The Particulars of Peter

Starred review from October 5, 2020
New York Magazine writer-at-large Conaboy merges humor, memoir, and reportage in her winning debut about the experience of sharing one’s life with a dog. Conaboy first describes fostering and adopting Peter, a “Labrador-terrier mix, with a soulful amber gaze spunky little foldy ears,” before exploring general (and typically tongue-in-cheek) questions faced by dog owners, such as “Does my dog like music?” and “Will my dog go to heaven?” (which “hovered over my Catholic upbringing, like the Holy Ghost on so many felt Pentecost banners”). She also interviews researchers into dog behavior and genetics, reads American Pet Products Association reports, and visits Woofstock, the self-billed “largest festival for dogs in North America,” where she notes how guilty most owners feel about trying to make their pets happy: “You spend your life with this friend whom you love.... but what can you do? Guess at what flavor treat he likes.” Rather than overplaying Peter’s cuteness (though he does come across as a very good boy), she infuses the book with an offbeat sense of humor and sharp observations. Dog enthusiasts will especially delight in this book, but anyone looking for a good laugh will have a ball. Agent: Tina Pohlman, Union Literary.

October 1, 2020
A Brooklyn writer's debut chronicles life with her dog. "I consider us to be one soul existing in two corporeal forms," writes Conaboy about her adopted mutt, Peter Parker. Early on, the author admits that it's nearly impossible to truly know a dog without filtering their experiences through human perceptions. An apologetic windup sets the stage for a doting tribute to canine ownership that reveals more about the author than her dog. In pithy yet often scattered chapters, Conaboy chronicles their first meeting; DNA testing; Woofstock in Toronto, where participants were greeted with a sign that read, "DON'T DISAPPOINT YOUR DOG!"; and agility classes, which highlighted owners' peculiarities as well as which dogs were naturals or needed work. Throughout, breathless descriptions intersperse with casual quips and addresses to the reader. The text is affectionate, overly loose, and occasionally mock-defensive: Regarding her boyfriend, she writes, "I have to stress that it isn't your business," and about buying Peter a handmade sweater like the one in The Shining to make people notice, "You have to admit--that recognition would be priceless." Some chapters are indulgent, such as a list of regrettable pet purchases. While investigating such quandaries as co-sleeping with pets and whether inhaling pet hair is dangerous, the author mixes curiosity with expert opinions that are mildly informative but mostly underscore the fretfulness behind the original questions. When Conaboy strays from everyday norms and dives headlong into obsession, the book springs alive. The author recounts how she was inspired to conduct surveillance on Peter because of her worries about his mortality; her interview with a creator of "dog music" (she attempts some songwriting herself); and her participation in ghost hunts to see if dogs were proficient in communicating with spirits. Though the anxious, self-effacing persona eventually grows tiresome, Conaboy's commitment to pleasing a mild-mannered dog is admirable and charming. An unusual book to please pet lovers.

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