Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book with a pet character

There should be oodles of these! My first thoughts:
Two of my favorite books:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and One Good Dog by Susan Wilson
And others: Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
(If you've seen the movie, but book is much better, IMO! It ends on a hopeful note...)
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
(For some, this might not work, since she trains a wild animal... I suppose an argument could be made that might not strictly qualify as a "pet" character...)
Any installment of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series work!
Any of Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie series installments would work!

Listopia is HERE

Does anyone know if Elatsoe would fit this? I hear there's a ghost dog, which is cool, but is it prominent enough to count or is it kind of just a mention?

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Burton would be perfect, as the main character is a pet!

I was on mobile earlier! Edited to add the link

Chelsea wrote: "Does anyone know if Elatsoe would fit this? I hear there's a ghost dog, which is cool, but is it prominent enough to count or is it kind of just a mention?"

I think Elatsoe is perfect for this :)

Morgan wrote: "Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Burton would be perfect, as the main character is a pet!"



that is the book that popped into my head when I first saw the category. There's a sequel, too. Feral Creatures

LOL I was just googling around looking for books and I stumbled upon an entire Listopia of HUMANS as pets with alien masters!!! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

Maybe this is the prompt I need to finally get around to the Iron Druid series (Hounded).

This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that isn't a spoiler (or reply to me and hide it as a spoiler?)

Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that..."



SAME. I like to check doesthedogdie when I see a dog is a main character.

Susan Conant's cozy dog mysteries are safe. (At least, all the books I've read by her are - people die, not dogs!) So are Rita Mae Brown's cozy cat mysteries.

But do not read (view spoiler)[ Hollow Kingdom (hide spoiler)]

I may go with this one.

Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that..."

There are a lot of cozy mysteries and romances that features pets. I think you’d be safe in either of those genres.

(view spoiler)[Just steer clear of the classics Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. (hide spoiler)]

Can someone confirm if The Knife of Never Letting Go works for this prompt?

Thank you!

I have a couple Nicholas Sparks ones I can think of but as I always state, I'm staying away from fiction.

Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that..."

If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend the Chet and Bernie Mysteries by Spencer Quinn. The dog can't die - he's the narrator! It really feels like it captures the dog's voice perfectly. I'll be reading one for this prompt - probably It's a Wonderful Woof.

Graphic novel fans could go for the David Aja and Matt Fraction run of Hawkeye: Hawkeye, Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon. The dog is pretty important in a number of stories.

Kaia wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog do..."



That's a great rec, and I see I've had Dog on It on my TBR for a while now. 2023 is my year to read it!

And how could I forget the fantastic Pizza Dog in Hawkeye?!! I LOVED that Aja/Fraction Hawkeye run, I bought the omnibus when it came out. Such clear, crisp art. I don't even like Hawkeye that much, but this is one of my favorite graphic novels.

And speaking of graphic novels, there are a few pets in Saga, not least of which is Lying Cat, who is such a prominent character that perhaps she is more than a pet, maybe she is Will's partner. There's also Friendo, Ghus's pet walrus-thing, and Sweet Boy who is The Brand's dog.

A Night in the Lonesome October would be nice for that one.

The Bunnicula series of books features a bunch of pets, and they don't die.

Brandon wrote: "The Bunnicula series of books features a bunch of pets, and they don't die."




the fruits and vegetables don't fare well though!! :-)

The Tintin comic series features Milú, a dog pet that doesn't die.

I wasn't sure I was going to do this one but then I saw that I had a book with a pet:



It's been a long time since I read it but it's a nonfiction book deals with a wolf who befriends a dog.

Ron wrote: "I wasn't sure I was going to do this one but then I saw that I had a book with a pet:



It's been a long time since I read it but it's a nonfiction book de..."

Here's one you might try:
Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

non-fiction; currently on sale on Amazon

Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that..."

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher: the main character has a dog who plays a big role
(view spoiler)[and he is just fine in the end (hide spoiler)].

Fate of the dog is behind the spoiler

Charlotte wrote: "This one scares me a bit. There is no way I could read a pet character book if there is a dog and it dies. I know there is a website to check, but any suggestions where the dog doesn't die and that..."

Another option is A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (view spoiler)[ but the dog dies. I just thought of this one and wanted to give you a warning (hide spoiler)]

Fate of the dog is behind the spoiler

Morgan wrote: "Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Burton would be perfect, as the main character is a pet!

I was on mobile earlier! Edited to add the link"

(view spoiler)[ I tried to read this, but it made me so sad for the pets! I don't even like dogs (I have cats) but could not get past the scene where the poodle is waiting for her owner to come back. (hide spoiler)]

Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer wrote: "Can someone confirm if The Knife of Never Letting Go works for this prompt?

Thank you!"

It does! Fate of the dog behind spoiler. (view spoiler)[ The dog dies. (hide spoiler)]

Denise wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Burton would be perfect, as the main character is a pet!

I was on mobile earlier! Edited to add the link"

[spoilers removed]"


Yeah, and it doesn't get better after that, it gets worse.

Ron wrote: "I have a couple Nicholas Sparks ones I can think of but as I always state, I'm staying away from fiction."

I'm considering Vincent Price's The Book of Joe: About a Dog and His Man.

Denise wrote: "Another option is A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (view spoiler)..."


that one made me so mad!!! There was no need for that.

Denise wrote: "The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher: the main character has a dog who plays a big role
(view spoiler)...."



She is good about that!! The Hollow Places has a cat (view spoiler)[who is unharmed (hide spoiler)]

I'm planning to read The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun.

However, I think I will read this one for ATY Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, which should fit here.

Stay away from Saga graphic novels if you can’t handle pet death.

A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets is a good non-fiction read.

How about this one:
Mr. Popper's Penguins

LeahS wrote: "A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets is a good non-fiction read."

Yes, that's a good one too :)

Bea wrote: "I'm planning to read The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun.

However, I think I will read this one for ATY Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the G..."

Thanks for the link, I'm going to read Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him for this prompt.

I seem to remember a lot of these wrecking me during childhood. So fair warning on these:
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
Sounder
Black Beauty

I think The Wonderful Wizard of Oz could fit and you could make a case for Meddling Kids for those that want something a little more spooky and not so sad.

For nonfiction, I've read The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar and The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side, which were both really good in different ways.

From my TBR, I think I only have nonfiction. I've got Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey, Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, and Will's Red Coat: A Story of Friendship, Faith, and One Old Dog's Choice to Live Again

The Cozy Corgi cozy mystery series by Mildred Abbott fits nicely with this prompt. There are several other cozies with pets, as well.

Diana wrote: "I seem to remember a lot of these wrecking me during childhood. So fair warning on these:
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
Sounder
Black Beauty ..."



ooof I would not read any of those again!! Also: Stone Fox - DO NOT READ

Read Harder had a prompt last year for featuring a beloved pet that doesn't die. I noted the following books qualified:

The House in the Cerulean Sea
Escape from Aleppo
Faking It

Nadine in NY wrote: "Diana wrote: "I seem to remember a lot of these wrecking me during childhood. So fair warning on these:
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
Sounder
Black B..."

Agreed. I'll admit that I briefly considered Where the Red Fern Grows for a book you read more than 10 years ago, but quickly dismissed that idea along with possibly rereading Bridge to Terabithia.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry is an amazing book with beautiful illustrations. It's based on a true story, too :)

Again, a lot of childhood books prominently feature pets.

Any of the Dresden Files books up through Ghost Story would work, since Mouse and Mister are always prominent secondary characters. (Less so in later books.)

Storm Front
Fool Moon
Grave Peril
Summer Knight
Death Masks
Blood Rites
Dead Beat
Proven Guilty
White Night
Small Favor
Turn Coat
Changes
Ghost Story

One of the short story collections even includes a story told from Maggie and Mouse's points of view: Brief Cases ("Zoo Day).

If you want some sci fi, check out the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson. Doomslug is wonderful!

Skyward
Starsight
Cytonic

If you want a darker and more ominous option, there's Pet Sematary by Stephen King. That one gives me the creeps. And Cujo really messed me up…don't think I can reread that one!

I am reading The Summer of Broken Rules for the vacation prompt (the PopSugar recommended title for it), and there is a dog character named Loki.

My first book of the year was It's a Wonderful Woof, per my plan. A lovely read to start 2023.

I read The Character of Cats: The Origins, Intelligence, Behavior, and Stratagems of Felis Silvestris Catus by Stephen Budiansky, a fairly light non-fiction book, looking at the history of cats as pets, behaviour, intelligence, problems. The first chapter heading Cats Plot to Take Over The World and Succeed , makes it ideal for any cat servant.

Rock Paper Scissors has a dog character in it (Bob) that plays a supporting role in the story.

I'm planning on reading Cat Chase the Moon, the 21st, and last book in the Joe Grey series, by Shirley Rosseau Murphy. Joe is a pet cat who solves crimes, along with his girlfriend, Dulcie. My husband and I listened to these books in the car, and we've beed dragging our feet on starting the last book because we don't want the series to end!

The first book in the series is, Cat on the Edge

Finished Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov has a pet penguin.

Also, if you like cozy mysteries, H.Y. Hanna has a few series that feature cats. I've been reading two of them:

A Scone to Die For is the first book in the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series (or you can start with the prequel All-Butter ShortDead even though it came out later).

And Dark, Witch & Creamy is the first in her Bewitched by Chocolate series.

I like the Oxford Tearoom books slightly better, but they're both great.