Purim books: A time to laugh, a time to grog

The central theme of Purim sometimes gets lost in the mix of loud singing, intense dancing and heavy drinking.

You might even forget that the point of the holiday is not necessarily to get hammered, but to rejoice in the celebration of life.

Keeping in mind that singing, dancing and drinking may be the typical methods of rejoicing, its important to remember there are other ways to truly celebrate the value of existence — like picking up and reading a great comedy.

So once you’ve finished reading the Book of Esther, pick up a copy of the Book of Prelutsky, the Book of Davis or the Book of Abrams — three humorous Hollywood reads that could spark a higher appreciation for life.

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“The Diary of Jinky: Dog of a Hollywood Wife,” by Carole Raphaelle Davis (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $12.95).

All dogs go to heaven, but quick-witted terrier Jinky wasn’t ready to wag his tail one last time. The former San Pedro dog pound “death row” inmate was fortunate enough to be rescued by a beautiful woman during an adoption event in Burbank. The hardened canine was able to trade his former life on the streets for the lap of luxury in the form of a Hollywood Hills mansion. Amazed by his sudden reversal of fortune, Jinky documents his story in “The Diary of Jinky.”

Jinky’s brutal honesty makes for a nice contrast to the friendly, polite shell of his Hollywood pet parents. “Dad had a birthday and he is seven and a half in dog years. In people years, that’s nearly dead. In Hollywood, that’s a rotting corpse,” he writes.

When Jinky shares his unique perspective and gratitude for things that people typically take for granted, his off-the-collar insights help us gain a better appreciation for our world and enable us to truly respect our lives.

As told to actress and animal rights activist Carole Raphaelle Davis, this doggy diary illustrates the two-way relationship that can be created through saving an animal.

“Now that my dog has surpassed my wildest dreams by writing a book, I hope that people will read it and then go out and do a mitzvah. I hope they do something nice for someone, even if that someone has four legs,” said Davis, who added that it’s important to adopt animals from a shelter, rather than buy them from a pet store.

Carole Raphaelle Davis will sign “Jinky” at the March 18 Super Pet Adoption Festival, Johnny Carson Park, Burbank.

‘>network.bestfriends.org/losangeles/ or ‘>www.myspace.com/jillabrams.