“A touching, funny story about the mystery of love – human and animal –
that rings too true.”
—Carl Hiaasen
Dr. Robert Heller is one of New York City's leading veterinarians and his “Ask Dr. Bob” advice column is a must-read among pet lovers. More at home among animals than humans, Bob soon comes to realize that he, too, could use some advice. His father is angry and controlling, his mother is nearly invisible, and his brother seems bent on destroying not just his own life but also the lives of everyone around him. As for Bob’s wife, Anna, she is all but perfect, assuming one can ignore her own colorful but deeply dysfunctional clan. And then, just when Bob thinks he’s figured out what it takes to thrive in the human world as comfortably as he does among cats, dogs, and hamsters, tragedy strikes. How can he go on living when he is suddenly, soul-killingly alone? Ask Bob is a funny and poignant story about what it means to put your life back together.
It is a worthwhile read that will have you thinking, laughing, crying and commiserating throughout its approximately 300 pages.
The beginning of each chapter features a "letter" to "Ask Dr.Bob" which lays the ground work for the ensuing chapter.
In response to one of his readers' questions submitted via his advice column "Dr.Bob" responds "Everyone has some kind of scar-it's simply a question of how many we get and how we bounce back from them. Some scars are on the surface. Some disappear quickly. Some linger before fading. But every time we're nicked and scarred, we're altered. It doesn't mean we're a lesser of better version of ourselves, but we are different."
Bob, Anna, his father, mother, nephew, brother and other characters in this touching and witty book are ALL scarred (as all of us are), and through "Ask Bob" the reader discovers how each copes and in some cases, triumphs, in their own way.
Many of the responses that Dr.Bob writes to his readers are sarcastic, but they ALL contain the TRUTH. It's just a matter of if the readers will LISTEN and LEARN from that truth and ultimately, will Dr.Bob learn from his own advice?
Dr.Bob devoted his life as a vet to trying to "fix" damaged animals, but through the process he just couldn't "get away from all the damaged people."
From "Ask Bob", "With animals, you feed them, house them, pet them, and, when needed, you take away their pain-and for that they trust and love you. It should be that simple with humans, but of course it isn't. We try to make it that simple, but it never is"....that is what makes us human "We are not simple. We run from things we're attracted to. We destroy the things we love. We want the things we can't have. We take the things we don't want. We're hurt by truths and soothed by lies. We live for such a short time and all we yearn for is something that will last forever."
Peter Gethers is a hugely successful book editor, screenwriter, playwright, publisher and author. His previous books include The Norton Trilogy (starring Peter’s cat, Norton). Most of all Peter is a gifted storyteller. Smart and heartfelt, and with a cast of unforgettable characters (and more than a few exotic creatures), Ask Bob reminds us that the road to happiness – although bumpy – is worth it.
ENTER TO WIN!!!!! TWO READERS will win a copy of "Ask Bob" by Peter Gethers. One winner located in the U.S. will receive the hard cover book (A $25 value), and one winner OUTSIDE of the U.S. will receive a link to download a digital copy FOR FREE!
THE GIVE-AWAY IS OPEN NOW (to those over 18 years of age) and will end on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT 5PM. The winners will be chosen at random by www.random.org and will be announced on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th.
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave a comment telling me that you would like to be entered, that's it!
