5 Star Review
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Editorial Book Review:
By Morgan Smith
Forty-six Years of Puppy Love, Seven Days of SHIVA is a poignant tribute to the special link between a person and their dog, reflecting the essence of what it means to love and lose a lifetime friend. Using the traditional seven days of Jewish "shiva" sorrow as a powerful framework for his observations, the author takes readers on a personal journey. He reveals layers of love, loss, and thankfulness daily, thereby capturing the core of his dog's existence and the great emptiness left behind. The sheer sensitivity woven into every page really shines out; it makes you feel as though you are sitting with a close friend hearing about a loved relative.
The structure of the narrative, organized around the seven-day mourning period, adds depth and poignancy, as each day’s reflection reveals a new facet of their shared experiences. While the author touches on the immense sadness of loss, he also celebrates the countless joyful memories, and there’s an almost spiritual element in his realization of how much his dog taught him about loyalty, patience, and love. This autobiography is more than just a story about a pet; it shows how love can change our lives and how animals do the same.
Reading it, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with pets and appreciating the unique connection they bring. The book balances sorrow with moments of humor and warmth, creating a comforting reminder for anyone who has experienced the loss of a pet. The author’s honesty and sensitivity transform this personal story into a universal one, helping readers navigate their own grief while celebrating the special moments that live on in memory.
Seven Days of SHIVA is a moving and eloquent exploration of love, loss, and the healing process. For anyone who has known the joy of a pet’s companionship, this memoir serves as a beautiful homage and a gentle guide through grief. It’s a story of both mourning and healing, a tribute to the bond that, even in loss, remains unbroken.
About the Author
Mr Marc Gellman
Marc was born at Unity Hospital on St John’s Place in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up in the East New York section in the 1950s/’60s, most of his world existed on the block where he lived. It was a close-knit neighborhood of Polish Jews. Almost exactly in the middle of the block was a large synagogue (East New York Jewish Center) and on the two northern and two southern corners were retail stores. The homes, consisting mostly of two- and four-family dwellings, often housed three generations of one family. It was a great neighborhood for a kid; most of Marc’s friends lived on the block.
As a young boy, Marc had an interest in watching the construction of buildings. When anything was being built in his neighborhood, he would excitedly visit the site after school and monitor the construction progress each day. He went on to attend CCNY School of Architecture in Manhattan.
Although a busy man, between work and family, Marc is particularly proud of his volunteer work starting in the late 1990s. As Co-Chairperson of the Mount Olive High School Diversity Counsel, the success of the counsel at the high school inspired Marc and his co-chair to encourage such counsels in all of the township schools. Marc and his co-chair eventually took on the role of Chairpersons of the Mount Olive Human Relations Commission and were applauded for their work by the then-Mayor of Newark, Sharpe James.
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