The title of Brian McGrory's memoir is a bit misleading, yet I couldn't help but be thoroughly absorbed and entertained by it. Visions of Marley: A Dog Like No Other by John Grogan and Dewey the Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron danced in my head. While the dog/cat stories have become de rigeur, a memoir featuring Buddy, the Rooster is certainly unchartered terrain in the memoir world, and could provide a whole new set of anecdotes.
Although named for Buddy, this rooster is not really the primary focus of this book. McGrory's memoir chronicles the author's life from his childhood to his failed first marriage and his beloved dog. Now McGrory is embarking on a new phase of his life - moving to the suburbs, getting married and becoming a step-father. In addition to these not inconsequential changes, McGrory also becomes the co-owner of several pets- including Buddy the Rooster.
McGrory's fiancee and daughters love Buddy, he is not nearly as enamored of this pet, who truly believes he rules the roost. While there are a few anecdotes about Buddy - how McGrory must clear the snow so that Buddy can walk to his rooster shed without getting his feet or feathers wet, for example-there are more anecdotes about McGrory's first dog and his new life - as well as his surprise at nearing his fiftieth birthday and finally settling down into the traditional lifestyle he had managed to avoid for so long.
Buddy is a book that will appeal to a wide audience and readers will appreciate McGrory's easily readable and entertaining writing style.
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