The Gift of Jazzy

by Cindy Adams Narrated by Cindy Adams

Overview

After the New York Post's savvy, seemingly tough columnist Cindy Adams lost her beloved husband- the famed comedian Joey Adams- the last thing on her mind was finding a companion. But that's exactly what she got when a visit from a friend arrived with a surprise: a Yorkshire terrier named “ Jazzy.” Despite her reservations, the tell-it-like-it-is gossip columnist was won over by the tiny dog who taught her more about joy and survival than any human ever could. Adams brings her fantastic wit, keen observation, and flair for celebrity dish in recounting her hilarious first year with Jazzy in this touching, feel-good story about redemption, grief, and unconditional love.

Editorial Reviews

Elaine Szewczyk

This charming memoir chronicles the New York Post gossip columnist's misadventures with the dog she adopted in 1999 after the death of her husband, comedian Joey Adams. The author begins by paying tribute to Joey, who helped his wife break into the "gossip business" by introducing her to friends like Bob Hope. The tabloid queen Adams quickly became is in true form here, dishing on celebrities including Imelda Marcos, who dropped by Adams' penthouse one Christmas for girl talk and Big Macs, and Raquel Welch, who walked out on Adams during an interview after calling her a barracuda. But the star of this funny book is Jazzy, whose antics Adams boastfully recalls with the delight of a new mother. Whether he's splashing mud onto Joan Collins' silk dress during a dinner party or disconnecting a phone conversation between Adams and Manuel Noriega by walking across the keypad, it's evident that the single figure in Adams' life able to rival Joey's comedic timing is the dog who unwittingly replaced him.

Publishers Weekly

New York Post gossip columnist Adams knows nothing about dog care, nor does she care to learn. But when her husband dies and a friend (Michael Viner, head of New Millennium Press) gives her a Yorkshire terrier as a bereavement gift, Adams is forced to confront the ins and outs of owning a pup. For a time, Jazzy (so named because of his frantic energy) is nothing but a pain in the neck, wreaking havoc on Adams's posh uptown apartment and driving the newspaperwoman insane. But after awhile, the furry little critter begins to grow on her, and Adams finds herself head over heels for Jazzy. She reads this trifle of a book with gusto, effortlessly cooing Jazzy's nicknames ("Jazzy-poo," for one) and imitating his little bark. Adams and Jazzy have run-ins with everyone from Imelda Marcos to Sylvester Stallone to Manuel Noriega (usually Jazzy does something to embarrass his owner in the presence of luminaries), and there's enough name-dropping here to choke, well, a small animal. Still, celebrity-related anecdotes aside, Adams is undeniably funny. Her voice alternates between the desperately breathless (as when she's trying to get the dog some Pepto Bismol for an upset stomach) to the angry (as when she's letting Jazzy have it for misbehaving). Yorkie lovers and gossip hounds will get a kick out of this unusual audiobook. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover (Forecasts, Dec. 16, 2002). (Mar.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

When noted gossip columnist Adams lost her beloved husband, Joey, after 40 years of marriage, she found herself unsure of what to do and how to deal with the loss of someone who had been part of her life since she was a teenager. A few days after Joey's death, she was given a tiny Yorkshire terrier puppy who proceeded to take over her life and steal her heart. Those expecting something equivalent to Cleveland Amory's The Cat That Came for Christmas will be surprised and possibly disappointed. Adams spends much of the book dropping names and talking about the joys of being a columnist and less time on her interactions with her dog. However, it is interesting to hear how Jazzy takes over, even keeping Adams from sleeping so she won't disturb him when he's in her bed. The author also finds ways to include Jazzy in her trips to church, to four-star restaurants, and on vacations even when the dog is quite ill. Adams narrates her own work, and some may find her reading a bit off-putting, but her love for her husband and her dog shine through. For large public library collections.-Danna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

An upbeat account of moving on after loss, as the popular New York Post gossip columnist relates how the gift of a Yorkshire terrier brought her love, laughter, and a reason to get up each morning.

Married at 16 to comedian Joey Adams, the author was bereft when her much older husband died, in 1999, after a long illness. She had no children and no siblings, her mother was hospitalized, and though her many celebrity friends loyally rallied round, they were not enough. One of them, however, sent an unexpected gift that had unexpected consequences. A week after Joey’s death, TV producer Michael Viner paid $475 to have a Yorkshire terrier puppy chauffeured by limo from his trainer in Connecticut to Adams’s Park Avenue apartment. She had never had a dog, so she was unprepared for the demands, crises, and rewards of sharing her life with an animal. Short, breezy chapters relate Adams’s tussles with Jazzy, their travels together, and their adventures around town. In church, he started barking and then fled as the very bad soloist started singing. A shopping expedition ended abruptly when Jazzy pooped on the Gucci doorman’s shoes after he insisted that Adams remove her dog. Alongside cute tales of how Jazzy acquired his own personal trainer, designer outfits and collars, and a driver to chauffeur him to play dates, the author of course throws in plenty of celebrity encounters. On Christmas, distracted by Jazzy’s barks, she let the door slam shut behind her and wound up eating Big Macs with Imelda Marcos on the floor outside her apartment. Worried about her ailing pup, she spilled red wine all over herself while dining with Governor Pataki. After a year’s cohabitation, she observed that Jazzyhad acquired some of Joey’s habits: he sat in her husband’s favorite chair, liked the thermostat kept high, and insisted she go to bed when he did.

A treat for dog lovers and Cindy’s fans.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159792730
Publisher:	Phoenix Books, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/2003
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos