Woodrow on the Bench: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog
Description
"When I say Jenna Blum's upcoming Woodrow on the Bench wrecked me and that I'm now sobbing eating all the chocolate, I mean it in the best way possible."--Jodi Picoult
"Jenna Blum's wonderful moving memoir, is a "girl and her dog" story for the ages!"--Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Those Who Save Us pays tribute to her beloved black Lab, Woodrow, in this beautiful memoir that recalls the last six months of his life and the ways in which he taught her to live.
"For anyone who's ever loved an old dog."
Since she adopted him as a puppy fifteen years earlier, Jenna Blum and Woodrow have been inseparable. Known to many as "the George Clooney of dogs" for his good looks and charm, Woodrow and his "Mommoo" are fixtures in their Boston neighborhood.
But Woodrow is aging. As he begins to fail, the true nature of his extraordinary relationship with Jenna is revealed. Jenna may be the dog parent, but it is Woodrow, with his amazing personality and trusting nature, who has much to teach her. A divorcée who has experienced her share of sadness and loss, Jenna discovers, over the months she spends caring for her ailing dog, what it is to be present in the moment, and what it truly means to love.
Aided by an amazing group of friends and buoyed by the support of strangers, Jenna and Woodrow navigate these precious final days together with kindness, humor, and grace. Their unforgettable love story will reaffirm your belief in kindness, break your heart, and leave your spirit soaring.
Product Details
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
About the Author
JENNA BLUM is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of novels Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, and The Lost Family; novella “The Lucky One” in the collection Grand Central; audio course The Author At Work: The Art of Writing Fiction; World War II audiodrama The Key Of Love, available on all major streaming platforms; and memoir Woodrow on the Bench, about her senior black Lab and what he taught her.
Jenna is one of Oprah’s Top Thirty Women Writers, with her work published in over 20 countries, and cofounder/CEO of online author platform A Mighty Blaze. Jenna’s New York Times and internationally bestselling debut,Those Who Save Us, won the Ribalow Prize, awarded by Hadassah Magazine and adjudged by Elie Wiesel; Jenna interviewed Holocaust survivors for the Steven Spielberg Survivors of the Shoah Foundation for five years. Those Who Save Us was also a Borders pick and the number one bestselling book in Holland. The Stormchasers was a Target pick and featured in French Elle; the bestselling The Lost Family was an Indienext pick and received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. Woodrow on the Bench was an Indienext pick and Midwestern Booksellers’ Association bestseller.
Jenna is a public speaker, traveling nationally and internationally to talk about her work; she has visited over 800 book clubs in the Boston area alone. She now visits with readers both in person and online.
Jenna is based in Boston, where she earned her M.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University and taught fiction and journalism there while being the fiction editor of AGNI Magazine; she has taught fiction, novel, and marketing for writers at Grub Street Writers and various conferences and institutions for over 20 years. For more information about Jenna, please visit her website, www.jennablum.com, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Reviews
"The brilliance of dogs shines brightest when their complexity is reduced to its simplest form: be there for me; love me. In Jenna Blum's wonderful, moving memoir, the depth of this simplicity is made clear by the author's relationship with the noble, lovable Woodrow, an old dog with a soul so big, it spills over and changes everyone he touches. Woodrow on the Bench is a 'girl and her dog' story for the ages!" -- Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
"Acclaimed for her brilliant fiction, Jenna Blum now gets deeply personal in her first dazzling memoir, about how loving and caring for her old black lab Woodrow dramatically changed her life, her outlook, and her Boston community. A richly funny, moving Valentine to Woodrow and to the extraordinary things he taught her, this enchanting memoir also offers up an exquisite truth: keep opening up your heart, especially when things get tough, because whatever the cost, however long or short the duration, love is always, always worth it." -- Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You, Cruel Beautiful World and With or Without You
"When I say Jenna Blum's Woodrow on the Bench wrecked me and that I'm now sobbing and eating all the chocolate, I mean it in the best way possible." -- Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
"Woodrow on the Bench is a touching tribute as well as a gripping story that will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you understand the majesty and wisdom imparted by the animals we are lucky to keep by our sides for as long as we can." -- Elizabeth Berg, New York Times bestselling author
"In Woodrow on the Bench, New York Times bestselling Author Jenna Blum pens a heart-wrenching and unforgettable memoir about life with her beloved Labrador, Woodrow. So much more than a dog's story, this book is about the love we give and get, the lessons learned along the way, the families and communities we build, and a giant hurrah for humanity and dogmanity. Two paws up for America's next great read about woman's best friend!" -- Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star
"Jenna Blum has written a glorious love letter to her beloved Woodrow, and it is truly a gift to dog (and pet) lovers everywhere. Heartbreaking and uplifting, funny and wise." -- Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of Love at First Bark and You Had Me at Woof
"With beautifully written tenderness and gratitude, Blum says goodbye to the love of her life. This is both a heartbreaking love story and a joyful ode to bacon, and I loved every word." -- Kate Christensen, PEN/Faulkner award-winning author of The Great Man and Blue Plate Special
"Wise, wrenching, and devastatingly beautiful...This book is a gem. Read it. You'll love it and you'll love Woodrow, and you'll glimpse love in all its majesty." -- Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Lioness
