Could You Survive Henry?

Surviving Henry: Adventures in Loving a Canine Catastrophe is an account of Erin Taylor Young's life with an obstinate boxer named Henry. Fueled by fond memories of a boxer she had as a child, Erin Taylor Young sets out to find a boxer puppy for her family. One that could provide laughs and cuddles as well as long walks and wagging tails. What she gets is Henry--who Erin describes as suffering from "Supreme Dictator of the Universe Syndrome." She can't figure out how God chose to give her such and aloof and stubborn creature to be a part of her family. She doesn't understand why Henry doesn't seem to care if he is with the members of the family or not. The only time he seems to show any interest is when she begins her routine to leave the house, then Henry decides that he can't leave her side. Erin knows this is only because he loves riding in the car; not because he likes being with her. But, oh, that face when she closes the door behind her; it's enough to melt her heart, so Henry goes with her to the video store, the gas station, and anywhere else that is even slightly appropriate to take him along.
On their first day at the dog park, Erin keeps Henry outside the fence on his leash to see how he will react to the other dogs. As each new dog passes by the fence to sniff at him, Henry leaps in the air with excited anticipation; as if to say, "I wanna play! Oh please, please let me play!" Once inside the fence and off his leash, Henry quickly makes friends with the dog park set and follows a couple of his new friends--retrievers--into the small pond for water-loving dogs. There is only one problem, Henry doesn't know how to swim and he panics. Poor Erin thinks she is going to have to jump in after her awkward boxer, but he manages to paddle his way back to the shore.
Henry seems to be prone to misadventures and near death scenarios and his poor owner can only hang on for dear life. Take, for instance, their adventures at Erin's parents' lake house. On their first visit with Henry, he falls off the dock and poor Erin plunges in the freezing water to rescue him. It just so happens that every time they visit Henry seems to fall off the dock. Unless, of course, he is wearing the expensive doggie life jacket that they bought him. Once, they decided to take Henry on the Pontoon with them. He did okay, although he did pace around the decking and had to have a petting from everyone on the boat, not to mention he had to sniff the air on all four sides. When Henry moved to the front of the pontoon, he stuck his nose through the gate, but it isn't too long before he spots a flock of ducks up ahead. Erin's son manages to catch Henry's leg before the sixty-pound dog managed to get through the gate and into the water--and probably become fish food after meeting the boat's propeller.
Erin recounts many such near-misses and disasters that seem to be drawn to Henry. He vandalizes his obedience school, crashes through a window, and tears up countless toys. Erin is convinced that Henry lives to torment her. The longer she has Henry, though, the more she comes to realize that he has been put into her life to teach her a new meaning to the concept of unconditional love.
This book is a quick, funny, and poignant read. Henry's adventures can be related to by anyone who has ever been the owner of a stubborn pet. Henry's quirkiness is endearing and the lessons he teaches his family are ones that every family should learn. If you are going to love one another, then you must do so unconditionally.

Who Asked You?

Terry McMillan's Who Asked You? is her eighth novel and is set in a mixed-race Los Angeles neighborhood.  The story opens with Betty Jean, the matriarch of the family, who works at a hotel, cleaning rooms.  Her daughter, Trinetta, drops off her two kids with Betty Jean and then disappears, leaving Betty Jean to try and raise them the best way she knows how.  Betty Jean's white neighbor, Tammy, is her best friend, and she is dealing with her own daughter who can't seem to find a job and move out of her house, as she tries to help Betty Jean with her grand sons.  Added to the mix are Betty Jean's son, Dexter, currently serving a prison term, and her invalid husband who is suffering from Alzheimer's.  Each character narrates the story, in alternating chapters, and the result is an interesting story told from many different points of view.  Betty Jean also has two sisters, each with their own set of issues, and her relationships with them and their family members figure prominently in the book.  This book addresses the burdens and blessings of family and trusting your own judgment even when others don't agree with you.  The characters are signature McMillan, and will leave you thinking.  If you liked McMillan's Waiting to Exhale, you will enjoy this book too.