Gail Caldwell’s new book, Let’s Take the Long Way Home, is nothing short of exquisite. It is a book for anyone who has had and lost a soul mate best friend, for anyone bonded to another by their love of dogs, or their need for another who understands them without explanation. It is a love story in a way, a memorial to Gail’s friendship with a brilliant writer named Caroline Knapp, who most of the world knows through her book Drinking: A Love Story, and dog lovers like us know from her last book, Pack of Two.
Gail’s writing is so spare and honest and pure that I read the book non-stop, bleary-eyed at 3 in the morning, tears streaming because after Gail and Caroline find each other — two single women writers who shared living alone, having similar boyfriends (the same one sequentially at one point), being professional writers and battling alcoholism in earlier years — Caroline died of lung cancer. As Gail writes: “It’s an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and we shared that too.”
Full disclosure: I know Gail, and although I have only met her once, long after Caroline had died, we connected in seconds, old friends like comfy bathrobes on cool fall mornings. I had first seen her at a Book Fair in Florida, saw her speak on a panel and liked what I heard, bought her book A Strong West Wind and read it over a solitary dinner at the hotel, picked up and carried along by her words with such force I could barely eat. In the book’s acknowledgments she mentioned Caroline, and since I had just written in For the Love of a Dog that Caroline’s book Pack of Two was the best book on a relationship between a person and a dog I’d ever read, I was interested in the connection. Months later I found the nerve to write Gail, a Pulitzer winning writer, to tell how much I’d liked her book, and how much I had liked Caroline’s. She wrote back that she was the best friend in the story, that she and Caroline had spent their afternoons walking their dogs together, talking about all the things true friends talk about, often with the dogs at the center. Later I was able to visit Gail in Boston, and meet her dog Clementine, heard how she had survived a horrific attack by another dog, and talked to Gail about the impossibility of life without our soul mate dogs, much less our soul mate human friends.
And so, I am not objective. But here’s what others say about the book:
“Stunning . . . a book of such crystalline truth that it makes the heart ache.” (Boston Globe)
“Caldwell (A Strong West Wind) has managed to do the inexpressible in this quiet, fierce work: create a memorable offering of love to her best friend, Caroline Knapp, the writer . . . who died of lung cancer at age 42 in 2002.” (Publisher’s Weekly)
This book is not about dogs, but Gail and Caroline’s love of dogs is central to the theme, as is their swimming, sculling and battle against alcoholism. It is also a lesson, pure and simple, about the power of language, and how very beautiful and powerful it can be.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Finally, it cooled off, cooler temperatures, lower humidity. Ahhhhh. Willie and I have worked sheep every morning. Things with Willie and Hope are complicated, too much so for me to write about them now, but I will at length early next week (and yes yes, answer your questions about what I am doing about their reactivity.)
Here’s a photo from a walk we took today, a bunch’o dogs and a bunch’o friends, what a joy. Most of the dogs were out of the picture, but they were all Black and White (but not all BC’s.. we call it the Domino Group).
Roberta Beach says
Several years ago, as I was gathering my Beagles but before I became a licensed rescue, I adopted a chocolate and tan, blue eyed, double dapple Dachshund named Danny. No – his eyes and hearing are fine, so far and yes, he was a puppy mill reject as a puppy, thank God. When I took him to my vet, who was used to me bringing in tri-color Beagles to her, she exclaimed “Well, at least you stayed in your color scheme!” The Domino Group reminded me of this :). I loved Pack of Two.
Pike says
A beautiful memoir indeed. I love Caroline Knapp’s two very different books and had high expectations for Gail Caldwell’s tribute to their special friendship. The book was even better than I had hoped for. All three books will have a place on the shelf in my bookstore.
Ruth T says
Ohhh, I just read that too. Definitely a weeper. Awesome writing. Worth the forever wait on the library hold list.
Brenda says
I have had issues with two female rescued x-racing Greyhounds. They were fine for about 6 months, then the younger, heftier and more confident girl, Hayley, started causing puncture wounds in Sophia, the very reactive, shy, and fearful one. They never showed a sign of difficulty when I was present, but I came home about 3 times to a need to go to the vets for a stitch or two. Yes, I let it go longer than necessary because I loved them both so. I finally had to let one of them go. Which meant I had to adopt out the one that was more adoptable, Hayley. Sophia was just too much of a “Spook” for anyone with little dog experience to handle. So, as is usual with those who foster rescue dogs, I ended up keeping the one with the most issues. Sophia never really became confident with other dogs, but was better with people. I did get ‘dumped’ with a Terrier/Chihuahua mix that she got along well with. (long story). I guess she didn’t consider him a threat.
Emily says
THANK YOU for the book recommendations! And please keep them coming. I read “Scent of the Missing” after you recommended it, and absolutely loved it. “Let’s Take the Long Way Home” is now on my hold list at the library…looking forward to it.
Alexandra says
Thanks for the ongoing book recommendations! I really enjoyed “Scent of the Missing” and “The Brain that Changes Itself” and will check out this new one as well.
Angela says
I love reading your blog. The book recommendations are wonderful and I look forward to more in the future. But what resonates with me is your willingness to share your struggles with Willie and Hope. I have a reactive dog and want to bring in a puppy in the near future. I value the lessons you share and the even the difficulties as it helps me think through the path we maybe taking.
Blessings~ Angela and Baylor…
Julie Rice says
I also appreciate the reading recommendations. I read “Scent Of The Missing” in two sittings and did the same with “Let’s Take The Long Way Home”. Now I’m reading “Pack of Two” and thinking of trying to start a group to read the book together so I’ll have people to discuss it with.
LynnSusan says
A gift, indeed. Thank you Trisha, for this book recommendation. I was moved, and changed, by first reading Pack of Two and then Let’s Take the Long Way Home These books are both so honestly and sensitively written, both love songs, but in different keys.
I am sending them to my friend who shares her life with Gracie’s best friend, Marley. I know she will understand the gift.
nico says
Merci pour cet article 🙂
Amy says
I lost my dear Grace 7 weeks ago. They had given her 120 days and she died in 2 weeks. I was mortified. Immersed is such pain, never in a million years would I think a book could soothe my broken heart. Somehow, though, the book The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog found it’s way into my hands. It’s a short book, probably took me about 10 minutes to read it, but when I finished, though still sad, I found a certain peace. I recommend this extraordinary book to anyone who has ever lost their furry companion.