The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Whether or not you are a dog lover or not, this book is a wonderful story narrated from the perspective of Enzo, the family dog. Having read, Marley and Me, this book is even more wonderful! Denny is an amateur race car driver who picks out the family dog Enzo from a box of scruffy pups at a farm. Since Enzo is the narrator, we see how life is for him at the very end of his life and what is personal recollections of the life of Denny and his family entails. The beauty and wisdom of this dog gives some surprising perspectives that certainly pertain to all of us even in our ordinary lives. Enzo has immense wisdom he tries to relay although he is stuck in the body of a dog. Through triumph and tragedy, this dog would make anyone fall in love over and over again. It will also make you cherish your pets in an extraordinary way.

This was a book that makes you look at your own life, ascertain what is important and helps you sort through all the garbage that is simply unimportant. A wonderful read that you can read over again and want to share with friends and family. I give this book a huge A+!

The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones

Rarely have I enjoyed a book as much as this one nor craved authentic Chinese food in the interim. This exceptional book brings the reader into the story without the usual soap opera nonsense that so many writers use today. Instead, you are transported through modern day China where the simplicity and complexities of family are interwoven with the importance of sharing and creating a meal. That sounds simple enough, but this story truly brings to light the intricate nature of family in China with filial obligations and a true sense of how elders can be revered.

The writing here shows a strong flow of imagery as if you, the reader, are actually watching from the sidelines or just above the images. Each page is a wonder in history, creating food and the other story line of an American food writer who sees and experiences it all. Traditions play an intrinsic part of this masterfully written book. Thankfully, I have found a new author to enjoy and relish on a cold spring day.

The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris

I can't believe I was fortunate enough to find two great books to read this week. Anyone who has seen the film Chocolat will find this book as endearing as the movie and better as a book. This is of course, the sequel to the book Chocolat!

This is like a modern fairy tale set in the darker parts of a modern day Paris. Magic, witchcraft and the inordinate development of relationships is magically crafted by Joanne Harris. The characters are believable, loveable and in some cases despicable. Being the reader, you can sense what is happening in the course of the book and you want to desperately help the main characters.

I savored this book and halfway through it called my sister in Utah to recommend it. I have not read Chocolat, but based on this book, it will be my next choice to read. Lovers of chocolate will find that the magic of making chocolate is believable in the effects such deliciousness has on the soul.

This is a great read!

The Rope Walk By Carrie Brown

This book was recommended to me by a friend who is also a librarian. I was in need of this particular book. Set in Vermont, where I went to college, the descriptive quality of the writing stands on its own merit. The premise of the story itself is so touching and stirs up memories of childhood summer for the reader.

Carrie Brown, the auther, transforms the reader to the magical qualities of what is intriguing, interesting and even frightening for the two main characters who are 10 year old children. The book also serves as a reminder of the diversity of the child mind and non-judgemental qualities that keep the innocence of a child in mind.

The two main characters, Alice and Theo, meet at Alice's 10th birthday party where we also meet her older brothers and father. Family history evolves as does the instant friendship of Alice and Theo. They in term form an unusual bond with an adult neighbor suffering from AIDS. In the hopes of helping their adult friend, the two children work diligently at creating a path in the woods for their adult friend Kenneth.

For anyone who is a reader, family minded and childlike inside, this book will haunt you with the beautiful language and final message. This is a must read again for me and I will hunt out other books by this magical auther.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

I am always intrigued by evil that can be felt but not necessarily seen. I also will never view an approaching angry storm in the same way after reading this book.

This book hints at the needs and desires of the average person who wishes to be extraordinary. A "simple" carnival comes to town on the wake of an unusual storm and nothing is the same thereafter. Evil comes in many forms, but in this case, it is almost believable after looking into the desires of some of the town people.

I often have a book I can read during the day and one that I save for night time reading. This is a particularly scary book with wonderful imagery that puts the reader as an avid watchter of the unfolding of this story.

4.5* out of 5*

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

I first read this book when I was in 6th grade. Being an avid reader I was transfixed by the history, customs and magic of China. Immediately after reading this book, I read everything else I could find by Pearl S. Buck. Once I find an author I love, there is no stopping me from reading everything they have written.

A Pulitzer Prize Winner, this is a timeless classic that instantly involves the reader with language and imagery that makes you feel transported back to the earlier times in China. From bound feet to concubines, a young farmer works his way from being a peasant to a landowner of extreme power and wealth. His family progression shows the hard work of his chosen wife and sons and what money and wealth can do to people who came from the earth.

Peasant Wang Lung shows us the reliance and superstition these people had with gods and the earth that sustained and allowed his powerful dynasty to grow. This is the first book in a Trilogy and each book after is just as well written and a must read.

Second Nature by Alice Hoffman

Okay, I have read every book that Alice Hoffman has ever written. My first book that I read by her was called The River King. Imagery that is written like fine poetry haunted me from the first page to the last and I found myself in tears at the end. It was dark and haunting and much like a fairy tale with a realistic twist.

Second Nature came next and I was immediately transfixed again. I did not want the book to end. This particular book really looks at how society sees anyone who is raised differently from the norm and immediate suspicions of that person. Robin Moore is the main character who saves a man who everyone believes is a beast. It is never her intention or his, but a fantastic trust and love develops that no one in the outside societ can understand or believe. Again, it is like a modern day fairy tale where you hope that wickedness and ignorance can actually be overcome.

Alice Hoffman is an incredibly gifted storyteller....I just wish there were more books of hers that I could read.

5* out of 5*