Almost First Dog
As coffee table books go, or bathroom books, this one is a clever, attractive, also-ran of an idea. Ostensibly a short, memo-driven collection of dog resumes sent in by Portuguese Water Dogs intent on becoming the house pet of the Obama family in the White House, it quickly becomes a lovely collection of photographs accompanying less than cute, hand-written self-descriptions.
Subtitled The Secret [Rejected] Portuguese Water Dog Applications--and not including information on the accepted applicant by the way--it concludes with the imprimature of the Dog House, Washington DC. Forgive me for saying this, but, it almost feels as though the purpose of this silly book is to put down the Obamas, rather than to elevate with humor the status of official pet.
Most of the dogs are black or brown with the hybrid black and whites thrown in now and then. Their language in the applications is not overly intelligent: "Shhhh... don’t worry, I can keep a secret," or, "I’m qualified to be First Dog because my littermates voted me Best Nap Taker."
Then there’s Ruby, a five-year-old, whose resume reads in part: "Special skills: ’Bring me a beer’; ’Bring me my slippers’; ’Fetch the papers.’ I charge extra for clipping out negative press."
Montrose is an acclaimed animal photographer who has collaborated in the past with her L.A. actor husband Starr. After reading through this book of fun photographs and unfunny copy, it seems someone should have asked their politics and personal beliefs for the jacket blurbs.
Not a winner of a book, sadly.
by Spencer Starr/Sharon Montrose
Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang. Publication Date: October 1, 2009. Pages: 112. Price: $16.95. Format: Hardcover Original. ISBN-13: 978-1-584-798-453
