Loopey to Beau: A Troubled Author's Journey with Dogs

by James W. Bennett

In this brutally honest memoir, renowned author James W. Bennett takes the reader through his forty-plus-year struggle with a relentless mental illness. Along the way, he provides fully developed profiles of the many dogs who shared the journey, bringing support and comfort.

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2018

About the author

Writer James Bennett draws heavily on personal experience in his novels for young adult readers. His high school-aged protagonists are often emotionally or intellectually confused individuals unable to summon the emotional strength to deal with the circumstances that confront them in school, at home, and in other social situations. Only the caring, compassionate support of others can provide Bennett's characters with a resilient lifeline to adulthood. "I would like my readers to recognize that the handicapped are not throw-away people," Bennett told Publishers Weekly interviewer Lynda Brill Comerford. "Within them lies enormous courage and a strong nourishing drive."

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

His attempt to make himself sympathetic when it comes to his relationship with his dogs largely fails. His struggles with mental illness are gut wrenching and readers will probably empathize with that struggle but doesn't excuse the truly terrible decisions he often makes regarding dogs he encounters and loves through his life. The first chapter in particular should be avoided if you have a low tolerance for violence against animals. Overall all, the writing isn't great either. This book is begging for a good editor. The story would have made the same impact had it been much shorter. The redundancy throughout doesn't make for an enjoyable read and the topics make it that much harder to struggle through.