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Buster: A Dog - George Pelecanos

New Book Offers First-paw Perspective of Animal Neglect

An evening with DC's George Pelecanos for his new book Buster: A Dog

Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a dog? Buster: A Dog is the story of one dog’s lifelong journey, as told by Buster himself.

Experience the heartbreaking journey of a canine navigating the harsh realities of neglect, homelessness, and abuse on the unforgiving streets of Washington D.C. 
  
Acclaimed author and screenwriter George Pelecanos, known for his authentic portrayal of crime and gritty underbelly in The Wire, Treme, and more, chronicles Buster's profound life journey through unflinching prose in Buster: A Dog. From a loving home to merciless abandonment, Buster's harrowing fictional experiences lay bare the systemic forces enabling widespread animal cruelty. 
  
In conversation with DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Pelecanos will discuss how substance abuse, poverty, lack of resources, and severed human-animal bonds perpetuate animal cruelty. Pelecanos weaves raw data from dogfighting rings and hoarding cases with visceral accounts of strays' trauma. His candid narration from Buster's viewpoint shows the innate psychology and resilience of our four-legged companions facing unimaginable hardship. 
  
Be part of a vital conversation that shines a light on a disturbing, often-overlooked issue. This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from Pelecanos's prose and catalyze change in our perceptions and actions toward animal neglect. 

This event is organized with Solid State Books. Copies of the book will be available for sale from Solid State Books, and a limited number will be available for giveaway courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation. 

About the book

Buster, a strong and proud boxer, spends his early days with a loving family in a public housing complex in Washington, DC. Abruptly, he is taken away by an abusive, alcoholic man, plunging Buster into a challenging, nightmarish existence. Over the course of his life, he will experience homelessness, tragedy, a harrowing stay in a shelter, and acts of kindness, including his adoption by an older gentleman grieving the death of his wife. At his peak, Buster lives with a young marijuana dealer who runs a profitable but dangerous business in the city. Along the way, Buster befriends other dogs and witnesses the best and worst aspects of humanity. As the seasons change, and change again, he begins to understand the finality of existence and in turn learns to appreciate the gift of life.

About the author

George Pelecanos is the author of twenty-two novels and story collections set in and around Washington, DC, and has been the recipient of numerous international writing awards. He is a screenwriter, essayist, and television writer/producer whose credits include The Wire, Treme, The Deuce, and We Own This City. He is the editor of the best-selling volumes DC Noir and DC Noir 2: The Classics. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. Buster: A Dog is his latest novel.

About the conversation partner

Richard Reyes-Gavilan is the Executive Director of the DC Public Library. He has over twenty years of professional public library experience. Before coming to the District, he served as the Chief Librarian for the Brooklyn Public Library. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s in library and information science from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a proud graduate of Coro, New York City’s premier leadership training program and Stuyvesant High School, one of the country’s most prestigious high schools.

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