Okay, that was pointless, Salon...

I loved that story. (What's with the first letter? What's with all this griping about feature stories on Salon?)

I'm working on my dissertation now, on a fairly "hot topic" in the field of computer science, and I'm always finding out about new articles and projects that are increasingly creeping into the space I have tried to stake out as my own. Lee's experience is a great reminder to let proprietary thinking go... being scooped won't be the worst thing in the world.

And someone pipped you to the post, despite constant warnings from your editor. Boo hoo.

"Rex and City" - my god how trite. I think we all dodged a bullet here.

Marley ... If you have not heard of this book, perhaps you have been hiding in a cave in Afghanistan

Or Australia. What is it with salon writers that they are so intensely parochial ? There are cities outside of LA/SF, 1st world countries other than the US.

my dog was much worse than Marley. Much, much worse. Marley tipped over trash cans. My dog killed sentient beings -- birds, amphibians and mammals

You know nothing of dogs do you ? most dogs given the opportunity will happily chow down on small furry creatures.

I didn't. John Grogan did. End of story.

Not even start of story, but that doesn't seem to slow down salons stable of self absorbed weenies.

One good thing out of this - you adopted a abused dog and persevered, kudos, good for you. You're a better person than most (and I'm not being sarcastic - special place in heaven for animal rescuers).

Keep up with looking after animals, skip the salon essays.

Yes, Blackpaw: Lee Harrington did adopt a shelter dog. Major kudos.

Marley was an AKC purebred. Watch out for purebreds. Labs are gun dogs, bred to retrieve. Any purebred dog can indeed be incorrigible in the boring confines of a house. Mutts can be naughty and incorrigible too.

Please, people. If you must have a purebred, go to the rescues first (there are many reputable ones out there now) and not the want ads.

But I'm a sucker. I'll probably read both books. A good story is a good story.

I'm a sucker for animal stories. I just wish Lee hadn't named it "Rex in the City" - its unbearably twee.

I thought her salon essay was redundant and unnecessary, also curiously hinting at details - whats the deal with her boyfriend/husband ? either flesh that part out or cut it altogether.

The book could be brilliant of course, but no way to tell from this.

Marley is a Lab ... sheese any big dog in an apartment is trouble unless you can walk them several times a day. I note that Rex looked like a large dog too.

Oh my God, I just despise you nasty sad angry people who write in the letters just how much you hate the talented, creative writers that appear in Salon. Why don't you crawl back into your holes in Afghanistan or Australia and keep your sad, pathetic anger to yourself.

This story was so cute and lovely, poor Lee Harrington and Rex. I'm pulling for your book!

You just despise me ! heavens I'm just devastated ! whatever will I do

talented, creative writers that appear in Salon

And you're a comedian as well ! very funny ! Of course you've noted that most of the article "writers" on salon have the literary version of diarrhoea - endless outbursts of banal self-indulgent parochial drivel.

I have an abused rescue dog - used to snap at me - would kill critters if not supervised - did a total turn around. I'm going right out to get your book!

It's fascinating to me that this article (with it's attendant griping about unoriginality and self-absorption) appears front and center along with a book review exploring how nonconformity is the new conformity, and that there's not really anything individual or original anymore.

I sure hope I'm the first person to notice this.

...a complete waste of a precious 5 mintes' reading time. Well, maybe not a complete waste: now I'm forewarned not to pick up her next book (or the Rex book). Hmm...thanks, Salon! ;-)

To "Mary E", who said "Please, people. If you must have a purebred, go to the rescues first (there are many reputable ones out there now) and not the want ads.":

Good advice! As a member of the Irish Setter Club of Ohio and its parent club, the Irish Setter Club of America, I speak from personal experience when I say that both clubs have a very robust rescue program and, thanks to the internet, people can learn about and see each and every one of our rescues, all of whom are deserving of a good home. (I've been webmaster of the ISCO web site for years and by far the web page that gets the most "hits" and inquiries is our rescue page.) I'm guessing most, if not all, of the purebreed dog clubs out there have taken similar advantage of the internet.

To "Blackpaw" who said "Marley is a Lab ... sheese any big dog in an apartment is trouble unless you can walk them several times a day. I note that Rex looked like a large dog too."

I don't know about Rex, but I read "Marley and Me" and Marley was most definitely not confined to an apartment. He spent his early years in Florida in a house with a good sized yard to run around in. He and his family then relocated to Pennsylvania where he had acres of land to run around in. Sadly, Marley was purchased from a "backyard breeder" - the father of the litter was completely crazed and the people who decided to breed him to their bitch should have had their heads examined! If you want a purebreed and can't or won't go the rescue route, for God's sake do some research and buy your puppy from a reputable breeder - there are lots of them out there! (And whatever you do, don't buy a puppy from a pet store - each and every one of them comes straight from a puppy mill.)

Last but not least, if you love dogs, as I do, by all means read "Marley and Me" -- it's laugh-out-loud funny and lump-in-the-throat touching with nary a trace of smarminess. I've been involved in dog rescue for years and, believe me, most people would have dumped Marley at the nearest pound. Grogan not only has a wonderful way with words, but he never gave up on Marley and to me that speaks volumes for the character of the man.