From My Bookshelf.... by Lynn Willoughby

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The Book of Awesome - Neil Pasricha
Reviews of this book, interviews with the author, praise by those who had read it kept popping into my life. So, Christmas gift card in hand, I bought it. I'm so glad I did. At the end (or the beginning) of the day, when you need a smile - read a few pages.

This great book reminds us of all the little things that are extremely important to our happiness - popping the bubble wrap your package arrived in, the smell of sun-dried sheets, someone flashing their high beams at you to warn you about the cops. You cannot read this book without smiling and/or laughing out loud.
Don't borrow this book - buy it! Pull it out when you need it. It is often tongue-in-cheek: the boss is out of town, who's up for a three hour lunch; Yipee, we're the first table called up for the dinner buffet! - but don't we all love it when that happens?

It is wonderfully funny, very observant, with lots of Pollyanna memories over everyday occurrences, but I loved it. There are many photos which makes it lovely and personal, and it does challenge you to make your own list of "awesome!" The first entry on my list is the absolute joy of dogs - that gives me absolute joy. Awesome!

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
This book was recommended by a book club and when I started it I wondered why. It seemed very simplistic - the protagonist is a dog! But I persisted and, indeed, it got a lot better, dealing with issues usually unexplored: child custody, death, cancer, being broke and desperate. The bonus was a lot of information new to me about Formula One car racing.

Enzo tells this story from a dog's perspective - with the wonders of human life (opposable thumbs), but also human absurdities; Enzo learns and philosophizes about information he gleans from human conversations and TV. Often his conclusions are wildly funny, but just as often they are extremely insightful.

After Denny's wife, Eve, dies there is a battle over their three year old daughter Zoe. Her maternal grandparents are suing for custody. Denny is out of money, worn down, grieving, unable to make a living as he can't leave the state and is ready to sign over custody. Enzo grabs the papers and runs away with them - eventually urinating on them. This is so out of character it jolts Denny back into reality and he chastises himself for even considering this move.

This book captures the wonders and foolishness of human life. It especially deals with how we face death - and how dogs face death. "My soul has learned what it came to learn and all the other things are just things," Enzo says.
"This old soul of a dog has much to teach us about being human." - Sara Gruen author of Water for Elephants.
    Raven Stole the Moon
    How Evan Broke His Head

Who Knew?

The Mayans believed dogs were guardians of the afterlife and the sacred mummification of a dog would allow the dead canine to help the deceased to his ultimate destination. Clay and ceramic effigies of dogs date back more than 3000 years.