Reading Boylan’s memoirs is like working on a three-dimensional puzzle that mysteriously creates space for more pieces. Each of Boylan’s memoirs, complete unto itself, yields insight into the author and those closest to her, and Good Boy is as affecting and funny as anything Boylan has ever written ... Boylan has mastered the art of setting scenes ... the dogs...possess a purpose beyond amusing and delighting us. Clearly, they embody human qualities.
Boylan’s observations on the bonds between humans and canines are both deeply felt and often moving ... In many cases, the bonds Boylan has with various dogs allow her to show refracted versions of other elements in her life. As one might expect in a book about dogs, this includes a lot of rumination on mortality and aging, as well as the fundamental difficulties inherent to knowing anyone. But there are also memorable digressions that Boylan eventually brings around into the main narrative ... Parts of Good Boy are overwhelmingly sad. Other scenes are wryly funny ... Ultimately, Boylan isn’t simply writing about pets; she’s writing about them in the context of life, change and mortality.
Boylan’s experiences are expressed with a captivating blend of deep reflection and wry humor, delving into her discomfort in her skin as a young boy, struggles in relationships, the death of her father, her transition to womanhood, and her child’s own transition. The dogs are wonderfully portrayed with all of their quirks. Boylan makes astute observations about the way that dogs reflect back their owner’s struggles, sometimes in unexpected ways ... Boylan’s candor and distinctive writing style will appeal to readers of reflective memoirs. A solid choice for libraries looking to expand their LGBTQ biography collections.
The path was not easy, yet [Boylan] injects warmth, humor and spirituality into its retelling ... will be relatable to those who believe dogs can teach us about unconditional love—or at least patient understanding. Though pet stories can veer into the saccharine, rest assured that this memoir does not ... Though it’s a great book for dog lovers, isn’t a feel-good story about the unbreakable bond between human and beast. It’s a chronicle about the enduring messiness of humans, and how we’re worthy of love anyway.
Good Boy is so much more than a mere 'dog book' ... Boylan is a skilled writer of both fiction and nonfiction, but she writes Good Boy in an especially confident voice. Her narrative travels great distances between ages, stages, and dogs; she zigs, then zags, chasing down one memory before changing direction to pursue another ... Patient readers will be rewarded for sticking with Boylan, for just when you think you’ve lost sight of her point, she slows her pursuit, lingering on moments so beautiful and true they demand to be read twice ... a delightful, challenging read, and a lovely addition to Boylan’s body of work.
The narrative is somewhat chronological, but the dog stories and timelines also skip around a lot, which occasionally becomes disorienting. As in her previous books, Boylan's wry wit, wicked sense of humor, and unique way of turning phrases shine through, and her candor is powerfully therapeutic. Particularly stunning is the section in which she describes her initial reactions when a close family member also came out as trans ... Readers who have not encountered She’s Not There (2003), her memoir about her transition from male to female, may long for more detail in this book; the author sometimes skims over major life events she has written about elsewhere ... Boylan’s stories about each dog...range from sidesplitting to downright profound, and the author makes a convincing argument for the inherent need for all creatures to be who they truly are. Though the connections between the dogs and Boylan’s life aren’t always obvious, these tales will entertain, endear, and—fair warning—possibly induce a sudden urge to drive to the local animal shelter.
Each of the animals profiled here...allows Boylan to explore different areas of relationships with others, and with oneself ... Filled with insight and remarkable candor, this is a sterling tribute to the love of dogs.
