Izzy and Lenore

By: Jon Katz

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Jon Katz is the New York Times best-selling author of numerous nonfiction tales of man's best friend. Here he presents the story of two dogs that profoundly affected his life and work. Skittish border collie Izzy pushes him into rewarding work with Hospice. And black lab Lenore's gentle spirit helps remind him why he wanted to work with animals in the first place.

©2008 Jon Katz (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Wonderful and heartwarming

Jon Katz dog books are always a pleasant and easy read. So refreshing in such a hurried and increasing complex world.

excellent

This book begins with a disclaimer: no dog dies in this book. That's true, but it was still a tear jerker in places. Excellent story, a must read for all dog lovers.

Another Great book by Katz

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Katz has a way of capturing and describing the scenes on his farm with his friends, visitors, family and beloved animals like no one else. I am mezmorized by every book, sad when they are done... And ready for the next.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything

What about Tom Stechschulte’s performance did you like?

He makes you forget that you are not listening to the author reading his own work!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

All of Katz's books make you laugh, cry and everything else... They are just so real!

Loved It!!

What did you love best about Izzy and Lenore?

I particularly liked the stories about Jon and Izzy's visits to the hospice patients. What a wonderful service the two of them are providing to these deserving people. Izzy is so amazing in his ability to read the patients and he seems to know exactly what each one needs from him and so does Jon.

Have you listened to any of Tom Stechschulte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

To me, Tom Stechschulte is Jon Katz.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It will bring joy to your heart and tears to your eyes!

Never ever underestimate the power of a dog!

Would you listen to Izzy and Lenore again? Why?

As I do not write many reviews, the fact of this writing is surprising even me! That being said, I felt compelled to write as this book was so wonderful, I had to share with like-minded readers.I have read Jon's books and enjoyed them all very much. But this one stands out. Perhaps because of the storyline....hospice....always a delicate and sensitive subject. But even more-so, Jon's experiences with what I would call Clinical Depression and his open and honest portrayal of this devastating disease meant so very much to me. I, too, have Clinical Depression and have struggled to deal with its enveloping presence over many years. The loss of Robin Williams only deepened its hold on me and the occurrences increased as a result.Hearing Jon's personal thoughts and descriptions as his depression began to take hold and deepened were like a script from my life and I feared for him.But somehow his healing.....a result of his experiences with the dying and a good deal more with Izzy's incredible feats.....were a calming and reassuring balm for me. I will look upon my furred creatures with far more depth and understanding as a result.And if I "go there" again, I will hold onto my beasties and thank the Universe even more than I already do for their loving attention and devotion.Thank you, Jon, for it all.

Any additional comments?

Tom Stechschulte, as always, was perfect for the narrator. His utterly masculine but soft and gentle voice, helped to deepen the listener's emotional involvement in the storyline. He is one of my favorites!

Izzy Brings Restfulness

I wasn't expecting much from this book. I had purchased it as a daily special. I found the book very moving. Most of it is the story of Izzy, a Hospice dog and the comfort such a dog can bestow upon the terminally ill.

The author, Jon Katz has a unique gift for telling the story and communicating the emotional bond between humans and animals.

YAY! No dogs die!

What a sweet but deep, beautifully-read, true story. Jon Katz chronicles time with his Border Collie Izzy & Labrador Retriever puppy Lenore as he traverses the ups & downs of life on his farm & in volunteer hospice work, w/these wonderful dogs by his side. I'm always trepidatious when reading a book with dogs, as too many end with the dogs dying. This does NOT, though a few people you meet along the way do. So, there are some tears while listening, but the narrator has such a lovely, gentle way of "telling" this story, that the tears come with smiles. Yes, the author wrote them that way, but another narrator might have read them in such a way that the words would have come out harsher, so I'm giving props to the narrator.

If you like dogs, you will like this book. Many extra tales (tails?!) about other animals on the farm are tucked in here-and-there, and they will bring you smiles. An uplifting book. Two thumbs up!

Loved it! I was challenged to help in hospice. ...

How intuitive dogs can be, reaching beyond what we can see to what is truly needed.
Jon has written a heartfelt moving personal story that is truly motivating

Dynamic Duo!

Izzy and Lenore are a couple of characters who add to the already awesomeness of Bedlam Farms! The way Jon tells their story, as he does with all of his beloved dogs, brings the reader right to the farm! in the midst of the beloved chaos that is Bedlam Farms! Another one you just have to get and listen to. Enjoy!

This book is a misrepresentation!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This was a book that I purchased from the DAILY DEALS. It cost $2.95 and even if it were free it wouldn't be worth it. I love dogs and thought this was about the dogs. It's really about the morass of the depressed and self absorbed author. In short the book sucked. I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

Has Izzy and Lenore turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. There has to be better authors. Suspect by Robert Crais was much better.

What didn’t you like about Tom Stechschulte’s performance?

His performance was OK. I just hated everything else about the book. I guess he did a good job of portraying and unlikeable character.

What character would you cut from Izzy and Lenore?

The main character.

Any additional comments?

Any promotion of this book should more accurately portray the contents. And suggest that if someone wants to get depressed......this is the book for them.