What do you think?
Rate this book
Fetch: How a Bad Dog Brought Me Home
From an award-winning artist, a memoir of life with a difficult, beloved dog that will resonate with anybody who has ever had a less than perfectly behaved pet
When Nicole Georges was sixteen she adopted Beija, a dysfunctional shar-pei/corgi mix—a troublesome combination of tiny and attack, just like teenaged Nicole herself. For the next fifteen years, Beija would be the one constant in her life. Through depression, relationships gone awry, and an unmoored young adulthood played out against the backdrop of the Portland punk scene, Beija was there, wearing her “Don’t Pet Me” bandana. Georges’s gorgeous graphic novel Fetch chronicles their symbiotic, codependent relationship and probes what it means to care for and be responsible to another living thing—a living thing that occasionally lunges at toddlers. Nicole turns to vets, dog whisperers, and even a pet psychic for help, but it is the moments of accommodation, adaption, and compassion that sustain them. Nicole never successfully taught Beija “sit,” but in the end, Beija taught Nicole how to stay.
When Nicole Georges was sixteen she adopted Beija, a dysfunctional shar-pei/corgi mix—a troublesome combination of tiny and attack, just like teenaged Nicole herself. For the next fifteen years, Beija would be the one constant in her life. Through depression, relationships gone awry, and an unmoored young adulthood played out against the backdrop of the Portland punk scene, Beija was there, wearing her “Don’t Pet Me” bandana. Georges’s gorgeous graphic novel Fetch chronicles their symbiotic, codependent relationship and probes what it means to care for and be responsible to another living thing—a living thing that occasionally lunges at toddlers. Nicole turns to vets, dog whisperers, and even a pet psychic for help, but it is the moments of accommodation, adaption, and compassion that sustain them. Nicole never successfully taught Beija “sit,” but in the end, Beija taught Nicole how to stay.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2017
46 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Nicole J. Georges
16 books217 followersNicole J. Georges is an award-winning writer, and illustrator from Portland, Oregon. Nicole has been publishing the autobiographical comic Invincible Summer since 2000, and has toured the country extensively, including two month-long appearances on Michelle Tea’s Sister Spit: Next Generation. Her work has been featured in many publications, including Tin House, Vanity Fair, and Slate.com.
Her graphic memoir, Calling Dr. Laura, was called “engrossing, lovable, smart and ultimately poignant” by Rachel Maddow, and “disarming and haunting, hip and sweet, all at once” by Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home. In her spare time, Nicole volunteers with senior citizens in North Portland, chronicling their experiences through comics and writing in a zine called Tell It Like It Tiz’.
She is currently the 2013/14 Fellow at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.
Her graphic memoir, Calling Dr. Laura, was called “engrossing, lovable, smart and ultimately poignant” by Rachel Maddow, and “disarming and haunting, hip and sweet, all at once” by Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home. In her spare time, Nicole volunteers with senior citizens in North Portland, chronicling their experiences through comics and writing in a zine called Tell It Like It Tiz’.
She is currently the 2013/14 Fellow at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
October 24, 2017
I didn't like this book as much as I liked "Calling Dr. Laura," and I also didn't like Georges in it as much as I did in her earlier graphic memoir. I felt throughout a lot of it that small anger I get at bad dog parents. It's kind of annoying to me that Georges "gets" Beija enough to write her dog manifesto and to get frustrated with people who won't leave her be, but this is the same person who rented an apartment specifically because she needed to live somewhere else with her dog and then got an apartment where her dog could explicitly not live, and who knows that the dog can't tolerate strangers but then makes her live in a party house with lots of squatters staying there. Eventually, she does learn that she hasn't been doing right by Beija, but... come on. And I'm not really sure if the recounting of George's childhood experiences capturing wild animals to keep as pets (thereby killing them) was supposed to illustrate her lifelong love of animals or to inform her adult desire to save animals as a way of making amends... or something else.
I also had some problems reading the book. The captions are set off in a way that makes it unclear if they go to the panel above or below them, and it switches often, so it's hard to get in a rhythm with it.
This all sounds like I didn't like the book, but I still did. And, of course, I cried at the end.
I also had some problems reading the book. The captions are set off in a way that makes it unclear if they go to the panel above or below them, and it switches often, so it's hard to get in a rhythm with it.
This all sounds like I didn't like the book, but I still did. And, of course, I cried at the end.
November 29, 2017
I have been saying for years that I want to adopt a dog but I haven't yet. This is a love story about a woman and the little dog who meant so much to her. It's a touching book with great illustrations. I really enjoyed it. I'm even more determined to find a dog of my own now!
March 8, 2019
Of course it made me cry.
Georges' work always hits home for me. Here, she tackles the issue of problematic pets you love (sometimes, BECAUSE they're problematic).
I, too, lived with a dog with issues for years. Callie (maybe unlike Beija, Georges' dog) was fluffy and blonde, and looked super friendly - until another dog came along or you put your face too close to hers, or otherwise made her feel unsafe. Then, a Jekyll/Hyde transformation took place and her snarl was legitimately terrifying. She bit other dogs more than once.
She died a few years ago. I loved her very much. Partially because we had an intimate connection that was special to us. But it was difficult managing her behavior in public. Having to warn every new person not to assume too much or worry every time another dog approached when I walked her. Memories of that time makes me hesitate to get another dog now.
Georges tells her story, which is in a lot of ways similar to mine.
I've always been sensitive to stories centering around dogs, or any animal suffering, really. Stories like these hit so close to home, I usually avoid them like the plague. Friends know not to recommend movies with any animal pain in them.
But I HAD to read Georges book, knowing her work. I enjoyed guessing where the story overlapped with Calling Dr. Laura.
And I'm glad I did read it. Even though it made me cry.
Georges' work always hits home for me. Here, she tackles the issue of problematic pets you love (sometimes, BECAUSE they're problematic).
I, too, lived with a dog with issues for years. Callie (maybe unlike Beija, Georges' dog) was fluffy and blonde, and looked super friendly - until another dog came along or you put your face too close to hers, or otherwise made her feel unsafe. Then, a Jekyll/Hyde transformation took place and her snarl was legitimately terrifying. She bit other dogs more than once.
She died a few years ago. I loved her very much. Partially because we had an intimate connection that was special to us. But it was difficult managing her behavior in public. Having to warn every new person not to assume too much or worry every time another dog approached when I walked her. Memories of that time makes me hesitate to get another dog now.
Georges tells her story, which is in a lot of ways similar to mine.
I've always been sensitive to stories centering around dogs, or any animal suffering, really. Stories like these hit so close to home, I usually avoid them like the plague. Friends know not to recommend movies with any animal pain in them.
But I HAD to read Georges book, knowing her work. I enjoyed guessing where the story overlapped with Calling Dr. Laura.
And I'm glad I did read it. Even though it made me cry.
August 14, 2017
Nicole and Beija co-star in this sweet and funny graphic novel/memoir. The story, weaving youthful memories and adult follies, is heartfelt and accountable. The panels/artwork is the best I've seen from Georges, one of my favorite comic storytellers today.
May 12, 2019
An object lesson in why not everyone who loves dogs should own one.
November 27, 2017
Loved it! Be prepared to laugh and cry. Check out this review/interview with the author I did for Autostraddle
April 24, 2017
A beautiful, often hilarious portrait of an unpredictable childhood and a complicated yet magical queer punk coming-of-age in Portland in the early millennium, all through the author's relationships to animals--most significantly her difficult, damaged, beloved soulmate dog Beija. The drawing is wonderful, the storytelling captivating, and the ending is somehow both heartbreaking and heart-repairing. (I wept.) Captures a time and a scene and a personal experience so beautifully, both visually and textually.
August 24, 2017
4.5 stars -- Graphic memoir enthusiasts and pet lovers alike will plow through this unique and affecting comic, and will be happy they did. Nicole Georges chronicles her 15 years with Beija, a small mixed-breed dog whose personality might charitably be called "eccentric."
But this isn't "just" a dog story. It's also the story of a young woman's struggles for growth and independence with a personal background that is marred by chaos and irresponsible parenting. A young girl's struggles to create a sense of stability for herself and her menagerie of small pets will touch anyone who reads FETCH. (Judging by the pop cultural references, the author and I are right around the same age.)
There's another element of FETCH that pleasantly surprised me. If you're familiar with my other reviews, I have frequently written with disappointment about authors who are willing to go to the moon and back for their special companion animal, but are completely blind to taking even the smallest step toward compassion for those other than cats and dogs. We learn that Georges is an animal protection advocate and vegan. She even spent a while volunteering at Farm Sanctuary, one of the first rescue shelters for farmed animals. Readers aren't bombarded with this information--rather, it's skillfully woven into the storyline itself. Therefore, FETCH will--and has been--embraced by mainstream readers who will hopefully absorb some compassion for animals beyond those they share their homes with.
But just as mainstream pet culture has a lot of flaws, so does the vegan and animal advocacy side. I'll admit that when I saw the subtitle, identifying the book's subject as a "bad" dog, I felt a bit of trepidation. Unlike most of our movement at the moment, I care about dog attack victims, both human and animal, as much as I care about dogs. What made this book's subject a bad dog? Did she maul people or pets? Was this the author's way of making excuses for dangerous behavior, as we see depressingly often? Well...yes and no.
Beija barks, growls, snaps, and very occasionally bites when other people try to pet her. Her behavior is motivated out of fear, rather than predatory aggression. It's probably a product of neurology as much as it is her history--as even a terrifying background doesn't always guarantee a mean dog--just ask an ex-laboratory beagle. That said, Beija does bite a child and a big dog, the latter drawing blood, within these pages. She is a little dog, so can't do much damage, but I do wish someone would have taken steps to prevent these things from happening. In hindsight, I am sure the author does too.
Beija is, sadly, most often attacked by other dogs. In keeping with the current party line of our movement, the author has to add a little "not all pit bulls" caveat, even though one gives Beija her worst injury, removing a large chunk of her face. Guys, it's not hateful or prejudiced or whatever to acknowledge that people created dog breedsfor different purposes, including inhumane ones like baiting and fighting "sports," and the owners of said dogs need to acknowledge this and be extra vigilant to avoid tripping that genetic switch and creating a tragedy.
In all, however, FETCH is a fantastic and captivating memoir and tribute to a loved canine, and don't be surprised if you find your eyes watering a little bit as you close its back cover!
But this isn't "just" a dog story. It's also the story of a young woman's struggles for growth and independence with a personal background that is marred by chaos and irresponsible parenting. A young girl's struggles to create a sense of stability for herself and her menagerie of small pets will touch anyone who reads FETCH. (Judging by the pop cultural references, the author and I are right around the same age.)
There's another element of FETCH that pleasantly surprised me. If you're familiar with my other reviews, I have frequently written with disappointment about authors who are willing to go to the moon and back for their special companion animal, but are completely blind to taking even the smallest step toward compassion for those other than cats and dogs. We learn that Georges is an animal protection advocate and vegan. She even spent a while volunteering at Farm Sanctuary, one of the first rescue shelters for farmed animals. Readers aren't bombarded with this information--rather, it's skillfully woven into the storyline itself. Therefore, FETCH will--and has been--embraced by mainstream readers who will hopefully absorb some compassion for animals beyond those they share their homes with.
But just as mainstream pet culture has a lot of flaws, so does the vegan and animal advocacy side. I'll admit that when I saw the subtitle, identifying the book's subject as a "bad" dog, I felt a bit of trepidation. Unlike most of our movement at the moment, I care about dog attack victims, both human and animal, as much as I care about dogs. What made this book's subject a bad dog? Did she maul people or pets? Was this the author's way of making excuses for dangerous behavior, as we see depressingly often? Well...yes and no.
Beija barks, growls, snaps, and very occasionally bites when other people try to pet her. Her behavior is motivated out of fear, rather than predatory aggression. It's probably a product of neurology as much as it is her history--as even a terrifying background doesn't always guarantee a mean dog--just ask an ex-laboratory beagle. That said, Beija does bite a child and a big dog, the latter drawing blood, within these pages. She is a little dog, so can't do much damage, but I do wish someone would have taken steps to prevent these things from happening. In hindsight, I am sure the author does too.
Beija is, sadly, most often attacked by other dogs. In keeping with the current party line of our movement, the author has to add a little "not all pit bulls" caveat, even though one gives Beija her worst injury, removing a large chunk of her face. Guys, it's not hateful or prejudiced or whatever to acknowledge that people created dog breedsfor different purposes, including inhumane ones like baiting and fighting "sports," and the owners of said dogs need to acknowledge this and be extra vigilant to avoid tripping that genetic switch and creating a tragedy.
In all, however, FETCH is a fantastic and captivating memoir and tribute to a loved canine, and don't be surprised if you find your eyes watering a little bit as you close its back cover!
June 19, 2019
50% DNF. I really can't believe how many good reviews this book has on Goodreads. It's like I was reading a different book than most of the other people on here. I have read Calling Dr. Laura and really like the drawing style of Georges, but after this book I don't think I'll be picking up anymore. To start, she decides to buy a dog for her boyfriend after getting a lukewarm ok from his mom. When the boyfriend's parents then say to the dog, Georges guilts her parents into letting her keep the dog. Georges names the dog Beija and proceeds to do NOTHING right with the her, such as training, socializing, or leash practice.
Eventually Georges and her boyfriend decide to get an apartment together and go with an apartment that does NOT allow pets. As a pet owner myself, I would NEVER even look at a place that did not allow pets as you are risking losing your pet! Once they are (inevitably) caught (because the dog was not trained in any fashion, she barks throughout the day while alone in the apartment). The couple then decides to tie up Beija ALL DAY behind a warehouse with some crusty punk kids in it, who don't harm the dog but also don't do anything to help her. Finally, Georges once again appeals to her parent's sympathy to take Beija back into their home. When Georges and her boyfriend begin the search for a new apartment the AGAIN SELFISHLY chose a no-pets-allowed place (*insert eyeroll, teeth grinding here*)
The story then takes the reader back to Georges childhood, where you somehow come to hate her as a person even MORE. She frequently captured lizards and other amphibians only to put them in peanut butter jars and let them DIE. She does this REPEATEDLY, even after seeing the animals are dying. She also owns a gerbil and turtle. Her older sister asks if Georges has given her gerbil fresh water lately, and her reply is a completely nonchalant "it's fine." At this point in the story, Georges attempts to push all the blame of her behavior onto her parents, as they are divorced. However, she also mentions her responsible older sister who constantly DOES try to help her-to no avail. I could not understand what made Georges feel justified in both blaming her parents AND continually forcing them into helping her.
Back in present day, Georges and her boyfriend move again-this time to a house where she can bring Beija (wow finally). She then gushes about their 'punk' lifestyle, allowing people in and out of the house to crash there. Beija has still not gone through any training and Georges constantly tells people (and the reader) that she is letting Beija just 'be herself' by lunging/growling/biting people. People constantly move out of the house in order to get away from this dog, but Georges once again deflects any blame onto herself. This is actually where I stopped reading the book in complete disgust. If a person is unable to care for their animals (eg. renting an apartment that doesn't allow pets, not taking the time to train/socialize them, or even just change their water dish) then they have a DUTY to find that pet an owner who CAN provide those things. I refuse to believe that Beija (or any other dog) is just 'bad' and should be left at that. With proper time and training, I'm sure she could have at least stopped lunging at people (even children!). Disgusted throughout my read.
Eventually Georges and her boyfriend decide to get an apartment together and go with an apartment that does NOT allow pets. As a pet owner myself, I would NEVER even look at a place that did not allow pets as you are risking losing your pet! Once they are (inevitably) caught (because the dog was not trained in any fashion, she barks throughout the day while alone in the apartment). The couple then decides to tie up Beija ALL DAY behind a warehouse with some crusty punk kids in it, who don't harm the dog but also don't do anything to help her. Finally, Georges once again appeals to her parent's sympathy to take Beija back into their home. When Georges and her boyfriend begin the search for a new apartment the AGAIN SELFISHLY chose a no-pets-allowed place (*insert eyeroll, teeth grinding here*)
The story then takes the reader back to Georges childhood, where you somehow come to hate her as a person even MORE. She frequently captured lizards and other amphibians only to put them in peanut butter jars and let them DIE. She does this REPEATEDLY, even after seeing the animals are dying. She also owns a gerbil and turtle. Her older sister asks if Georges has given her gerbil fresh water lately, and her reply is a completely nonchalant "it's fine." At this point in the story, Georges attempts to push all the blame of her behavior onto her parents, as they are divorced. However, she also mentions her responsible older sister who constantly DOES try to help her-to no avail. I could not understand what made Georges feel justified in both blaming her parents AND continually forcing them into helping her.
Back in present day, Georges and her boyfriend move again-this time to a house where she can bring Beija (wow finally). She then gushes about their 'punk' lifestyle, allowing people in and out of the house to crash there. Beija has still not gone through any training and Georges constantly tells people (and the reader) that she is letting Beija just 'be herself' by lunging/growling/biting people. People constantly move out of the house in order to get away from this dog, but Georges once again deflects any blame onto herself. This is actually where I stopped reading the book in complete disgust. If a person is unable to care for their animals (eg. renting an apartment that doesn't allow pets, not taking the time to train/socialize them, or even just change their water dish) then they have a DUTY to find that pet an owner who CAN provide those things. I refuse to believe that Beija (or any other dog) is just 'bad' and should be left at that. With proper time and training, I'm sure she could have at least stopped lunging at people (even children!). Disgusted throughout my read.
November 20, 2017
Famed zinester and graphic memoirist Nicole Georges ripped my heart from my chest. It has been a bit since I have been actively sobbing over a book, but the recipe is clearly a coming-of-age story with a surly and ill trained dog. Georges is known largely for her graphic memoir Calling Dr. Laura, detailing her reliance on radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger to process an onslaught of life altering moments: discovering her family lying to her about her father being dead her entire life, only discovering, at twenty-three, that he is alive, while also coming-out as a lesbian. In her newest, and deceptively innocuous, memoir Georges focuses on her adult life and her connection to her dog Beija. Adopting Beija when she was a teenager, Beija seemed to mirror Georges’ anxieties, afraid of strangers, unwilling to be touched. Georges grows and adapts with her companion, referring to Beija as both her horcrux and her familiar, and the incredibly relatable experience of living your life so connected to another short-lived and flawed being radiates through these pages. I have never felt more connected to another person's story in print, down to eerily similar black cat-eye glasses I wear most days, having to take several reading breaks to digest my kinship with this story and my journey with my own pup. In addition to graphic memoirs, Geroges’ zine series has been compiled in the collection Invincible Summer.
Get Fetch from the Denver Public Library
- Hana
Get Fetch from the Denver Public Library
- Hana
August 27, 2017
314 pages to belabor the adage that there are no bad dogs, only bad owners? Not for me. I get the love a person can have for a dog, but the rest of the bizarre choices and experiences of this author and her dog are so alien to me as to be off-putting.
A big problem in the book is the lack of flow in the pages. Poor placement of word balloons and mostly the captions (which are almost randomly placed at the top, bottom and sides of panels - sometimes all three in a single panel) often left me reading things in the wrong order. The thick black borders placed around almost all captions and panels may have contributed to this, making my mind split a caption apart from the panel it was supposed to be in. And while it was at least legible, I found the hand lettering to be distracting in its inconsistent size and alignment of letters and words in their assigned spaces, again possibly because those thick black borders drew such attention to the captions and how the words floated in them.
A big problem in the book is the lack of flow in the pages. Poor placement of word balloons and mostly the captions (which are almost randomly placed at the top, bottom and sides of panels - sometimes all three in a single panel) often left me reading things in the wrong order. The thick black borders placed around almost all captions and panels may have contributed to this, making my mind split a caption apart from the panel it was supposed to be in. And while it was at least legible, I found the hand lettering to be distracting in its inconsistent size and alignment of letters and words in their assigned spaces, again possibly because those thick black borders drew such attention to the captions and how the words floated in them.
December 30, 2017
One of my favorites from 2017! I laughed, I cried, I bought it for a bunch of my friends.
November 25, 2020
DNF @ about pg 60
This is a memoir that is supposed to be about how much she loves her dog but the first 60 pages are filled with dumb teenager decisions all somehow made with parental consent that are incredibly unfair to animals. Starting with adopting them as gifts in the first place.
Also TW for pretty graphic and surprising self harm right off the bat in the first 10 or so.
Anyways I just couldnt get past what is probably the "learning lessons" part of the story to get to the good stuff, but that was just me.
This is a memoir that is supposed to be about how much she loves her dog but the first 60 pages are filled with dumb teenager decisions all somehow made with parental consent that are incredibly unfair to animals. Starting with adopting them as gifts in the first place.
Also TW for pretty graphic and surprising self harm right off the bat in the first 10 or so.
Anyways I just couldnt get past what is probably the "learning lessons" part of the story to get to the good stuff, but that was just me.
March 31, 2021
I wanted more dog.
July 26, 2019
Fetch is the biography of a beloved pet. Or perhaps “friend” is a better word than “pet”. Anyway, this graphic novel is about a dog: Beija. Georges tells how they met, and of the ups and downs of their lives over the years.
Since Nicole was still in high school when they met, the book is as much about her own young adulthood and discovering who she is as a person as it is about Beija. There are all the moves and breakups and relationships and roommates and bands and so on that tend to go with that phase of life, or at least so I remember from my own twenties. But, through it all, there's Beija.
I don't think it's spoiling anything to mention that the end will have you in tears. Have the Kleenex handy.
Georges also wrote Calling Dr. Laura, which I’ve read, but am embarrassed to admit that I recall absolutely nothing about. I remember that it was good, but that's about it. The hazards of being a prolific reader …
This book will resonate deeply with anyone who's ever shared their life with a beloved animal companion. Highly recommended!
Since Nicole was still in high school when they met, the book is as much about her own young adulthood and discovering who she is as a person as it is about Beija. There are all the moves and breakups and relationships and roommates and bands and so on that tend to go with that phase of life, or at least so I remember from my own twenties. But, through it all, there's Beija.
I don't think it's spoiling anything to mention that the end will have you in tears. Have the Kleenex handy.
Georges also wrote Calling Dr. Laura, which I’ve read, but am embarrassed to admit that I recall absolutely nothing about. I remember that it was good, but that's about it. The hazards of being a prolific reader …
This book will resonate deeply with anyone who's ever shared their life with a beloved animal companion. Highly recommended!
September 8, 2025
Look. It made me cry, OK?
This is a very sweet memoir about how both the author and her dog changed and learned, overcoming a lot of bad things from their pasts. It's also a testament to loving others despite theirs and your own flaws.
This is a very sweet memoir about how both the author and her dog changed and learned, overcoming a lot of bad things from their pasts. It's also a testament to loving others despite theirs and your own flaws.
October 5, 2017
💖✨Beija✨💖
Read
May 31, 2019Content warning for mentions of (unintentional, maybe?) pet violence in review:
I dunno, this will have a lot to offer many readers but I don't think I'm one of them. I was already not enjoying myself, and then I reached a page where she admits to kicking her dog so hard in the head she literally thought the dog was dead (it wasn't), with a footnote saying, "I'm not saying I recommend kicking your dog in the head, but Beija never gave me any trouble after that day" or something to that extent. That was a pretty freaking solid NOPE moment for me and made me realize this probably isn't the story I hoped it would be, so I'll put it down now.
I dunno, this will have a lot to offer many readers but I don't think I'm one of them. I was already not enjoying myself, and then I reached a page where she admits to kicking her dog so hard in the head she literally thought the dog was dead (it wasn't), with a footnote saying, "I'm not saying I recommend kicking your dog in the head, but Beija never gave me any trouble after that day" or something to that extent. That was a pretty freaking solid NOPE moment for me and made me realize this probably isn't the story I hoped it would be, so I'll put it down now.
July 20, 2017
i have been waiting for this book to come out. i pre-ordered as soon as i could, and when it arrived i started reading immediately. i ended up reading the whole book in less than a day because i just couldn't stop myself. this book is heartbreaking and beautiful and brilliant and i loved everything about it. if you love dogs (especially difficult ones), zines, queers and coming of age memoir you really have to read this book.
i've been reading Nicole J Georges zines for years and years and have always loved her dog stories best of all. so thrilled to have this book on my shelf
i've been reading Nicole J Georges zines for years and years and have always loved her dog stories best of all. so thrilled to have this book on my shelf
June 9, 2017
A dog-oriented graphic memoir from that fine Portland-based cartoonist, Nicole Georges. Full review on tcj is here: http://bit.ly/2slD8RO
July 17, 2017
oh h*ck.
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review. Trigger warning for allusions to rape, child abuse, domestic violence, animal abuse, alcoholism, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.)
I first discovered Nicole Georges's artwork nestled within the pages of Bitch Magazine . Instantaneously smitten, my adoration only grew when I learned that Georges was a vegan who referred to her furry sidekick Beija as her "canine life partner." Her 2010 Invincible Summer Queer Animal Odyssey calendar still rests in the plastic protective covering it arrived in. (Don't worry, I take it out every once in awhile for much-deserved admiration.) I enjoyed her debut graphic novel, Invincible Summer: An Anthology , well enough, though haven't quite gotten around to reading Calling Dr. Laura . Even so, I can say with 99.9% certainty that Fetch: How a Bad Dog Brought Me Home is her best work yet.
![2017-07-14 - For My Dog Mags (Fetch) - 0011 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323960._SY540_.jpg)
For my Noodle, Mags.
------------------------------
At the tender age of sixteen, Georges adopted a dog as a gift for her then-boyfriend and first love, Tom. The ensuing back-and-forth demonstrates why you should never give a dog as a gift: despite clearing it ahead of time with Tom's mother, Tom's stepfather did not sign off on the deal. Nicole's mom reluctantly allowed her to keep the dog, but Beija's many behavioral problems quickly wore her patience thin.
Beija harbored an intense dislike/fear of men, children, and veterinarians; did not enjoy being picked up or touched on her sides; did not suffer invasions of space lightly; and frequently antagonized/was victimized by other dogs. She was temperamental and required patience, compassion, and understanding - much like her new human.
And so, in a situation so weird and improbable that it seems like the plot of a bad Fox sitcom, you have both sets of parents conspiring to push their teenagers out of the nest and into a seedy apartment, just so they could have a Beija-free home: "Starting now, this gift would change the course of both our lives. [...] All of this in order to keep the dog. As if we'd had a teen pregnancy."
While Nicole's relationship with Tom would soon implode, her partnership with Bejia proved to be for keeps. Through unhealthy relationships, annoying roommates, professional upheavals, and the trials and tribulations of growing up and discovering oneself, there was one constant in Nicole life. And if she just so happened to have four legs, a soft tummy, and spoke in a series of barks, whimpers, and tail wags, so what? Family is what you make of it.
![2017-07-14 - O-Ren Hearts Fetch - 0011 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323965.jpg)
Fetch is Rennie-approved.
------------------------------
Most of the blurbs I've read so far focus on the coming-of-age aspect of Fetch (e.g., it's not "just" a book about a dog). And while it is indeed that - after all, at the time of her death, Beija had lived with Nicole for almost exactly half of Nicole's life - to me Fetch is, above all else, a love letter to and everlasting celebration of a best friend. A soul mate. A patronus, to quote Georges. (A daemon, in my vocab.) The dogs, they will always come first. PRIORITIES.
There's this one Mutts comic I love: It's a lovely day, and Ozzie is walking Earl on a long leash. A little heart bobs in a thought bubble above the human's head. To the right is a quote by one W.R. Purche: "Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong."
To borrow a phrase from an online friend (Marji Beach, who works at another awesome animal sanctuary called Animal Place), it's clear that Nicole considers Beija the best worst dog ever. Their love for one another shines through every panel and page, making the inevitable goodbye that much more heartbreaking. It took me a full week to read the book, just because I couldn't bear to face the last forty pages.
I think it's safe to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially when it comes to Fetch, and animal lovers will take something a little extra special away from their experience. When I say "animal lovers," I mean both in the conventional sense - i.e., those who care for culturally appropriate animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits - as well as those of use who extend that circle of compassion to all nonhumans. There are precious few comic books that I could call overtly vegan - only two come to mind, namely Matt Miner's Liberator and The Animal Man by Grant Morrison - and I'm happy to add Fetch to the list. While Georges only drops the v*-word (vegetarian or vegan) a handful of times, she does introduce readers to animal rights issues in a gentle, subtle way. If you're not on the lookout (and I always am!), you might just miss it.
Though all the better to sneak into your subconscious, worming and niggling and prodding you to think about the face on your plate or the skin on your back ... to see them as someones rather than somethings, more alike than different from the dog snuggled up next to you or fast asleep at your feet.
![2017-07-14 - O-Ren Hearts Fetch - 0009 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323957._SY540_.jpg)
Full disclosure: In between bites of spider trappings, Rennie assisted me in writing this review.
------------------------------
I especially loved Bejia's manifesto, "I am not a stuffed animal," which surreptitiously introduces readers to the idea of intersectionality: "It's kind of like feminism, but for dogs." That line (along with countless others) literally had me squealing for joy. Little Beija-Boo - is she a shar pei-doxy mix? corgi and beagle? who knows! - is adorable and tubby, even as she's telling you to back the fuck off.
I could go on and on - about the many weird parallels between Georges's life and mine; about how I see pieces of Bejia in my own dogs; about the many ways, both large and small, that my loved ones and I have adapted our everyday routines and very existences to better accommodate our four-legged family members - but suffice it to say that Fetch is a must-read for anyone who's ever loved (and lost) a dog (though you may want to wait until the loss isn't quite so fresh - the ending is freaking brutal).
Ditto: anyone who just likes good storytelling or quirky artwork. I know I've focused on the nonhumans for most of my review - hey, that's how I do - but even those rare scenes sans doggos are beautifully rendered and engaging.
In summary: Fetch is easily my favorite book of 2017 thus far, graphic novel or no.
Aaaaand just in case the previous 1,000 words didn't convince you, here are a few of my favorite panels to help seal the deal.
(That last one? So charming that it displaced foster doggy as the background on my desktop. Temporarily, but still.)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0023 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323956._SY540_.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0001 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323968.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0002 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323964.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0003 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323955.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0005 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323966.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0008 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323969.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0014 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323962._SY540_.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0015 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323963.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0027 [flikr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323959._SY540_.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0024 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323961.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0018 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323967.jpg)
![2017-07-14 - Pages from Fetch - 0017 [flickr]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1500325766i/23323958.jpg)
http://www.easyvegan.info/2017/07/18/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review. Trigger warning for allusions to rape, child abuse, domestic violence, animal abuse, alcoholism, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.)
I first discovered Nicole Georges's artwork nestled within the pages of Bitch Magazine . Instantaneously smitten, my adoration only grew when I learned that Georges was a vegan who referred to her furry sidekick Beija as her "canine life partner." Her 2010 Invincible Summer Queer Animal Odyssey calendar still rests in the plastic protective covering it arrived in. (Don't worry, I take it out every once in awhile for much-deserved admiration.) I enjoyed her debut graphic novel, Invincible Summer: An Anthology , well enough, though haven't quite gotten around to reading Calling Dr. Laura . Even so, I can say with 99.9% certainty that Fetch: How a Bad Dog Brought Me Home is her best work yet.
For my Noodle, Mags.
------------------------------
At the tender age of sixteen, Georges adopted a dog as a gift for her then-boyfriend and first love, Tom. The ensuing back-and-forth demonstrates why you should never give a dog as a gift: despite clearing it ahead of time with Tom's mother, Tom's stepfather did not sign off on the deal. Nicole's mom reluctantly allowed her to keep the dog, but Beija's many behavioral problems quickly wore her patience thin.
Beija harbored an intense dislike/fear of men, children, and veterinarians; did not enjoy being picked up or touched on her sides; did not suffer invasions of space lightly; and frequently antagonized/was victimized by other dogs. She was temperamental and required patience, compassion, and understanding - much like her new human.
And so, in a situation so weird and improbable that it seems like the plot of a bad Fox sitcom, you have both sets of parents conspiring to push their teenagers out of the nest and into a seedy apartment, just so they could have a Beija-free home: "Starting now, this gift would change the course of both our lives. [...] All of this in order to keep the dog. As if we'd had a teen pregnancy."
While Nicole's relationship with Tom would soon implode, her partnership with Bejia proved to be for keeps. Through unhealthy relationships, annoying roommates, professional upheavals, and the trials and tribulations of growing up and discovering oneself, there was one constant in Nicole life. And if she just so happened to have four legs, a soft tummy, and spoke in a series of barks, whimpers, and tail wags, so what? Family is what you make of it.
Fetch is Rennie-approved.
------------------------------
Most of the blurbs I've read so far focus on the coming-of-age aspect of Fetch (e.g., it's not "just" a book about a dog). And while it is indeed that - after all, at the time of her death, Beija had lived with Nicole for almost exactly half of Nicole's life - to me Fetch is, above all else, a love letter to and everlasting celebration of a best friend. A soul mate. A patronus, to quote Georges. (A daemon, in my vocab.) The dogs, they will always come first. PRIORITIES.
There's this one Mutts comic I love: It's a lovely day, and Ozzie is walking Earl on a long leash. A little heart bobs in a thought bubble above the human's head. To the right is a quote by one W.R. Purche: "Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong."
To borrow a phrase from an online friend (Marji Beach, who works at another awesome animal sanctuary called Animal Place), it's clear that Nicole considers Beija the best worst dog ever. Their love for one another shines through every panel and page, making the inevitable goodbye that much more heartbreaking. It took me a full week to read the book, just because I couldn't bear to face the last forty pages.
I think it's safe to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially when it comes to Fetch, and animal lovers will take something a little extra special away from their experience. When I say "animal lovers," I mean both in the conventional sense - i.e., those who care for culturally appropriate animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits - as well as those of use who extend that circle of compassion to all nonhumans. There are precious few comic books that I could call overtly vegan - only two come to mind, namely Matt Miner's Liberator and The Animal Man by Grant Morrison - and I'm happy to add Fetch to the list. While Georges only drops the v*-word (vegetarian or vegan) a handful of times, she does introduce readers to animal rights issues in a gentle, subtle way. If you're not on the lookout (and I always am!), you might just miss it.
Though all the better to sneak into your subconscious, worming and niggling and prodding you to think about the face on your plate or the skin on your back ... to see them as someones rather than somethings, more alike than different from the dog snuggled up next to you or fast asleep at your feet.
Full disclosure: In between bites of spider trappings, Rennie assisted me in writing this review.
------------------------------
I especially loved Bejia's manifesto, "I am not a stuffed animal," which surreptitiously introduces readers to the idea of intersectionality: "It's kind of like feminism, but for dogs." That line (along with countless others) literally had me squealing for joy. Little Beija-Boo - is she a shar pei-doxy mix? corgi and beagle? who knows! - is adorable and tubby, even as she's telling you to back the fuck off.
I could go on and on - about the many weird parallels between Georges's life and mine; about how I see pieces of Bejia in my own dogs; about the many ways, both large and small, that my loved ones and I have adapted our everyday routines and very existences to better accommodate our four-legged family members - but suffice it to say that Fetch is a must-read for anyone who's ever loved (and lost) a dog (though you may want to wait until the loss isn't quite so fresh - the ending is freaking brutal).
Ditto: anyone who just likes good storytelling or quirky artwork. I know I've focused on the nonhumans for most of my review - hey, that's how I do - but even those rare scenes sans doggos are beautifully rendered and engaging.
In summary: Fetch is easily my favorite book of 2017 thus far, graphic novel or no.
Aaaaand just in case the previous 1,000 words didn't convince you, here are a few of my favorite panels to help seal the deal.
(That last one? So charming that it displaced foster doggy as the background on my desktop. Temporarily, but still.)
http://www.easyvegan.info/2017/07/18/...
September 25, 2021
This book slayed me, in a mostly good way. Spoiler: the dog dies at the end. I was destroyed for pages ahead of time because I'd fallen in love with that bad dog, Beija. She reminded me a whole lot of my own troubled canine who I love as fiercely as author Nicole Georges loved Beija. We have had some similar struggles although I have to believe I've done a better job keeping my beast out of greater trouble than Georges did, also in part because Butter is a 65-pounder and Beija is a corgi mix. Anyhoo, incredible graphics, hilarious and heart-wrenching words, some LGBTQ+ context, punks, lessons, trauma, the whole burrito right here.
March 21, 2020
How could you not love Beija? Nicole Georges’ drawings really brought her little firecracker pup to life and I think now I’m ready to adopt at least 8 or 9 dogs.
August 29, 2017
This was particularly painful to read, since I just lost my cat Levi to cancer as well. We were mates for 17 years, and the similarities between our relationship and the author's relationship with her dog were pretty spot on. If you ever had a pet that you felt was your "external heart", as Georges put it, you should probably read this.
September 6, 2017
Ahhh I really want to tell you how magical and special this book is but I can't even think of high enough praise, tbpf. It is a jewel, so full of love it will crack you.
I remember reading Georges' first book and being like oh holy frijoles I can't WAIT till she writes a new one.
Please go buy copies of this for all your animal companions, it is legitimately a celestial body.
I remember reading Georges' first book and being like oh holy frijoles I can't WAIT till she writes a new one.
Please go buy copies of this for all your animal companions, it is legitimately a celestial body.
April 21, 2023
I re-read this because a very close friend’s unruly dog passed away recently (also at age 16). Even though I liked it pretty well to begin with, I appreciated this one more on the second read.
August 20, 2018
Wonderful book that explores the depth of the relationship between a pet owner and her fur baby. The book also highlights PNW zine culture.
February 3, 2021
Terrible graphic novel about a woman and her poor dog that she continuously makes live in stressful environments and doesn’t take the time to adequately train or teach socialization.
May 29, 2017
Huge thank you to Raincoast for this ARC!
I knew this book was going to emotionally wreck me. This is the story of Nicole J. Georges and her dog, Beija. Beija is a shar-pei/corgi mix with some behavioral troubles. She's not comfortable with people petting her, she's somewhat aggressive when people emit different kinds of energy levels. She is constantly told by people that she is a horrible, no good, bad dog. However, reading this graphic memoir you can see through Nicole George's perspective that Beija is also a misunderstood dog.
As someone who owns a bulldog, I actually found myself understanding where the author was coming from. It's hard because in some circumstances you understand why people see and say what they do when they think something is wrong with a dog's behavior, but the fault in that is that often people don't give certain breeds of dog a chance to become better.
It's very evident in this story how much the author loved her dog and how much her dog helped me with a dark period of her life. Animals have magic powers in this regard, they know when their companion needs them and will do anything to try and make things better. I also loved the artwork in this graphic memoir. It's got great visual appeal and the author does an amazing job of illustrating the story that she wanted to tell.
I really loved this story, and I definitely want to check out more of Nicole J Georges graphic memoirs. Fetch is both funny as it is heartbreaking, and if you are an animal lover and owner it will probably make you cry. I know I did.
I knew this book was going to emotionally wreck me. This is the story of Nicole J. Georges and her dog, Beija. Beija is a shar-pei/corgi mix with some behavioral troubles. She's not comfortable with people petting her, she's somewhat aggressive when people emit different kinds of energy levels. She is constantly told by people that she is a horrible, no good, bad dog. However, reading this graphic memoir you can see through Nicole George's perspective that Beija is also a misunderstood dog.
As someone who owns a bulldog, I actually found myself understanding where the author was coming from. It's hard because in some circumstances you understand why people see and say what they do when they think something is wrong with a dog's behavior, but the fault in that is that often people don't give certain breeds of dog a chance to become better.
It's very evident in this story how much the author loved her dog and how much her dog helped me with a dark period of her life. Animals have magic powers in this regard, they know when their companion needs them and will do anything to try and make things better. I also loved the artwork in this graphic memoir. It's got great visual appeal and the author does an amazing job of illustrating the story that she wanted to tell.
I really loved this story, and I definitely want to check out more of Nicole J Georges graphic memoirs. Fetch is both funny as it is heartbreaking, and if you are an animal lover and owner it will probably make you cry. I know I did.
August 10, 2019
O amor de (e por) um animal tem muitas semelhanças com o amor entre humanos, e muitas diferenças também (não é à toa que as terapias com animais têm um efeito tão positivo em crianças autistas, por exemplo, porque os animais são capazes - além de outras coisas - de transmitir essa sensação constante de segurança e estabilidade a quem é próximo deles). Ao ler a história de Nicole Georges (que também é autora do ótimo Calling Dr. Laura) e sua cachorrinha Beija, lembrei de todos os gatinhos com que cruzei nas ruas e em abrigos e que acabaram por ter suas histórias entrelaçadas à minha de forma permanente. Animais que eu amei e me amaram de volta, que eu cuidei com todos os recursos que tinha (e os que precisei pedir a outras pessoas, assim como Nicole), que me salvaram de formas mais significativas do que eu os salvei do abandono (também como Beija fez Nicole querer ficar no mundo). Assim como Nicole, eu também sempre fui muito apegada a animais e também tive um histórico de adotar animais "errados" (errados para uma criança, errados como animais domésticos), como a tartaruga Doroteia, meus peixes e até periquitos. Mesmo sendo uma criança e não sendo exatamente responsável por esses animais, assim como ela, também olho para trás e penso na vida triste que esses animais tiveram comigo, e em como a vida deles poderia ter sido melhor tendo tido a liberdade de ser pássaros, de ser peixes, de ser tartaruga. Também assim como a cachorrinha da autora, uma de minhas gatinhas teve um caroço perto da coluna e uma suspeita de sarcoma. Enfim, essa história falou muito comigo em diversos aspectos. Até a comparação que ela faz com Beija ser sua horcrux eu lembro de já ter feito sobre meus gatos também. É uma história sensível e contada sem melodrama (e sem muito açúcar, a autora é bem crítica em relação a ela mesma), gostei demais e chorei demais também (como não?).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews