One of the greatest Books ever Written by Anybody

Truman Capote had this to say about a book by one of his favorite authors:
Truman: Have you read the fantastic book by J.R.Ackerly called My Dog Tulip?
Andy: No
Truman: Well its one of the greatest books ever written by anybody in the world.

From Truman Capote: Conversations

Punch magazine declared it the "first highbrow dog book ever written". Christopher Isherwood considers it one of the "greatest masterpieces of animal literature". Its a book that often makes the list of undiscovered jewels or little known works of literature.

This contrasts with another more widely known masterpiece of animal literature-
Call of the Wild by Jack London. The books dark tone however like the more eccentric relationship detailed in Ackerly's book are examples of 'adult' animal tales that have since disappeared from the literary scene in more recent times.

I Love Soccer

So I was featured back in September on flickrDogs with my Soccer Ball. Cute as that picture was, it doesn't really give you an indication of what my soccer skills are truly like. Problem solved. Fueled by a Bebel Gilberto remix, and with help from my tomboy girl Maisie, my fancy footwork is captured for posterity in our latest feature over in the Cinema room.

The Local, the Tourists & the Psycho Killer

Today on our weekend walk we encountered three archetypes commonly found in the New York City Area.

The Local -39th St Flea Market Stall Owner, burly guy, t shirt, flannel shirt, sweatpants.

Local: He's a French Bulldog, right? There's a lot of them come to the market these days. Whats his Name?
PL: Eti
Local: Eddie, Come here big guy. Look at the muscles on him. You fellas have a nice day now.


The Tourists -Mr and Mrs British Tourist, elderly couple, church clothes.

Mr. British Tourist: Oh he's a lovely fellow isn't he? How old? Two? We have a Boston you know. He's a charming chap isn't he.
Later
Mr. British Tourist: Look dear there's that fellow I was telling you about.
Mrs British Tourist: Oh he's smashing isn't he. We have a Boston you know (she points to a Boston brooch on her lapel). Look at him foraging (I was investigating a crumpled paper bag on the ground). Oh you are gorgeous.


The Psycho Killer -Man on the No.1 subway train.

PL: May I? Pointing to a free seat half inhabited up by large man already inhabiting one other seat.
The man makes a small movement. PL tries to squeeze in
Psycho Killer: Don't start that fingernail sh*t with me. I'm in a bad mood today. Goddam m***f**** fingernails.
PL: Fingernails?
Sherpa jolts as PL gets up abruptly and moves down the train.

Pecorino and Tillamook Cheddar

Here's an interesting pair of cheeses.

Pecorino, native to Italy, who insisted on wandering into his owners photographs adding a 'vital touch' that launched a globe trotting supermodel career and interestingly a match with a female pointer, arranged by a devoted fan.

And there's Tilly. Tillamook Cheddar, named after an oregon cheese, and the self proclaimed 'world's preeminent dog artist'. Biting, scratching and tongue impressions composing an impressionistic image are the methods she employs working with 'shocking intensity sometimes to the point of destroying her creations'. The Village Voice called her "A Sham", Time Out declared her work 'a masterpiece of conceptualism. Her biography is out this month.

Piece of Sky

This could very well be the only photo of a dog seated as close as this to Anish Kapoor's Sky Mirror at the Rockefeller center. "I'm sorry sir, but dogs are not allowed in this area unless you carry him" barked the uniformed guard lady", after PL had taken the photo. Its the second in a series of poses in or part of public art in Manhattan. The first of course being the Gates.

Sorry Anish, your Cloud Gate in Chicago looks sensational, but Sky Mirror, not so much.