Summer Reading List

I love to read. It's one thing that I do each and every day (I wish I enjoyed exercise as much!). As most of you already know, I'm a huge fan of both Amazon.com and Kindle. I can't even think of the last time I read an actual book or visited the library. In fact, my e-book-buying has gotten to be so much that I prefer to be oblivious to the amount I actually spend on books each month. I just simply turn a blind eye. I know...I know...I need to get better at using the library and that IS my goal in the coming year. I just prefer to fly by the seat of my pants and NOT wait for anything. When I make up my mind that I want to read a book, I want it now. I hate waiting for it!!! 

But because we are such avid Amazon.com users, I'm convinced they "know" me. They target me so perfectly...It's almost scary! As soon as I've finished a book and if I've given it a good rating, they immediately shoot me new emails depicting new books I'll like based on the ones I've rated well in the past. I must admit, these lists suck me in every time and they are completely accurate. I haven't had a bad reading experience in over a year. Of course, I enjoy some more than others, but, overall, I've been so amazed by Amazon.com.

Because of my amazing Amazon.com experience, putting together my summer reading list has been especially difficult this year. There is TOO many choices! So, I limited myself and, hence, my list to 11. My hope has always been that my picks keep you up past your bedtime...Happy Reading!!! 

1). 

Apparently I'm intrigued by midwives because two books about them made the list this year! I love this book! I fell in love with the characters, especially Miss Marie Babineau, who is a traditional midwife during the time when science and "painless" childbirth are beginning to make a forefront in modern medicine. The characters are so well developed. You'll want to love the good ones and hate the bad ones.  

2). 

I must admit when I first read the synopsis regarding this book, I thought to myself, "Really? Another book about a forbidden love during the civil rights movement?" It felt like this book had already been done...if not over-done. The only reason I read it is because the reviews were through the roof and after downloading a sample (my very favorite thing about e-readers), I was hooked. While the story line may seem like it's been done before, there are plenty of twists and turns of the plot to keep you coming back for more. This one is definitely worth your while. 

3). 

Elizabeth Strout is the same author who wrote "Olive Kittredge"...A highly acclaimed, Pultizer Prize winning novel...Which was completely lost on me. I admit it--I tried it--I didn't seen the point or the hoopla of it. It wasn't  the worst book I've read, but not exactly one that left me wanting more either. This being said, I absolutely LOVED "The Burgess Boys"! Its a tale about family and dynamics between siblings. Maybe it's because I, too, come from a family with two younger brothers and I could clearly relate to the spats and love and sense of generosity, but I closed this book (or rather my Kindle) not wanting to leave behind Susan, Bob, and Jim. They felt like family. So, obviously, Strout has done a fantastic job of character development (in my humble opinion). I felt deeply attached to them and wanted to keep "up" with them. It was hard to let them go! 

4). 

My son actually read this book for his reading class at school and urged me to do the same. It was a fabulous book!!! This book is actually one of four (a quartet) and after reading the first one, I quickly downloaded the other three. They are very easy, short reads and I enjoyed the way they made me think about the future. Jonas lives in a "perfect" world. No crime, no punishment, no starvation, etc.. It's a community based on sameness and equality. It actually reminded me a lot of the movie "The Truman Show". It's a Newberry Medal Award winner. I think the last one of those I read was "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" back in 1987! Whether then or now, it was definitely medal award winning worthy!!! 

5). 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! This is a story of friendship and what it looks like decades later after the four women have endured marriage, children, and middle age. It's very touching and I found myself completely immersed in each character and their relationships. This book was actually named Amazon's Best Book of March 2013 and it's a title well-deserved. 

6). 

Most of the books I've chosen, I felt were pretty uplifting and easy summer reading. This book is not one of them. It's a devastating story of loss. It's not for the faint of heart. Christa and Cora are twin sisters--who are deeply connected to one another until Cora dies from a drug overdose and Christa finds herself trying to pick up the pieces of her own life. Amazon's book description says it better than I can, "Beautifully written, mesmerizingly rich and true, Christa Parravani's account of being left, one half of a whole, and of her desperate, ultimately triumphant struggle for survival is informative, heart-wrenching and unforgettably beautiful." Well said, Amazon, thank you! Don't let the heaviness scare you away. It's a beautiful story! 

7). 

Ok, quite possibly...I'm almost scared to say it aloud...One of the my favorite books of all-time. For sure, probably my favorite of this year. It's a twisted story between past and present and the secrets hidden. This famous photograph entitled "Migrant Mother" gets a new twist--A reinvention of sorts. There are three families that you will come to love and know in this book. One is Mary Coin herself from the photograph and her family. She's a migrant worker during the Great Depression when food, money, and jobs are scarce. She boldly takes care of her children. She is a beautifully developed character and story line. Then there is Vera Dare who is the photographer who took the picture and present-day Walker who is a current professor who discovers his family has been carrying it's own secret for many decades. It's not only a creative book, but the characters and story lines are so well developed...As they shift from past and present in the book, you will find yourself sorry to let go of that family or story while you move onto to the next. It is a heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and fortitude. It's a fabulous book! 

8). 

Just when I said that most of the books I've chosen are uplifting...Maybe not so much. This one was gut-wrenching for me. I think I even shed a few tears, which hasn't happened since "The Shack" five years ago. This, too, is a true story about a son who stays with his mom during her weekly cancer treatments. During this time, they find themselves discussing the books they are reading to pass the time. While there are plenty of sections regarding books and their discussions, it's mainly about a son loving his mom and simply putting his memories of her on paper. It was sweet, loving, and sad. 

9). 

No selection list is complete without an Oprah Book Club pick! This is one I've been wanting to read for a long time, but just never got to it until now. In fact, I was shocked to learn Oprah picked it way back in 1998. I guess time flies when you're busy raising a family! I thought it was a superb book. It's based on a home birth going terribly wrong and the midwife being held liable. The daughter of the midwife is the narrator, so the story line is mainly seen from her point of view. It's a worthwhile read. I found it quite captivating. 

10). 

This story is based on May Dodd and her journal entries. She decides to take part in the "Brides for Indians" program initiated by the Grant administration as a means of integrating the American Indian into a white man's world. She was admitted into a mental hospital by her affluent family because she fell in love and married a man of lesser means. As a way out of confinement, she agrees to take part in the program. It's such a good story with lots adventure and love and suspense. 

11). 

A beautiful story of loss, love, and healing. When slave girl, Granada, must leave the main house of Amanda Satterfield due to her worsening mental state, she finds her herself in the house of Polly, the plantation healer. Polly immediately recognizes the same gift within Granada, but she's reluctant to accept it. Its a powerful story of connecting with the souls of others through our stories. By telling these stories, the souls heals itself. Odell is a beautiful story teller and a gifted writer. It definitely left me enraptured. 

Amazon.com

I love Amazon.com!!! Seriously...I used to think Target was my one-stop shopping...Not so much anymore. I can order anything from jeans to jam and get it shipped to my front door within 2 days for free. I just love it...But more than the online shopping, I love their book selection and I love how they've (I picture little cave dwellers) gotten to know me so well...

I purchased my first Kindle a couple of years ago. I'm now on my second Kindle. I really grew rebellious towards the whole e-reader campaign...But once I bought one, I was hooked. I don't know how we ever crack open a real book anymore. These devices are amazing. I can read about a book in the middle of an airport, download a sample (probably my most favorite feature of the e-readers), and have a book in my hand within seconds. Simply amazing...

But the most amazing thing about Amazon.com is how I can rate a book I've finished and a little screen will pop up of "recommendations"...Ok, I feel like they've, more than likely, installed a microchip in my brain because they know me so well. I get hooked on their recommendations and before I know it, I'm downloading another book and falling in love with new characters all over again. It's fabulous!!!

With this said, here's a new list of books I've read this past month and they were so good, I had to share!!!

 This book really, really surprised me...Like it says...It's a memoir of friendship. I knew it was a book I'd enjoy from how moved I felt after reading the sample. It's a beautifully written book about the love between friends, which developed because of their love for their dogs. It's so tragic, loving, and moving. Have a box of tissues handy!!!

This book had a slew of really well-developed characters. It was a joy to read. In fact, I loved it so much that I have already pre-ordered her next book coming out in January. I was sad when it was over.

Wow! Amazon did it again!!! I haven't ever heard of this book, but it popped up as "recommended" for me and it was so, so good!!! It starts out where a childless couple who are isolated and alone taking care of a light house happen upon a ship wreck on their desolate island. Inside the boat is a crying baby. The couple, who have always wanted children, but couldn't have any...decide to keep the child and not report the ship wreck. It a sad story of love and loss and the true meaning of family. I enjoyed every minute of it!!!

I happened upon this book while shopping at Target. It intrigued me. And if you don't already know...I totally judge a book by it's cover! :D This is somewhat a fairy tale. It's a very different genre for me, but I'm really enjoying it. While you know it's completely unrealistic, there's also a constant element of surprise  It has kept me turning the pages!!!

Good Books!

I've been so lucky lately with some GREAT reads!!! And as I always say, a good book must be shared! My youngest is going to be waking up from his nap any moment now, so I'm just going to put them down on paper and let you do the research. I have faith you are familiar with Google?!

1).

2).

3).

4).

2012 List of good Summer books...

At least once a year, I try to compile a list of good books I've read for the past 12 months. I have very limited time these days. My "sit by the pool while the kids swim" days are over. I have a toddler, which means my main objective if a pool is anywhere nearby is to keep him OUT of it (or at least his head above water!). The only time I have to really read now is after everyone is snugly tucked into bed at night, so a good book must be able to keep me up past my bedtime! Below is a list of books that did just that for me. Enjoy!



1).

Let me begin this selection by saying that books that take the nation by storm are normally lost on me. For example, I'm still baffled by Twilight and more baffling for me is the fact that I read the entire series. I guess I just kept thinking I must be missing something. They did absolutely nothing for me! The "Grey" series is a little different. This series didn't involve intricate writing styles or themes. The plot was pretty mundane and stupid, but it was enthralling. It did keep me up at night and not because of reasons you're thinking...The relationship between the two main characters was just intriguing, I guess, for lack of a better word. I enjoyed watching it unfold and develop. But the main reason I included it on the list is because it's easy reading. It's entertaining. It keeps you coming back for more. I recommend downloading on some kind of e-reader with 3G because once you finish one book, you'll want to immediately download the next! 

2). 

Wow! This is by far by most favorite memoir I've probably EVER read! As most of you know, my motto is "life is too short to read a book twice"...Not true for this book. It's so funny and uplifting. It's a book any woman and/or mother can relate to. It's beautifully written. It's a book about coming of age...About being a mother and a daughter. As Kelly describes it, "That sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap." It's a story of survival and need. I just loved it. You will too! 

3). 

This is one of those books that I was so happy I never gave up on. It's hard to get into. The writing style is unique and it takes some time to adapt to. It may even seem boring at first. It's one that can easily be sat down and never picked up again...But don't do it! It's worth every minute you devote to it. It's about two twin brothers in Ethiopia who are orphaned by their mother who dies at their birth. Their father runs away. The boys come of age during a revolution. It's fascinating and heart wrenching. The twins are born conjoined at the head and forever share fates that are intertwined even after they are physically separated. As you might expect, there is betrayal and miracles and trust. This book was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year in 2009--A title I believe it wholeheartedly deserves! 

4). 

I was scouring the internet one night looking for a good book. This one kept popping up on every list: Amazon, New York Times, etc. I quickly downloaded a sample to my kindle. It immediately had me enraptured. It has love, romance, suspense, mystery. It contains a very, very unique story line. The story begins on Nick and Amy's 5th wedding anniversary--The day Amy disappears. It's a dark story about a marriage gone very wrong--one that started out with so much promise. As a fellow blogger wrote: "Marriage is the real mystery in this book". It's true. And maybe it's baffling for everyone. Maybe no one really truly knows their mate like we believe we do. The story is fascinating and hard to put down. I enjoyed every minute of it! 

5). 

Elizabeth Gilbert may be one of my favorite authors. I loved "Eat, Pray, Love", which made me want to read her next book, "Committed"....If you read her first book, you probably already know her view on marriage. She doesn't think too highly of it. However, you see a different side of her in "Committed". I expected to hear lots of marriage bashing and while there is some of that...She clearly states in the book that survey after survey clearly reveals that marriage benefits men far more than it benefits women....she comes to understand it and envelopes it and not necessarily out of choice, but necessity. It's a good book. One that made me look at my own marriage differently. It's, once again, another page turner. In fact, I read it years ago...And reviewing it here has made me want to visit it again. It's a striking look at commitment...Do we need a piece of paper to be committed to another human being? I really enjoyed it...hence, it made my list this year. 

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen

This was one of those "feel good" books. It's one that almost anyone can read without being offended. It didn't contain sex, gore, or violence. It was simply a book about a little girl with a big dream. She can't wait to grow up and spread her wings. She wants to escape the small town where she grew up. And like most of us, she quickly realizes that the one thing she has wanted most in this world may not be the key to happiness after all.

Of course, there are plenty of twists and turns within this short story which keep the reader guessing and coming back for more. Mainly, this story is about family, love, and forgiveness. When her father, the town's preacher, commits the ultimate betrayal, it rocks the foundation of her values. It shocks the town, but somewhere admist the chaos, she finds it within herself to forgive him and move forward.

This is a good book for the holiday season since it's short and easy to read. It's captivating. Go ahead...Try it for yourself. You'll like it!

Christmas Pick

This is a strange pick for me, but I thought it was very fitting for the Holiday season. I firmly believe in keeping things simple for my family. I believe I'm doing my kids a great injustice by overindulging them. There is something to be said about giving instead of receiving. This is a great time of year to reinforce these belief systems. My kids are required to give gifts. The older ones save their money to buy a special trinket or toy for their siblings. The younger ones make some kind of craft.

I have not read this book yet, but it came with lots of recommendations from friends of mine who read my latest posting on www.thegarrychronicles.blogspot.com.

If it is your goal to raise children who are responsible, contributing members of society, I think you'll enjoy this. We can all learn something from it.

Wow!

All I can say is "Wow!"...

This book is FAB.U.LOUS!!!! I think I mentioned in previous posts how I totally picked this book by it's cover? Yep, I did...It's beautiful, isn't it? I guess on a dreary, cold day in Minnesota, the cover of this book made me want to jump right in to some far away, tropical paradise.

And it did just that...I jumped right in to an intriguing story about a young Hawaiian girl, Rachel, who develops leprosy at a young age and is banned to a far off island where she will remain quarantined for the rest of her life. Her family, the only people she knows, is stripped from her life and she's forced to grow up without them. It sounds depressing right? Another story about love and loss? Well, not exactly. There is definitely love and there is loss, but I think it's a magnificent story of survival. A sort of "bloom where you're planted" kind of theme. There is a whole tapestry of characters, whom are weaved together, and become Rachel's family. She forms deep friendships with fellow patients. She finds love. She builds a life.

And while the characters are all fictional, the scenery and history the author provides is not. The writing style is very descriptive....It was easy to picture a sort of "prison" of leprosy patients on this beautiful tropical island.

I hope this doesn't spoil the ending for fellow readers, but at the end of the book, she's given the option of leaving the island. A sort of parole. She struggles with this choice because all she's ever known is the island. She's been on it since she was a child and her family has become all of her fellow detainees. The biological family she left behind is nothing more than a distant memory, most are now dead. This leaves me wondering...Would I leave just because I could? Would I want to leave behind the only family I've ever known? The only home I've ever built? The only life I recognize?

It's a GOOD book! In fact, normally I don't read numerous books by the same author (unless it's Jodi Picoult or Danielle Steel...But we all had to go through THAT stage, right?) But the author, Alan Brennert, does have another one called "Honolulu" which I wouldn't mind reading someday (when I get through my current list of "unreads").

Stay tuned for a Holiday pick soon! I'll also try to compile another list of my fav's soon!

Molokai

This book has been on my shelf of "unreads" for far too long! After reading numerous reviews, I decided it would top my list and go from "unread" to "must read"...

This book grabbed my attention at Target long ago (Dontcha just LOVE that place? My goodness! If Target doesn't have it, you don't need it, right?) and I must admit...I totally judged this book by it's cover. It's just gorgeous!!!

While I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it, I'm really enjoying it! It contains some Hawaiian history, great character development, and writing style that has left me enraptured.

UPDATE: This book is FANTASTIC!!! It did take me some time to get into it, but now I can't stop reading it. It's definitely worth your time! And, yes, it has kept me up past my bedtime!!!

Too Many "Unreads"....

The above photo is of my "unreads"...Purchased, but not yet cracked open. After looking at this pile of very sad books, I decided I must tackle some of them before I read an oldie...even if it is a "goodie"...

Unfortunately, this doesn't even touch the number of books on my kindle and ipad that have been downloaded, but not read...So sad.

Not only am I addicted to reading books, but also to buying them!

My All Time Favorite Book

This happens to be my favorite book of all time. There are a lot of fabulous reads out there, but this one happens to hold a very special place in my heart. I read it back in August of 2001 and have chosen to NEVER, EVER go back and re-read it. There are many reasons for this, but I loved the book so much that I was afraid that if I were to review it again, I'd find fault with it. And as any love affair, I didn't want to part with the "no book can top this" kind of feeling.

Let me set the stage for you. Our first child had just turned 1, we were leaving him for the first time with my parents as we set out on a Yellowstone expedition...Our first child-free vacation in over a year. We had gorgeous weather, a great time reconnecting as husband and wife, good food, long naps in the car beside babbling brooks. This short time of our life really couldn't be any sweeter. At the same time, I had found the ultimate book! Really? What more could I ask for??? So, when I closed the final page of this book and literally wept because it was over, I have chosen to never go back to it. What if it was Yellowstone that made me like it so much? What if it was the enormous amounts of uninterrupted sleep we were getting? What if it was the food? Or the long, solitary drive? What if the book really wasn't that good at all? What if it was merely my state of mind? I couldn't even go there...So I never have...Until NOW!

Ten years, two houses, two kids, 3 dogs, and countless fish later, I have decided to go back and read "Cane River"...

I'm very scared and I'm not sure I can do it, but I'm going to try.

Talk about "Out of the Box"

I just finished reading the above book and I'm quite shocked...I must admit...This book was written by a Christian author and while I'm not trying to discount all Christian works, generally, they are hard for me to get into. I'm not one to wear my spirituality on my sleeve and I'm not an evangelist of any sort, so when I come upon a book with a lot of spiritual references, I tend to feel "bullied" or "led" down an unwelcome path. This didn't do any of those things for me. The references were quite subtle, but very thought provoking. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks to my dear friend, Lisa, for recommending it. It's definitely "out of the box" for me. I never would have picked it up on my own, but I'm so glad it's a part of my library now! If you have any doubts, just check out the reviews online. Some sites had over 1000 reviews and almost all were 5 stars! How often does that happen?

"The Kids Are Back in School" reads!

Awwww....can you hear that? What? You don't hear anything? That's because I'm referring to the sweet, sweet sounds of silence. This must mean the kids are back in school and it's finally time to set aside some "me" time and curl up with a good book.

Normally I post a selection of summer reads, but because my life has been super chaotic for the past six months (rumor has it new babies are little suckers of time), i decided to go on a quest for some good Fall/kids-are-back-in-school/take-advantage-of-nap-time books.

I wish I could take credit for the list I found, but I cannot. After a vast Internet search, this list seemed liked one that I could most relate to and couldn't wait to tackle. They all appealed to me. In fact, I think I download a sample of each of them (gotta love e-books!). Some of the books I've already read, but most I had not even heard of....this might be what intrigued me most...my book radar is always on the up-and-up, I frequently search for something new and different....so to find a list that consisted of a couple of never-heard-of's for me is always refreshing.

The list comes from www.about.com amongst their reading recommendations for women.

Ok, I don't think most people agree with me on this one, but I found this book to be very confusing. Yes, there were some heart-felt, romantic moments, but most of it, I just found hard to follow and kinda creepy (especially when the husband goes back in time to find his wife and she's a child...It was a little weird for me to watch a grown man interact with his "wife" who was really about 8 years old). The concept was new, different, and intriguing, but I just found it, overall, confusing.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and never let go. The characters have depth. I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn't reading and they remained close to my heart even after the last page was read.

I'm looking forward to this one! I'll keep you posted!

Another sample downloaded! I know I've said this time and again in my posts, but what list would be complete without a selection from Oprah? Regardless of your feelings for her, you have to love the fact that she got America (maybe even the entire world) reading!

Right off hand, this book doesn't exactly appeal to me, but I'll give any book 100 pages.

This looks GOOD!

I have read this one and I wasn't all that impressed with it. In fact, I'm a little surprised it made it on any list at all. It's pretty predictable and the characters aren't all that resonating and the writing seems somewhat blah...But it is a quick and easy one to complete in short amount of time. It could definitely be devoured while watching your kids at the beach...It doesn't require too much rapt attention!

Check back for more updates as I complete the list!

Happy Reading!

A Favorite Read of Mine..

This time of year is full of the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season, which makes finding time to read really, really difficult. So, I thought I'd post an all-time favorite of mine, which is also very short and easy to read. One you could probably fully accomplish in one day if needed...Or maybe on the way to Grandmother's house!!!

This book truly spoke to me and resonated within me long after the final page was read. It's about life and death and the choices we make in the present. And what better time than right now to reflect back on the year and a lifetime of choices. It's a heartwarming read about a mother and son's relationship and the dynamics within that cause us to turn away from one of the truest loves we'll ever experience in this life.

As a daughter (and a child of divorce) and mother of a son, this book was one I could feel fully from both character's perspective and it was one which made me want to be a better daughter and mother. I wouldn't categorize this book as uplifting, but it does make you stop and think about the choices we make because we believe our parents will always be here. But what happens when one day they aren't?

Ok, no more waiting....Here it is!

What I'm Reading Now...

So far, so good! I'll keep you posted...

Love, Love, Love....

In my humble opinion, I believe this to be one of my favorite books. There were parts of it that were hard for me to read (especially given my love for animals), but it was, overall, fabulous.

And if you recall from earlier posts, one measure of a great read for me is whether or not it keeps me up past my bedtime...Yep, you guessed it, this one did!

July's Selection by Janet

June's Selection by Tara!

Summer Reading Recommendations

Lately, I've come across quite a few exceptional reads that I thought I'd share if you're interested in some intense, funny, mysterious summer reading. I feel very fortunate to have found books that have moved me, made me laugh, question the meaning of life, focus on various goals, cry, and, change up my traditional way of thinking. And given such a gift, how can I not pass along some of these titles??? They cover a wide range of genres, so I believe everyone will find something enjoyable and enticing.

The greatest gift a book can give is to keep me up past my normal bedtime. These books did that for me and once I experienced each one of them, I couldn't pick up any old book again. They really made my standards higher...I no longer wanted to be merely entertained, but enthralled. These characters lived within my heart and mind for a very long time. My hope is that they do the same for you. Here goes:

1).



This book contained both mystery, suspense, drama, and love. It kept me coming back for more. The only difficult part was keeping all the characters straight. This book is one of a series. I just read that the latest release is one of People Magazine's "critic's choice" I am definitely adding the remaining two books to my long list of "must reads".

2).


This book was funny and endearing. It focuses on commitment by fip-flopping from the past (spoken in the protagonist's grandmother's voice) to the present day. There were parts and sections of this book where I wanted to scream and others where I cried. It's take a lot for a book to move me to tears, this one did.

3).


Of course a summer reading list wouldn't be complete without a selection from Oprah! But truly, this is one of the best books of all time. All women can relate to a time in their life where they were in the fetal position on a bathroom floor. This book spoke to me, like it did millions of other women. If only we all had the opportunity to take a 12 month hiatus from life to find ourselves. But what I did realize through her writing is that while we may not all be able to jet set across the world for an entire year, we can space out time within our own schedule to "find ourselves"...Enjoy!

4).


"The Moonflower Vine" is a rediscovered classic from the 1950's. This book is the author's "one hit wonder". It is her first and only published book and it is worth your time. For the most part, I believe life is just too short to read a book twice, I bend the rule for this read. There's hardship, love, and scandal, but overall, it's about a family enduring tough times. This is a great for all those beach or poolside days. Just remember the sunscreen because you'll get so wrapped up in the various story lines that you may forget to reapply!!!

5).

When a book earns an award entitled, "Best Book of the Year" it tends to grab my attention. With all the reading material published annually, I always wonder how anyone can narrow down a selection and grant one of many such a grandeur seal of approval. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this book is probably ONE of the best of the year and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It is a collection of short stories, which is a change from the norm. However, each story was open-ended, so my only complaint is that I'd just really get into the characters and story lines and it would end with very little closure. It's somewhat of a tease, but one I liked. You could draw your own conclusion and there were times where I screamed out in agony, "No! Give me MORE!" when I realized it was the end. But this book is very worthy of book club material. It contains family dynamics that we can all relate to and I believe it would invoke some saucy conversation with a group of women. Give it a try!

6).


This is my final recommendation (that is, until I find more unforgettable titles to pass along). I was hesitant to read this book because I feel that ever since "Marley and Me" has inundated our society, we've been bombarded with authors trying to play on our emotions regarding the love and sadness that is part our relationship with our pets. More than likely, when you enter into a relationship with a dog, you realize that chances are you will outlive them and have to make the heartbreaking decision of when enough is enough. And to be honest, one book about a dog is probably all we really need. That is, until I came across "The Art of Racing in the Rain"...It is spoken from the dog's point of view and his relationship with members of the family. He's there as they endure death, life, sadness, joys and it's truly a book I can't put down. If you've ever had a dog, it's one you can relate to. As I began the story, I was pretty certain the breed of the dog was my own (a Golden Retriever) because of his personality traits and the love and kindness he shows his family members. However, I quickly realized the traits I was referring to probably apply to almost every dog and how every owner regards them. It was pure sweetness and one I believe will capture the heart and soul of almost anyone (unless, of course, you were born without either, then you may struggle through it! ;))

Happy, Happy Reading!

May's Selection by Tracy!