A Handful of Happiness
How a Prickly Creature Softened a Prickly Heart
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
A feel-good memoir about a man and his hedgehog
Massimo Vacchetta, an Italian veterinarian specializing in large animals, is recently divorced and feeling heartbroken and depressed—until the day that someone brings an orphaned baby hedgehog into his clinic. As the tiny hedgehog cries and whimpers, Massimo immediately understands the extent of the animal’s vulnerability and isolation. Recognizing her helplessness and desperation in himself, he connects with her in a way he’s never connected with any other animal.
In caring for this hedgehog, Massimo uncovers her vibrant personality, and rediscovers his own. Soon, another sick hedgehog lands in his lap. And then another. As people begin to seek him out to heal and care for their injured or orphaned animals, Massimo finally discovers his life’s mission.
As other sick hedgies are healed and released, Massimo continues to dote on Ninna like a child, constantly fretting about her health and happiness, caring about her in a way he’s never cared about anyone or anything else. But the cage that once kept her safe soon becomes a prison, and as much as it breaks Massimo's heart to let her go, he knows she longs to be free.
Through this life-affirming story of a man and his hedgehog, we learn that no love is too great and no creature is too small.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This tender tale of an Italian veterinarian and his pet hedgehog begins as many modern pet stories do with a selfie. Vacchetta was working part-time at an animal clinic in 2013 when one day a woman brought in a newborn hedgehog that she found in her garden. After feeding the tiny creature goat milk from a syringe, Vacchetta and his boss, Andrea, spent the afternoon taking selfies with the tiny critter. Vacchetta was recently divorced at the time and feeling emotionally adrift and unsure of what he wanted from life, yet he was immediately fond of this tiny hedgehog. He took it upon himself to care for the animal he named Ninna. The book follows along as Vacchetta builds Ninna a little house, takes her to the beach, and frets over how much to feed her. Inspired by his prickly companion, Vacchetta opened La Ninna Rescue Center for hedgehogs in the city of Novello, in northern Italy. This sweet tale of companionship is sure to resonate with animal lovers.
