Two Dogs and a Book

Inside the O'Briens: A Novel by Lisa Genova My rating: 4 of 5 stars Huntington’s disease... I have to pause here because I have to admit that I knew nothing about this disease. I like to read books that challenge me to know more about something. Good old Google came to the rescue and now understand better what this disease is and how those affected by it, live with it. Lisa Genova wrote a beautiful story of courage and perseverance in face of having Huntington’s disease. The book starts with Joe, a Boston Policy Officer, who is diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and evolves to include the stories of his four children and how they face this deadly neurodegenerative genetic disorder they might have inherited from their dad or not. Children of Huntington's disease patients have 50% chance chance of inheriting the disease. The book deals with raw emotions and the fear that accompany such diagnosis. It also deals with the determination of a famil...

Shelter Dogs in a Photo Booth by Guinnevere Shuster My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received a free digital copy of this wonderful book by Guinnevere Shuster from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley. First of all, let me tell you that Guinnevere is a very talented animal photographer and she has captured the most amazing pictures of these gorgeous shelter dogs. Her goal is to present beautiful pictures to people who are considering adopting a dog from a shelter. Too many times, we see very sad pictures of these animals and although they stir up our emotions, they do not really portray the true personality of these fantastic fur babies. This book made me laugh and brightened my day. Each page presents a dog in four pictures and a small paragraph about who they are and when they were adopted. It is a very quick and brilliant read. I will leave you on the wisdom of the great Anonymous, who said: A dog can express more with his tail in minutes than his owner can express w...

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald My rating: 3 of 5 stars Wow! It took me a while to finish this one. I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for a review. It was a lovely love story about a Swedish girl named Sara who came to visit her older American pen-pal, Amy, only to discover that she had passed away before she arrived. She decides to stay in Amy's house for a while at the invitation of the town’s people and eventually opens a bookstore using all the books Amy left behind, in an attempt to pay back the town for their infinite generosity towards her. The town of Broken Wheel adopts Sara quickly and comes up with a plan to make her stay permanently. Sara’s story is unveiled at a slow pace and the book contains many side stories about other town’s people which in my opinion did not bring much to the plot. It is a nice and easy read nonetheless. View all my reviews ...

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second "The Bookseller" book I read this year (Yup! In 2016). I got a copy of "The Bookseller" by Mark Pryor by mistake and enjoyed the book. In fact, I wanted to read "The Bookseller" by Cynthia Swanson. Pretty silly!! So I got a copy of the book I wanted to read in the first place and enjoyed it too. This book is about a bookseller named Catherine (a.k.a Kitty). The book covers what happened in 1963 in two parallel realities. It is easy to follow and has surprises here and there. Cynthia Swanson deals with many issues common to the 60s, such as the Cuban Crisis, the difficulties for women to start a business on their own, the misconception of Autism and the fast rising of malls and chain stores. Great book! Loved it! View all my reviews

Paris Letters by Janice Macleod My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book came recommended from my friend Lynn. What a nice little jewel of a book! We follow the real life journey of a Canadian who found a way to quit the job as a copywriter she did not like and make her dreams come true. Janice Macleod takes us on her journey filled with wonderful anecdotes and funny situations. She also introduces us to what she does now and this, in my opinion, is a true success story. The book is light and easy to read. It is a feel-good book; perfect for those who dream of quitting their job and starting anew and event meeting their “Daniel Craig” on day! View all my reviews

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was recommended by a co-worker who loves books as much as I do. After the second chapters, I was confused and not sure I wanted to continue to read. It reminded me of "The Paris Affairs" which I did not like. But since Christine told me how amazing this book was, I persevered. After a few more chapters, it started to come together. Different people's stories crisscrossing throughout the chapters. I was hooked! Thanks Christine! View all my reviews

The Bookseller by Mark Pryor My rating: 4 of 5 stars If a book has the work "book" in the title and the story takes place in Paris; I just can't resist reading it. The Bookseller by Mark Pryor is the first book in a new mystery/thriller series entitled Hugo Marston. Hugo Marston, head of security at the American Embassy in Paris, witnesses the kidnapping of his friend Max, a bouquiniste. The story takes you on a fast pace man hunt all over Paris looking for answers and solve the mystery. Great start to this new series. I am looking forward to the next installment. View all my reviews

Cable Left, Cable Right: 94 Knitted Cables by Judith Durant My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received this book to reivew from Storey Publishing through NetGalley. What a wonderful book on cabling! I love knitting in my spare time and have experimented with simple cabling in the past. This book is beautifully illustrated and well laid out. Judith Durant provides instructions that are clear and concise. The book is filled with beautiful patterns for all level of expertise. I am looking forward to attempt some of the more complex designs. I have a feeling that I have a good chance in succeeding if I follow the clear instructions provided in this beautiful book. This is a great book for crafters to have in their book collection. Here's an example of a scarf I knitted last year: View all my reviews

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng My rating: 4 of 5 stars What a sad story! The story deals with teen issues with acceptance, pressure and family. It also deals with the difficulties mixed mariages encounter and the impact on the children of these unions. Celeste Ng wrote a story which rings true to the heart and leaves you feeling very sad for all the characters. The book ended on a positive note and brought hope that not all is lost. A great book overalll. View all my reviews