Bespotted is the memoir of Linda Gray Sexton, daughter of the famous poet, Anne Sexton. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Linda Sexton has continued to amaze and inspire readers, but with books instead of poetry.
Unlike some of the memoirs I have read in the past, this story stays focused on the dogs she has known in her life—specifically dalmatians. Although it does cover a few gaps between dogs in her life, these are necessary to continue the story.
I liked this book very much because of how refreshingly honest Linda is. She holds nothing back, revealing the mistakes she and her parents made as new dog owners, as well as what she knows now.
Trigger Warning
This book isn’t for everyone. Suicide is a common theme throughout the book. Linda’s mother Anne dies early on of suicide, and Linda makes her own suicide attempt as well. If you are sensitive to suicidal themes, this is not a good book for you.
I also wanted to extend our deepest condolences to Linda. Upon checking out her website to learn more about her and her books, we found a letter stating her son had also passed from suicide. Losing a child is terribly tragic, and it made me very sad to read.
A Special Bond with Dalmations
Although my breed is the chihuahua, I felt her passion for her breed in my soul. She is frank about their problems, including broaching the topic of deafness and how she handles it. She goes over selecting for a show dog, and the bond she had with her heart dog Gulliver.
It’s clear from page one that dalmatians are her heart breed, and that she quickly learned to be savvy about dog care.
If you like dalmatians, or appreciated any of her past books, you may enjoy reading Bespotted. It’s a very well written book about a woman, her life, and the dogs she knew. I read this as part of my library challenge. Click here to see what else I’ve read.
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