Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
This is a wonderful story of loss, love and second chances. Adam March lost control one day and everything changed. He was fired from his job as a top executive, left by his wife who has to save her social standing, ignored and disdained by his daughter, and kicked out of all of his homes into a one bedroom economy apartment. When Adam’s life is falling down around him an unlikely friend gives him a reason to keep going. Chance is a pit bull mix that has lived his life in a cage. After years fighting in the pit, he escapes during a rescue attempt and wanders the streets of Boston, free for the first time in his life. After a blizzard, he finds himself caged once more, this time at an animal shelter. Against their will, this unlikely pair forges a bond strong enough to save both of their lives.
Wonderfully written, I could not put it down. Told alternately from the perspective Adam then Chance, this book will speak to anyone who has ever known the friendship of an animal. I found more than a few life lessons tucked between the lines of this story. Sometimes you have to lose control to find yourself. Everyone is fighting a battle, though the battle scars may not show. Appearances are next to useless. You never can tell where you will meet a new friend.
Reviewed by Lisa
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In one week, Rhoda Janzen experiences two tragedies – her husband of 15 years leaves her for a man he met on the Internet, and she is involved in a car accident that leaves her bruised, broken and in need of rehabilitation. She decides to recuperate at her Mennonite parents’ home, which launches a series of reminiscences of her childhood growing up in a Mennonite community. With humor and a dash of sadness, Janzen mends both physically and mentally and gains a new perspective spiritually.
I loved reading this memoir; there were times I laughed so hard I’m sure I disturbed everyone around me! Janzen’s narrative flows quickly and very smoothly. She draws the reader into her personal story in such an inviting way, willing to share her deepest marital turmoil and poke fun at herself from time to time. Plus, for those interested in learning more about the Mennonite faith, Janzen provides an appendix at the end, detailing aspects of the religion and the community with some humor.
A remarkable read!
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
In one week, Rhoda Janzen experiences two tragedies – her husband of 15 years leaves her for a man he met on the Internet, and she is involved in a car accident that leaves her bruised, broken and in need of rehabilitation. She decides to recuperate at her Mennonite parents’ home, which launches a series of reminiscences of her childhood growing up in a Mennonite community. With humor and a dash of sadness, Janzen mends both physically and mentally and gains a new perspective spiritually.
I loved reading this memoir; there were times I laughed so hard I’m sure I disturbed everyone around me! Janzen’s narrative flows quickly and very smoothly. She draws the reader into her personal story in such an inviting way, willing to share her deepest marital turmoil and poke fun at herself from time to time. Plus, for those interested in learning more about the Mennonite faith, Janzen provides an appendix at the end, detailing aspects of the religion and the community with some humor.
A remarkable read!
Reviewed by Jessica
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
If you have ever been owned by a pet you will be able to appreciate the inadequacy felt by Bob Tarte. Having never been an animal person, Bob holds up fairly well as first his wife and later anyone and everyone deposits bunny after duck after parrot into his life. Though at times painful, he evolves into a do-it-yourself zookeeper and fence builder, and ultimately an animal lover. Bob Tarte invites us to laugh with him and even at him as he stumbles along the minefield of pet care.
Bob Tarte is a laugh-out-loud writer with a gift for drawing the reader into the circus of his life. His wit and word play made this a refreshing and enjoyable read. He neither omits the inevitable loss that comes with the joy of pets nor sink into the fluffy saccharine sweetness that so often fills books about animals. With sarcasm and irony you will be drawn into the lives of 2 humans and the 5 rabbits, 3 parrots, 2 doves, 2 canaries, 4 parakeets, 1 starling, 2 cats, 14 ducks, 2 geese and 4 turkeys that control them along the way.
Reviewed by Lisa
Format: Book
If you have ever been owned by a pet you will be able to appreciate the inadequacy felt by Bob Tarte. Having never been an animal person, Bob holds up fairly well as first his wife and later anyone and everyone deposits bunny after duck after parrot into his life. Though at times painful, he evolves into a do-it-yourself zookeeper and fence builder, and ultimately an animal lover. Bob Tarte invites us to laugh with him and even at him as he stumbles along the minefield of pet care.
Bob Tarte is a laugh-out-loud writer with a gift for drawing the reader into the circus of his life. His wit and word play made this a refreshing and enjoyable read. He neither omits the inevitable loss that comes with the joy of pets nor sink into the fluffy saccharine sweetness that so often fills books about animals. With sarcasm and irony you will be drawn into the lives of 2 humans and the 5 rabbits, 3 parrots, 2 doves, 2 canaries, 4 parakeets, 1 starling, 2 cats, 14 ducks, 2 geese and 4 turkeys that control them along the way.
Reviewed by Lisa
Monday, March 22, 2010
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Lucy Valentine comes from a family notorious for their matchmaking skills. This is great lucrative news for the family, except Lucy doesn't quite have the matchmaking gift, thanks to an electrical surge when Lucy was fourteen, changing her powers from matchmaking to lost object finding. When her father leaves the matchmaking business, Valentine Inc., to her for a couple of weeks, Lucy fears she will ultimately screw up the business and her family's good business name. Instead, Lucy finds trouble in a mystery surrounding a client and an engagement ring, a lost boy in the woods and a dangerously good-looking PI named Sean Donahue.
I had the fortunate opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book. Fast-paced and sprinkled with some laugh-out-loud moments, this is definitely a great, fluffy book to read while on vacation or just looking for a few hours to escape from reality. The back cover suggests this book for readers of Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Crusie...this is very true! Lucy finds herself in some very comical situations, and her ways to get out of them just add to the entertaining storyline. Webber seems to provide a story that has something for every reader - romance, mystery and an element of the supernatural.
This is the first in a series starring Lucy Valentine. Heather Webber also writes the Nina Quinn mystery series.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Lucy Valentine comes from a family notorious for their matchmaking skills. This is great lucrative news for the family, except Lucy doesn't quite have the matchmaking gift, thanks to an electrical surge when Lucy was fourteen, changing her powers from matchmaking to lost object finding. When her father leaves the matchmaking business, Valentine Inc., to her for a couple of weeks, Lucy fears she will ultimately screw up the business and her family's good business name. Instead, Lucy finds trouble in a mystery surrounding a client and an engagement ring, a lost boy in the woods and a dangerously good-looking PI named Sean Donahue.
I had the fortunate opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book. Fast-paced and sprinkled with some laugh-out-loud moments, this is definitely a great, fluffy book to read while on vacation or just looking for a few hours to escape from reality. The back cover suggests this book for readers of Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Crusie...this is very true! Lucy finds herself in some very comical situations, and her ways to get out of them just add to the entertaining storyline. Webber seems to provide a story that has something for every reader - romance, mystery and an element of the supernatural.
This is the first in a series starring Lucy Valentine. Heather Webber also writes the Nina Quinn mystery series.
Reviewed by Jessica
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Dancing Plague by John Waller
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
This was such an unexpectedly enjoyable book. The Dancing Plague is a fascinating exploration of the strange and uncontrollable dancing that has gripped large masses of people repeatedly throughout history. John Waller vividly paints a picture of the religious terror, starvation and hopelessness that incubated the perfect setting for such a bizarre series of events.
I had never heard of choreomania and if I had, I would have probably thought it a strange and unlikely fictional malady. More often termed Saint Vitus’ Dance, its victims believed they were being punished for their sins. Over the centuries many “cures” were devised including more dancing. As many of these attempts proved fatal, belief in religious pilgrimage as the only sure method of relief grew. Across Europe, even though customs and beliefs have changed, some still believe in “preventative dancing”. After all, why would an angry saint curse an already dancing sinner with more dancing?
Waller ends with an interesting theory on the cultural changes that have erased choreomania from our worries replacing it with several more modern ailments. This book truly took me by surprise and gripped me with an uncontrollable need to keep reading.
Reviewed by Lisa
Format: Book
This was such an unexpectedly enjoyable book. The Dancing Plague is a fascinating exploration of the strange and uncontrollable dancing that has gripped large masses of people repeatedly throughout history. John Waller vividly paints a picture of the religious terror, starvation and hopelessness that incubated the perfect setting for such a bizarre series of events.
I had never heard of choreomania and if I had, I would have probably thought it a strange and unlikely fictional malady. More often termed Saint Vitus’ Dance, its victims believed they were being punished for their sins. Over the centuries many “cures” were devised including more dancing. As many of these attempts proved fatal, belief in religious pilgrimage as the only sure method of relief grew. Across Europe, even though customs and beliefs have changed, some still believe in “preventative dancing”. After all, why would an angry saint curse an already dancing sinner with more dancing?
Waller ends with an interesting theory on the cultural changes that have erased choreomania from our worries replacing it with several more modern ailments. This book truly took me by surprise and gripped me with an uncontrollable need to keep reading.
Reviewed by Lisa
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