Inspired by Steinbeck's classic Travels with Charley: In Search of America
, veterinarian and author Fogle (Pets and Their People
) documents his journey around the U.S. and Canada with his golden retriever, Macy, in a travelogue that is long on detail and short on substance. After picking up his 1977 GMC motor home (ordered online) in North Carolina, Fogle travels to Sag Harbor, N.Y., to begin in earnest from Steinbeck's home, continuing northward through Canada and back into the American Midwest following a counterclockwise path around the country. He offers thoughts on the people he meets, including many Americans disenchanted with the war in Iraq, and observations on how Americans treat their dogs versus how dogs are treated in Great Britain and Europe. (Fogle has lived the past 35 years in England.) While Fogle and Macy encounter their share of trouble, including having to back their motor home down a mountain, Fogle's writing is too scattered to connect with readers and will disappoint those looking for insight and a dog lover's adventure. Photos, illus. (Feb. 1)
