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The Things We Do
In my role as a photographer, as contrasted with my former life as a university Professor, I spend much time searching for photographic opportunities that speak to the human condition. When I see such an opportunity, I know instantly. As a life-long reader, I know from the first paragraph of a book whether the book will “speak” to me, or is simply for entertainment or education.
In “The Things We Do” by Kay Pfaltz, I knew from the title of chapter 1 that I was going to embark on a journey of learning and enlightenment. Pfaltz has written, what on the surface appears to be a typical mystery story and has turned it into an exploration of the mystery of the human condition. She explores ideas, emotions and actions in a manner that speaks strongly to the human spirit. She weaves a careful web of relationships among our interactions with each other, our interactions with companion animals and the world of medical testing.
The book is written in Pfaltz’ usual structured style and deals with some difficult moral choices. The characters are human and the description of their struggle with their moral choices correlates with choices we all must make in our lives. The sections about how we treat animals is difficult to read but necessary to the story.
“The Things We Do” is a compelling read. I strongly recommend this book and kudos of the highest order are due the author.
In “The Things We Do” by Kay Pfaltz, I knew from the title of chapter 1 that I was going to embark on a journey of learning and enlightenment. Pfaltz has written, what on the surface appears to be a typical mystery story and has turned it into an exploration of the mystery of the human condition. She explores ideas, emotions and actions in a manner that speaks strongly to the human spirit. She weaves a careful web of relationships among our interactions with each other, our interactions with companion animals and the world of medical testing.
The book is written in Pfaltz’ usual structured style and deals with some difficult moral choices. The characters are human and the description of their struggle with their moral choices correlates with choices we all must make in our lives. The sections about how we treat animals is difficult to read but necessary to the story.
“The Things We Do” is a compelling read. I strongly recommend this book and kudos of the highest order are due the author.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 17, 2018
This is a book for anyone who cares about the plight of animals in laboratory testing but wants a psychological thriller.
It's a murder/mystery thriller that keeps you guessing, but also addresses heavy questions such as what it means to be good, to do good. What it means to love and does it matter who we love.
It is a psychological whodunit that reveals the importance not only of what people say and do, but also of what they think and feel. Events or images in a person’s mind can feel, or be, more real than actual occurrences. Intrinsically normal characters become interesting when thrown into choice situations. Therefore, the story is about people trying to be and do good in difficult or tempting situations, while simultaneously seeking their own personal happiness. The characters illustrate the fact that as humans we’re combinations of both good deeds and less good deeds performed usually in attempt to get events to go our own way. While there may exist few absolutes, attainment of the good or the absolute still remains a valid goal in human existence.
The novel maintains that true liberty, which comes from freedom of the soul, cannot be threatened by chains or fetters. The story is a study of this, as Jane the convicted murderer is revealed to be more free than the characters outside the prison walls, all caught in their small lives, consumed by petty problems, destructive patterns and various states of unhappiness.
This, then, is the main theme of the novel, while other themes are failure of love, failure to live up to one’s ideals, the incompatibility of two individuals and compassion for all beings.
Another theme is something which the therapist, Eleanor, struggles with throughout the story: that the pain of the past is important, for contained in that pain is memory. Sometimes the worst pain becomes the strongest and most life-giving force through memory. Memory has the power with time to comfort.
There is also the theme of anticipatory happiness—the anticipating of events to come in place of actually living them in the moment—which Eleanor realizes sitting on the bench in the park beside her best friend, Cory. David, the policeman, also realizes this, without knowing that he does, in cooking his meal for, and dreaming about a future with Sylvie.
There is the theme of compassion for all, be they humans (black, gay, the incarcerated) or animals (dogs, cats, but also spiders and mice.)
And still another theme is that love frees us from our self-imposed prisons. The Things We Do is a study of love: love of dog, of spouse, love unrequited, or loving friendships. Whether one finds love in a neighbor or a friend, a gay person or a straight person, in one’s work, from an animal, or within the state penitentiary, does not matter. What matters is that one love.
The lovers (husband and wife, husband and mistress, best friend, etc.) all strive for some state of happiness, when they would do better to realize that the very moment is the closest they will come to perfection. Sexual tension is palpable, if misdirected, in all of the characters, many of whom mistake the sexual act for love itself.
Spoiler Alert:
In the opening prologue Sylvie is leading Weedy down the hall to his death. In the final lines of the book, Eleanor is leading Weedy down the hall to life. And the same words of the prologue are repeated.
Finally, The Things We Do is composed of words, but describes silence. The silence of no words, or perhaps the silences that fall between words.
It's a murder/mystery thriller that keeps you guessing, but also addresses heavy questions such as what it means to be good, to do good. What it means to love and does it matter who we love.
It is a psychological whodunit that reveals the importance not only of what people say and do, but also of what they think and feel. Events or images in a person’s mind can feel, or be, more real than actual occurrences. Intrinsically normal characters become interesting when thrown into choice situations. Therefore, the story is about people trying to be and do good in difficult or tempting situations, while simultaneously seeking their own personal happiness. The characters illustrate the fact that as humans we’re combinations of both good deeds and less good deeds performed usually in attempt to get events to go our own way. While there may exist few absolutes, attainment of the good or the absolute still remains a valid goal in human existence.
The novel maintains that true liberty, which comes from freedom of the soul, cannot be threatened by chains or fetters. The story is a study of this, as Jane the convicted murderer is revealed to be more free than the characters outside the prison walls, all caught in their small lives, consumed by petty problems, destructive patterns and various states of unhappiness.
This, then, is the main theme of the novel, while other themes are failure of love, failure to live up to one’s ideals, the incompatibility of two individuals and compassion for all beings.
Another theme is something which the therapist, Eleanor, struggles with throughout the story: that the pain of the past is important, for contained in that pain is memory. Sometimes the worst pain becomes the strongest and most life-giving force through memory. Memory has the power with time to comfort.
There is also the theme of anticipatory happiness—the anticipating of events to come in place of actually living them in the moment—which Eleanor realizes sitting on the bench in the park beside her best friend, Cory. David, the policeman, also realizes this, without knowing that he does, in cooking his meal for, and dreaming about a future with Sylvie.
There is the theme of compassion for all, be they humans (black, gay, the incarcerated) or animals (dogs, cats, but also spiders and mice.)
And still another theme is that love frees us from our self-imposed prisons. The Things We Do is a study of love: love of dog, of spouse, love unrequited, or loving friendships. Whether one finds love in a neighbor or a friend, a gay person or a straight person, in one’s work, from an animal, or within the state penitentiary, does not matter. What matters is that one love.
The lovers (husband and wife, husband and mistress, best friend, etc.) all strive for some state of happiness, when they would do better to realize that the very moment is the closest they will come to perfection. Sexual tension is palpable, if misdirected, in all of the characters, many of whom mistake the sexual act for love itself.
Spoiler Alert:
In the opening prologue Sylvie is leading Weedy down the hall to his death. In the final lines of the book, Eleanor is leading Weedy down the hall to life. And the same words of the prologue are repeated.
Finally, The Things We Do is composed of words, but describes silence. The silence of no words, or perhaps the silences that fall between words.
April 26, 2018
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of her book, but this in no way influences my opinion of the book itself.
As it was, I really enjoyed reading this novel. The book is written from two main POVs and some minor ones. I could relate to both female leads and I could understand what made them tick, which is something that is very important to me when I am reading a book.
Part of the book is set in a women’s prison and part of the book is about a woman going undercover at a laboratory where dogs and other animals are used for animal testing. We find out later how the two parts are related.
The books does have some awful accounts of what happens to animals, particularly dogs, in research laboratories, but though honestly written, they are not overly gruesome for the sake of it. Throughout the book the writer’s passion for animals and what happens to them is clear and it really made me warm to the writing.
On a side-note, I do only buy cruelty-free cosmetics and beauty products, as that is an easy thing to change, but when it comes to medicine, it remains a difficult dilemma. The author does address this conflict between healthcare and animal testing when someone gets very ill.
I have a couple of niggles, but nothing major. This book is being marketed as a psychological thriller, but I would not describe this as a thriller at all. It is not tense enough to be a thriller. Having said that, though it did not have the intensity and tension I was expecting, I really loved the writing, the characters and the story that unfolded. It is a more of a murder mystery novel that focuses on people and the way we relate to each other and to our animals.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who loves animals.
As it was, I really enjoyed reading this novel. The book is written from two main POVs and some minor ones. I could relate to both female leads and I could understand what made them tick, which is something that is very important to me when I am reading a book.
Part of the book is set in a women’s prison and part of the book is about a woman going undercover at a laboratory where dogs and other animals are used for animal testing. We find out later how the two parts are related.
The books does have some awful accounts of what happens to animals, particularly dogs, in research laboratories, but though honestly written, they are not overly gruesome for the sake of it. Throughout the book the writer’s passion for animals and what happens to them is clear and it really made me warm to the writing.
On a side-note, I do only buy cruelty-free cosmetics and beauty products, as that is an easy thing to change, but when it comes to medicine, it remains a difficult dilemma. The author does address this conflict between healthcare and animal testing when someone gets very ill.
I have a couple of niggles, but nothing major. This book is being marketed as a psychological thriller, but I would not describe this as a thriller at all. It is not tense enough to be a thriller. Having said that, though it did not have the intensity and tension I was expecting, I really loved the writing, the characters and the story that unfolded. It is a more of a murder mystery novel that focuses on people and the way we relate to each other and to our animals.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who loves animals.
March 26, 2019
Kay Pfaltz's new and powerful psychological mystery, The Things We Do, is about a kind young woman and a dog. The two meet in difficult circumstances and then separate by tragedy.
The story opens in a Virginia women's prison. First, we meet Dr. Eleanor Hartley, the prison's lead psychologist. A highly skilled professional, she works closely with many of the prisoners.
Helen, the head warden, has summoned Dr. Hartley to talk about a young woman recently brought to the prison. Her crime? The murder of two men: a police officer and a well known drug dealer. When arrested, she had fake ID and she hasn't spoken a word since the night of the killings. Meanwhile, Jane Doe is her name until someone, hopefully Dr. Hartley, learns her identity. And why she murdered the men.
The psychologist soon meets Jane, who will be one of her greatest career challenges. Hartley is determined to help her and, during that process, will learn much about Jane as well as herself.
Intermingled flashbacks open a second story about another caged species--dogs. As we closely follow Jane and Dr. Hartley's relationship, we also cling to hope for the incarcerated dogs. The twists of these two journeys are compelling and riveting.
Shortly after the story's mid-point, I took a short break from The Things We Do. I needed some space after reading a particularly dark part that I knew also held compelling truths. Following that pause, I re-engaged and avidly completed the book.
I highly recommend this book for the reasons that follow. A lifelong mystery lover, I was completely engrossed with the multiple layers of this powerful psychological mystery. Secondly, Pfaltz deepened my understanding of the reality of those living in these particular environments. I gained insight into how all our stories – human and animals – have such rich interconnections. Kindness and compassion with all, no matter how others behave, is our highest calling, I believe. And lastly, I enjoyed the pleasure of reading Pfaltz’s highly skilled, well-crafted work.
Author Kay Pfaltz's work has been published in English, German, and French. She is the author of four previous books, including Lauren's Story: An American Dog in Paris and Flash's Song: How One Small Dog Turned into One Big Miracle. Currently she writes for several publications. She has taught for Mary Baldwin University, Southern Methodist University, and James Madison University. Pfaltz lives in Virginia, where you can visit her at www.kaypfaltz.com.
The story opens in a Virginia women's prison. First, we meet Dr. Eleanor Hartley, the prison's lead psychologist. A highly skilled professional, she works closely with many of the prisoners.
Helen, the head warden, has summoned Dr. Hartley to talk about a young woman recently brought to the prison. Her crime? The murder of two men: a police officer and a well known drug dealer. When arrested, she had fake ID and she hasn't spoken a word since the night of the killings. Meanwhile, Jane Doe is her name until someone, hopefully Dr. Hartley, learns her identity. And why she murdered the men.
The psychologist soon meets Jane, who will be one of her greatest career challenges. Hartley is determined to help her and, during that process, will learn much about Jane as well as herself.
Intermingled flashbacks open a second story about another caged species--dogs. As we closely follow Jane and Dr. Hartley's relationship, we also cling to hope for the incarcerated dogs. The twists of these two journeys are compelling and riveting.
Shortly after the story's mid-point, I took a short break from The Things We Do. I needed some space after reading a particularly dark part that I knew also held compelling truths. Following that pause, I re-engaged and avidly completed the book.
I highly recommend this book for the reasons that follow. A lifelong mystery lover, I was completely engrossed with the multiple layers of this powerful psychological mystery. Secondly, Pfaltz deepened my understanding of the reality of those living in these particular environments. I gained insight into how all our stories – human and animals – have such rich interconnections. Kindness and compassion with all, no matter how others behave, is our highest calling, I believe. And lastly, I enjoyed the pleasure of reading Pfaltz’s highly skilled, well-crafted work.
Author Kay Pfaltz's work has been published in English, German, and French. She is the author of four previous books, including Lauren's Story: An American Dog in Paris and Flash's Song: How One Small Dog Turned into One Big Miracle. Currently she writes for several publications. She has taught for Mary Baldwin University, Southern Methodist University, and James Madison University. Pfaltz lives in Virginia, where you can visit her at www.kaypfaltz.com.
January 14, 2020
This book is one of the most touching I’ve read in a long time. The Things We Do broke my heart over the atrocities man inflicts upon other living beings. Yet, it’s uplifting to realize change can happen, and wrongs righted.
Kay Pfaltz’s heart shines through in every word she writes. Parts of the book are incredibly hard to read. The callousness with which animal testing is treated by many is difficult to understand. But, even worse is the blatant disregard many have for human life while trying to achieve their desires.
The synopsis speaks for itself. My words are put to better use in urging you to read The Things We Do. It is a dramatic fictional story that will pull you in during the prologue and keep you turning pages until the end. The characters are well-defined, and I promise they will stay with you long after you close the book.
Please consider purchasing this book. The author donates all profits to animal advocacy groups. Whether you read a purchased copy or you borrow a copy from the library, please leave a review and share the book with your friends. The Things We Do by Kay Pfaltz deserves to reach more of the reading public.
Kay Pfaltz’s heart shines through in every word she writes. Parts of the book are incredibly hard to read. The callousness with which animal testing is treated by many is difficult to understand. But, even worse is the blatant disregard many have for human life while trying to achieve their desires.
The synopsis speaks for itself. My words are put to better use in urging you to read The Things We Do. It is a dramatic fictional story that will pull you in during the prologue and keep you turning pages until the end. The characters are well-defined, and I promise they will stay with you long after you close the book.
Please consider purchasing this book. The author donates all profits to animal advocacy groups. Whether you read a purchased copy or you borrow a copy from the library, please leave a review and share the book with your friends. The Things We Do by Kay Pfaltz deserves to reach more of the reading public.
December 18, 2022
This is a compelling book that takes on difficult subject matters which compassion and honesty.
It has enough suspense to be a page turner and is interspersed with a philosophy lyrically developed.
The characters are all very real. The ending was wonderful.
Cheers, NT
It has enough suspense to be a page turner and is interspersed with a philosophy lyrically developed.
The characters are all very real. The ending was wonderful.
Cheers, NT
February 10, 2018
In my role as a photographer, as contrasted with my former life as a university Professor, I spend much time searching for photographic opportunities that speak to the human condition. When I see such an opportunity, I know instantly. As a life-long reader, I know from the first paragraph of a book whether the book will “speak” to me, or is simply for entertainment or education.
In “The Things We Do” by Kay Pfaltz, I knew from the title of chapter 1 that I was going to embark on a journey of learning and enlightenment. Pfaltz has written, what on the surface appears to be a typical mystery story and has turned it into an exploration of the mystery of the human condition. She explores ideas, emotions and actions in a manner that speaks strongly to the human spirit. She weaves a careful web of relationships among our interactions with each other, our interactions with companion animals and the world of medical testing.
The book is written in Pfaltz’ usual structured style and deals with some difficult moral choices. The characters are human and the description of their struggle with their moral choices correlates with choices we all must make in our lives. The sections about how we treat animals is difficult to read but necessary to the story.
“The Things We Do” is a compelling read. I strongly recommend this book and kudos of the highest order are due the author.
In “The Things We Do” by Kay Pfaltz, I knew from the title of chapter 1 that I was going to embark on a journey of learning and enlightenment. Pfaltz has written, what on the surface appears to be a typical mystery story and has turned it into an exploration of the mystery of the human condition. She explores ideas, emotions and actions in a manner that speaks strongly to the human spirit. She weaves a careful web of relationships among our interactions with each other, our interactions with companion animals and the world of medical testing.
The book is written in Pfaltz’ usual structured style and deals with some difficult moral choices. The characters are human and the description of their struggle with their moral choices correlates with choices we all must make in our lives. The sections about how we treat animals is difficult to read but necessary to the story.
“The Things We Do” is a compelling read. I strongly recommend this book and kudos of the highest order are due the author.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews