All My Dogs: A Memoir

by Bill Henderson

“With dry humor and enviable honesty, this gem …tells Henderson’s life story through his thirteen dogs.” - Publishers Weekly "All My Dogs dogs is exactly as the title describes, a story in chronological order, beginning in childhood, of all the dogs Henderson has loved. Some were with him for a brief period, some were part of every moment in his life and the lives of his wife and daughter. But , as silly and bold and sometimes incorrigible as all of these dogs were, each of them loved Henderson and he returned that affection wholeheartedly. He is dog person and cannot imagine a life without canine companionship. So as he writes of navigating the waters as writer and publisher, pursuing a family life, moving from one home to another, engaging in a quixotic quest to build a tower in Maine and pondering how to live the best life possible,there is always a dog at his feet or by his side.Dogs have made his life richer by their company and, just as the best writing of Herriot and Durrell,All my Dogs is a love letter in return.” Bookslut

Genres: Memoir

145 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2011

About the author

Bill Henderson (born April 5, 1941) is an American author, editor and publisher best known for his memoirs and the Pushcart Prize series.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little book about love, faith, family- and the dogs who embodied all three.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of Bill Henderson's life told through the stages by which dog he owned at the time. The drawings of each pet are beautiful and I found the book to be cathartic after having to put down our 14 yr old labrador retriever a few weeks prior to spotting this in the library. It's an easy read and very enjoyable if you're an animal lover.

[Daniel Oaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sentimental without being weepy. Quick and enjoyable human to dog to dog to dog etc. memoir.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful memoir about a man's relationship with the different dogs in his life. It is not the most action-packed of memoirs, but if one is a dog lover, the story of a dog's love for his/her own is enough to keep the reader entertained.

[Georgia Ainslie-hamblin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag as far as dog stories go. Some of the stories made me feel like the author was not very careful with his dogs and that he could have been a better pet owner.. The pictures were beautiful though.

[soccerlover123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a memoir about the life of Bill Henderson. Bill did not live a life like other people but at the end of the book you will realize his unconditional love for dogs. Bill had a dog since the day he was born and he can never get enough of them. This book brings you through the rough patches of creating a family and the numerous dogs of Bill Henderson. When I was reading this book it made me realize how good dogs are, that they are good to have around. I have two dogs and I never really put too thought that they actually help you as a person. When you are sad they notice and they’ll lick your face or give you a ball to play catch.

I do not recommend this book to another classmate because there is some adult content and I had to skip a few pages. It is a great book other than that and I would recommend it to an adult. People who liked Marley and Me would like this book because it is just like the book, even in this book it mentions Marley and Me. After reading this book I have really appreciated my dogs more and builded a stronger bond and love for both of my dogs and other dogs as well.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slim, pretty book, a memoir organized around all the dogs Henderson loved over the course of his life, with lovely pen and ink portraits of them. Predictably, I cried at my desk at work, in the staff lunchroom, on the subway (twice), and finally at home, thank goodness. That said, it was a sweet, almost artless little book -- no pyrotechnics, just straight-up storytelling -- and I enjoyed it a lot.

Full review to follow soon.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is very upsetting to me. Purportedly the author loves his dogs yet his description of howe he has treated them makes me think otherwise. Really, can you go away for the weekend and leave your two dogs outside running free? No wonder the poor creatures met a horrid end. The author needs to have goldfish, they, at least can do their own goldfish thing and think for themselves without coming to harm.

[Granny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quit reading. Parts about dogs interesting, but writer had too much about his personal obessessions with sexual matters. Boring.