A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog Named Trixie

by Dean Koontz

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In a profound, funny, and beautifully rendered portrait of a beloved companion, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz remembers the golden retriever who changed his life.

A retired service dog, Trixie was three when Dean and his wife, Gerda, welcomed her into their home. She was superbly trained, but her greatest gifts couldn’t be taught: her keen intelligence, her innate joy, and an uncanny knack for living in the moment. Whether chasing a tennis ball or protecting those she loved, Trixie gave all she had to everything she did, inspiring Dean and Gerda to trust their instincts and recapture a sense of wonder that will remain with them always. Trixie lived fewer than twelve years; in this wide world, she was a little thing. But in every way that mattered, she lived a big life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780345530608
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/12/2011
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	88,614
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dean Koontz, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Hometown:

Newport Beach, California

Date of Birth:

July 9, 1945

Place of Birth:

Everett, Pennsylvania

Education:

B.S. (major in English), Shippensburg University, 1966

Website:

http://www.deankoontz.com

Read an Excerpt

I a spooky moment around which the entire story revolves
(Continues…)

---

Excerpted from "A Big Little Life"
by .
Copyright © 2011 Dean Koontz.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Reading Group Guide

1. When Dean and Gerda first adopted Trixie, they were told in no uncertain terms, “If this dog does something wrong, the fault will be yours, not hers.” A number of telling anecdotes in the book then demonstrate this quite clearly. Do you think humans are typically to blame for their pets’ misbehavior? Can you cite instances in your own experience that reflect on this idea? Is this a common understanding of canine behavior, or do other sources view the issue differently?

2. In A Big Little Life, Dean writes, “As anyone who has ever opened his heart and mind to a dog knows, these creatures have emotions very like our own.” What episodes in the book were most illustrative of this? Which did you find the most memorable? Has this been your own experience? How does a pet change the dynamics of a family?

3. Dean relates several episodes that illuminate Trixie's verbal aptitude and explore deeper questions of communication between humans and dogs. What are your thoughts on how dogs recognize words and other ways in which we communicate with them? What did you make of Trixie and the tennis balls? How else do dogs make themselves understood to us and how central is this mutual understanding to our relationship with them?

4. As Dean shows us through the story of X, Trixie was an exemplary judge of human character. Do you think most dogs are good judges of character? Why or why not? Trixie's evaluation of other dogs seemed similarly astute. How do these anecdotes compare with your own experiences?

5. At a special gathering at CCI, Trixie immediately sensed the presence of one of her littermates--from a substantial distance and after years of separation--and wouldn’t rest until she was reunited with her. Do you think animal siblings can always sense that they’re related? What other anecdotes in the book and in your experience shed light on dogs and memory?

6. Among many gifts, Trixie inspired Dean, and super-charged his creativity. What was the most important lesson Dean learned from Trixie, in your view? Have you been inspired by a dog or another animal? Has your life been altered substantially through this companionship? How?

7. The grief that people feel after the death of a companion animal is often discounted, yet these relationships can be among the most important of our lives. How do you think society views this bond in general? Dean observes that when we bond with our pets, we do so knowing that we will inevitably have them in our lives for only a relatively short period of time. Have you ever had to part from a beloved pet? Do you feel the happiness they bring compensates for the inevitable loss? How did Dean's recounting the loss of Trixie affect you?

8. What qualities does A Big Little Life have in common with other pet memoirs you have read? How is it different? How do Dean's ideas about dogs compare to those of other writers? With your own?  

9. What anecdotes in the book did you find most intriguing? Funniest? Most touching? Which of Trixie's qualities do you think was most special? Most unique? Has reading the book changed your thinking about dogs in any way? 

10. What deeper themes in life are embodied by the story of Trixie and the Koontzes? 

Editorial Reviews

[A] love letter to his golden retriever.”—People

“Read this book to be entertained, uplifted and deeply moved.”—The Bark
 
“A humorous, poignant portrait of [a] remarkable dog.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“One dog book that everyone . . . will deeply enjoy.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
“A delightful read. . . an unusually effective brief for the joy that dogs bring us.”—The American Spectator
 
“A tender, insightful, loving homage . . . an inspirational book of love, hope and humor.”—Bookreporter.com

From the Publisher