To Dance with the White Dog

by Terry Kay

Book Overview

The beloved best-selling story of an elderly man mourning the death of his wife and the mysterious white dog who helps ease his grief. From author Terry Kay.

"A deftly shaped and vivid book...a tender and bracing tale of an octogenarian fighting to live a connected and purposeful life." ―The New York Times

"A hauntingly beautiful story about love, family and relationships...I found it all such a moving experience, a lovely...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561450022
• ISBN13: 9781561450022
• Release Date: October 1990
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Book

This book was awesome. I couldn't quit reading it until the end. It was so true to life when you reach a certain age and you have adult children.

Doggone phenomenal story!

I recently attended a writers conference in Athens, GA where Terry Kay was one of the speakers at an all day session. I had seen the Hallmark series production of Kay's "To Dance With the White Dog" when it was on TV in the early '90s and remember being very inspired by the story; however, I never read the book. I purchased an autographed copy at the conference and dug right into it on the long ride home. I'm so happy that I had the chance to be re-introduced to this tender story. As well as being inspirational, this is one of the best character-driven novels I've ever read. Based on the author's own parents and set in the deep South, it tells of an old man who has recently lost his wife, leaving him to feel very much alone and lost. A white dog appears shortly after her death, almost as if by magic! Strangely, the dog makes its appearance only when the old man is present. Thus when he mentions it to his married daughters and sons, they can't help but think their father is starting to get senile. One day when the man has a sudden attack and collapses, one of the daughters who lives in the neighborhood sees the dog in her father's yard, almost as if to alert that there's trouble inside. Then they know--the dog is real. But just the same, they continue to fuss and dote over their father, worrying about his every move. The author paints a remarkable and realistic picture of each character in the novel, and he'll have you laughing, crying and most of all wondering--who is the "White Dog" and where did she come from? I can't say enough good things about this heartwarming and tender story. Buy the book and see for yourself!

A "must read" for those with aging fathers!

My father loaned me his copy of To Dance with the White Dog and kept bugging me until I started reading it. Of course, once I started, I couldn't put it down. After finishing the book, I understood why he was so persistent. In a few more years, the main character in the book will be my father. I bought my own copy to read again to remind me when the time comes that my father is not a child and he doesn't need me to hover over him. Anyone with aging parents will benefit greatly from this book. I highly recommend it.

Good book from beginning to end.

I had to read "To Dance With A White Dog" for a high school english class my senior year. It was one of the best books that I have EVER read. The book is about an old man that sees a white dog that always "disappears" when someone else shows up. His family begins to worry that their father is seeing things. All is explained at the end of the book. The ending really makes the reader think about what old age holds for him/her. A very good book that everyone should experience.

Terry Kay is a Master Storyteller

This is a simple, but hauntingly memorable story that is a eulogy to old age. After Sam Peek's wife of 57-years passes away, Sam is faced with living out his final years thwarting the good intentions of his worried children. He is then visited by a white dog, who becomes his companion for the remainder of his life. Terry Kay shows the reader that no car chases, gun play, casual sex or sadistic rituals are necessary to craft an entertaining and moving story. America's best working author, Terry Kay's lean prose is what literature is all about. Highly recommended.

THOSE WHO LOVE WILL KNOW HOW PERFECT IT IS

This is one of those rare, perfect books that will stay with you for the rest of your life. A bittersweet premise (the prospect of growing old and dying), the book is filled with hope and love and the promise of more to come. The characters (especially the main character and his wife) are unforgettably lovable and people who run the gamut of emotions. The plot never slows, and it speaks straight to the heart. This is a special book that can stand on its own with no special effects needed. Although I'd call it "quiet," it packs an emotional wallop, but one you'll love. Anyone who's really loved will both laugh and cry when reading this book, and I can guarantee one thing--no one will ever forget it. Buy it, cherish it, give it to someone you DEARLY love. This is definitely an American classic and storytelling at its best. Sheer magic!