What a beautiful tribute to an amazing creature. I have long been a Dean Koontz fan, however, this book has placed him in another realm for me. I had no idea what a huge heart this man has, and this book exposes him in a way that was wonderful and painful at the same time. Trixie was a gorgeous, wonderful dog, and this book is a must read for dog lovers and fans of Koontz alike. An absolutely unexpected GEM!

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What a wonderful book! This is a real treasure for both dog lovers and fans of Dean Koontz (I happen to be both). It is a celebration of this furry member of the family and one can only fall in love with her along the way. It is humorous and beautiful, but I was crying in the end. Still, it is told with wonderful observations and insight. I highly recommend!

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This story is about Trixie, a Canine Companion for Independence dog, adopted by best-selling author Dean Koontz and his wife Gurda when the dog was three years old. While Dean Koontz's books are notoriously suspenseful and frightening, This one is warm and written with great humor and love for the "magical" dog.

Mr. Koontz's philosphy of life and death in wound into this book and through the story of Trixie and how she impacted his way of looking at the world and his writing.

I wound recommend this book to any animal loving person.

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I LOVED this book. Capital L-O-V-E-D!

This is such a great memoir of an amazing Golden Retriever named Trixie! I have never read a Dean Koontz book before, mainly because he writes a genre that is not my cup of tea, but he is a laugh out loud author. There were SEVERAL parts of this book that I laughed to myself and read the story with a smile. I took my time with this book because I wanted to enjoy Trixie's life through her memory. She was indeed a VERY special dog.

I cried too. :( I had fallen in love with Trixie early on with this book and it was hard to read about the end of her life. It brought back memories of dogs from my past that it was devastating to lose. It's a heartbreak like no other. But one day when we are reunited in Heaven, it will be the most wonderful feeling in the world to see all those dogs rushing towards me, happy and healthy and to spend an eternity together.

I can't wait to meet Trixie up there, too. I highly recommend this book to any pet owner. Grab a blanket, curl up by the fireplace, and get to know a really special dog named Trixie.

Kudos to Dean and his wife, Gerda, for giving this dog a blissful life and for honoring her memory both in the writing of this story as well as the other efforts they do for Canine Companions for Independence.

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Excellent book!!! If you own a dog, you have to read this one. The author Dean Koontz did an excellent job of writing about his dog Trixie. Towards the end of the book, get the tissues ready because you are going to need them. As a dog owner, there is a special bond and he talks about that. I gave myself some planned time to finish the book and sobbed my heart out. Then one of my dogs, Boomer, laid and curled up on my chest and licked my face after I was done crying. This is also an excellent gift if you know someone who is a dog owner.

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I had this book on my wish list for a couple of years..I had actually forgotten about it..then..my precious 12 yr old dog Sofie, became critically ill, and we had to have her euthanized. Needless to say,it was the hardest thing we have ever had to do, and we were heartbroken. We couldn't even speak of her without sobbing. Then..a small miracle happened..I got the book "A Big Little Life A Memoir of a Joyful Dog" in the mail..not a week after losing Sofie..I read it cover to cover, and laughed and sobbed with it for 2 days..it was such a blessing to have it arrive when it did..and more than a coincidence it think! Dean Koontz and his wife loved their dog Trixie with all their hearts, and that love shows through in each page written..this is one of the BEST books I have ever had the pleasure to read..I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever had a pet that was a member of the family..and who has shared that deep love between animal and human..

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I thought this was an incredible book. I passed it on to my mother, who doesn't read much but is a dog lover. She read it in one evening. For anyone who likes Dean Koontz, this is a really neat look into his personal life. It is also a deeply moving book about a dog. I cried at the end.

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Dog lovers will laugh and cry at this sweet biography of this special member of the Koontz family. The author gives a glimpse into his personal life while showing us the special way this beloved animal left a mark on the world and so many hearts. This is a lovely, heartwarming story.

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