Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories
Daniel Pinkwater (Adult Autobiography)
This is a book about three men who love dogs and the dogs that loved them back. From the author’s Uncle Boris, the most colorful and cultured of his father’s five gangster brothers from Warsaw; to his father who emigrated from Poland to New York in the 1920s and became an expert in parrots; to the author himself who has always been drawn to sled dogs, had a penchant for magic in his youth, and opened up an obedience school while authoring several children’s books, their shaggy tales (pun intended) will delight and warm the heart of any puppy parent, canine cuddler, or doggy doter.
Admittedly, I was disappointed for the first third of the book where I found the title to be misleading—the story related very little of Uncle Boris in the Yukon and the other shaggy dog stories were either mere mentions, brief encounters, or just a few short paragraphs. However, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “To lose patience is to lose the battle” so I was determined to press on because who was I to doubt Gandhi? Luckily, my patience was rewarded as I was given stories that plucked at my very heartstrings: using dogs to heal troubled boys lost in an academic system; adopting an aggressive Malamute whose imperfections made him the perfect companion; and opening up Superpuppy, a dog obedience business that resulted in several comedic situations and even more valuable life lessons. Pinkwater’s stories of love, loss, healing, and heartbreak will resonate with anyone who has ever had the privilege and experienced the joy of having been loved by a dog.
I sometimes end my reviews with a famous quote that succinctly and eloquently wraps up the overall theme of the story. I couldn’t find anything that expresses this better than Pinkwater’s own words about his many canine companions: They’ve been my teachers, this little succession of barkers—they’ve shown me a lot about how it’s possible to live this life, and also how to leave it, loving it right up to the last second. Whether purebred, crossbred, mongrel, rescue, foster, or stray, these shaggy creatures somehow find a way into a few lucky homes and hearts…and ultimately we are all the better for it.
Rating: 4/5
* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com
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