A Year of Cats and Dogs

Hawkins spins an offbeat and delightful tale of a midlife anti-crisis. Maryanne is the 49-year-old owner of Clement, an orange cat, and Bob, a seven-year-old Rottweiler. Ex-boyfriend Phillip has just moved out, ending their 10-year relationship, which leaves Maryann feeling blah, so she resolves to “go AWOL from the productive world.” After she quits her job, her life consists mostly of drinking tea, walking her dog and cooking dreary meals for one (occasionally for two, when her aging father stops by). Then she realizes she has a gift for speaking with animals, which segues into a part-time gig at an animal shelter. As Maryanne recasts her life, Hawkins inserts quirky recipes (Quitting Your Job and Vowing to Be Frugal Stew, Chicken Soup for the Sad) into the unhurried and lighthearted narrative. Though the author's decision to try to incorporate the I Ching reads more like a gimmick than an enhancement, this is a pleasant departure from the standard midlife crisis story. (Oct.)