Tonight I see what looks to be a tick on the dog’s eyelid. I get a pair of tweezers from the bathroom and kneel to remove it. He looks at me askance but lies there in beatific patience. I smooth the fine yellow fur on his head, apply the tweezers to the tick, and clamp down. But it is not a tick—just a little black growth above his eye. A stream of blood trickles down his snout, and he doesn’t flinch. I gasp. He leans forward and licks my hand, to forgive me for hurting him, with blood in his fur. I burst into tears. Love is hell.
— Daniel Poppick, “The Copywriter: A Novel” (Scribner, February 3, 2026)
Notes:
- Book: I Loved it. Not recommended / Cautiously recommended.
- NY Times Book Review of “The Copywriter” here. Notable quote from review: “It’s simultaneously a quotidian task — it’s just another copywriting assignment — and also a monumental moral decision. In action, it may seem like a small choice, but in a vast and ugly universe, sometimes small choices are all we have.”
Not recommended but the passage you chose… direct line to the heart!
Right!
Oh my. I will NEVER read.
I can see why…
Unconditional love will do that 💝
Yes!
further proof of the bond between dogs ad humans.
is there a particular reason for your non-recommendation?
Hi Jim, here’s a review from a Goodreads reader that I think captures it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8320685233
I absolutely love reading books about writers. I love getting inside of their heads, and getting a sneak peek at their writing processes and habits. In THE COPYWRITER by Daniel Poppick, the reader gets inside the head of a poet/copywriter, and follows his life through the years of 2017-2019.
The format of this novel is definitely unique. It’s scattered with poems, dream descriptions, ramblings, and inner thoughts throughout. I found it entertaining and humorous, yet also dry and pretentious at times. It’s a super short book—around 200 pages. I’m not sure if I would’ve stuck around if it was in the 300-400 range. However, the poet’s work life, friendships, romantic relationships, hobbies, and passions certainly kept me invested.
I enjoyed this novel for the most part and whizzed right through it, but I’m not gonna lie—a lot of the poems went WAY over my head. Poetry has always confused the heck out of me. I loved absolutely everything about English class in high school, except for the units on poetry. It’s like my brain just crashed out and shut down once my teacher asked me to decipher a poem. I just couldn’t do it. Still can’t. 🤷🏻♀️
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
– Writer lifestyle
– Character-driven novels
– Office politics
– Workplace drama
– Unique writing formats
– Slow-moving pace
– Poetry
– Dry humor and banter
– Quick reads
– Friendship fiction
With that said, I’m going with 3.5/5 stars for THE COPYWRITER. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it either. It was a “middle of the road” read for me. Perhaps I just wasn’t the best audience for it? It’s out now!
thanks for the link, David!
can’t read it already too sad about it
Awwwww
Hmm … sometimes it’s best to do nothing … it wasn’t love at all.
Yes!
You’re the ONLY human I know who will read a book they don’t like and actually push through the whole book. And I agree with Dale. You are still able to extract a few beautiful threads.
About love and loving, I’ve only been loved this way and to this extent by one human, my father.
Did I love like this? Not fully. There might have been moments I felt safe enough and was vulnerable enough to be this dog. And it felt beautiful, to be able to love like this.
Ps, going to see dad, family, and our Dale in a few weeks.
Road trip! Enjoy!
This passage made my heart feel like bursting.
Awwww