Journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis (American Voyeur) didn't think his dog Casey liked him much. So when they set off on a four-month cross-country journey in an RV to explore the bond between Americans and their dogs, he also hoped to explore and nurture a more personal connection with his travel companion.
During their excursion, Denizet-Lewis and Casey visited dog parks, shelters, conventions, even the Westminster Dog Show. They spent time with dog walkers, pet psychics, trainers and a doga teacher (that'd be yoga for dogs). The encounters are a mixed bag of entertainment, encouragement and heartbreak, from the New Yorker in Tompkins Square Dog Park who "just got out of a mental hospital, actually" to the homeless 19-year-olds in Washington State who always make sure their dogs eat before they do.
Interspersed in this travelogue, Denizet-Lewis shares research, history and geography connected to the locations he visits, including the Navajo Nation reservation where he encounters "rez dogs." His journalistic training enables him to ask educated (and sometimes probing) questions, rather than simply react emotionally, as when he asks the founder of PETA why the organization seems willing to do anything for attention.
Emotion still plays a strong role in the book, however; Denizet-Lewis's love of dogs is evident in the empathy, respect and compassion he exhibits for all the canines and their humans. Denizet-Lewis ultimately discovers that the bonds he set out to explore are both complicated and simple, like the creatures they connect. Whether dog lovers or simply individuals interested in America's obsession, readers will find Travels with Casey enlightening, eye-opening and fun. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts