Katrina Kittle Discusses The Blessings of the Animals

Join Book Club Girl of the blog http://bookclubgirl.com as she welcomes Katrina Kittle to discuss her new novel, The Blessings of the Animals. Veterinarian Cami Anderson has hit a rough patch in her life. Stymied by her recent divorce, she is on a quest to unravel the secret ingredients of a happy, long-lasting marriage. Are today’s wedding vows realistic, practical, and applicable? Or is the entire institution of marriage outdated and obsolete? Surrounded by several couples approaching different milestones in their relationships, Cami reflects on the deepest meanings of love and partnership. As her parents prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary, her brother and his partner find themselves legally blocked from marriage. Her best friend and soon-to-be-ex-sister-in-law have become newly engaged, while her teenaged daughter’s romance begins to develop its own complications. And now Cami’s ex-husband and two other men are becoming tangled in her own post-marriage love life. Amidst this circus of relationships, Cami begins to make sense of marriage’s great mysteries—and disconnects. How could the battle for same-sex marriage continue on when half of heterosexual marriages are ending in divorce? Why are fewer people marrying today than ever before, and marrying much later? Surrounded by a humorous gang of animals—an angry horse, an escape-artist goat, and a 3-legged cat—Cami also comes to terms with her own divorce as she learns the lessons of forgiveness, adaptation, and joy that help her master the art of simply moving on. New York Times bestselling author Sara Gruen says: “In this beautifully crafted novel, Katrina Kittle deftly illustrates the devastation of betrayal and loss, the healing power of love and compassion, and the joy and comfort that comes from knowing—and relating to—animals. A must-read not only for animal lovers, but for anyone who has found the courage to come back from heartbreak and find love again, without reservation, without fear.”