Since retiring, I've read a lot of books. I don't sit around all day with my nose stuck in a book because there are always a bunch of things to do that draw me away. However, when a book grabs me, really grabs me, the rest of the world just has to wait. Today I'll share some of my favorites with you. I don't know if any of these ever made the bestseller list, but they should have.
One Good Dog by Susan Wilson
In this book, the chapters alternate as the human man, Adam, relates his tale of woe, and the human-like dog, Chance, tells his. The human had a high-pressure and prestigious job, until the day he flipped out and smacked his secretary. Bye bye life as he knew it. The dog escaped from a dog-fighting ring and was left to figure out his way on the mean city streets. Man meets dog, and their story truly begins. I am cautious about recommending this to just anybody because the descriptions of the fighting rings are so graphic, you have to have a strong stomach for some of it. Those who know me, know that my gut lurches pretty easily in response to gross stuff. However, I could not put down this book! (And, after it, I knew I could never forgive Michael Vick.) If you've ever loved a dog, read this.
If you try this book and you like it, then follow up with : Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein.
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Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano
I've always loved immigrant stories, especially those related to the Jewish and Italian ghettos in New York City in the early twentieth century. Fabiano's novel is based on her family's history and the stories about the life of her grandmother, Giovanna, as she established her family in Little Italy. And as she went up against organized crime in order to do so. I reached one part in particular that boggled my mind as I realized it really did happen! This book will engage the reader and take you back in time. You'll see the dusty streets, hear the voices of a city crammed with people, feel the oppressive heat, and smell the cooking that fills the tenement brownstones. On a trip to NYC, I searched out the streets mentioned in the book. Wonderful family saga, read it!
If you like this book, you may also enjoy: Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin or Evergreen by Belva Plain.
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All the Numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen
This is Judy Larsen's first novel, and I can't wait to read another by her. The book opens during summer vacation; the families are spending lazy days by the water, the music is playing, the Jet Skis are buzzing, the sun is shining, and it's heaven on Earth. The setting reminded me of some people at my pool. The families share a spot in the back corner. The adults are around the same age, and they have children who play with each other. Peaceful happy times. However, in Larsen's book, one halcyon day has a tragic ending that shatters their summer tranquility and pits family against family. I wanted to step into the book and hug the mother most tragically decimated by this catastrophe. It's well-written, wrenching, and riveting. You'll never forget this book. I promise.
If you like this book, you might also enjoy anything written by Jodi Picoult. She's had a lot of bestsellers!
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Let me know if I encouraged you to read any of these books. I'm always anxious to hear what others think. Would you like me to recommend more books? Is there any genre you really like? Any type of story you'd like to find? I will gladly recommend more! I'm convinced that in my other life I was a librarian.
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