All About Animals discussion

May 2016 Book Group Read. Discuss here.

Thank you for choosing this book for your monthly discussion! This book, Bite Me, is a compilation of stories and memories from my 20+ years as a veterinarian. My hopes were to open the readers eyes to the reality based tasks veterinarians face every day and shy away from the image and misconception of vets spending their days vaccinating cute puppies. The book includes some of my funniest, saddest, anger producing, shocking and then more funny memories.
Additionally, one of my goals with this book was to make the public aware of the sad fact that veterinarians have far exceeded any other profession in having the highest rate of suicide than any other profession. The reasons are outlined in the book. My colleagues are well aware of this trend but it is a little known fact amongst the public. My belief is that until our clients become aware and better understand why this may be true my profession cannot fully heal.
Thanks...let me know your thoughts! Laura Lefkowitz , DVM (Laura)

Kingdom's End: A Novel

I am pleased to announce the publication of my second novel, Kingdom's End.

This adventure story is set in an urban landscape where the main characters are rodents. The main setting is an abandoned motion picture palace from the 1920s that has been closed for thirty years and is set for demolition. It is here where the rats in the story make their massive colony and fight to protect it. In their struggle to survive in a harsh environment, there are threats posed against them from both man and beast. It is exciting and complex and an easy read with a strong narrative that makes you feel their plight.

There are many conflicts. Among them, a plot within the colony to overthrow the aged blind leader by an ambitious ruthless soldier rat and a good deal of the story involves how he goes about it. Later, the plot is discovered as forces work against the perpetrator.

The rodent characters have names. The human characters interspersed in the story are nameless.

There is considerable adventure outside the colony as characters are introduced that play important roles such as the derelict rats that specialize in the placement of poison and even a fortune teller. The interaction with humans and other animals has an emotional pull that infuses the story to its conclusion as the blind leader of the entrapped colony facing the exterminators tells his subjects they must make their decision on life or death.

I have dedicated the book to Richard Adams, whose animal themed work has been an inspiration to me.

The eBook is out now. The softcover and hardcover will be out in a few weeks. Will update..

Many thanks for looking.

https://www.amazon.com/Kingdoms-End-C...

Bite Me is the best veterinarian authored book I've read. It's real and honest and not sugar coated at all. Some stories were very upsetting such as when the pet's parent forgoes treatment. Some were heart warming and some were funny-Doris!! Probably what I liked the most is the author is very honest about her frustration and sometimes trouble reconciling how in some places people can't get basic medical care for their kids while here some spend a fortune to keep their dying pet alive for a little longer.

Not only did I really like the writing and stories but I also really liked the author.

Thanks for the review on this one Nick. I haven't read it, but now I really want to get to this one.

Wow Nick! Thank you for the great review(s)..... I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the book so much. I must say I really like you too, lol.

I tried really hard to depict how life really is for veterinarians...it is an accurate depiction of the emotions and difficult situations that we face on a daily basis. It is one of the reason why burn-out and compassion fatigue are so prevalent amongst my colleagues. And yes, one of the many things I was trying to point out was how the level of care of animals in the USA far exceeds the medical care available for people in many countries.

Doris, the mohawked mountain poodle, is currently curled up sleeping next to me after a grueling 5 mile hike up a steep mountain today. She still makes me laugh on a daily basis.

Thanks again.

Laura L.

You're welcome!

I'm a poodle person too. They often get such a bad rap. Mine was also kind of crazy (prob not as much so as Doris) and very athletic. When she was young she was a never-ending fetch machine. When we got tired of throwing her ball/toy she would knock it down the stairs herself and try to beat it to the bottom ;-)