Madison Avenue Maxi

By Elke Gazzara

When Ben Gazzara and his wife, Elke, reluctantly agree to adopt the pet dachshund their daughter no longer wants, the couple unknowingly takes a new member into their family. Neither of the Gazzaras is a "dog person," and the sudden presence of a pet in the lives of these jet-setters appears at first uncertain. However, the ever-sweet, playful, and surprisingly smart Maxi immediately endears herself, and soon she becomes the Gazzaras' unlikely "child" in the empty nest of their Madison Avenue townhouse. The little dog accompanies the pair everywhere -- to the theater, restaurants, dinner parties, world-class hotels, receptions for heads of state, and even the dentist. Madison Avenue Maxi is the story of a love affair between a dog and her owners. With heartfelt humor and a dog lover's eye, Gazzara chornicles Maxi's antics in Manhattan as well as at their second home in Tuscany and over travels to the French Riviera, Brazil, Spain, and other luxurious locales. Along the way she meets celebrities such as Roman Polanski, Gena Rowlands, John Voigt, Danielle Steele, Gay Talese, Peter Bogdanovich, New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Frank Gehry. Madison Avenue Maxi is a warm, touching memoir of man -- and woman's--best friend.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786720387
• ISBN13: 9780786720385
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A fun leisure choice indeed.

In Madison Avenue Maxi, the wife of a movie star provides an inherently fascinating and engagingly personal memoir of the life and times of the family dog, a miniature dachshund she and her husband adopted, and offers up whimsical, fun anecdotes on how to dog became a part of their fast-paced, globe-trotting lifestyle. Any general-interest library strong in books about pets and stars will find it a fun leisure choice indeed.

A PEFECT GEM

This book is a perfect gem! It is a warm, transformative story about how Maxi, a charming dog, captures the hearts and affection of a busy couple. This beautifully designed book would make a perfect gift for anyone and certainly for animal lovers. But readers of all kinds will love this book as it is also a fine piece of debut non-fiction writing.

A DogTakes over Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous!

For every parent who ends up raising their child's unwanted pet. Enjoy how Maxi the dog, captivates his grandparents and becomes an indispensable part of their home.

A joy!

What a delight! In this already hectic holiday season, Maxi was a breath of fresh air. For all dog lovers and anyone who wants an escape that is both heart-warming and fun.

heart-warming, sincere and full of love

"Madison Avenue Maxi" is a charming, well-written story that lovingly chronicles the journey of an adorable little dachshund and her famous people-parents, Elke and Ben Gazzara. I enjoyed the book very, very much. While to some people, on the surface, this may seem like a simple book about a world-traveling dog and the movie stars, politicians and movers and shakers that she meets with her parents, this book is MUCH deeper than that. Honestly, when I read it, I cried. Maxi and her tale merely set the stage for a series of touching events that unfold in normal people's everyday lives: family struggles and discontent blossom into love, serious health problems become beautifully inspiring and healing moments, friendships grow and change, hardened hearts soften and in spite of unforeseen challenges, life does go on . . . and it goes on with style, with joy, with chins up and with a few barks and wags along the way. Elke Gazzara paints a vivid picture of her "best friend" Maxi that will touch your heart and make you wish you had a Maxi of your very own. But don't take my word for it!!! Read for yourself. ; )