Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life

by Steven D. Wolf

Comet’s Tale is a story about a friendship between two former winners, both a little down on their luck, who together stage a remarkable comeback. A former hard-driving attorney, Steven Wolf has reluctantly left his job and family and moved to Arizona for its warm winter climate. There he is drawn to a local group that rescues abused racing greyhounds. Although he can barely take care of himself because of a spinal condition, Wolf adopts Comet, an elegant cinnamon-striped racer. Or does Comet adopt Wolf?  



In Comet’s Tale we follow their funny and moving journey as Wolf teaches Comet to be a service dog. With her boundless enthusiasm and regal manners, Comet attracts new friends to Wolf’s isolated world. And finally, she plays a crucial role in restoring his health, saving his marriage, and broadening his definition of success.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Dogs, Memoir, Biography, Ebooks, Book Club

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2012

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I love Comet as I love all greyhounds, she even resembles my loving Lucy who is a rescue.



Then why the 3 stars and not 5? Well.... this dude did some things you never do with Greyhounds, let them off leash without a fenced in yard. I don’t give 2 shits how well you think you can train a dog, these don’t apply to retired racers. If they see something they want to go after, they will be gone as they can run up to 45 miles per hour. He was concerned with that at first. Anyway, I’m not going into all that crap. We were told by the rescue group to get an automatic closing gate, which we did, as some dumbasses left our gate open before we got the new one and Lucy got out, granted I never let her go out alone so it was a quick round up with family involved as she only got to the neighbors from yard without spying anything to chase.

Also, once Lucy got over her fear of men, our UPS man and any workers became her best friends. 😊 But she would be more reserved at the vet or at the Petstore, there it’s more like you can pet me but I’m more interested in what’s going on around me because they always learn something new. But come to the house and you’re attacked by Greyhound love.

Lucy was fostered for 3 weeks off the racetrack so it helped me get her used to things that greyhounds aren’t used to; grass, stairs, glass doors. She still don’t like you rattling grocery bags but still.

Greyhounds are amazing and loyal dogs to rescue. I thank my Australian Shepherd for sending her too me when cancer killed him. He was my son and I didn’t want any more dogs. Needless to say, me and my Lucy needed each other. But this will be my last dog and animal as I don’t want to die and leave them behind.

And the myth that you have to walk your greyhound constantly and keep them busy is just that, a myth. My Aussie herding dog needed to be busy all the time. He was my hiking and frisbee boy. Greyhounds just need one good romp around the yard and a walk in the garden and they are ready to lay with you all day 😉🐾

Anyway, that’s all my rambling for now! I give Comet 5 stars, the man a 3 because I felt bad for his physical situation but book wasn’t what I was totally hoping for.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Amy (and her hounds) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. Normally, I'm all for any book that promotes greyhound adoption, but it seems every one I read has anti-racing overtones. That's fine as an opinion, but as a greyhound adopter, it seems a little disingenuous to say that all racing greyhounds are abused and every adoption is a "rescue." It makes the author(s) seem more virtuous for having saved the very lives of these dogs, which is off-putting. My other big problem was that the author lets his greyhound off-leash, which made me cringe to think the uninformed might think this was ever okay. It is not. Not ever. Never.

[CCPL Staff Picks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I am in fact a greyhound owner and a bit biased. I will also admit that I had someone else read the book first to make sure nothing happened to the dog. I am a bit of a wimp. With these caveats, now on to the review...

This tale is an enjoyable account of the entire animal adoption process, and the author, Steven Wolf, stresses that adoption is in fact a process and not just an event which affects the whole family. Afflicted with a life-altering spinal condition, Steven Wolf finds new meaning in his life when a certain abused ex-racer, Comet, chooses him to go home with. Steven and his family soon find that they are in for more than they bargained with Comet. But on top of the learning curve to owning a greyhound, Steven must also deal with the shadows of abuse that remain on the animal.

As much a tale about a family dealing with change, as a tale about a dog adoption, Comet's Tale will prove to be a quick read for any animal lover. As many pet owners will tell you, sometimes it is the pet who rescues the owner.

-Lisa B.

[Frederique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching. It is more than a dog book, it's about everyday life struggle as a family.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comet's Tale was definitely worth reading. I'm a bit conflicted as to what my rating should be. The writing was uneven. Certain passages would jump out at me and I'd stop and think how beautiful the wording was. And then...only a couple pages further on in the book I would wonder if it was even the same person doing the writing.

Comet is indisputably an amazing dog. How fortunate and blessed the author is to have had her in his life. I do not doubt the profound connection that can occur between people and their animal friends. BUT, I so wished for pictures. Surely there are some - and I think the book would have benefitted from some visuals of this fabulous creature.

Rarely when I read a memoir do I wish to actually meet and chat with the author. The trend holds firm in this instance. I enjoyed the book but am content to leave it at that. It must take a certain amount of courage to reveal as much of oneself as is necessary in a book like this. And yet, it somehow didn't feel quite authentic. I read the mechanics of Mr. Wolf's struggle with his health, but rarely his emotions. I didn't really get a sense of him until nearly the end.

How refreshing to find this book relatively free from (the seemingly ever increasing) profanity of much of today's literature. I could recommend this and not be embarrassed by the language.

[Thelma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book pretty much says it all. An attorney who has to stop working because of severe spine deformity and accompanying pain, Steven Wolf takes us on the journey of how he came to, on a whim, adopt a rescued greyhound. While it didn't captivate me, I found myself continuing to read, if for no other reason than to see if Mr. Wolf did overcome his many physical problems in the end. His writing is straight forward and without embellishment, yet revealing his thoughts and emotions and giving us a glimpse of his tattered relationships with his grown daughters. He does capture Comet's personality and physicality nicely without undue gushing. I learned a few things about greyhounds (never a favorite dog of mine, but I think I'll ask to pet the next one I see) and about the relentless grind of living with a chronic, debilitating physical problem. While I don't remember it word-for-word, one short passage about how shrunken his life had become, revolving totally around dealing with his pain and frustrations, really stuck with me.

Do I recommend it? Yeah, as long as you understand its not prettily written but not a drag or a bore, either. Borrow it from your local library, as I did.

[Jo-Anne]

I found this book too disturbing to read the whole thing. The treatment of greyhounds was heart-breaking. It must have a happy ending since he was well enough to write this book but I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. It has received many positive reviews with an average rating of 4 stars so it is clearly a good story. Just not one I can handle.

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am fascinated by greyhounds, and I really wanted to like this book. All I can say is being somewhat of a narcissist does not automatically lend itself to being a good memoir writer.

There was some authenticity that was just lacking in this book, and whatever the writer imagined his big awakening to be, it just was not believable. I honestly didn't understand his relationship issues. He described himself as perfectionistic, and that he was trying to be "too strong" (in the face of what is clearly crushing physical limitations) and that this is what drove his family away. What I saw was a person who was so consumed with himself, perhaps understandably so, that he isolated himself from everyone except a very patient dog. But to turn it into: "but my main problem was just that I was too proud" just seems to fall flat.

I feel like the author tries hard to make his part of the story more noble than perhaps is warranted, and it makes him come across as not very self-reflective. For a memoir writer, this is an unfortunate state of affairs. His commentary on the dog also seems somewhat stilted. Was the dog really too haughty to stay in a less than a four-star hotel? He doesn't even consider that he might be projecting his feelings onto her.

So, four stars for the dog, and one for the lack of depth.

[Heather]

I do love a good dog tale. Who doesn't? This isn't one. It's okay. Not great. The danger in writing heartwarming tales is the ole black-and-white trap. Each character is either villain or hero, with no average Joes. Sadly, this one falls completely into the trap. Those who meet Comet the dog are either fist-shaking dog-haters or total fans. I'm not feeling it. It might have been more effective as fiction.

There is a serious overuse of metaphor and simile, many of them oddly mixed. "The alacrity of a panther" sticks out sorely. I am wondering why an editor let this stuff slide. There's so much effort put into making the images flowery that the point of them is lost. What is the author trying to get me to feel here? I'm not sure.

The book could have been about 100 pages shorter and been more effective. I'm almost finished with it. I do hope it redeems itself. Non-fiction is so tricky to write.

Okay, now I'm finished with it. It didn't get better. Awkward phrasing, etc. But I'm done.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved. A short read because I could not put it down.

I have a rescued female greyhound and she is scary smart - I always tell people that she is way smarter than me.
These dogs are loyal and faithful hounds and deserve a better life that being on a race track making money for their owners. Sadly they are abused and neglected in some instances but they demonstrate a love for people that knows no bounds and will do almost anything for them.

I wish there were no more racetracks in the world and that these beautiful dogs all find wonderful homes. Rant over.

Sadly, I have just discovered that Comet has now passed away but Comet has left a legacy for all service dogs. What wonderful creatures they are.

[Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of a retired greyhound who adopts a middle aged man with severe back problems. Steven Wolf, trains Comet the greyhound, to be his service dog in 2002, when most service dogs were for those with blindness. Many, endearing and humorous touches of passages. I loved the frequent mention of Comet's crushes on men in uniform. "Officer Dream Boat", etc.

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a memoir from a man who is coming to terms with the sudden onset of a severe debilitating physical condition. Steven Wolf goes from successful lawyer and involved family man to a virtual shut in living states away from his family. The grimness of the situation is tempered by the arrival of Comet, a greyhound whom Wolf adopts and eventually trains to be his service dog. It’s a bit of a boy-and-his-dog story of loyalty and affection but with the twist that the boy is a broken middle-aged man whose foundations are rocked by a sudden reversal in fortunes.

There is a lot of humor and spirited descriptions of training which distract from the seriousness of the situation. Such as when Steven tries to teach Comet to bring him his cell phone:

“What all this means is that there is nothing on this dog is dainty or merely decorative, including the neck, which, as I observed, can propel a stuffed animal across a room at warp speed until something solid intervenes.

That was my challenge when it came to teaching Comet a potentially lifesaving skill: fetching a recent addition to our lives, my new cell phone. The first few times I threw the phone across the carpeted room and ordered Comet to fetch it, she tasted the plastic and spat it out like a rancher tasting escargot. I figured I’d solve that problem by tucking the phone inside a stuffed animal- I had plenty of fodder in the box of plush toys I had stashed in the garage. Comet quickly learned that if she brought me the ringing animal on the floor, she’d get a liver treat. The problem was, Comet wasn’t a retriever. She didn’t “fetch.” Instead, she would grasp the monkey-phone in her teeth, retract her long, muscular neck, and fling the thing at rocket speed across the room. Her first phone delivery was via airmail at ninety miles per hour aimed straight at my face. The bruise went away in about a week. After that, I learned to duck during our phone-training sessions. Two broken lamps and a few holes in the drywall were a small price to pay for intact cheekbones.
Eventually I removed the phone from the plush monkey. The only reason I didn’t suffer any severe injuries was because Comet learned to tolerate ringing plastic in her mouth long enough to quickly flip the phone to the floor near my feet, where I could pick it up with a mechanical grabber. Despite her displeasure with the taste, Comet was occasionally spirited enough to band the cell phone off the solid surface closest to my head. I learned to be judicious in my requests for the phone (only in emergencies!) and with treats. Comet was rewarded only if nothing was broken and no blood was spilled.”

There is a very strong bond that develops between owner and dog that is affectionate and feisty, like an old married couple. This is also an illuminating book to read about a person who develops a sudden, debilitating physical disability and the states of mind that it’s possible to go through. Oddly enough, within a month of finishing this, I had some back problems (I’ve self-diagnosed it as sciatica) that left me temporarily scooting on the floor as opposed to walking. There’s an entirely different point of view when your eye level is a few inches from the floor. I thought about this book a lot until my back got better.

This book is so well-written, that I think it’s likely that the author had help, or that he missed his calling and should have been a writer and not a lawyer. There was one passage about a car trip he took that was very memorable. All in all, a wonderful, worthwhile book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching and memorable - the true story of a powerful relationship between a man and his best friend . . . his service dog, Comet. I placed this book on my "adoption" shelf because it is truly an adoption, just not the typical type most are familiar with.

It was very enlightening on the breeding, training and subsequent abuse of greyhounds. So thankful for the rescue programs that are in place.

Favorite quote in the book - "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain."

Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story, to all readers, not just animal lovers.

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just about always a sucker for dog books, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Overall it just flowed very well and easily held my interest the whole time - one of those books I just didn't want to put down. I liked how it all fit together - the gradual transformation of Comet from pet to therapy dog to service dog and then gradually back again. It even had a bit of romantic comedy with Wolf's marriage issues. So while that was an interesting element of the story, it gave it a little bit too much of a formulaic Hollywood romantic comedy Drew Barrymore/Julia Roberts touch, but I can forgive it since it is a true story. So the book read like a bio, which was a nice touch, since I always enjoy those, to see all the varied things that can happen to people as they go through life.

For the dog part, the brief contact I have had with greyhounds made me appreciate all the fawning over Comet.

[Cmwilliams700 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most amazing books I have ever read. I laughed, I cried, I was made breathless, and at one point I cringed and felt sick. I learned a lot about greyhounds; enough to make me want a rescue greyhound and to loathe those that torture, abuse, and neglect them in order to race them but never love them. I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone that loves animals and dogs in particular.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told with touching tenderness and a fair amount of humor, Comet's Tale is surprisingly rich in dishing up life lessons while keeping my attention with a solid plot line. Especially meaningful for me were some of Mr. Wolf's astute passages about life with chronic, debilitating pain. I know about this subject all too well firsthand. Upon finishing the story, I felt victorious. You've done Comet proud, Mr. Wolfie!

[Le Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. As a greyhound daddy and sufferer of chronic spine pain, I can obviously relate to many of the authors challenges. Comet is certainly a very special greyhound and a true blessing to this world. I am thankful to have shared in her story.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book and once again proves what ALL greyhound owners already know; Greyhounds are the best dogs EVAH!

[Sindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww Now I want a greyhound! well... I want a Comet <3

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all this is a book that I snatched from my sister since who is not charmed by the face on the cover? And although she is such a beautiful and loving creature this is the only actual picture that one gets to physically understand her while in a sense it only captures a small part of her yet at the same time a lot of her spirit.

The first thing that I would like to say is that for those who cannot stand cruelty to animals this book can be a bit rough on that account since of the information given on some of the basic process as well as when it goes into gross detail on his surgery. And although I had heard a few bits of the nightmare that the racing world can be for such a gentle dog I was totally shocked and enraged as some more details were presented to the reader so for those who cringe a bit too easily it can be a bit of a nightmarish read.

At the same time I love how much the author has been willing to open up to his readers and bring himself out. Not only is this a book about just being handicapped and bringing another dog home but it is the type of story of leaving the past to live in the modern, to learn how to help one another out and most of all how to open ourselves to be vulnerable enough that we can accept one another. It is a story of broken families, hardships and struggling to get your family together in one piece while at the same time allowing oneself to be healed so that when the greatest blessings come you can retire in grace to enjoy them at your pleasure.

All in all it is a wonderful dog and human story that just shows why dogs can be called man's best friend. I don't know, though, if I can recommend this book to any since it is most definitely one of those that just needs to be picked up and read if you are interested even for dog-lovers.

[Carol Dimitriou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and inspiring story.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived with and fostered several retired racers throughout my life, I agree with the author that they are an extraordinary breed. He seems to have found an even more extraordinary specimen in Comet, the greyhound who learned to be a service dog and always came back no matter how many times she was allowed off the leash. Many of the behaviors Comet exhibits are almost unheard of in greyhounds.
I do think that this story is true, however; when you are fortunate enough for whatever reason have the total devotion of a dog but particularly a greyhound, they will do just about anything for you if you ask it. I can also attest to the people-magnets greyhounds tend to be; it's very difficult to be out and about with one for any length of time without someone coming up and asking to pet. This happens even with people who would ignore other breeds of dog. Most of these dogs have a very charismatic way about them and tend to become happily spoiled in retirement. Comet exhibits some typical traits of retired racers: they are prone to separation anxiety and pick up on the tiniest details of routine to the point where they seem psychic. Most are intelligent and good problem-solvers, but don't see much purpose behind obedience training unless there is major incentive. Again, they'll do it because their human is asking, not because blind obedience is be-all end-all. Fetching--forget it. The "get" concept they understand fine, particularly if a favorite stuffed toy is involved, but "bring back" is foreign and hard to teach. Each greyhound is an individual, however, so what is common for the breed may not apply to every greyhound. There are greys who bark. There are greys who love to fetch. There are greys who are fine with being left alone for long hours. There are greys who enjoy traditional obedience training and think it's the best game ever. There are dumb-as-brick greys. These are outliers, but they exist.
The author's comments about the racing industry are clearly those of someone who is against it. I do think the abuses he describes happened and still happen, however I doubt that they are universal. Our first greyhound came from a small family-run kennel where injured dogs were personally rehabed in the house and the family was anxious to know a few details about the families that adopted their retired racers. My worry if the racing industry does die is that the overall genetic health of the breed will suffer in the future; racing greyhounds are bred for health and speed, not confirmation to a specific appearance as show greyhounds are. And breeding solely for appearance has done few modern breeds any good as far as I can see. Racing greyhounds are currently free from many genetic issues that plague other breeds (like hip dysplasia) and aside from being somewhat prone to cancer in their later years they are overall healthy and resilient dogs for their size. I don't think this would be the case without the racing industry. So it bothers me when a book like this portrays the racing industry as pure evil that needs to be stamped out. It's a more complicated issue than this book would like you to think. So read those parts with a grain of salt.

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rated this book higher because I did enjoy the STORY, but all of the "facts" about greyhounds led me to give it a two star review. Mr. Wolf kept did nothing through the whole book but perpetuate all the rumors and stereotypes about greyhounds and despite his best effort at talking about how greyt HIS greyhound was, he did a major disservice to greyhound adoption in general. Not all greyhounds are abused. Most greyhounds LOVE people and affection from day one, they're not "unable to love and form attachment." A majority of greyhounds are not shy, timid creatures that are afraid of their own shadows. I could go on and on - all of the traits (other than the willingness to pull a cart/wheelchair perhaps) he talked about Comet being so "weird" to have are pretty common things for a greyhound.

Like I said, I enjoyed the story and found his journey with his adopted greyhound very interesting. I would have happily given this book four stars if he didn't beat through the "ALL greyhounds are like X and experience Y" on every other page. It wasn't necessary for the storyline to talk about it non-stop and it just isn't true.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying that NO greyhounds fit his description, nor am I saying that racing is good or bad or that abuse doesn't happen, because it does. I'm just upset that he repeatedly tried to educate the reader about greyhounds but was quick to say that all greyhounds are very screwed up dogs because that's far far far from the truth.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Wolf's story about being forced to retire from his law firm, and the new life he made is inspirational. At retirement most people want to believe that they will be missed and have made a contribution. Being forced out before you are ready to go would be very painful. Yet Wolf's law partners doubt he has the physical capacity to keep up the rugged pace of a trial attorney's life because of his degenerative spine problems. Bastards--maybe it is always about money!!!

Wolf leaves and nurses his back in the beautiful and temperate winter climate of Sedona, Arizona. A dog person, Steve decides to adopt a retired racing greyhound. Actually as you learn, the dog, Comet, picks him.

Without giving away any spoilers, Comet does save his life. You follow Steve, Frankie (Steve's wife), and Comet through crisis, changes, and new beginnings. Comet is a remarkable dog in many ways, but in most ways, she is what all dog people love in their pets--faithful to a fault, smart, and always loving.

An old friend recommended this book to me. I usually don't read books about animals. No I haven't read Marley and Me or Racing in the Rain. Old Yeller soured me on animal books because as Ernest Hemmingway says "every true story ends in death." I hate it when the dog dies. As a kid, I could not watch Lassie because I would worry about Lassie too much. So the fact that I picked this up and kept reading says a lot about what a fine book it is.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've stated before, I love dog stories, but this one is less about Comet and more about Wolfie, his owner, and how he comes to grips with his disability. It is a good tale; it's just not so much a tale of the dog so much as more a tale of how the dog helped his owner become more self-sufficient and more able to deal with the limitations of his physical problems. Wolfie grows and gradually comes to grips with his limitations - thank God! - I seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time angry and frustrated by his macho attitudes. Comet, however, seemed to be the perfect canine companion, always by his side, supporting him and keeping him focused to something outside of himself.

Quotes to remember:

I had learned from watching Comet that you could gracefully leave an old you behind, concentrating on each day's offerings and knowing that there might be purposes in life quite different from the ones you had originally chosen. It wasn't failure. It was life.

A quote mentioned by the author from Cicero's De senectute: The best Armour of Old Age is a well spent Life preceding it; a Life employed in the Pursuit of useful Knowledge, in honorable Actions and the Practice of Virtue;...because a Conscience bearing Witness that our Life was well spent, together with a Remembrance of past good Actions, yields an unspeakable Comfort to the Soul.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Wolf was a high powered attorney who had always had some back problems, but when he was in the prime of both his life and his career he was diagnosed with a severe degenerative spinal disorder. Living in Nebraska through the harsh winters were too much and so Wolf split his time between his family in Nebraska and winters in Arizona. It was in Arizona that he was first introduced to rescued greyhounds. Wolf had 2 golden retrievers at home, so he missed having the dogs around as company now that he could no longer work. He somewhat rashly decided to adopt a greyhound named Comet. However, he was completely unprepared for how much Comet would change his life. As his physical condition worsened, Comet seemed to instinctively know how to help. Eventually Wolf decided to train Comet as an assistant dog - Comet helped him stay steady on his feet, learned to open doors and pull off his bed covers, even pulling him in a wheelchair in airports! Comet's unconditional love for Wolf and her willingness to help him as an assistance dog made all the difference for Wolf and his family.

This is an incredible and heart-warming story of how much a pet can make a difference in the life of their owner. It will also make you want to adopt your own rescued greyhound!

[Cheryl McNeil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir is above all about living with a sudden and unexpected disability and chronic pain. It is almost as fully an account of how much a dog can ease pain and disability, both psychically and practically. And it is also an illustration of how tragically a change in physical wellness can nearly rip to shreds the health of family relationships. In the end, “Wolf” and his dog save each other and their family. I kept thinking throughout the book how easily I or someone I love could get disabled. “Wolf” was a triathalon athlete at 42 when his condition reared it’s ugly head. I understand a little better now what being cut down in your prime can mean. I’ll be looking into long-term disability insurance. I’m also now in love with greyhounds. My husband isn’t yet sympathetic, but I think, like “Wolf”, he just needs to meet one, to look into her doe eyes and see the quiet, calm intelligence. They’re incredible dogs. At least Comet certainly was. There were about 40 pages in the middle of the book that I thought could have been more heavily edited. But the overall read was worth it. Galley provided by Algonquin Books on NetGalley.com

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read nonfiction and even more rarely go out of my way to read nonfiction. However, when I saw the cover to the right I HAD to request a copy of this book to read. I requested a copy from the publisher via Net Galley. The response below is my honest opinion and I received nothing in return for reading the novel.

Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill is two-for-two for wonderful books I’ve read so far! Comet’s Tale was an endearing read and touching read, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Art Forger, which I read earlier this year.

Now the reason I requested to read a copy of this book is because of the beautiful greyhound, Comet, on the cover. I currently live with a greyhound and she constantly baffles me with her joie de vivre and just her lovable personality and I wanted to know if she was unique.

Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things (AND FOR AN AWESOM PICTURE OF THE LOVELY DOGGIE I LIVE WITH :-D)

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book for the second time, following hearing "Wolf" at an Omaha book club 2 days ago, where he made a wonderful presentation to about 100 people. Perhaps his writing is not like Wallace Stegner, but it is so descriptive in so many ways. He is very articulate, and his wife (Freddie) is charming. Comet has died, of course, at this time, but he had two more greyhounds which were rescued and are now service dogs, one in training, I believe. There is no reason to compare this book with the best literature written. However, it is a true story of a dog and a man who helped to save each other. Plain and simple, very entertaining, in my opinion.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is titled Comet's Tale and you can see a picture of Comet on the cover, as a potential reader, you would be remiss in guessing that this book is solely an interpretation of Comet's thoughts, voice and actions. In reality, author Steven Wolf takes you much deeper into issues like having qualify of life while dealing with a serious disability, holding a family together as the disability progresses and repelling the temptation of becoming too self-absorbed. This book is delightfully humorous at times and seriously serious at other times. Most likely you will be thinking and talking about it long after you have finished reading it.