Boating with Buster

Boating with Buster by Alison Alderton is a wonderful and heartfelt tale. It also features some beautiful pictures.

This memoir has it all – life on a barge, travel to beautiful ports of call, and most importantly, a lovely dog with a larger than life personality. I loved reading about Alison and Richard realizing a dream as they traveled by canal boat through Europe. I laughed along with them at Buster’s escapades and ability to make friends wherever they went, and I cried when he became ill. Anyone who has ever loved a dog will love this beautiful and moving portrait to one of this planet’s most faithful species. There is no purer soul than that of a dog

Alison and her husband Roger find that life takes on a new dimension as they travel through Europe on board Lily, their Dutch barge. Buster is adorable. Alison's writing is easy, interesting and gently humorous. A delight!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that works on several levels.
It undoubtedly is a travelogue like no other about boating around the U.K., Ireland and Europe. If you love boating, canals, exploring inland waterways, rivers and lakes there is an abundance of material to fire up those itchy feet. A love of life afloat and the desire to explore fills every page.
The author is an excellent writer and talented photographer who writes brightly about her adventures with her partner Roger and Soulmate Buster the Beagle.
Her words convey beautiful landscapes teeming with wildlife and her pictures in that image capture the moment, often filled with their dog. With a knowing grin.
Anyone keen to explore both near and far will find both the inspiration and encouragement to make that journey by boat. Their vessel is a beautiful Dutch barge “Lily” who rises to the task to navigate waterways and even cross seas.
Secondly, it is a book about a personal journey between human beings and their faithful pets, in this case the attachment and joy a dog can bring to a life. Not just the excuse to get out more and take walks so you become healthy through exercise but the mental welfare that faithful friend instils.
It is their constant dependence upon you, their consistent love and an inseparable bound that is forged. From the difficult puppy, the vibrant headstrong child to the loyal companion happy to sleep at your feet but always alert to your mood and demanding little but your company and presence when they awake.
So a lover of animals, pets, especially dogs will find great joy in reading about Buster and his unique place on the “Lily”.
Finally it is a love story about Roger and Alison who try to spend as much time together as they can; United by common interests and shared dreams. Who find time for each other, show romantic gestures and shared times as a couple but are equally content to join with others, make new friends and welcome strangers.
I really enjoyed this account around boating. It satisfied my wanderlust and I liked the vicarious sights and places visited as shared by Alison. Amid the calm of Ireland, the buzz of Berlin the sense of vulnerability in towns and cities from youths or the homeless. Even here Alison shows how big her heart is for others. There is little here to deter others to follow in their wake, but it isn’t just smooth cruising and Roger’s skills at making running repairs does show you need some boat craft and water sense.
Still if it makes me realise I couldn’t quite emulate their achievements this book has allowed me to generously share their special life aboard HMS “Lily”

A lovely read with lots of gorgeous pictures. A beautiful book.

I loved this book! It begins seemingly light-hearted, but soon we see that there is more to Alison's story. Buster helped Alison and Roger through the aftermath of some terrible times. That's why he was so special and that's why she's telling their story.

Having had quite a few dogs, but never before a beagle-until my son got one, and now we are absolutely in love. Perhaps because of this fact, this was a book which I'd noticed and eagerly waited for its publication. It's the perfect book for me, and anyone who dotes on their animals. Many of the ways Buster had, the things he did, I found myself nodding and thinking 'Ah, yes, our Eddy does that'. Of course, there's the added bonus of travel/sailing through England, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden etc.

All in all, it adds up to a wonderful book. Beautifully presented with lots of photos and lovely finishing touches, such as paw prints and canal art motifs. A joy to read.

A substantial, meaty book, with plenty to enjoy. Plenty to keep you occupied for a long while. Lovely to have so many photos. Pure reading luxury. I loved it so much that I just had to treat myself to the paperback edition as well as the kindle edition which I read first. What a beautiful book and a wonderful addition to anyone's bookshelves.

Thank you NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Limited for this arc.

This was a sweet memoir of a couple much more adventurous than I am. Imagine trying to live with a beagle puppy on a canal boat??? What? Trying to live in a space less than 400 square feet with a husband and a rambunctious dog?? A living space without central heating and A/C? An outhouse sized bathroom? Have you ever heard a beagle "sing"?? Always at the mercy of the winds and weather? Not to mention mechanical and electrical "demon fairy" issues with the boat? And seemed to be always moving / relocating? I couldn't do it.... but I have to give Alison Alderton a lot of respect for it.

Boating with Buster is presented in a scrapbook format with lots of pictures of their adventures and decorated through-out with illustrations of paintings normally found on canal boats and doggy footprints. I covers the 12 plus years of Buster's life with them and their adventures together. The pictures were great. Their love of Buster was evident throughout, but I just never connected with the humans in this book. Skimmed through the last half.

When I saw this book, I fully expected to love it. I'm a sucker for a good dog story and I love travel. Somehow though, this book didn't just grab me and I struggled to finish it. There are a lot of great elements here and some interesting stories along the way. It's definitely worth giving it a go. You may love it!

Thank you to the author, Alison Alderton, Troubador Publishing Limited/Matador and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.