It Was A Dark And Stormy Night, Snoopy

It Was A Dark & Stormy Night, Snoopy by Charles M. Schulz (5+ stars)
One of the Very best!
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Peanuts Gang.  This book will put a smile on your face and make you laugh and couldn’t we all use that?  I LOVED this book!

--Gerard

We Both Like Reading

We both like reading and will post reviews of books as we read them.  for all our book reviews, check out our shelves on Shelfairi at http://www.shelfari.com/kzemek and http://www.shelfari.com/gzemek

The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein

Karen's Review posted 2/3/10:

The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein is awesome.  It started out slow and I thought about giving up on it but I’m so glad I stuck with it and finished it.  It is narrated by a dog named Enzo who is devoted to his owner, Denny, a race car driver.  The dog and Denny sit and watch videos of car races together, while Denny points out racing tips to the dog that he applies to life.
 
Denny had lots of personal problems including a sick wife who died of Brain Cancer and the constant battle with his in-laws over his daughter, and a bogus criminal lawsuit against him. 
 
The dog shares it’s thoughts with the reader but can only communicate to his owners with gestures which is frustrating for it and so he looks forward to being reincarnated as a man.  It’s an inspirational book, encouraging the reader to “finish the race” and never, ever quit but hang in and overcome obstacles. 
 
Here are some of my favorite quotes from The Art Of Racing In The Rain:
 
Your car goes where your eyes go.
 
Yes:  the race is long—to finish first, first you must finish.
 
The true hero is flawed.  The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles—preferably of his own making—in order to triumph.
 
No race has ever been won in the fist corner, but plenty of races have been lost there.
 
Getting angry at another driver for a driving incident is pointless.  You need to watch the drivers around you, understand their skill, confidence and aggression levels, and drive with them accordingly.  Know who is driving next to you.  Any problems that may occur have  ultimately been caused by you, because you are responsible for where you are and what you are doing there.
 
Must check out www.goenzo.com

Gerard's Review posted 1/25/10:

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is told to you by Enzo, the dog.  You will grow to love Enzo very much as he tels the story of Denny, his owner and a race car driver, his wife, Eve, and their daughter, Zoe.  This is a wonderful book.  It goes very fast.  I found it almost impossible to put down.  The ending is very good and very sad.  You will understand when you read it.  This book deserves to be read!  Enjoy!

The Weight Of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

The Weight Of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf is a real page turner!  I suggest not reading the Prologue first.  I never do until I finish reading the book.  Wow!  This book was just awesome.  It reads just like a Jodi Picoult book, which is not a bad thing at all.  The book got my attention right away and kept it al the wa to the end.  All the characters are very good.  I especially enjoyed their stories of early times in their lives.  I do not think you will be able to guess the outcome.  I didn’t.  Enjoy this book--it is REALLY, REALLY GOOD!

--Gerard (5+ stars)

Still Standing by Carrie Prejean

Still Standing:  The Untold Story About My Fight Against Gossip, Hate and Political Attacks by Carrie Prejean is the revealing story of her participation in beauty pageants and how her simple answer that she believed "marriage is between a man and a woman" resulted in a national smear campaign against her, including her own pageant directors.  The judges were looking for a "politically correct" answer and the one who asked the question gave her a zero on that part of the competition.  She still came in second.   She tells the whole story of what really happened.

1.  Be true to yourself.  Don't let anyone bully you or trick you into doing something that you feel uncomfortable doing.

2.  Never fear that God's standard is the right standard.

3.  Grace turns losses into gains and accidents into your best opportunities.

4.  Seek advice from a "multitude of counsel."

5.  Forgiveness heals.

6.  Don't leave yourself outside of the circle of forgiveness.

7.  Don't let the culture convince you that trying to hold to a high standard is being "too judgmental."

8.  Stand up with courage.

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson is Too Funny!  When it comes to comic strips you do not get any better than this.  I really enjoyed this book A LOT and hated to see it end!!  I miss them in my daily newspaper.

--Gerard

Columbine by Dave Cullen

"Columbine" is a comprehensive account of the school shooting that is very informative, filled with research, but became tedious for me and depressing.  The author went in-depth revealing not only what happened that day but sharing findings that revealed the thinking of the shooters, and also the horror the victims and their families endured.  I learned a lot about psychopaths by reading this book.  Rumors and myths were exposed, including the story of Cassie Bernall being a martyr and that the shooters were loners and bullied. 

I feel so sad for the victims and their families.  It was a horrible thing to have happen and I felt sad for the shooters who wasted their lives and their parents who really had no clue what their sons were doing, feeling or how to help them.  If you want to find out what really happened and why, I recommend this book.

My husband read this book too last year.  Click Columbine By Dave Cullen to read his review.  He liked it better than I did.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderful book!  There are only a handful of books you read that your are going to remember years later and this is one of them.  I LOVED this book!  It goes fast and is almost impossible to put down!  It tells the story of Liesel Meminger, who loved to read books, but that is just one part of the story.  There are so many story lines in The Book Thief that keep your interest.  Just read this book, enjoy the story.  It captures the human spirit that I hope is in all of us!  I give it 5+ stars. --Gerard

House of Reckoning by John Saul

I liked House of Reckoning by John Saul because it was so strange and gripping. It made me want to keep reading to see what would happen and drew me in right from the start.  I immediately liked the main character, Sarah, a 14-yr. old who was plowed into by her drunk father on her way to the bar to bring him home and was put into foster care when her father was taken to prison for killing the man he fought with at the bar.  She was befriended by a boy at school who was an outcast because he hallucinated so was viewed as a nut case.  That’s when spooky things began happening.  The ending was just so far out that I felt it pushed the book into the fantasy or science fiction category.  When the house actually became alive, it was even beyond creepy and eerie.  This isn’t the type of book I normally read but it made for a great change of pace.

The Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter

I enjoyed The Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter about an Amish family whose eldest daughter left the faith to marry an Amish man who chose to leave the Amish community because he liked the modern things.  An Amish man wanted to court her but she kept putting him off and encouraged him to court her younger sister instead who she felt was a better match for him.  Her younger sister, Rachel, actually did hope to marry him some day.    Of the three books in the "Brides of Lancaster" series, I liked this one best.  It wasn't as depressing as the others I liked the main characters better in this one too.  It's a light, quick read.

Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

OK, I’ll admit I like Sarah Palin.  I like her a whole lot more after Going Rogue.  I enjoyed meeting her family and hearing about them.  The part about her campaign with John McCain was really fascinating stuff.  She pulled no punches!  If you can put your politics aside, I think you will find this book enjoyable too.

Looking For A Miracle by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Looking For A Miracle by Wanda E. Brunstetter is about Rebekah, an Amish young woman who had an accident as a girl and was confined to a wheelchair.  It is a slow moving story about how Rebekah struggles with trusting God for her future and is somewhat bitter because of her handicap.  I liked how she found a way to become more self-supporting and finally found romance and love.  It gives some insight into the Amish community which I found to be interesting and includes a recipe for home-made root beer in the back.  I recommend this for anyone who likes to read about the Amish and enjoys a light, predictable read. This is the 2nd book of the "Brides of Lancaster" series.

A Merry Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter

A Merry Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first of the “Brides of Lancaster County” series about a school teacher who is very bitter that her old boyfriend dumped her for someone else and blames God for not answering her prayers.  She struggles with the temptation of falling for a man outside of her faith but eventually she yields to God and experiences joy in her life with her Amish husband who she married for convenience.  
 
Slow moving romance but gave insight into the Amish community through the main character and her family.  I really didn’t care for the main character throughout most of the book because she was so bitter over being dumped by her old boyfriend.  I liked how the book showed her inner struggles and her journey to having a merry heart in the end which I liked.  I liked it enough to continue on with the series.   Even includes a recipe for Chunky Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies which sound delicious!

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

I’ve been blessed to read a lot of really good books this year and I add The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks to the list.  At first, I thought, “Oh, great, a teen novel.”  I’m not going to like it.  I LOVED it!  It tells the story of Ronnie, a girl who has to spend the summer with her dad and does not want to.  Turns out she had the best summer ever.  Superb writing.  This book is hard to put down.  The characters are very believable.  There is nothing bad to say about this book.  I am so glad to end the year with this wonderful book!  Do yourself a favor and read this one.  You will be happy you did.

--Gerard

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy by Debbie Macomber

I enjoyed reading Shirley, Goodness and Mercy by Debbie Macomber.  It is a cute Christmas miracle story about a lonely 60-yr.-old man who felt he had wasted his life with major screw ups along the way.  Christmas time annoys him and he feels like he's hit bottom, but happens to go inside a church and his "prayer" reaches heaven.  Three angels are assigned his case and with their help, he turns his life around and people he's hurt greatly in the past forgive him.  If you like happy endings and a light fun read, this is a book for you.

Christmas Blessings by Helen Steiner Rice

I just finished reading a book of Christmas poems called Christmas Blessings by Helen Steiner Rice that I really liked.  They were all about the true meaning of Christmas, God's gift  to us, His Son, Jesus Christ.  Instead of Christmas cards she would write poems for her friends at Christmas time.  Here's one I chose that was short to share with you:

Her poems are also used on greeting cards today.  In fact, I just got one from a friend this week with the verse by her.

Open by Andre Agassi

I found Open, the autobiography of Andre Agassi, very interesting.  The relationship with his father is good stuff in the beginning of the book.  That he quit school after 8th grade was something that I did not know.  I enjoyed the part of what he was thinking while playing the matches.  I could have done without the match to match detail.  The best part of this book was finding out that I really didn’t know what made Agassi tick at all!  It’s a bit long but overall it’s a book worth reading. (4 stars)

--Gerard

Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp

Pack of Two, The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp--MUST READ BOOK!  1,000 STARS!
Every week our local paper has a column written by a woman who calls herself the “Dog Lady.”  In answering a question, she said the best book she ever read describing a relationship between a dog and a person was this book.  Boy, was she right!  I’ve read over 50 books this year so far and I rank this book as THE BEST!  This is just a wonderful book!  If you have ever had a dog, have a dog, or thinking about getting a dog, you have to read this book.  It’s funny, sad and just so good!  

It’s the kind of book I wish I owned instead of just a library book.  I could read it again and again!  I wish I could have walked my dog with Caroline.  When Caroline passed on, her dog was right there with her.  Rest in piece, Caroline, and thanks for this book.  I loved it!!

--Gerard

Karen's Opinion:  I read this book too just because Gerard liked it so much but I really didn't care for it.  There was very little about the dog, mostly about the owner's feelings and relationships in her life.  A lot of it was short snippets about how other dog owners view their dogs as well. 

I did agree with her though about how having a dog build bridges to people.  When you walk your dog you meet other dog owners who are usually friendly and it seems that neighbors tend to talk to us more when we walk down the street with our dog. 

Now you have to read it and decide for yourself.

Nubs by Brian Dennis

Nubs, The True Story Of A Mutt, A Marine & A Miracle by Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery, Kirby Larson is an amazing true story about the persistence of a war dog who finally made it out of Iraq and found a home in California.  The Marine who helped him is the one who wrote the book and although parts are very sad, it has a very happy ending!  I loved the colorful pictures throughout the book too.  It only takes about 15 minutes or less to read but it's a great story!

--Karen

This is the story of a dog named Nubs who was befriended by Major Brian Dennis.  What a story this is!  Nubs went through unbelievable odds to find Brian and Brian went through a lot to helb Nubs get out of Iraq and to California.  This is a feel good story.  Read it, you'll be glad you did!  (100 stars)

--Gerard

Petey by Ben Mikaelsen

Petey by Ben Mikaelsen is a really good book and a fast read about how a deformed baby with Cerebral Palsy was misdiagnosed as an idiot and institutionalized in an insane asylum in the 1920s.  Most thought he couldn’t think but a few of his attendants and one other resident discovered he could think.  When he was in his 40s, he was finally transferred to a nursing home where he was able to go outside and do things.  A boy protected him from some bullies who were throwing snowballs at him one day and the 13-yr. old boy became his good friend.  

Petey had a great attitude about life, even though he needed people to take care of his basic needs and couldn’t do much for himself.  This book showed what people with deformities go through and that we need to take time to get to know people and not write them off because of their appearance.  Petey shows us how good life is.  I thought this book would be depressing, but on the contrary, I found it to be very interesting and heartwarming.  I highly recommend it.

Fading Echoes by Mike Sielski

Fading Echoes tells the story of Bryan Buckley and Colby Umbell.  They both played high school football against each other in Pennsylvania.  Then both made the decision to join the sservice.  The first half of the book deals with their high school careers and the second half with their military careers.  I enjoyed it!

--Gerard

The Year That Follows by Scott Lasser

I had a very hard time getting through this book.  The Year That Follows was extremely boring about the sister (Cat) who tries finding her step brother’s son after her step brother (Kyle) was killed in the 9/11 tower terrorist attack.  I was disappointed in it because I expected it to be about the boy since he was on the cover, but it was hardly about him at all.  Mostly about family secrets.  The only good thing about it was the ending.  I do not recommend this book.

The First Fall Classic by Mike Vaccaro

A MUST READ FOR BASEBALL FANS!  (800 stars)

The First Fall Classic by Mike Vaccaro has three things that I really look for in a book:  (1) non-fiction, (2) a topic that interests me, (3) a topic I know little or nothing about. 

I really enjoyed reading this book because it felt like I was right there.  The writing is superb.  It is about the 1912 World Series between the Giants and the Red Sox--what a series it was!  The ending has to be read to be believed.  If you are a baseball fan or just a sports fan in general, you owe it to yourself to read this book!  Thank you, Mr. Vaccaro, for writing this very enjoyable book!

--Gerard

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen is a young adult fiction book about a Jr. High girl who has lost her foot in an accident and finally gets accepted at school when everyone hears about her saving two whales.  The story delves into her feelings about her parents separation, school, fears of what others think about her and how she finally accepts herself.  In reading this book, I learned a bit more about whales and liked the theme that was not to judge people by how they look on the outside, but to look deeper at who people really are.  Her special relationship she had with the whales was interesting.  I enjoyed this light, fast read very much.  I think the author did a fantastic job at getting inside the head of a young girl.

The Associate by John Grisham

The Associate by John Grisham is definitely a page-turner that kept my interest all through but was a bit of a let down in the end.  Kyle, a first-year associate at a big New York law firm was being blackmailed to steal confidential information from the firm he worked for and struggled to find a way out.  It demonstrates how one's past can come back to haunt them.  I enjoyed this book even though the story line seemed far-fetched to me and there were several loose ends.  I recommend this to anyone who likes some suspense and enjoys reading about lawyers.  Since I work for a law firm, perhaps that's why I could relate to the main character and got into this book.  I found it to be entertaining.

Gerard's Review:  A Good Book, BUT!  (20 stars)

This book is Grisham doing what he does best--telling a story about a lawyer who has an incident in his past and unsavory people who try to use that against him to get trade secrets.  The writing is superb and the story moves along very well.  It gets off to a great start and pulled me in right away.  The ending though left me at loose ends.  I didn't like it but when you read it, you can form your own opinion.  Other than the ending, it's very good!

Love Dare by Stephen & Alex Kendrick

Love Dare is a handbook that I think would benefit any marriage.  After seeing the movie, "Fireproof" I was curious to check out the book that was used in the movie.  It gives a scriptural basis for 40 practical things to do to strengthen your marriage.  The idea is to do one of the challenges each day and then of course continue to integrate them into your life.  Some I found to be hard, others easy and most we already do.  I especially liked the 20 questions listed in the back to help me get to know my spouse better and assist me in discovering his needs.  I recommend this to any husband or wife. I think anyone could improve their marriage if they followed the suggestions in this book.  

Related Posts:

Fireproof and the Love Dare

Movie "Fireproof" and Dinner

When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullan

This is a slam dunk winner!  (500 stars)

When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullan follows the lives and basketball careers of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.  I did not expect this book to be this good.  It's awesome!  There is lots of inside stuff about Bird and Magic that I did not know and lots and lots of opinions from Bird and Magic and the players and coaches with whom they had contact!  Very interesting!  I really encourage you to read this book if you like basketball.  It's one of the best sports books I've ever read!

--Gerard

How To Speak Cat by Sarah Whitehead

How To Speak Cat by Sarah Whitehead is a colorful, easy-to-read book with lots of good information on how to get along with cats including some games to play with them and some things you can teach them with simple step-by-step instructions.  Great for kids to learn how to treat and understand cats.

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer tells the story of Pat Tillman, the NFL player who gave it all up to join the fight in Afghanistan.  The two best parts of this book to me were the early years of his life, which I knew nothing about, and when he got to Afghanistan.  The author really gives great insight into Pat.  His thoughts especially make for very fascinating reading.

--Gerard

Prairie Tale by Milissa Gilbert

Karen's Review:

Prairie Tail by Melissa Gilbert is a real eye opener.  The adopted child actress who was in the hit show, "Little House On the Prairie," shares her personal moments, feelings, struggles and triumphs in her own search for identity.  I learned so much about her as a real person and was shocked at some of the things she did.  Her life had lots of ups and downs, all of which contributed to who she is today.  This book gives the reader a look at the acting profession and Hollywood from the inside.  Melissa Gilbert is a great actress who got sucked into the wild life of drugs, alcohol and sex but was able to finally get the help she needed to overcome it.  I enjoyed learning who she really is.

Gerard's Review:

What an amazing story!  When I found out Melissa had written a book, I knew one thing--I had to read that book!  It took awhile for me to finally get it from the library but it sure was worth the wait.  Whatever you think you know about Melissa, trust me, you don't.  But the good news is you will after you read this book.  What a story Melissa has to tell!  To say I was surprised would be an understatement.  You will laugh and cry; all emotions are in play in PRAIRIE TALE.  One thing you won't be is bored!  My two favorite parts of the book are her Little House years and her relationship with Rob Lowe.  The ending is just outstanding too.  Super job, Melissa!  My expectations were met and then some!   

Why Can't U Teach Me 2 Read? by Beth Fertig

Why Can't U Teach Me 2 Read? by Beth Fertig tells the story of three people who got out of the school system barely being able to read at all.  They finally get help.  Some of the book is dry reading but the part that deals with the three people trying to read and understand what they read makes for riveting reading. (30 stars)

--Gerard

Game Six by Mark Frost

Game Six by Mark Frost is an awesome book!  Being a diehard Red Sox fan, I just had to read this book.  It’s about the greatest World Series game ever played:  Boston vs. the Reds.  The whole book focus is on this game.  What makes this book for me is the background on the players who played in this game.  The writing is superb!  It feels like you are right there.  I really enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it to any Red Sox fan.

--Gerard

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is an interesting romance involving a single mom who took care of her elderly mother and helped her with the kennel, and a vet who felt the photograph he found of her in Iraq brought him luck so wanted to find her because he felt he owed her.  He walked across the country with his dog to find her and had a little run-in with her ex who happened to be the Sheriff.  He also had a dog who traveled with him which added to the interest of the story for me.  This was a good read if you’re looking for a light family type story with some suspense tossed in.  I liked it!

Life's That Way by Jim Beaver

A POWERFUL BOOK!  DON'T MISS IT! (800 stars)

Before I get started on my review, please pray for Jim Beaver and his daughter, Maddie.  Life's That Way by Jim Beaver is probably the most emotional book that you will ever read.  Do not expect to just breeze through it because it is too emotional and gut wrenching.  It’s also a fantastic and tender love story.  There are so many reasons to read this book.  This book is a collection of emails that Jim sent to family and friends when his wife, Cecily, was diagnosed with lung cancer.  It got turned into a book!  You will feel so many emotions while you read this book.  Anyone will be able to relate to what Jim went through and is still going through.  You will remember this book long after you finish reading it.  I highly recommend you read Life's That Way!

--Gerard

Our Boys by Joe Drape (50 stars)

I really enjoyed Our Boys: A Perfect Season On The Plains With The Smith Center Redmen by Joe Drape.  It is about the Smith Center Redmen led by their coach, Roger Barta.  It is located in a small town of Kansas, but this book is so much more.  You see how the whole town gets behind "Our Boys" and you get to know the players and the assistant coaches as well.  You will get caught up in this book right from the start and feel the excitement all the way to the end!  It's a good read and I recommend it.

--Gerard

Old Dogs Are The Best Dogs by Gene Weingarten

I LOVED OLD DOGS ARE THE BEST DOGS by Gene Weingarten!  If you have a dog, thinking of getting a dog, or unfortunately, just lost your dog, read this book!  It’s wonderful!  The pictures alone are enough for you to get this book.  They are fantastic and in the stories about each dog, you can just feel the love the owners have for their dogs!  I’m so glad I read this book and you will be too!

--Gerard  ( I give it 138 stars, one for each page!)

Spooner by Pete Dexter

Spooner is a novel about a boy named Spooner.  I especially enjoyed the early part of his life through his high school years.  This book hops around a bit after that, but overall, it’s quite a remarkable fiction story!  The other characters in the book are very interesting for the most part.

--Gerard (10 stars)

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

I would think The Neighbor is more of a woman's book, but I read it and enjoyed it.  It's a fiction story about a woman who disappears one night, all signs point to foul play and to her husband.  This book is a real page turner!  The characters are very believable.  I have to admit, the ending surprised me very much!  I highly recommend you read this book.

--Gerard

Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

First off, this is a MUST READ for all dog lovers.  "Big Little Life" is a true story of the author, Dean Koontz, who gets a C.C.I. dog by the name of Trixie.  You will know what kind of special dog these are when you read the book.  you will fall in love with Trixie and also learn things about Dean Koontz that you did not know.  The book moves pretty fast and I found it very entertaining.  Enjoy!

--Gerard

Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson

Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson is a murder mystery with some dog and cat stories tossed in which added some humor.  The main character has five poodles and a neighbor who has a bunch of cats.  Her private life relating to her neighbor was the humorous part of the book.  She and her poodle went to a dog obedience class which invited her to join them on their visit to the nursing home.  Although they weren't therapy dogs exactly, many of the residents enjoyed seeing the dogs. I was interested in this aspect of the book because it's something I would like to do with Abby some day.  The murder was committed while they were at the nursing home and the Poodle owner is the one who just started her own informal investigation and discovered who did it.  The highlight of the book for me was the cat lover lady who didn't like dogs but tolerated the poodle during the visits at the nursing home. 

I liked it overall, but it was very slow moving.

The Siege by Stephen White

The Siege by Stephen White is about a terrorist plot on the Yale campus. The first few pages set the tone for the book and got my attention. Then I just kept turning pages. The Siege is a novel but reads like a newspaper story. I enjoyed it a lot. I connected with the characters and cared what happened to them.
--Gerard Zemek

Public Enemies: ...Birth of the FBI by Bryan Burrough

Public Enemies:  America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough and Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan are so far tie for my number 1 books of the year.  This book is about the gangster era of the early 30s featuring Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger and a few more.  The stories about these people are so fascinating that it made me want to keep reading.  A ton of research went into making this book come alive.  I really, really enjoyed this book and plan to see the movie based on it one day.  I think this book would appeal more to men than women though--a great read!

--Gerard Zemek

Angel Dogs by Allen & Linda Anderson

Angel Dogs by Allen and Linda Anderson is a fascinating non-fiction book of amazing stories about dogs from different people.  One of the most uplifting and fun stories was from a family sharing about how they celebrate “Dog Day.”  All day, they focus on their dogs and make it a very fun day for the whole family.  I thought this was a wonderful idea!  The stories range from how people’s dogs brought joy to their lives to amazing things they did to revisiting their owners after they died both in dreams and in signs and one even appeared to wake his owner up when he fell asleep on guard duty to save his career!  It certainly is comforting for any dog owner in that it gives us hope of seeing our pets again who have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  Who knows?  Read it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

New Tricks by David Rosenfelt

New Tricks by David Rosenfelt is a murder mystery that is a good fun read.  It goes fast, I got into it right away and it has an unbelievable ending.  What more can you ask for?  I recommend you read this book.  I give it 7 stars.

--Gerard

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton was 700 pages in a large print book and I hated to see it end.  It's a great book!  This is going to be the BEST BOOK I read all year!  I just wish this could be made into a movie.  It is an amazing story of a group of men who are special forces who, after 911, go to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.  I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to read this book!  You will be proud to be an American after you read this.  Mr. Stanton, thank you for putting this story in print--fabulous job!  I also thank the men of the special forces in this book for your service!  God Bless!  I give this one 700 stars!

--Gerard Zemek

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a story of a family coping with a daughter who has Cancer and the sister who is destined to be the donor for her.  It also has an interesting subplot of romance between the lawyer Anna hires and the lady appointed to make a recommendation to the court as to what she thinks is in Anna’s best interest.  This would be a great book for a book club to discuss.  It’s about feelings, ethics, motivations and relationships.  It kept my interest all the way through and as usual in Picoult’s books, has a surprise ending.

Still Growing by Kirk Cameron

I liked reading Still Growing by Kirk Cameron because I liked him on the sit com, "Growing Pains," and also know he is a Christian.  I was curious to find out more about his personal life. I was surprised to find out he had an atheist belief through is teens until he became a believer at age 19.  

In his autobiography he shares how he got into acting, how he was used to having anything he wanted, how he began to ask the questions about life, how his beliefs changed and how they affected his career and decisions. 

I found it interesting that he is one of few actors who has only been married once to an actress and has six children and has been married 17 years as of when the book was written.  It was so refreshing to read about his love for his wife and family.  

Another thing that I found very interesting was the fact that after he married, he vowed he would not kiss any other woman, even if acting.  This has been something I've wondered about myself, how actors and actresses who are married can take those parts where they kiss in the shows.  Kirk shared that when he agreed to do a movie produced by the creators of "Facing the Giants" that these producers respected this and for the big kiss at the end, let Kirk's real wife step in and did a silhouette shot. 

An Appendix is included as well sharing some about his religious beliefs and books he highly recommends to the reader.  I liked Kirk Cameron before reading his autobiography and after reading it, I even have more respect for him.  His websites are:  www.kirkcameron.com and the Way of the Master ministry:  www.wayofthemaster.com.

For a review of the movie, see my other blog:  Fireproof and the Love Dare.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is a popular book full of good advice for living written by a terminally ill cancer patient, a husband of 8 years and father to three young children.  Randy Pausch was a college professor who lived a full life and had an optimistic attitude.  He gives lots of tips that parents could find useful.  The book has lots of good advice in it and I highly recommend it.  The actual “last Lecture” can be viewed at www.thelastlecture.com.

The Candy Bombers by Andrei Cherny

It’s been too many years to count since I took a history class.  I knew of the Berlin Airlift but not really the whole story.  I know it now after reading this amazing book!  Don’t let the 550 pages scare you off.  It reads quick and for sure it is not boring.  Mr. Cherny tells the story as it happened and it’s a fascinating one of how America and Russia totally wiped out Berlin and then not so long after were at odds and we came to the people of Berlin’s aid.  A tremendous amount of research went into this book and it shows.  I really enjoyed this book and learning more about the history of our great country.  Job well done, Mr. Cherny, thank you!

--Gerard Zemek

The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler

The Reluctant Cowgirl  is a story about following one’s dreams as well as romance.  Basically the cowgirl leaves home at 18 pursuing a career on Broadway and returns seven years later to help take care of her family’s ranch. This is a Christian Romance that isn’t completely like a fairy tale as most.  My favorite part was when the little girl directed her dad and Crystal acting out “Sleeping Beauty” in the barn.  Although the ending is predictable, I liked it because there is enough tension and reality to keep things interesting.   The Reluctant Cowgirl addresses grieving, letting go of the past, making tough choices, love of family, and God’s love.  

Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo

UPDATED 7/29/09:

"A Real Page Turner--You Will Never guess" (50 plus stars)

I really enjoyed "Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo a lot.  The story flows and you never get bored with it.  The last 60 pages or so I dare you to stop and put it down!  You will not be able to!!  I look forward to her next book.

--Gerard

"Sworn to Silence" is a gruesome thriller mystery about a woman with Amish background  Chief of police of Painters Mills, Ohio finally getting to the bottom of the rape/murders that have been going on for years by a serial killer with a little romance thrown in.  It has an unusual twist that I didn’t expect and the book builds tension along the way enticing me to stay up late to finish it.  The story line was super but because of the language and the horrific details of the torture that took place, I gave it four stars instead of five.  If you like murder mysteries and don‘t mind gory details, I recommend this one!

--Karen

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers is a very quick read that reminds us that actually spending time with our loved ones is important because life truly is short, shorter than we expect sometimes.  It is about a mother and daughter communicating with notes on the refrigerator because both are too busy to actually make time for each other.  I liked this book okay for a lgiht read.

Heart of the Game by S. L. Price

"Heart of the Game" tells the true story of Mike Coolbaugh, who spent many years in the minors trying to make the majors.  When he eventually gave up on that dream and decided to coach, he was hit by a foul ball and died instantly.  What lead up to that and the person who hit the ball is the story.  I will not soon forget this story!

--Gerard Zemek

Bottom of the Ninth by Michael Shapiro

First Family by David Baldacci

I know David Baldacci Has written a ton of books but this was the first of his that I read. First Family was pretty good but I thought it had a bit too many story lines. I didn't care for the ending, but the majority of it was very good. I cared about the characters and the main plot was well written and kept me turning pages. From now on I'll be looking for new books by him and maybe, probably read another one by him.

--Gerard Zemek

How To Speak Dog by Sarah Whitehead

How To Speak Dog by Sarah Whitehead is very informative and practical for learning about dogs and how to train them.  It is geared to kids but I liked it too because it's easy to read and very attractive with lots of colored pages and pictures.  It gives step-by-step instructions for teaching dogs specific commands and  checklists to evaluate if the dog has mastered the trick.  It also includes some game suggestions for playing with your dog.  I give it 4 paws up!

The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose

Karen's review posted 6/16/09:

The Unlikely Disciple is about a college student from Brown University going "under cover" to see what evangelicals were really like at Liberty University. He pretended to be a Christian in order to experience a semester at a very conservative Christian University and write about it. Being a Christian, I was interested in seeing his perspective on things and of course was hoping he would be converted along the way. Issues addressed in the book included classes, dorm life, dating, rules, homosexuality, Church, witnessing, judging. I did not get the impression that he was knocking the school. I think college students or people who are curious as to what Liberty University is like would enjoy this book.

An Inside Look At Liberty College (50 stars)

What an awesome book this is! It tells the story of Kevin Roose who spent a year at Liberty University, an Evangelical Christian college. He covers all the bases. There are a lot of funny moments in this book, but what you believe will also be challenged in this book. Kevin says it all out and you may agree or disagree with his opinion. That's what is so good about this book. You will also meet his fellow classmates and learn about their beliefs too.

I really enjoyed this book a lot! No matter your religious belief, I think you will enjoy this book as well and get something out of it!! Super job, Kevin, thanks for sharing your experience.

--Gerard Zemek

Why I Teach by Esther Wright

This is a short book of inspiring stories from various teachers (and some students).  I found it to be encouraging, inspirational and interesting and recommend it to any teacher.  I think it would make a great gift for someone who is just going in to teaching.

The Ultimate Cat Lover by Marty Becker

This book was a delight to read!  It had many short stories that were by different people about their experiences with their cat that were entertaining and amazing.  The full-page color pictures of the cats interspersed in small sections throughout the book gives the reader a nice little break between the stories so it doesn't get monotonous and 29 pages are filled with expert advice about all kinds of cat related issues with recommended websites and other resources listed for further information.  My favorite story was about the homeless man with his cat.  I recommend this book to every cat owner!

 

Some of the recommended websites are:  www.bestfriends.org (pictures of the pet rescue of New Orleans after the hurricane); www.help4pets.com and www.thecenterforlostpets.com (both these have advice on how to prevent loss or find a runaway pet).  A foundation that is an identification system for pets in any emergency, such as lost, house fire, car accident, natural disaster, travel emergencies, can be reached at 1-800-HELP-4-PETS.