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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin

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Product Description

A personal memoir by bestselling author and celebrity journalist Glenn Plaskin, KATIEis a moving story about a man who discovers the true meaning of family after adopting a cocker spaniel puppy. Through the magnetic personality of his mischievous dog, the author soon makes powerful connections with several of his down-the-hall neighbors in a high-rise located in the unique Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. First, Katie trots into the lives of Pearl and Arthur, a warm-hearted elderly couple just a few doors down from Glenn. Later, John, a single Dad, and his rambunctious young son, Ryan, also move in and are seduced by Katie’s charms.

All of their lives are profoundly changed as they are transformed from neighbors to friends to family, with Pearl as matriarch. The motherless boy finds a “Granny”; his Dad inherits a mother, Glenn discovers a confidante. Set in New York City, we witness nearly sixteen years of antics and family adventures spanning Hollywood high times, bad health, accidents, blustery winters, even the terrors of 9/11. Through it all, the family clings to each other, sharing a deep bond that give each comfort, support and security.

Based upon a widely-read article in Family Circle, here is an unforgettable story about the love that makes a family-one that transcends the hard realities of time, tragedy, and inevitable loss.

About the Author

Plaskin, a resident of New York City, is surrounded by more than 300 dogs in his Battery Park City complex, a neighborhood that inspired this book and the remarkable events in it.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Center Street (September 8, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599952548
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599952543

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS:

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Glenn Plaskin writes about his dog Katie and how she unites a group of neighbors so that an apartment building of people truly become family.  I fell in love with the cover of this book and the story is equally admirable.  The story takes you through Katie’s life of glamor as a model, meeting the rich and famous and a general bringer of good moods.  Katie even gets to meet her namesake, Kathryn Hepburn!  The story is much more than the life of Katie and includes the people she becomes close to and puts a smile on their faces.

I especially enjoyed the author’s writing style and how this book developed into a book about relationships and how not being related can still make you a family.  The greatest point in the book is the caring and commitment Plaskin shows to Pearl, an elderly neighbor.  He struggles to help her adjust to her old age and then makes sure she gets the care she needs.  On the other side is Ryan, a young boy who moves into the apartment and captures everyone’s heart, including Katie who has a strict no child rule.  My biggest complaint is there are not many pictures of Katie, but I did find some on the author’s site about Katie — www.katiebook.com.  Any dog or memoir lover is going to really enjoy this one. 

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 9.23.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to 3 copies will be available depending on entries.

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Comments

  7. I would love to win a copy of this book! Our family has had 3 cocker spaniels through the years. Our last cocker spaniel, Candy, passed away from old age and heart disease almost a year ago. Cocker spaniels are dear to my heart and I would love to read a book about one.

    Cindy
    Socmom213(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  10. I visited the Katie book site and thought it was cute that Lucy, the cocker puppy, jumped up on the table where the book of her predecessor, Katie, was featured.

    Cindy
    Socmom213(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  11. I visited the author’s website. One interesting fact that I learned about the author is that he is one of the leading celebrity interviewers.

    Cindy
    Socmom213(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  25. Glenn Plaskin was encouraged in his writing by then-Doubleday editor Jacqueline Onassis, who would later write: “I’ve known Glenn for some years and am his great admirer. He’s witty, articulate, and has this uncanny ability to draw people out and gain their confidence.”

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  46. I grew up with a cocker spaniel and I thought it was neat at Katie’s website to find the link to the article that started it all!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  64. Oh, what a beautiful cover. I love dogs and the Cocker Spaniel on the cover is calling to me. I would love to win a copy. Thank you for the chance.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Reply

  121. An interesting fact from Glenn Plaskin’s website is that he was one of the nation’s leading celebrity interviewers. He has interviewed Harrison Ford, Robert DeNiro, Cher and Oprah Winfrey.

    lynnx512 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  122. An interesting fact from KATIE:
    “The book’s narrative is built around Katie, the magnetic cocker spaniel whose domain is an eighty-foot, red-carpeted hallway–the site of dog races, obedience-training sessions, Halloween parades, and a passageway to parties and late-night exchanges of confidences.”

    lynnx512 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  125. I would dearly love to win this book. The dog on the front cover looks just like the one we used to have and I miss him so much.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  165. This precious dog reminds me of my first pup – a cocker spaniel named Ginger. That was true love at first sight when I was 5 years old!

    safoga at gmail dot com

    Reply

  184. I learned that this book was based on a Family Circle article called “Granny Down the Hall” from the Katie book site.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Reply

  189. Socmom213
    JHolden955
    countrybear52

    An email has been sent to the three lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). They have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

    Reply

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