The Hare
by Melanie Finn

This book filled me with despair, UNTIL the final page; then I was filled with relief. That I had when I read the final sentence...and could put this book down. I will never read another novel by this author.
 
 

I, Robot
by Isaac Asimov

I have enjoyed every Isaac Asimov book I've read. These stories probably affect how many view robots.
 
 

How To Raise The Perfect Dog Through Puppyhood And Beyond
by Cesar Millan

This book has a lot of information about raising puppies. I feel like Cesar must be part dog though. Applying his techniques never seems to work quite the same.
 
 

Le Fantome De L'opera
by Gaston Leroux Phantom Of The Opera

I had only seen the musical The Phantom of the Opera. This book was an eye opener and filled with more details than the musical. It is a classic.
 
 

Heart on the Line
by Karen Witemeyer

Karen's writing is always captivating. This story has love, but also danger that may destroy lives. A great and east read!
 
 

The Last Thing He Told Me
by Laura Dave

Quick, easy read. Held my interest. First book by this author.
 
 

The Vanishing Half
by Britt Bennett

This was a somewhat disturbing book. Disturbing in that if you don't happen to be a person if color, you learn what it is like to live in their world. That it would be so bad you would want to "cross over" is telling of the world I do not know. The fictitious story is set in a small town of very light skinned blacks. They pride themselves on their lightness. Some even have red hair and could be mistaken as being white. But as the author notes, even the boy who looks white is not allowed the same privileges that an actual white person would have. The story follows 2twin sisters born in this town. Their daddy dies young and their mothers struggles to support the family. The girls have to chip in and life is very hard for all of them. One of the twins "crosses over" in order to get a job that pays better so she and her sister can afford to live in the city they have run away to. Eventually her white boss falls in love with her. Will she tell him? What happens to the other sister? There are some rough parts in this book, but I appreciated the over all message it told.
 
 

Yawning at Tigers
by Drew Dyck

I relistened to this book this summer. "People are starving for the awe of God." is one of the basic premises of the book. The book is divided into two parts (although you won't find a formal division in it.) The first part is all about the awe of God. Dyke uses vivid illustration to help the reader grasp God's great ess and what we are missing by allowing ourselves to to accept a shallow, domesticated version of a powerfully grand God. The second half deals with what theology calls the eminence of God. That means that he allows us to relate to him and is close to us. There are some beautiful quotes in this book, but the following sums up Dyke's message: "Our souls find satisfaction only in the God that is grand enough to worship and close enough to love. We need both, but the church today has by in large focused too much on the closeness if God and forfeited His grandness. "The tiger has been tamed. We aren't moved by God's greatness and splendor." If you want to get some of that reverence back, I recommend this book.
 
 

The Last Bookshop In London
by Madeline Martin

I loved this book. Set during WWII in London during the year of the Blitz, this book shares so much more than a ring side seat to the Blitz. This was a fresh take on telling the story of the Blitz. Two friends are forced to set off for London when one is ousted from her place of rest (unfairly). In London they stay with the best friend of the ousted girls deceased mother, Mrs. Weatherford. Mrs. Weatherford is a kind soul and she gets Grace a temporary job in a bookstore with a cratchedy owner. Grace is great in business, but she isn't a reader. Enter a patron who introduces her to reading just before he goes off to eat. Grace falls in love with reading and the bookshop turns around under her able hand, as does the owner. But then begins the Blitz, and we follow this bookshop and the others in London throughout that harrowing experience.
 
 

In The Heart Of The Sea The Tragedy Of The Whaleship Essex
by Nathaniel Philbrick

I ordered this book for my husband and me too listen to together. We both enjoy history and it sounded like an interesting story. I should have been forewarned by the almost opening page which described two survivors of the wreck found engaging in an act which could only be described as cannabilism. Philbeook doesn't spare any detail in this book. From that opening scene to the blood spurting out of a harpooned whale's spout he almost seems to revel in bringing the grotesque to light, and he spates no detail. I actually think that there was not enough of a story here and Philbeook had to add every detail and side excursion into other related and unrelated incidents to flesh it out. I much preferred the story of Shackleton and the Endurance to this book.