Animal Magnetism: My Life with Creatures Great and Small

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Author: Rita Mae Brown
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$25.00~~
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Media: Hardcover
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1

ISBN: 0345511794
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780345511799
ASIN: 0345511794

Publication Date: October 13, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	ISBN13: 9780345511799
•	Condition: NEW
•	Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Rita Mae Brown’s earliest memory is of the soothing purr of Mickey, her family’s long-haired tiger cat, who curled up and claimed a spot in her crib. From there, a steady parade of cats, dogs, horses, and all manner of two- and four-legged critters have walked, galloped, and flown into and through her world. In Animal Magnetism, the bestselling author shares the lessons she’s learned from these marvelous creatures as well as her deep appreciation for them.

Brown readily admits that she prefers the company of animals to people, a trait handed down from her mother. After all, Brown explains, “There’s no such thing as a dumb dog, but God knows there are continents filled with dumb humans.” In fact, by observing the dogs on her farm, the horses in her stables, and the cats that have helped her flesh out her many novels, Brown has gained better insight into herself and other human beings–one need only look at a chicken coop, she once realized, to see its striking similarity to her mother’s clucking and preening group of friends.

In hilarious and heartwarming stories, Brown introduces us to Franklin, a parrot with a wicked sense of humor; R.C., a courageous Doberman who defined loyalty and sacrifice; Suzie Q, the horse who taught her the meaning of hard work; Baby Jesus, a tough tiger cat from New York City with sharp teeth to match his attitude; and of course the beloved and prolific Sneaky Pie, who needs no introduction to her legions of fans. In her succinct and personable style, Brown also revisits the very human parts of her life–growing up in the segregated South, dealing with the pain and the loss of those dearest to her, and coming into her own as an adult and as a writer.

Every recollection here reveals nature’s delight and wonder–and offers solid evidence of the ability of animals to love. As funny as it is poignant, Animal Magnetism shows how these inspiring creatures, great and small, can bring out the best in us, restore us to our greater selves, and even save our lives.

Customer Reviews:
5 out of 5 stars

Country Knowledge is Shrinking November 18, 2009
Story Circle Book Reviews (www.storycirclebookreviews.org)
The voice that emerges from the pages of Animal Magnetism is a strong woman's narrative. With a Yankee directness, somewhat urgent and straight to the point, the author calls to the reader to pay attention to important lessons about life that can be learned from the animal kingdom. This book was written during the throes of global economic turmoil in 2008-2009 and is full of common-sense wisdom gleaned from a life of observing and learning the language of cats, dogs, horses, foxes and birds.

Rita Mae Brown speaks with love about her farm and the animal companions with whom she shares her home, the rivers, and fields. The story begins and ends in the mountains of Virginia, deep in horse country where--to this horsewoman--life isn't complete without foxhounds, horses, foxes and cats. She writes about home and the significance of the places she lived growing up. Early chapters reveal more about family and four-legged characters than about herself and her descriptive language gives us a taste of what it was like growing up in the 1950's after WW2. We get to know her father and mother, and slowly we discover more about this fiercely independent woman who was carefully schooled in cotillion Southern manners. Terse sentences portray a woman who is usually short with words, yet the descriptive language she uses when sharing observations about her pets reveal her true passion.

The author makes no bones about her critical views of destructive human behavior when she speaks of California and Florida being lost to development. "The loss of animal habitat, the killing of the animals themselves can never be reversed." Her ideas are presented with an underlying wit and grit and the message is clear: "Country knowledge is shrinking."

There are plenty of prudent suggestions about living on this planet and treating each other, humans and animals, with love. In this story, nature and animals provide comfort, solace and a sense that we are not alone, but part of a greater plan.

Animal Magnetism is a touching account of a Rita Mae Brown's life lived with passion for the untamed and tamed natural world.

by Martha Meacham
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

5 out of 5 stars

Incredible Book October 20, 2009
S. Roth (Michigan)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I read this book in one sitting after going to a book signing for Dr. Brown. The first book I read of hers was "Riding Shotgun" and her use of language was so incredible it led me to read all her books. When you hear her speak, it's like a good chapter of her books. She speaks how she writes and you wish that it would never end.

This book reminds us of what all animal lovers already know. Our animals know more than we do. If we listen to them, we would really be much better off. Having lived with dogs, cats and horses for the last 40 years, I know this to be true, and yet sometimes I forget it. They always remind me. Animals relate to the basic simple needs of life. Eat (hunt), sleep and have fun. We should remember those things and endeavor to do the same.

I think anyone who is looking for some direction in this incredibly endangered world that we live in should read this book and get back to what really matters for humankind. Perhaps we wouldn't have half the problems we now have if we would remember those basic needs.

And by the way, Dr. Brown, I, too, would love to see more Celeste Chalfonte.

5 out of 5 stars

Animal magnetism, indeed! October 15, 2009
Jill Meyer (Santa Fe, NM)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I've read ALL of Rita Mae Brown's novels - other than the cat series - over the years, as well as her few works of non-fiction. I think she's a writer's writer. Some of the most beautiful paragraphs I've read come from her work, particularly "Six of One". She's a wonderful writer in that she often returns to the same characters many times, offering updates on our old favorites. I've really enjoyed most of her "Sister" Jane series and was looking forward to a new novel this fall, but I guess that's not to be. Maybe next year...

"Animal Magnetism" really should only be read by animal-lovers. I always refer to myself as a "'dog-liker', but a 'cat-lover'". Brown really is an "ALL-animal" lover and she writes in her latest book about the many dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, and other animals she's loved over her lifetime. And, who've loved her right back. The book comes with pictures of her and various animals, I was only disappointed that while she often referred to her parents and grandparents, she never included any pictures of them. I would have loved to see the REAL "Juts" and "Aunt Mimi" ("Weezie"); her wild mother and aunt she's written about so many times.

Brown sort of makes herself seem as if she likes animals more than people. Maybe she does, but I remember standing in a long line, outside a Charlottesville book/coffee shop, in the early 1990's. She was inside, at a table, autographing her latest book. The line consisted of young, old, men, women, all ages and while it was a long evening, waiting in line, Brown was incredibly charming with EACH person, taking time to talk to everyone in turn. No one seemed to mind because we all knew we would get our own "face-time" with her!

Oh, and Rita Mae, if you read this, would you please - A. update your website and B. go to work on a novel about Celeste Chalfonte and her family. She's probably your most interesting character - after "Juts" and "Weezie", of course - and I'd love to know more about her family. Surely you can make her parents and her siblings the subjects of their own story. We got a look at her in Six of One, and references to her in other novels, but please devote a book to her. Please? Pretty please?

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