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| The Dog Says How | 
 enlarge | Author: Kevin Kling
Publisher: Borealis Books
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $2.94
You Save: $20.01 (87%)
Buy New/Used from $2.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  (14 reviews)
Sales Rank: 91760
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0873515994
Dewey Decimal Number: 812.54
EAN: 9780873515993
ASIN: 0873515994
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In this wonderfully original collection of autobiographical stories, popular storyteller and NPR commentator Kevin Kling deftly weaves pitch-perfect scenes of childhood antics and adulthood absurdities with themes of overcoming tragedy, forging lifelong friendships, and living with disabilities in a complex world. In ?Circus,? Kling recollects how his love of boats, animals and adventure inspired him to join a traveling circus troupe?but it was the all-you-can-eat buffet that cinched the deal. In ?Dogs,? Fafnir, Kling?s new wiener puppy, leads him into the world of show dogs, those resembling ?cleaning implements?perfumed, powdered, and pampered.? In the poignant title story, Kling straddles the realm of the ordinary and one rivaling Dante?s underworld as he learns how to use voice-recognition software after his near fatal motorcycle accident. These and many more classic and never-before-told tales are collected in The Dog Says How. In Kling?s universe, ?the mundane becomes magical, the fantastic becomes accessible and through it all his profound sense of curiosity about the world transforms the everyday to the timeless? (Queen Anne News).
Kevin Kling is a well-known playwright and storyteller, and his commentaries can be heard on NPR?s All Things Considered. His plays and adaptations have been performed around the world. He lives in Minneapolis.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Engaging and provacative November 21, 2008
Kevin Kling's funny style captures you from the outset. He sets up his stories and delivers the goods with funny and poignant memories from his life. He's charming and witty and his insight is humorous and insightful.
I listened to the book on tape and it made the drives seem so short!
It's well produced and worth taking a listen to!
Enriching November 20, 2008
Kevin Kling may not have the polish and depth as a storyteller that Garrison Keillor has. But he has an appealing eagerness to his presentation, and tells a Minnesota story of blue collar districts and farming families that is different from Keillor's but no less enriching. There is a realism to his accounts of the people in his favorite bar that is very affectionate. Ditto his tales of Christmas with his family in Missouri--indeed, Kling evokes the mindset of childhood to a stimulating degree. He talks refreshingly though not with anguish about the motorcycle accident that crippled him, and his subsequent trials and travails. He also has a wonderful feeling for the idiosyncracies of dogs. The only reason I have not given this audio book five stars is that I feel Kling's storytelling persona is a bit unpolished and takes some time getting used to. Nevertheless, I did listen to all three CDs in a row, which is a measure of how engrossing The Dog Says How really is.
 Audio CD is the way to go! November 20, 2008
I just LOVE this audio CD! I think it's really the way to go with this book, because it's read by the author. If you like Kevin Kling on NPR, then you'll LOVE him on this book on CD. A very gifted storyteller.
Great Stories but animal lovers beware! November 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful set - full of humor as well as touching stories. Having the author read the work adds a tremendous amount especially as he has a nice voice that is enjoyable to listen to and manages to bring his own stories alive. It's like listening to your favorite uncle tell stories in the living room - filled with change of voice as he mimics the main characters and adds his own touch of creativity here and there.
The only reason this isn't a five star is the disturbing stories surrounding animals especially on the first disc. While those who grew up on a farm may not be especially shocked or dismayed by some of the scenarios presented - others like myself who are animal advocates might find more than a little cause for concern over the treatment and general attitude portrayed in some of the works. In fact, these were such a "turn off" that I would go so far as to say the book REALLY would have been much better without them. Yes, perhaps they are important memories of the author but somethings are so much better kept to ones self...especially ill treatment of helpless animals [farm or not]. Vegetarians and animal rights activists may feel much like myself - just be prepared to find your senses offended by parts of this book.
Outside of these concerns - which are a major sticking point - the book is excellent and highly enjoyable. At 3.5 hours this is an easy read. Since the stories don't build on each other in any chronological order, the reader is free to stop and start in short increments making it ideal for listening during breaks or in one sitting. Overall well worth the time and very enjoyable but wish the author had left out the animal portions entirely.
Great stories with interesting story teller November 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This audio book on CD consists of some very interesting stories that are masterfully told by the author Kevin Kling.
You get to have the author tell you these personal stories... personally. His voice is that of a great story teller. If you can imagine sitting across a dinner table from that uncle that always had a story for everything on a holiday, this would be Kevin relaying his stories to you.
Kevin will have you chuckling to yourself at the odd tales, many of which you can probably relate to. And hopefully, some you can't such as the getting hit by lightning story.
Since this is an audio CD, it should be noted that the audio quality is as good as it gets for spoken word CDs.
A great set of stories.
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