The Dog Days of Summer - Tail Wagging Reads To Cuddle Up With

I always thought that the "Dog Days of Summer" were late August summer days so unbearably hot that even dogs had to lie down on the ground, panting. However, I found that it actually refers to the dog star, Sirius, and its position in the heavens. To our early ancestors Sirius appeared to rise just before the sun, in late July/August, so it was associated with the hottest days that could bring fever, drought, sudden storms, mad dogs, bad luck, lethargy, just about any catastrophe. Nevertheless I still prefer to think of these "Dog Days" as those hot, sultry, winding down days of summer that are ripe for relaxing with a good book, especially one that features an adventurous romp with man's best friend! So, I'm barking out a list of favorite fiction/nonfiction dog reads to laze about with while escaping those last hazy, lazy days of summer:

A Dog's Purpose by Bruce Cameron
A Dog's Journey by Bruce Cameron
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
One Good Dog by Susan Wilson
The Call of the Wild by Jack London                       
White Fang by Jack London
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
Until Tuesday by Luis Montalvan
Watchers by Dean Koontz
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
Following Atticus by Tom Ryan
Suspect by Robert Crais
Marley and Me by John Grogan
Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

Watch for my future "Dogs Days of Winter" list which will refer to the winter days that are so unbearably cold that even dogs have to lie down in front of a roaring fire, shivering.