Oink: My Life with Mini-Pigs

Having a mini-pig as a pet may sound cute%E2%80%94indeed, they've become a hot commodity, owned by the likes of Paris Hilton and David Beckham%E2%80%94but when British writer Whyman (Goldstrike) picks up a pair for his family, the dirty truth is revealed.%C2%A0Butch and Roxi turn out to be destructive, loud, and just plain bad company.%C2%A0They place a strain on his marriage, relationships with his friends, coworkers, and kids. The family cat never quite gets over the pesky pigs, though Sesi, the family's Canadian shepherd, quickly establishes herself as the pigs' surrogate mom. Despite all the trouble they cause, Whyman's tale is rife with humor. Early on, Whyman peeks under his desk to discover "the clenched rear flanks of a little pink pig" as Roxi pees on his feet. After warming up to the porkers, Whyman and co. decide to try their hands at pig-breeding. However, he quickly realizes that two pigs is plenty, and abandons the venture. With so many characters carousing about the household, Whyman's raucous mini-pig memoir becomes an endearing meditation on the difficult, but ultimately worthwhile, relationships between people and the pets with which they share their home (or occasional pigsty). (Sept.)