, much like the author, Joni B. Cole. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter and her website. You can enter to win this book at Goodreads until August 30th. (US/Canada only.)

You can also enter to win an autographed copy of this book right here at CLC! Joni has three up for grabs for some lucky readers in the US. Just tell us about a bad thing an animal did (yours or someone else's). Did they tear apart your brand new couch? Leave a mess on your floor that should have gone in a litter box instead? Bury your keys in the backyard? Please include your e-mail address or another way to contact you.

US only. Giveaway ends August 29th at midnight EST.

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