What are you reading?

[mindehankins]

Glad you liked it! I'd hate for any dog lover to miss it!
I found "The Help" a little hard to read at first, because of the dialect, but loved the story.
Now I'm on "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" http://www.amazon.com/Saving-CeeCee-Hon ... 0670021393
Always looking for more recommendations in the lighter fiction area!

[flip-flop]

Just finished "Little Bee" which has rave reviews but I had somehow never heard of. It was good, a little depressing but interesting.

Now, I am working through "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (on loan from a forum buddy) and it is EXCELLENT. It is told from a dog's perspective and I have resisted reading it for a long time because it just seemed silly. I have to say it is very well done. Loving it!

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I grew up in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, in Glencoe, IL.

You did????????
cool

Yup. Here is a link to it. Lived there from age 4 to 17.

http://www.prairiestyles.com/images/arc ... righam.jpg

[jigzmom]

Just found this thread! So many great suggestions! Have already downloaded The Heart-Shaped Box to my Kindle... I'm a huge fan of Stephen King, looking forward to reading his son's work.

Loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, very interested in the movie, how it will be told from the dog's perspective. Patrick Dempsey stars as Denny. I've just loaded the author's newest book to my Kindle, Raven Stole the Moon.

Thanks for the ideas! Here's one to add: A book I read awhile ago but still sticks with me is Sarah's Key. It's historical fiction, a present-day reporter searches for a family who used to live in her home. A story of the Holocaust, very moving.

Reading right now: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. Saw the movie, it was good.

[PA Girl]

I grew up in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, in Glencoe, IL.

You did????????
cool

Yup. Here is a link to it. Lived there from age 4 to 17.

http://www.prairiestyles.com/images/arc ... righam.jpg

Very cool! I read a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright over the years and have visited Fallingwater at least 6 times, maybe more.

So I started The Art of Racing in the Rain last night and got about 3/4 of the book finished and, I have to say, I don't like it. It is so depressing. I can appreciate the way the author uses the dogs point of view but the storyline is bringing me down, way down.

Even in the beginning, I wanted to reach into the pages and smack Denny. I could see where the situation was going.

[liamsaunt]

Marcia, that is so cool!

Another story told from the perspective of a dog is Dog on It. It's a mystery, and it is really funny! The dog's owner Bernie is a detective, and the dog Chet helps him solve cases. John was laughing out loud on the beach while reading it. If you want something funny and dog focused, check it out. A sequel was recently released called Thereby Hangs a Tail. Also funny, but not as hysterical as Dog on It.

I am almost finished with a terrific book called Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese. When I first started it I thought I was going to have to put it down (it opens with some really graphic descriptions of a childbirth gone horribly wrong) but I am glad I stuck with it. Great story.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Totally light and fluffy beach reads that I just finished:

"Exclusive" by Sandra Brown (it's older, paperback)
"The Scarecrow" by Michael Connelly (also paperback)

[AH]

Just finished "Wishin' & Hopin'" by Wally Lamb. I really like his books.

AH

[lark22]

Almost done with Michael Pollan's "Omnivore's Dilemma" -- really absorbing.

When I travel, I like to read travel books (my favorite is Paul Theroux). Any other Theroux fans out there?

[lark22]

Oh, and for political junkies, I highly recommend 'Game Change', which I just finished -- it's a fascinating look behind the scenes of the '08 election.

[mahojim]

"Odd Thomas", by Dean Koontz. Just read " And The Sea Will Tell", as well as "Helter Skelter", by Vincent Bugliosi.
Diggin' "Odd Thomas"...
Smiles-
MJ

[PA Girl]

I finished The Art of Racing in the Rain last night. Overall, I liked it. I wonder if speaks to dog people more than non-pet owners or cat people?

It reminded me of The Grace That Keeps This World by Tom Bailey. Not the animal element but the style of writing.

[mindehankins]

Good question, PA girl. As a dog person, I can't imagine the perspective of a non-dog person. One of our dogs, Abby, is a wise old soul. Enzo's "voice" sounded like I imagine Abby's would be, if she had one. There were sad parts. It seemed sometimes that the racer couldn't catch a break, but gosh knows I've known people like that. Overall, it made me feel good, though
Little Bee, Cutting for Stone, and Some Things that Meant The World to Me are on my short list.
"Some Things That Meant The World To Me" looks like a really interesting read....

[AH]

"The Gift of an Ordinary Day" by Katrina Kenison. I recommend this book to anyone going through a transition in their life; especially moving or facing an empty nest in the next few years.
AH

[AH]

Read "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Must say I would not have picked this one up if not for the comments made here. Being a dog & cat lover I must say I flew through this book. The second to the last chapter hit too close to the heart for me though. I knew nothing about racing cars prior to reading this book so I did come away a little wiser I guess. I give it a thumbs up.

AH