Remembering Farley

For Better or For Worse

by Lynn Johnston

It was a bleak day when the Patterson's faithful 14-year-old sheep dog, Farley, died while saving young April from a raging river. Across the country, fans who read For Better or For Worse in some 1,600 daily newspapers, reacted with surprise and grief. Since 1979, Johnston has created an affectionate family whose members face real problems with grace and humor. Readers have accompanied Elly and John Patterson through the ears, watching them raise their children, Michael, Elizabeth, and April; commiserating when they dealt with aging parents; wondering how they'd handle a friend's homosexuality. In Remembering Farley, Lynn Johnston shares her favorite selection from the heroic sheep dog's life. This retrospective includes strips from Farley's puppy days to his dying day, scenes that capture the essence of raising and loving a pet. Remembering Farley also contains some new illustrations and quotes from some of the letters sent by his many fans. Remembering Farley is a tender tribute to a dog that many of us felt was our own devoted friend.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Dogs, Graphic Novels, Comic Strips, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Lynn Johnston CM OM is a Canadian cartoonist, well known for her comic strip For Better or For Worse, and was the first female cartoonist to win the Reuben Award.

Reviews

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one that made me cry. Farley dies saving April. Love dogs so much!!

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has been buying the books, following the cartoons in the newspapers and loving it all...this was such a sad but beautiful collection and I am so very glad Lynn did it.

[Shannon Rohrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time finishing this, because I knew what it was about, knew how it would end--and thus, how much it would affect me.

Anyone who's loved an animal--truly loved them--and has had to say goodbye to that animal knows how absolutely devastating that loss is. Even as the years pass, that grief stays with you--it just gets easier, a little less sharp. Or ideally it does; sometimes, you find a day that hurts as much, maybe even more than it did when it actually happened. Other days, you might be lucky not to hurt at all when you think of them.

That's why this was so special to me: to see the progression of the life of the family dog--one in a comic I loved growing up--and fully comprehend and appreciate all that entails. I found myself identifying with Elly so much in how she'd get fed up, waiting for Farley to do his business in the cold (a common occurrence with my own dog), and I found myself laughing when Farley, having ignored his own food in hopes of table scraps, winds up right back at his own bowl--with a very dog-like pout, no less. Again, much like my own dog.

There were so many things in this book that spoke to me, so many things that ran parallel to my experience--past and present--with dogs, and so many different emotions born from them.

This was a beautiful tribute: not only to the lovable fictional sheepdog it was named for, but for every family dog that has left an indelible paw print on our hearts.

Highly recommended to all dog lovers out there.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this collection. I love Farley and even knowing what happened, I had to read this book. There were tears, but that's because Lynn made me feel so much for Farley. This was a wonderful collection, starting from Farley's birth to his death and beyond.

[po's dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

a dear n darling life

[tyRonE hArDing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Love the Patterson Family.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, joyful, and sad cartoon about a wonderful and typical dog.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this compilation of farleys life and beyond. The good times, bad times and funny times and frustrating times of raising kids with raising a dog.

[Gary Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grew up reading this comic strip

Always enjoyed reading this comic strip, always felt Farley was part of the family and was touched when Farley passed.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our family's very favourite books, by one of our very favourite cartoonists.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been a big fan of reading the 'funny pages' and I always enjoyed reading the For Better or For Worse comic strip. I grew up reading the strip and loved reading about the joys and challenges of parenting as I became a mom.

This is a sweet tribute to a truly lovable family dog. Farley was such a big part of this comic strip and so much of the humor came from the family's interactions with him. I was very sad to see him die, but I appreciated the sentimental way his death was covered. It was a treat to see his whole life covered in one book and it was interesting to watch the family grow up along with him.

I will certainly look for more books in the For Better or For Worse series by Lynn Johnston at our local library.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of For Better or For Worse comic strips focusing on the Patterson family's first dog, Farley. In recent years, FOOB (as the snarkers call it) has gone way, waaaay downhill in quality, from when Anthony Caine (Liz's high school boyfriend) wanted to make Liz Patterson's near-rape all about him, to Liz's abandonment of her adventurous ideals because Anthony had gotten a divorce, and onward to today. So it was refreshing to read the strip from when most fans agree it was actually good. Enjoyable, if basically mind candy.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I always read For Better or For Worse and I was surprised and grief when their sheep dog Farley died while he saved young April from a raging river. He was the family's best and favorite companion. He always curled and shed liberally on the comfiest armchair. He slopped his food all over the kitchen. Thank you Lynn Johnston for putting all strips about him together in the book. I will alway treasure it.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read FBOFW over the years, always liking how the characters aged and life moved on, as opposed to most other comics. I remember the shocking day when I opened up the comic section of the paper and saw Farley pull April from the river, and the saddening twist to that valiant rescue. I really like how Ms. Johnston covered the sensitive subject of the loss of a pet throughout the following strips.

Getting this collection was a great trip down memory lane. definitely recommend it.

[Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it to pull together the cartoons I missed over the years and enjoyed many "new" ones. They mean so much more now that I've been a doggie mommy three times. May read it again soon since my brother and a friend have both seen the passing of their wonderful dogs. All precious spirits...

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of For Better or Worse chronicalling the life of their sheepdog Farely from adoption, to death, and beyond. Good collection if you have or ever had a dog.

[Nurul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pinjeman dari Tomo...

I never thought that a dog could be part of a family. Biarpun udah pernah tau akhir kisah si Farley ini, kok masih aja brebes mili....

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remembering crying when I read the comic strip when he died after saving April from drowning Still makes me cry.

[Marjo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love For Better or For Worse, and the Farley tribute is very sweet.

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compilation of For Better or Worse comic strip from newspaper. If you are a fan, you'll want it to reminisce.