b"books, movies & musicEarnest, The Pug List and The Dogs of Littlefield, reviewed by Anna Cooke. House Trained, reviewed by Jacqui Silla.Two booksone a novel, and the other based on a true to Christopher, an animal lover with a passion for dogs in par-story, each revolving around a fire. Earnest, written by national ticular, she writes. bestselling author Kristin Von Kreisler, is the novel about a yel- Alison eventually meets someone online and falls in love.low Labrador Retriever by the same name, and his humans, Her husband Paul is, naturally, not thrilled. The heart wantsAnnaandJeff. Annarunsaflowershopinsideahistoric what it wants, she tells her husband. And my heart wanted aVictorian on Gamble Island. Jeff is an architect, working on a fat adoptable Pug named Tonka.promotionwhichwillgivehim After the fire, bringing a second dog into the householdthe raise he feels he needs before was not part of the equation. BattlingproposingtoAnna. Theyadopt insurancecompanies,attorneys,andEarnestfromthelocalshelter. dealingwithplanstorebuild.HowEverything seems perfect in their could they bring another dog home,lives.rightnow?Itwasimpossible.PlansThenafiredestroysthe would be put indefinitely on hold.Victorian that Anna was hoping And yet, how could they possiblytobuy,andsuddenlysheand saynototheiryoungestdaughter,Jeff are living on different par- seven year-old Eden? She had creat-allels.Hisinexcusableactions edawishlistshecalled ThePugshatterAnnastrustinhim. List, writing everything down sheThey angrily separate, sharing wanted in a Pug, what she wouldcustodyofEarnestbetween do once the dog was part of thetheir two households. Several family,andbegansavingthesubplotsareintertwined money her parents told her she wouldthroughoutthebook,the need before adopting the dog.biggest of which is how Earnest reacts When Eden neared her money goal, Alison became nerv-to the building tension between his two humans. As they sit ous and Tom began to cave. They couldnt deny their little girlin a neutral conference room with each of their attorneys pres- some happiness during this time of sadness, could they?ent to resolve their conflict, Von Kreisler writes,Earnest wrig- This is a story about faith, belief; and the love of family;gled under the table and lay down between Jeff and Annas rows about digging down deep to find the strength to keep going forof toes. It did not escape Jeffs notice that Earnest was touching thesakeoftheirhealthandwell-being. Thisis,onceagain,him and Anna. To link them together again as a family? Or to another story about the beauty and power we humans are for-block them from kicking each other? Earnest by Kristin Von tunate to receive from the presence of one very special dog.Kreisler, published by Kensington Books. The Pug List by Alison Hodgson, published by Zondervon.The Dogs of Littlefield, a novel by award-winning author There are some who would argue that a dog's Suzanne Berne, is an odd, sad little story. The town of Littlefieldlife is insignificant. But God so often chooses to has just been named one of the Twentyuse insignificant things in significant ways. In the Best Places to Live in America. What,sociologist Dr. Clarice Watkins wants togrand scheme, we're all insignificant until love know,makesthistownsounique? Asshows up.she is developing her study, the townsSinger, songwriter Linford Detweiler. dogsturnupdeadfromaseriesof poisonings.The story is a mixture of macabreThe Pug List by writer, speaker and humorist Alison Hodgson humorandsuspense,withplentyofis the heartbreaking story of a family who lose their home to an oddball characters that left me scratchingarsonists fire. The day before an arsonist set my house on fire, my head when I put it down. But, theI had a long list of things to do, is the first line in the book. story is haunting and could make for an interesting movie star-.plants to buy, groceries to shop for, paint to pick up, and ring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.Goodwill donations to drop off. Those were just the errands.I have made dinner almost every night for 15 years saysOf course, those all become so insignificant as the family, Julia, a main character. And no one ever really likes what Iincluding three young children and their dog Jack, watch help- make. Sometimes they dont even notice what it is. lesslyastheirhomeburnsdown.JackisablackLabrador We all want to be noticed and appreciated. Daily acts ofRetriever. Before he became part of the family, Alison admits kindness become daily habits if not properly nurtured. she wasnt really a dog person. I experienced dogs as panting TheDogsofLittlefieldbySuzanneBerne,publishedbymesses of fur, drool, and naughty behavior. But then I gave birth Simon & Schuster. U42 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com"