The Speckled Beauty

A Dog and His People

By: Rick Bragg

Narrated by: Rick Bragg

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • From the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All Over but the Shoutin', the warmhearted and hilarious story of how his life was transformed by his love for a poorly behaved, half-blind stray dog.

Speck is not a good boy. He is a terrible boy, a defiant, self-destructive, often malodorous boy, a grave robber and screen door moocher who spends his days playing chicken with the Fed Ex man, picking fights with thousand-pound livestock, and rolling in donkey manure, and his nights howling at the moon. He has been that way since the moment he appeared on the ridgeline behind Rick Bragg's house, a starved and half-dead creature, seventy-six pounds of wet hair and poor decisions.

Speck arrived in Rick's life at a moment of looming uncertainty. A cancer diagnosis, chemo, kidney failure, and recurring pneumonia had left Rick lethargic and melancholy. Speck helped, and he is helping, still, when he is not peeing on the rose of Sharon. Written with Bragg's inimitable blend of tenderness and sorrow, humor and grit, The Speckled Beauty captures the extraordinary, sustaining devotion between two damaged creatures who need each other to heal.

Unbelievable

I’m a Rick Bragg fan but this may be my favorite. It’s a great tale of the love of a man and a dog. Rick narrated the book which makes it more captivating.
If you love dogs and the tales of family, relationships and dogs this will capture your heart.
Loved it

On the list of my favorite books

I listen to a lot of animal based books and this one is definitely one of my all time favorites. I absolutely loved this book. I laughed out loud many times and fell in love with this family. This is the first Rick Bragg book I’ve listened to but after hearing his writing style I intend to order several more of his books. It felt like I was sitting on the porch in a rocking chair listening to a friend tell me about his dog. And what a crazy dog he is. I highly recommended this book.

I’ve read/listened to everything Rick Bragg wrote.

This author takes the simple and makes it eloquent. I’m from the urban North and the magic of Rick Bragg’s words brings me to the South, making his people feel like my people. I plan to reread everything, just to set my heart straight when it needs resetting.

Simply the best dog story EVER

I just listened to master storyteller Rick Bragg tell the story of Speckled Beauty, his “terrible” dog. I’m 75, a dog lover and rescuer (living in Louisiana that’s what you do). Rick Bragg’s story is absolutely THE best dog story I have ever heard (or read)! I laughed, almost cried, empathized and sympathized, felt sad—but not for long, for he gave us dog lovers hope. Other crazy people rescue terrible dogs as well, knowing these babies give us more than we could ever give them back. What a glorious story!

Another winner

A combination of love and life in the south with a treasured dog. I found myself laughing and then instantly crying as I could relate and almost feel his every word. As an Alabama dog lover I loved this book. Thanks Rick for another great one.