What I'm Reading This Month
By Nadine Holder
January 2007


The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery. Okay if you are not an animal lover, just flip the page. I really don't have time to read in the winter as there is a lot I have to get done while the weather is cool, but I received this book as a Christmas gift and made the mistake of reading a page or two and several hours later it was a done deal! There was a reason for the gift: my dear Emaline Pigge had died at age 11 about two years ago and my cousin had the pleasure of meeting her once and remembered her fondly.

This is the true tale of a runt pig, smaller than a cat, and with zero chances of survival, who was rescued by Sy Montgomery and her husband. Not only did Christopher survive but he grew to a whopping 750 pounds. He was not a house pig as my Emaline was but he was the town pig. His favorite occupation was escaping his warm house and wandering out to greet the people of the town. Frantic phone calls were received when he rooted giant divots out of fresh green lawns but still they loved him. The 750 pounds was acquired as the result of a constant stream of delicacies from the people who loved him - the whole town. He even received write in votes when there was a town election. Every one looked out for him and alerted Sy or her husband when he was out and about so he didn't often get into real danger.

Sy Montgomery and her husband were writers and the help from the town in feeding their adoptee was much appreciated as their income was a bit, well wobbly. Sy was a world traveler and camped out and wrote about exotic animals in many parts of the world but her true love was Christopher Hogwood. He was also loved by the children of the town and played a large part in keeping them on the straight and narrow of good behavior by allowing them to spend their time giving him belly rubs and treats instead of finding mischief to do. Sy considered it positive proof of his intelligence that two college educated people responded to his every whim and desire for 13 years, as well as did a whole New Hampshire town.


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