In Madison Avenue Maxi, Elke Gazzara (wife of actor Ben Gazzara) writes about the joys of owning her dachshund, Maxi. The delightful little dog enjoys the jet-set lifestyle, dining with royalty and staying in exclusive hotels as the only dog ever allowed on the premise.
This book is well written and entertaining from the first page. The author may live the life of the rich and famous but she still has the same problems as the average person when it comes to owning a dog. She has to pick up after Maxi on walks and often finds herself replacing bath mats because their little dogs loves to destroy them. At the same time Maxi is so well behaved when in her traveling bag, she has been in exclusive restaurants under the table and no one ever knew she was there.
The book contains personal photographs of the Gazzara's and Maxi. Some of the most poignant ones are of Maxi next to her "dad's" bed after an operation. Maxi has such expressive eyes you will feel you can tell what she is thinking; Gazzara insists her Maxi is smart and the photos alone are all the proof she needs.
I've never mentioned a book jacket in a review before but I absolutely love the art on the cover of this book — everything from font choice to the sketch. It's as quirky and unique as the story itself.
There were some really touching chapters of Maxi and her dog friends. There is a beautiful photo of Maxi sitting next to the grave stone of a dog that belonged to a family friend. The story about Maxi and her deceased friend will bring a tear to the reader's eye.
If you like animals, or are interested in reading about the life of celebrities, you will enjoy this book. I liked the armchair tour of various countries and a glimpse into the life of the rich and famous. It was heartwarming to see how two people did whatever they could to keep their dog with them. If only all animals could be loved by people like the author and her husband.
Article comments