A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean Koontz

I’ve read a number of Koontz’s novels,  primarily those in which dogs figure prominently in the story. This book, however, is nonfiction–about a very special golden retriever named Trixie. Trixie is everything anyone could want in a companion–sensitive, intelligent, friendly, and a good judge of character to boot.  (She correctly sized up several shady acquaintances  [...]

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

I enjoyed this book, which has been called a “novel in stories.”  It evolves through a collection of interlinked stories about residents of a small town in Maine and appearing in each one (sometimes peripherally) is retired junior high school math teacher Olive Kitteridge. The author allows us to get a multi-dimensional portrait of Olive [...]

Don’t Dump the Dog by Randy Grim

The author, who has fostered many animals through his organization, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, offers  valuable tips on problems commonly found with rescue dogs. Though his specialty is feral dogs, animals which have lived on the street since birth, he addresses many of the problems people face with their companion animals such as separation [...]

Homage to Dominick Dunne

 
I first heard of Dominick Dunne when he wrote articles for Vanity Fair magazine covering the O J Simpson murder trial.  I thought his articles were fair, informative and insightful.  I saw him from time to time on Larry King’s show, giving his opinion on the much publicized celebrity events of the day. I decided [...]

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

You think you’ve heard all the horrors that Hurricaine Katrina wrought upon the people of New Orleans? Read this! This journalistic tour-de-force follows the trajectory of a Syrian-American citizen, Zeitoun, who defies common sense and decides not to evacuate.  After sending his family away, Zeitoun is initially gratified to be useful –safeguarding his property, taking [...]

Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors

I don’t know why I keep returning to musicals, but lately all the books I have recently read remind me of them. Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors has a peculiar similarity in flavor to “South Pacific.” Although the plot has some differences, there are many parallels in this WWII historical novel. An injured [...]