Rex and the City
A Memoir of a Woman, a Man and the Rescue Dog Who Rescued Their Relationship
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“Hands-down the best human-with-dog memoir you will ever read!” —Bark Magazine
In this rich, humorous and insightful memoir, critically-acclaimed author Lee Harrington shares her story of love, loss, dysfunctional relationships, and the shelter dog who put things right.
In 1997, New York City hipsters Lee and Ed were at a crossroads. Money was tight, their careers were floundering, their apartment was tiny, and their relationship, frankly, was dysfunctional. Then, on a fateful day in August, they decided on impulse to visit a nearby animal shelter, just to “look at” dogs. In a split-second decision that would change their lives, they brought home Wallace. They quickly realized that this spaniel mix was more than they could handle—he was aggressive, fearful of humans, and seemingly untrainable. Faced with overwhelming new responsibilities, the couple bickered constantly, worried incessantly, and disagreed on nearly every aspect of how to handle the dog. But the one thing they could agree on was that they loved Wallace. And slowly but surely, this love helped transform both the dog and their relationship. And thus, by rescuing an abused spaniel, they ended up rescuing themselves.
Funny and heartfelt, this memoir chronicles a couple’s changing outlook on their relationship, on their city, and on life through Wallace. Rex and the City will resonate with everyone who has ever loved their four-legged friend.
“A sweet and exquisite story . . . that should appeal to urban dog lovers and New Yorkers.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this memoir, based on a column Harrington wrote for The Bark magazine, the author narrates a canine-loving tale of life in New York City during the heady late 1990s. Crammed into a tiny studio on the Lower East Side, she and her boyfriend, Ted, like many city couples, live together as much to save on rent as to audition their compatibility. Into this makeshift space they bring Rex, a needy shelter dog, angry and skittish from prior abuse. Rex quickly becomes the center of their relationship and their lives. Agreed on their love for the dog, Harrington and Ted argue about training methods and breed he says strict and setter, she soft and spaniel and through pooch parenting they grow closer. Harrington and Ted make friends at the dog run and soothe Rex by staying home nightly with take-out. Harrington has crafted a sweet story with cute asides detailing Rex's Halloween costume contest, his first time squirrel hunting off-leash and zany neighborhood dog people and their advice that should appeal to urban dog lovers and New Yorkers. (On sale Apr. 4)