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Underdog: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
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Manufacturer: Kensington
Author: Laurien Berenson
Publisher: Kensington
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $6.50
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Kensington
Author: Laurien Berenson
Publisher: Kensington
Average Customer Rating:
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Underdog: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780758202925
ISBN: 075820292X
Label: Kensington
Manufacturer: Kensington
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2002-06-01
Publisher: Kensington
Studio: Kensington
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780758202925
ISBN: 075820292X
Label: Kensington
Manufacturer: Kensington
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2002-06-01
Publisher: Kensington
Studio: Kensington
Editorial Review of Underdog: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
Customer Reviews of Underdog: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good story, but I was offended
Review: While I enjoyed the book overall, I have to say that I was a bit offended by some things I read. I am a groomer, and in the story, the heroine makes it clear that she does not think highly of groomers. She visits a grooming salon, and much was made of the fact that the groomers were unprofessional, slovenly, and dumb. It was mentioned at least twice that groomers do not know how to "really" groom any show Poodle, and that all they do is "tie some bows on the ears and send them home." She doubts that groomers can do quality work on any show dog, especially since her Aunt Peg, a show dog handler, spent several hours doing a show trim on her Poodle.
Well, pardon ME. When a show dog handler can trim an entire poodle by hand, with no pieces sticking out, and scissor a perfect top knot, THEN you can tell me that the show dog handler has true grooming skills. As far as I am concerned, the extent of the grooming *they* do consists of mostly brushing and fluffing. I don't think it is necessary to snidely comment on the so-called "non-skills" of pet groomers just because the majority of dogs we groom do not end up in the show ring. Talk about snobbery.
Yes, I know this book is fiction, but apparently the author's opinion of groomers is not. This 'groomer-bashing' occurred in another of her books, and I just cannot ignore it anymore. I will be the first to admit that there ARE many slovenly, unprofessional groomers out there. But the things I read in this book offended ME, and I happen to be the consummate professional groomer. I work pretty darn hard, and I don't need some author constantly belittling my industry. It's certainly not fun to read.
The fact that I gave the book 3 stars despite this gripe? I guess I was feeling generous. Who would've thought a groomer had ANY redeeming qualities, right?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: I love these books
Review: I was so delighted when I found this series. I don't normally pick mysteries, but am an avid dog-lover.
I do not agree that Melanie "...wear(s) on your nerves because she is so obstinate about EVERYTHING." She's tough; she's had to be, as most single parents do. She's also had a lot of change in her life just in the year that's taken place in the books.
This series, and author, are on my favorites list.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Very Good but......
Review: All of Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries are entertaining and I've read most of them. My only objection is that Melanie Travis begins to wear on your nerves because she is so obstinate about EVERYTHING. There isn't just a few things she is hard headed about but everytime she comes up against something, she braces her feet. She is stubborn about her dog, her son, her job, her ex, Sam, her aunts and the list goes on. This becomes not only predictable but very boring. Melanie needs to become somewhat flexible and leave some of the pig headedness behind to make these books not only entertaining but more believable. Ms Berenson does an excellent job of transporting you to the dog show world, it's just that sometimes I wish she'd leave Melanie at home to grow up!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: JUST SUPER
Review: LIKE ALL HER BOOKS THIS ONE IS JUST SUPER , IT KEEPS YOU TO END ON YOUR CHAIR , YOU NEVER KNOW WHO DID IT OR WHY ! PLUS ON TOP YOU GET ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT OF THE DOGWORLD , WHICH SHE IS PERFECT REVIALING TO YOU ! IF YOU LIKE DOGS AND A GOOD MYSTERY THIS IS A BOOK FOR YOU !!
Review Summary: Good story, but I was offended
Review: While I enjoyed the book overall, I have to say that I was a bit offended by some things I read. I am a groomer, and in the story, the heroine makes it clear that she does not think highly of groomers. She visits a grooming salon, and much was made of the fact that the groomers were unprofessional, slovenly, and dumb. It was mentioned at least twice that groomers do not know how to "really" groom any show Poodle, and that all they do is "tie some bows on the ears and send them home." She doubts that groomers can do quality work on any show dog, especially since her Aunt Peg, a show dog handler, spent several hours doing a show trim on her Poodle.
Well, pardon ME. When a show dog handler can trim an entire poodle by hand, with no pieces sticking out, and scissor a perfect top knot, THEN you can tell me that the show dog handler has true grooming skills. As far as I am concerned, the extent of the grooming *they* do consists of mostly brushing and fluffing. I don't think it is necessary to snidely comment on the so-called "non-skills" of pet groomers just because the majority of dogs we groom do not end up in the show ring. Talk about snobbery.
Yes, I know this book is fiction, but apparently the author's opinion of groomers is not. This 'groomer-bashing' occurred in another of her books, and I just cannot ignore it anymore. I will be the first to admit that there ARE many slovenly, unprofessional groomers out there. But the things I read in this book offended ME, and I happen to be the consummate professional groomer. I work pretty darn hard, and I don't need some author constantly belittling my industry. It's certainly not fun to read.
The fact that I gave the book 3 stars despite this gripe? I guess I was feeling generous. Who would've thought a groomer had ANY redeeming qualities, right?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: I love these books
Review: I was so delighted when I found this series. I don't normally pick mysteries, but am an avid dog-lover.
I do not agree that Melanie "...wear(s) on your nerves because she is so obstinate about EVERYTHING." She's tough; she's had to be, as most single parents do. She's also had a lot of change in her life just in the year that's taken place in the books.
This series, and author, are on my favorites list.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Very Good but......
Review: All of Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries are entertaining and I've read most of them. My only objection is that Melanie Travis begins to wear on your nerves because she is so obstinate about EVERYTHING. There isn't just a few things she is hard headed about but everytime she comes up against something, she braces her feet. She is stubborn about her dog, her son, her job, her ex, Sam, her aunts and the list goes on. This becomes not only predictable but very boring. Melanie needs to become somewhat flexible and leave some of the pig headedness behind to make these books not only entertaining but more believable. Ms Berenson does an excellent job of transporting you to the dog show world, it's just that sometimes I wish she'd leave Melanie at home to grow up!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: JUST SUPER
Review: LIKE ALL HER BOOKS THIS ONE IS JUST SUPER , IT KEEPS YOU TO END ON YOUR CHAIR , YOU NEVER KNOW WHO DID IT OR WHY ! PLUS ON TOP YOU GET ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT OF THE DOGWORLD , WHICH SHE IS PERFECT REVIALING TO YOU ! IF YOU LIKE DOGS AND A GOOD MYSTERY THIS IS A BOOK FOR YOU !!