Uggie the terrier is barking all in a new tell-all memoir. From Millie Bush to Cheeta to Sneaky Pie Brown, a menagerie of beastly literary stars.
Like many actors in Hollywood, it took years for Uggie to become an overnight sensation. The charismatic Jack Russell terrier was born in 2002 and appeared in several movies—including Water for Elephants with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson—but it wasn’t until his breakout role in Oscar-winning film The Artist that he became a star. But after all the accolades for his performance (which earned him the coveted Palm Dog at Cannes), Uggie retired from acting and is now barking all in a new memoir, Uggie—My Story. Writing an opening chapter reminiscent of David Copperfield (“I can recall very little about my puppyhood. I think I met my father once when he came to sniff dispassionately at me and my sprawling siblings.”), Uggie is also not afraid to dish about his famous costars. Of Reese Witherspoon, he wrote, “As someone born in the sign of impulsive Aries, she is highly compatible with my cool Aquarian nature. Ours was one of spontaneous attraction.”
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One of the most famous dogs ever to live in the White House, Millie Bush was an English Springer Spaniel who played a role in George H.W. Bush’s 1992 reelection campaign. Disparaging the foreign policy experience of Bill Clinton and Al Gore, President Bush famously quipped, “My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos.” In 1990, Millie “dictated” a book to Barbara Bush and chronicled her time at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The memoir earned a rave review from Garfield the cat in The New York Times: “Given that it was written by a dog, one must conclude that Millie's Book is a miracle, or at the very least, pretty darned impressive. Most of the dogs I know would rather chew on a book than write one. Oh, sure, Millie had help from the First Lady, but Millie's wit, style, and incisiveness are clearly stamped throughout.”
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While Tarzan not speak good in movies, friend Cheeta once write funny book. The chimpanzee credited with being the first of many Cheetas was born in 1932 and named Jiggs. He appeared in several of the Johnny Weissmuller movies and retired from acting to a primate sanctuary in Palm Springs. He may have even died, depending on whose story you believe, but in 2009, the affable ape—who claimed to be 76—released an hilarious autobiography called Me Cheeta. Written like any great celebrity memoir, Me Cheeta shamelessly name drops—there are cameos by Charlie Chaplin and F. Scott Fitzgerald—and settles old scores (particularly his longstanding rivalry with “Jane” actress Maureen O’Sullivan). The book, which was actually written by British novelist James Lever was among the finalists for the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
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After she made a sex video and starred in a reality show, was there really that much about Paris Hilton the public didn’t know? Only Tinkerbell, her beloved Chihuahua, could say and he wasn’t talking—until 2004. Written by blogger D. Resin, The Tinkerbell Diaries purported to reveal the four-legged BFF’s innermost thoughts about the heiress. Discussing the men in Paris’s life, Tinkerbell wrote, “She doesn’t do anything but dance alone in some corner, and all the guys sort of find their way to her, one at a time, like bees.” Shortly after the book was published, however, Tinkerbell went missing—leading some to wonder if it was retribution for the tiny tell-all. But a few days later, the dog resurfaced and was later back on the red carpet. In other words, a happy ending.
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Beginning in 1990, bestselling novelist Rita Mae Brown took on an obscure coauthor for a new mystery, Wish You Were Here—her beloved tiger cat, Sneaky Pie Brown. And Sneaky Pie’s paw prints are immediately evident: in the book, Mary Minor Haristeen sets out to solve a murder with the help of Mrs. Murphy, her beloved tiger cat. (Hey, write what you know.) More than two decades later, the six-legged literary duo have written more 20-plus books in the Mrs. Murphy mysteries, but in this election year, Sneaky Pie is considering a bold career change as evidenced by their latest novel’s title: Sneaky Pie for President.
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"I don't mean this to sound full of myself—but this Wizard of Oz story? It's all about me!!! I'M IN ALMOST EVERY SCENE IN THE PICTURE!!!" So begins I, Toto, a 2001 memoir by Terry, the cairn terrier who starred in The Wizard of Oz and more than a dozen other movies. Based on “lost diary” of Terry (who died in 1945), I, Toto chronicles the dog’s glamorous life in Hollywood—where he once worked with Spencer Tracy and Shirley Temple—and reveals wonderful Oz secrets. SPOILER ALERT: It turns out it wasn’t so easy to work with those flying monkeys.
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There are adorable cat videos on the Internet and then there is Maru. A male Scottish Fold cat from Japan, Maru’s many YouTube videos (shot by his human roommate mugumogu) have been viewed more than 150 million times, making him a true viral phenomenon. But still his public wanted more. In 2011, William Morrow published I Am Maru, which gave fans an intimate glimpse of the cat’s life, including his favorite hiding places, treats, and toys. Reviewing the book in USA Today, Deirdre Donahue purred, “Say goodbye to Hello Kitty and hello to Maru.”
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Following the death of Michael Jackson, The Daily Beast interviewed his old friend Bubbles the chimp, who had not yet been told of the King of Pop’s passing. One year later, Bubbles was ready to tell all about his years with MJ. In My Secret Diary: From Swaziland to Neverland, Bubbles rewrites his own myth, writing about how he adopted a young singer, whose career he ignited when he ate one of his gloves. Most shocking of all? Bubbles’ admission that he had a $2,000-a-day banana addiction.
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