Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

by Ted Kerasote | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 9780151012701 Global Overview for this book
Registered by BigKat of Bremerton, Washington USA on 11/2/2007
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by BigKat from Bremerton, Washington USA on Friday, November 2, 2007
This one is difficult for me to journal. There's so much there that I want to say but not all of what I feel about this book is in agreement. I envy the relationship Kerasote was able to establish with his dog Merle but I have a hard time picturing how the lessons apply to my suburban dog. Kerasote lived where dogs were allowed to roam free, as a writer his schedule was flexible, he'd made a lifestyle choice available where he lived to eat only what he'd hunted himself and he and Merle had an idyllic life together, hiking, skiing, hunting and when Kerasote was writing Merle was free to roam the town and surrounding countryside and/or to visit the other free roaming dogs in town.

Beautifully written and deeply moving dog lovers will appreciate this glimpse of how dogs and people are meant to work together and compliment one another's skills and abilities.

Months later now and I want to add a bit to this journal entry. Looking at the relationship we are establishing with our dog Ranger I realize that I did take away quite a bit from the idyllic relationship between Merle and his person. Ranger is a suburban dog and won't be roaming free establishing his own friendships and visitation schedule but he's living a pretty idyllic life for a suburban dog. We've partnered with Ranger to walk him 40-60 minutes three or four times a day (if each of the big people takes him out once that's three times) and he's showing us changes in our neighborhood that we'd never paid attention to before. He's learning to fit himself into our lifestyle and we're finding ways to accomadate his needs. He's made friends in the neighborhood and we respect that, even if we're in a hurry we still allow a few minutes for him to say hello to his friends. Even in a suburban setting it's still possible to form a partnership. I find that encouraging.

I'm going to offer this one as a bookray. Participant list below.

peachy93722 Seattle WA
KrazyKatLaydee Rolla, MO
300dogs Jackson, New Jersey
bibliotreker Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
caridad Miami Lakes, Florida

Journal Entry 2 by peachy93722 from Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Just came in the mail today. I look forward to reading it. Thanks so much for doing a bookray with this book.

Journal Entry 3 by peachy93722 from Seattle, Washington USA on Friday, January 4, 2008
Although this book wasn't entirely what I had expected it to be, I did enjoy reading Merle's Door. I can relate to the relationship that Ted Kerasote and Merle had with each other. I can see similarities with thier relationship with the relationship that I had with my last dog,though Mickey didn't enjoy the freedom of roaming that Merle experinced. I must say that reading the passing of both Merle and Browser did bring tears to my eyes.

Journal Entry 4 by peachy93722 from Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Will be in the mail Friday.

Journal Entry 5 by KrazyKatLaydee from Rolla, Missouri USA on Sunday, February 10, 2008
Book arrive safe and sound in yesterday's mail.

Journal Entry 6 by KrazyKatLaydee from Rolla, Missouri USA on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Slight SPOILER ALERT, but you can probably guess how this book has to end.

I loved this book. It's obvious the the author and Merle shared a very special bond. I live in town, so my dogs don't get the freedom to roam that Merle did, but I still recognized a little bit of Merle in each of them. I loved the way the author mixed in some scientific theories about dog behavior with his stories about Merle. I don't agree with all the author's opinions, but he did give me a perspective I hadn't considered before.

HERE COMES THE SPOILER ALERT!


*********

I cried towards the end when Browser had to be put to sleep. And I sobbed when Merle died. And then I hugged my dogs. And my cats.

It's getting ready to fly to New Mexico for its next stop on the bookray.

Thank you, BigKat, for starting this book on its journey!

Journal Entry 7 by KrazyKatLaydee from Rolla, Missouri USA on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I finally got my rear in gear and mailed this off to New Jersey. It's traveling Priority Mail in an attempt to make up for the delay.

[edited to change New Mexico to New Jersey -- oops!]

Journal Entry 8 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Saturday, March 15, 2008
What a wonderful suprise to come home from a long day at work to find Merle's Door waiting for me. KrazyKatLaydee mailed this book and decorated the shipping envelope with all sorts of stickers!! Lots of dogs, puppies and dog bones!!

She also included two sheets of stickers for me as well. I think I will pay it forward and decorate the envelope when I mail it off too!


Journal Entry 9 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
I finished reading Merle's Door late last night. Even now, almost nine hours later, my eyes are still red, swollen and puffy. What a priceless treasure Ted Kerasote found along the banks of the San Juan River so many years ago. This was a beautiful and touching story--sniffle,sniffle.

My only complaint is that unlike KrazyKatLaydee who read this prior to me, I am currently dog-less. I am writing this from a hotel room in Omaha, Nebraska, 1300 miles and two days away from home and from hugging my own dogs!!

If you google Ted Kerasote, a link will come up bringing you to a slide show of photos of Merle, Brower, Greycat and many people who shared his life. I also e-mailed the author to let him know how much I enjoyed his book and to thank him for sharing his and Merle's story with the world!!

Thank you again to BigKat for starting this ray. The next stop will be Bibliotreker in Pennsylvania. I will mail this off to her when I return home, first thing Saturday morning, after of course, I hug Skip & Rocky!

Journal Entry 10 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Saturday, April 5, 2008
Merle's Door is in the mail!!

Journal Entry 11 by 300dogs from Jackson, New Jersey USA on Monday, April 7, 2008
Hi all! It's me, 300dogs again. In my journal entry I mentioned that I e-mailed the author of Merle's Door. I wrote that I enjoyed his and Merle's story and thanked him for sharing their experiences with all of us.

Well, I just wanted to tell everyone that he responded back to me. He e-mailed to thank me for contacting him and was glad that I liked the book!! :)

Journal Entry 12 by bibliotreker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Merle's Door arrived safely today. How cute with the dog stickers.. I also like your creative packaging, 300dogs. Whatever works. When my husband called me at work to tell me the book arrived I just had to check Ted Kerasote's website with all the pictures. Thanks, 300dogs, for mentioning it in your journal entry. Merle looks so much like my lab, he could be her brother. I can't wait to get started.

Journal Entry 13 by bibliotreker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I just loved this book. Ted Kerasote took me to the wilds of Wyoming with his best friend Merle. I just wanted to be there skiing down the mountains with them, even though I've never skied before, and taking in the back country. I like how he and Merle interacted with each other and can just see Merle's HaHaHa's. He took me to places not only physical but into the depts of man's relationship with dog as well as better understanding on how dogs tick. My favorite story was the one with Merle and the stubborn llama. If only more people could attempt to understand dog what an even more meaningful relationship we could have with our pets. I had to pet own my lab who sat beside me as I read and was happy to have my own canine companion. Our years with them are few but are, oh, so enriched. Now I want to listen to the CD audio version and relive this wonderful story. And yes, I'll probably laugh and cry all over again.

Thanks BigKat for making this one available.


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