To Dance With the White Dog

To Dance With the White Dog
by
Terry Kay
5/5 Stars
From the Publisher: To Dance With the White Dog is a gentle, moving story about an old man's final rite of passage, about family ties and the universal experience of grieving for a lost love. At the heart of the book is a mysterious white dog which appears after Sam Peek's beloved wife has died and stays with him until just before his own death.

Stray dog or phantom? To Sam, the dog is a guardian angel that bridges his final years with warmth and comfort. Sam Peek and his white dog will leap from the page into the reader's heart instantly. And the ending of the book is touching, amazing, and delightful all in one.

I first read this book when I was in college. At the time, this beautiful, tear-jerking story became one of my favorites. Almost 18 years later, I feel the same way. This story of grief, loss, love, and healing holds even deeper meaning for me now. This is a book I will keep in my collection -- to read over and over.

Lottery

Lottery
by
Patricia Wood
4/5 Stars

Perry L. Crandall has an IQ of 76. He is not retarded. In his own words, “You have to have an IQ number less than 75 to be retarded.” But, Perry is a slow learner. He lives with his Gram, who had provided him with excellent coping skills. Perry works at Holsted’s Marine Supply, and spends time with his friend Keith. All in all, it is a good life.

Then Gram dies. Unsure what to do, Perry continues to follow his regular routine – including buying lottery tickets. He hits the jackpot, winning twelve million dollars in the Washington State Lottery.

This is where the trouble starts. His brothers, who sold his home out from under him when Gram died, attempt to have him sign over his money. His mother, who has little to do with him, calls requesting money. Total strangers write letters addressed to “Lottery Winner” in an effort to score a few bucks.

In the end, Perry manages to live his life on his own turns. His decisions may not make sense to the rest of us, but for Perry L. Crandall they make all the sense in the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Perry. As a special education teacher, his actions and behaviors ring true. From his obsession with the dictionary to his insistence that he is “not retarded,” Perry is a believable and intriguing personality.

The characters that surround Perry are all too real in their selfishness. Who hasn’t heard stories of ‘relatives’ coming out of the woodwork when a lottery winner’s name is announced? Although these characters get their ‘just desserts’ in the end, I waited throughout the story for someone to finally stand up to them.

I was slightly disappointed in the ending. While satisfying, it seemed too neat and well-packaged. I would have liked a little more detail when dealing with the brothers’ downfall.

All things considered, I found this to be a very enjoyable novel. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Evening Star

Evening Star
by
Carolyn Brown
3/5

Addison Carter is ahead of her time. A female doctor in 1918, she is dismissed from her job with Magnolia Oil simply for being a woman. She is determined to continue in her profession, whether or not people will accept her. Then she is hired to take care of Tucker Anderson, a man who believes that women should not work outside the home, let alone work as a physician…

Evening Star was the first book I completed during the Read-a-Thon. Brown managed to hold my attention when I really needed her to. The plot may be a little predictable, if you read a lot of romance novels, but there is an interesting twist.

I would recommend Evening Star if you are looking for a light and entertaining read.

Miss Invisible

Miss Invisible
By
Laura Jensen Walker
3/5 Stars

This novel was a nice departure after some more serious reading. I enjoyed the basic storyline: a self-conscious, overweight twenty-something realizes that she is fine, just the way she is. But, I have to say that I found Freddie, the main character, to be a little over the top – a little too neurotic and hard on herself. Luckily, Walker surrounds Freddie with a multitude of well developed and realistic personalities. These characters work together to give Freddie a new lease on life.

A pleasant read - I would recommend you grab this one on your way to the beach.

Twisted

Twisted
by
Laurie Halse Anderson
4/5 Stars
Earlier this year, I read Twilight because a friend raved about it. I was very surprised that I would enjoy a young adult novel so much. I like it so much, I decided to join the young adult challenge. I saw Twisted reviewed on another blog and decided that it would be the first book in this challenge.

As a high school teacher, and the mother of a teenage boy, I found the character of Tyler to be very realistic. Anderson has managed to capture the indecision and longing for acceptance that every teenager experiences at this age.

Tyler, who sees himself as an outcast, is secretly in love with Bethany. When she begins to show him some attention, he is not sure how to react. Tyler's thoughts are classic:

“Bethany Milbury smiled at me in homeroom every day for the
next two weeks. The first couple times she did it, I turned
around to see who was standing behind me. Then came the day
she got up from her seat and hobbled over to sit in the chair in front
of me.

“Hi,” she said.

(Stunned silence on my part.)

She blinked her eyes. “Are you mad at me or something?”

I choked out an answer and she smiled so brightly that small holes
were burned in my retinas.”

--Page 58

Anderson also manages to infuse the characters her novel with a sense of humor. Some parts of the book deal with sensitive subjects such as suicide, drinking, and sexual assault. Tyler’s subtly humorous observations make it easier to get past the ugly topics and concentrate on the lessons he is trying to teach us.

Fifth Born

Fifth Born byZelda Lockhart
4/5 Stars

Fifth Born is the story of Odessa, a young girl living in a large, dysfunctional family. Her mother is incapable to caring for her children (but continues to get to get pregnant) and her father is an alcoholic. Lockhart follows Odessa’s life from the death of her grandmother at age three, through her teenage years. We are witness to the tragedy and abuse that Odessa must confront at every turn, as well as her salvation.

This novel was a quick and enjoyable read. The characters were authentic, even though most were thoroughly unlikable. Great ending!

The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil byW. Somerset Maugham
4/5 Stars
This story begins with the very unlikable Kitty Fane. She is selfish, vain, and is bored with her husband. After an adulterous affair, Kitty travels with her husband to an area stricken by cholera.

Kitty begins to work in the nearby convent while the nuns nurse those who have come down with the disease. During this time, Kitty attempts to repair her broken marriage. Just when she begins to make amends, tragedy strikes. Kitty is left alone to face her demons.

I enjoyed watching Kitty’s character evolve throughout the story. I first noticed the change when she began embracing the orphans in her care instead of being repulsed by them. She begins to understand that, in the face of so much suffering, her problems are very small. Kitty begins to empathize with others and make better choices. In the end, Kitty is stronger than she realizes and her tragedy is really the beginning of a new life.

I was captivated from the first page to the last.

The Kitchen Boy

The Kitchen Boy

by

Robert Alexander

5/5 Stars

I checked out this book on the recommendations of several other bloggers. I have always been interested in the fate of Nicholas II and his family, so it seemed a natural choice. I was pleasantly surprised. The Kitchen Boy was a quick and very enjoyable read.

Beginning as the Romanovs are in exile, Alexander traces their final days and the events leading to their execution. The story is told by Leonka, a servant, who works in the Tsar's kitchen. Because of his close proximity to the Romanov family, Leonka is able to show us the daily intimacies that the family shares. It was refreshing to see Nicholas II as a husband and father, rather than just a soldier and last Tsar of Russia.

I must say that Alexander's solution to the Romanov mystery was both creative and exciting. The suspense builds until the final page.