Memoirs of a Papillon
 Genevieve, as told to Dennis Fried
 (Sr. Staff Writer/Reviewer - Carolyn Stearns)
 2000 Eiffel Press
 ISBN: 0967933501
 

The Canine Guide to Living with Humans without Going Mad.

Guest Reviewer Carolyn Stearns writes:

“Papillon” is French for butterfly. A Papillon is also a ten inch high six pound dog with butterfly-like ears. This particular Papillon is named Genevieve. She lives with Dennis & Katrina in Sarasota, Florida & this book is a report of the relationship between these two humans & their extraordinarily precocious canine companion.

I find it fun imagining, along with Dennis Fried, what this dog thinks of the people who live with her. Genevieve doesn't miss a trick! I do, however, wonder why Mr. Fried made his beloved friend so caustic. I have never known a flippant or sarcastic dog, those I have lived with have always been bundles of love.

Readers have a choice: to take the book literally, that this a dog is able to communicate with humans as described, or, to accept that the book is Mr. Fried's imagination at work. Every now & again I believe I heard the authentic voice of Genevieve coming through. That was when the book was most satisfying. Most of the time, however, I heard Mr. Fried feeding Genevieve her lines. Then the book became rather silly.

My favorite story: Denny doing the laundry and losing his socks.
My favorite image: “Sniffing the ground is like reading a good story.”
Biggest smile: Denny & Katrina needing some private time.
Saddest moment: the death of Sardo.

“Hilarious” was a word on the back cover used to describe this book. I am more inclined to use the word “clever.” I did not laugh out loud as I read along. However, I did smile. I also cried when Mr. Fried described the death of Sardo, the family dog of his childhood.

I was not comfortable with Mr. Fried's description of Genevieve sitting on his lap with her paws on the steering wheel while the car was moving. The story may be a true one, but Genevieve was not safe.

I feel a sequel coming up. I encourage Mr. Fried to write when he feels he can trust the genuine voice of Genevieve. He started doing that, almost inspite of himself, toward the end of Genevieve's book.
(06/15/03)

Carolyn Stearns
2001©Carolyn Stearns
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Writer/Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
Carolyn Stearns is a professional modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, masseuse, hypnotist & writer who began her 39 year dance career as a butterfly in first grade. She received an MS in dance from Smith College & studied with modern dance legends Martha Graham, Hanya Holm & Jose Limon.

As Carolyn Coles, she performed with prominent dance companies including Karamu Dancers & the Jose Limon Dance Company in Philadelphia, taught dance at Smith, Swarthmore & Connecticut Colleges & the University of Maryland. For years she was a dance critic for Choice Magazine.

After she retired from dance, she taught her own bodywork program Stretch and Meditation, gave psychic body readings & grief massages -- out of which came her six Blessing Tree Self-Empowerment audio tapes.

Then she began to write, publishing: Spirit-Walking; Where Did All The Water Go?; Queit Please-Eaglets Growing; The Inheritance. Excerpts of her work have appeared in Reality Change, Fodderwing, The Washington Post, Pilgrimage, The New Bay Times, Chesapeake, earthlight! and Choice Magazine.

She live in Mason's Beach, Maryland & at Weslemkoon Lake, Ontario with her husband, Chris, & her special teachers: a Great Pyrenees dog Jean-Luc & cats Black Angus & Calico Phoebe. They share six children & six grandchildren.

A RebeccasReads author in Authors & Books