Two Dogs and a Book

Happier, No Matter What: Cultivating Hope, Resilience, and Purpose in Hard Times  by  Tal Ben-Shahar My rating:  5 of 5 stars Last year, I discovered a Big Think video entitled: Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile by Tal Ben-Shahar. This short video changed my outlook on happiness. I wanted to know more about the subject and purchased Mr. Ben-Shahar’s book entitled HAPPIER, NO MATTER WHAT. This thought-provoking and empowering book that delves into the science of happiness and provides practical advice for achieving a more fulfilling life. The author draws on research from the field of positive psychology to explore the factors that contribute to happiness, such as gratitude, mindfulness, and social connections. He also provides tools and strategies for developing these qualities in oneself. One of the strengths of the book is the author's ability to present complex ideas in a clear and relatable way. The book is easy to read and understand, making it accessible to ...

The Prisoner's Wife  by  Maggie Brookes My rating:  3 of 5 stars THE PRISONER’S WIFE by Maggie Brookes is loosely based on true events. It is the story of a British soldier who falls in love with a Czech farm girl while being in a Nazi POW camp during WWII. They marry and then escape together. They are soon captured and to save her life, Izzy disguises herself as a young man so she can stay with Bill. Both endure hardship at the hands of the Nazis and every day Izzy lives in fear of being discovered. The story is written in the voice of Bill and Izzy. Knowing that it is based on a true story, makes it even more eerie. The story was dragging at times. The ending was good. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #biblioph...

American Cult  by  Robyn Chapman My rating:  3 of 5 stars I had mixed feelings about reading this one and almost decided to skip it. I think Google can read my mind because as soon as I decided this, I saw this new article about Jim Jones that described not only the Jonestown Massacre but other cults with a dark history. This piqued my curiosity and I picked up a copy of AMERICAN CULTS on Hoopla. I can say that the graphic novel was interesting but sometimes a bit hard to read. Some of the stories did not always make sense and did not provide a clear picture of the issues with these cults. The illustrations were good. I learned a few things, so I am happy with that. I am still wondering why "Cult" is singular in the title since the book covers many of them. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #...

Lunar Love  by  Lauren Kung Jessen My rating:  3 of 5 stars LUNAR LOVE by Lauren Kung Jessen is a cute “enemies to lovers” romance. This was a great read for the Lunar New Year. This book presented traditional vs. modern ways all wrapped up in a nice love story. It had just the right number of ups and downs to make this read enjoyable. I love Bennett and his positivity. I also enjoyed learning about the Asian tradition to honour those who have passed on by burning paper to send them items they might need in the after life. This is a fast and clean love story. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #lunarlove #laurenkungjessen #readforeverpub #romancenovel #bookreview View all my reviews

The Measure  by  Nikki Erlick My rating:  5 of 5 stars This book is perfect to create conversations about morals, ethics, and descrimination. I love this book. It makes me question my mortality and how I am currently living my life. If I knew that I had a short life ahead of me, what would I do? What if I was destined to live a long life, would I live it differently? So many thoughts and emotions assailed me while I was reading this book. I could see how knowing how long you will live would cause so many internal conflicts. I can also see how this would trigger a religious, political, or moral debate. I recommend this one wholeheartedly. You will not look at your life the same way after you read this book. BTW, I would not open my box. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcan...

Dial A for Aunties  by  Jesse Q. Sutanto My rating:  4 of 5 stars DIAL A FOR AUNTIES by Jesse Q. Sutanto is ridiculously awesome and entertaining!! I enjoyed the Meddelin’s relationship with her mother and three aunts. What a quirky dynamic! This story was strange at the beginning, and I was not sure I was liking where it was going. But then I clued in that this was all in good humour and enjoyed the rest of the book. The family meddling in Meddelin’s love life made me laugh many times. I also like Nathan and I hope he will be more present in the next book. This is definitely a good read and I recommend it. Don’t read it on an empty stomach. All the food mentions made me hungry. Now I am craving dim sum! #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #boo...

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale  by  Art Spiegelman My rating:  4 of 5 stars This is a very emotional account of a Holocaust survivor, and that story needs to be read by all. The author successfully captured the pain, the fear, and the damage endured by his father at the hands of his enemies. The black and white illustrations effectively depicted the atrocities and horrors of these dark times. What bothered me about this story was that it left me with unanswered questions? Why did his mother commit suicide? Even if he destroyed Anja’s journals, why would Vladek not be unable to tell his wife’s side of the story? I am sure she would have shared it with him after the war. I also wonder why the author selected mice to represent Jews, cats to represent German, pigs to represent Poles. I understand why he selected frogs to represent French (I had a few people insulting me by calling me a frog). The Tennessee school district voted to remove Maus over inappropriate language...

Peter Pan  by  J.M. Barrie My rating:  4 of 5 stars My daughter gifted me a copy of PETER PAN by J.M. Barrie for Christmas! This book is part of the MacMillan Collector’s Library. It is such a gorgeous edition with many wonderful illustrations. I always wanted to read this book. I was surprised by the character of Peter Pan in particular. I think that movies portrayed him differently than the book and the ending was a big surprise. I was charmed and enthralled by this exciting story about a boy who wouldn't grow up. If you are looking for a great classic to read, pick this one up. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #peterpan #jmbarrie #macmillancollectorslibrary #classicnovel #bookreview View all my r...

The Mitford Affair  by  Marie Benedict My rating:  2 of 5 stars Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Marie Benedict’s books. Her writing is intelligent and well researched. I was excited to receive a copy of THE MITFORD AFFAIR for review. Right from the start, I could see that this novel on the Mitford family was well researched, unfortunately this is where my compliments stop. I found this book to be slow and boring at times. I kept waiting for something of substance to happen. The characters were not as captivating as in her other books. I am not a fan of self-centered, and delusional characters and there were a lot in this book. And it did not stop there, this family had way too many odd nicknames that had nothing to do with the actual name of the characters. This made it hard to keep track of them all. This love affair with fascism and Hitler was unsettling and tempted me to stop reading many times. From what I have seen on Goodreads, many people enjoyed this...

Brave New World: A Graphic Novel  by  Fred Fordham My rating:  4 of 5 stars I first read BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley in French when I was about 15 years old. I remember that this was part of a French class and could not understand why the teacher would have selected a novel originally written in English for a French class. It turned out that the teacher was not looking at the literary aspect of the book but more about the philosophical and spiritual aspects. I read the English version in 2016, hoping to see if I would appreciate the book more and I did. I guess being older and more mature helped me understand more the moral conflicts shared in this book. When I saw that Fred Fordham adapted the novel into a graphic novel, I could not resist reading it. The illustrations gave this novel a new dimension and challenged my understanding of the underlying message. If you have not read this book, this graphic novel is a good way to appreciate it. #bookstadog #poodles #pood...

Weyward  by  Emilia Hart My rating:  5 of 5 stars I have seen lots of love for this book on IG and since I love witchy stories, I knew this would be a book I enjoy. I was not wrong. This book is written in three timelines and recounts the story of four generations of witches. I loved the powerful writing and raw descriptions in this book. The narrators were excellent and were able to make me feel the characters’ emotions effortlessly. This is a compelling story of love, pain, betrayal, and victories. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #weyward #emiliahart #macmillanaudio #historicalfiction #librofm #bookreview View all my reviews

We Are the Light  by  Matthew Quick My rating:  4 of 5 stars I decided to subscribe to Book of the Month now that it is available in Canada. My first selection was WE ARE THE LIGHT by Matthew Quick. I was not sure what to expect of this book and did not see many posts about it on Instagram. I decided to go in blind and started reading it. Lucas is dealing with the tragic death of his wife and is coping with the pain and conflicting thoughts by writing letters to his Jungian analyst, Karl. His letters are full of emotion and a loud cry for help. I enjoyed the intelligent writing and the construction of the story. I did not like the dead wife’s best friend's involvement in Lucas’ life. It felt inappropriate. The ending is solid and concludes the story beautifully. Great read overall. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #reader...

But I Really Wanted to Be an Anthropologist  by  Margaux Motin My rating:  4 of 5 stars I enjoyed reading BUT I REALLY WANTED TO BE AN ANTHROPOLOGIST by Margaux Motin. This graphic novel is relatable on so many levels. I remember when I had young kids, working full-time and how life was always busy, busy, busy! Although I do not share Margaux’s love for high-heel shoes, I always dreamed of owning a designer handbag one day… I am still waiting for it to happen. I love Margaux’s sassiness and honest look at life. Her choices of words, mostly swear ones, are on point. The illustrations are beautiful and fun. This was a fantastic read. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #butiwantedtobeananthropologist #mar...

Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog  by  Ian Dunbar My rating:  4 of 5 stars Fudge is starting her puppy classes next week. The trainer recommended that we read BEFORE AND AFTER GETTING YOUR PUPPY by Dr. Ian Dunbar in preparation for the training. I love the positive training concept. I have applied this concept with all my furbabies. Although this book is excellent for people who are getting or are planning to get a young puppy, the book does not address how to train a furbaby who is a teenager. Fudge is now six months and has missed several months of opportunities to learn basic skills such as walking beside you, coming on command, laying down when asked or not being afraid to meet new people. She is a bright dog and already has made leaps and bounds in her training. She can walk without pulling, sit and give paws, and she loves meeting new people. We are working with her to learn to lay down or co...

Ugly Love  by  Colleen Hoover My rating:  4 of 5 stars I have mixed feelings about UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover. I am debating giving 3 or 4❤️ to this book. Some parts I really enjoyed (e.g. overprotective big brother; wise elderly person; steamy sex scenes) and others made me cringe (e.g. angry sex; lying to oneself; making excuses for someone’s abusive behaviour). Tate was too weak for my taste. She let Miles take advantage of her and abuse her feelings too much. In real life, this would not fly. Why would you stay in an emotional abusive relationship? On the other hand, you need to remind yourself that this is fiction and continue to read to the end to see if there is possible redemption. I enjoyed this novel nonetheless and because I can’t make up my mind, I will give it 3.5❤️ and round it up to 4❤️. #bookstadog #doodles #doodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #booka...

Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution  by  R.F. Kuang My rating:  5 of 5 stars BABEL: AN ARCANE HISTORY by R. F. Kuang got a lot of hype on Instagram and other social media platforms. I was happy that it was offered in the December Book of the Month choices. The size of the book was a bit intimidating at first, but the writing pulled me in, and I was done in no time. I have a love affair with words and their meaning, and this book was all about that. Combine this with a historical novel and now you have me hooked. The story is deeply emotional and thought-provoking. I love the character of Robin and his deed turmoil to do the right thing. This dark academia story is beautifully written and reveals humanity's heart's desire in all its beautiful and ugly shades. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #booklo...

Twice in a Lifetime  by  Melissa Baron My rating:  4 of 5 stars TWICE IN A LIFETIME by Melissa Baron was not what I expected; it was better. This butterfly effect romance is touching and heartbreaking. I love the concept of calling someone that is in the past to warn them of what will happen if they do a certain thing in the hope that this will save her life in the future. The author presented Isla as a young woman with many mental health issues. She also offered good advice on how to treat these issues using this character. I love the suggestion “Would you do this to a friend? If not, why are you doing it to yourself?” This love story is beautiful and will pull all the strings of your heart. Pick up a copy and enjoy. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbo...