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Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 4:00 AM
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Carol Recommends -- The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People by Rick Bragg 

Carol Recommends -- The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People by Rick Bragg 

Rick Bragg wasn’t looking for a dog and if he were this wasn’t the one he would have picked. So maybe the dog picked him. Bragg, recovering from a variety of health issues including cancer, kidney failure, and bouts of pneumonia, isn’t exactly a picture of health but neither is the wild dog which he spots with a part eating trash in the middle of an Alabama country road. Perhaps the skinny, torn-up, smelly dog saw a man in need of companionship. And instead of running off he took a shine to Bragg and moved in with him, his mom, a couple of other dogs, an assortment of cats, and some jackasses.  

Bragg recounts how this mutt became known as the Speckled Beauty, Speck for short, and takes us through the trials and tribulations of building a relationship built on mishaps, bad judgment, love, and affection. So in the end, they picked each other. 

Bragg is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All Over but the Shoutin’ and Ava’s Man. If you haven’t read him, you should.  He’s a master storyteller who can break your heart and crack you up in the same sentence. 

Carol is the Director of the Churchill County Library. She almost missed this title and is grateful to a loyal library patron for requesting this book. 

 


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Comment author: Patti Cole Comment text: Marie will be forever treasured in memories. The memories remain of a soft-spoken, seemingly unassuming but determined individual who absolutely knew what path she wanted to take in life, and followed it. Her instinctive reactions, which highlighted her steadfast level of love and caring for her family, friends and all living things found in nature, hold lessons for us all. An unexpected splash of her self-deprecating humor, coupled with uncanny timing, will always bring a smile. For me, Marie lives on in the sighting of a Black-crowned night heron in the tules, the bloom of a beautiful spring flower and, most poetically, in the struggle of wildlife photographers handling their very large camera lenses. Comment publication date: 8/15/26, 9:31 AM Comment source: Obituary-Marie Dong Ko Comment author: John Chaney Comment text: I just figured out that Betty was my 1st cousin. Her dad Ted was my dad's brother. I never knew Ted or Betty, but I wish I did. I am 73 and live in IL. I am building my family tree and see where Betty has fit in. Blessings to you Curt and family. Comment publication date: 8/14/26, 11:04 AM Comment source: Obituary - Betty Lou (Chaney) Anderson Comment author: Karen Webb Comment text: I am so sorry to hear this. I loved coming to the carwash to see John! He always made my day. Prayers for all of his family during this difficult time. Comment publication date: 8/11/26, 8:56 PM Comment source: In Memory of John Evans Comment author: Laura Ivey Comment text: I am so very sorry for your loss of John. He always made my day when I went to the car wash. I will miss his joyous personality and that smile. Comment publication date: 8/10/26, 9:52 AM Comment source: In Memory of John Evans
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