Book excerpt: The illustrated novel "A Year in the Lives of God's Furry Angels" by Kirby Lee Davis is, as the name suggests, a companion work to his coming-of-age tale "God's Furry Angels." They represent a rarity in modern literature: two books published at roughly the same time on the same subject by the same author, with wildly different styles and contexts. The first could compare to a Pixar or Hallmark tale, while "A Year in the Lives" resembles a collection of watercooler anecdotes or newspaper comic strips in written form. The second book supplements and augments its source material while providing a magical journey all its own. Both novels bridge many genres: fantasy, contemporary, humor, action/adventure, supernatural, spiritual, allegory. Unlike "God's Furry Angels," which uses a narrative style to weave its many threads together, "A Year in the Lives" provides a calendar of daily highlights, mishaps, and other events that impact this family of characters before, during, and after those told in the first book. "A Year in the Lives" opens with the Jan. 1 marriage of John and Jessica Ferguson, which takes place roughly three months before the pivotal turn that launches "God's Furry Angels." Its march through time enhances known tales while revealing new turns and other twists. "A Year in the Lives" then travels beyond its source book to unveil how this engaging year ended, leaving unopened doors to what may follow. Like his original work, this novel spins its webs with words and photographs by the author. They help make "A Year in the Lives of God's Furry Angels" a satisfying read for nearly all ages.