The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I recommend this book with reservations (see below under "bad language").

One of my book clubs chose this book to read. I assumed it was another dogs-are-great, feel-good book. And it was, but it also was different from what I expected.

In this book our narrator is Enzo, dog of racecar driver Dennis. Enzo is convinced that he's meant to be human and, while embracing the qualities that make dogs superior, he also yearns for the day he will be reborn (as he supposes) as a human and greet his master, Dennis, man-to-man. Meanwhile, Enzo tells the reader about the experiences that Dennis has during their life together. 

The back of the book describes this book in some pretty glowing terms...."The perfect book for anyone who knows that compassion isn't only for humans, and that the relationship between two souls who are meant for each other never really comes to an end" (Jodi Picoult)...."a meditation on humility and hope in the face of despair" (Wally Lamb). Hm. 

This was a very engaging book. One of the things I love about books is that, in all but the most shallow of them, the reader's interpretation can be completely subjective. The reader sees what he/she wishes to see. In this book I saw the story of a man of integrity. Dennis, while being a regular guy, was also kind of a hero, practicing loyalty, restraint, tact, endurance and honesty in the face of extreme provocation. That was really cool. There was a lot of stuff about racecar driving. There was a lot of stuff about the relationship between dog and man. That was all fine. But it was Dennis' integrity that stood out to me. I liked him. It was a sweet book.

Sex: well, yes there were references to sex. No actual sex scenes, per se. Just pieces of interludes that the dog witnessed and noted.

Bad language: too much of it. The dog had a potty mouth. He referred to his bodily functions with crude scatological terms. He used the "f" word three times. I've been thinking about all the bad language I feel I've encountered in the books I've read lately (and on Pinterest when I browse the "everything" or "popular" categories!?!). I generally try to avoid it, but am just as capable as the next person of rationalizing it as acceptable if the book is "good" enough. But the other day I noticed how easily one of those words slinks across my mental landscape when my mind is in neutral. And I didn't like it. So perhaps it's time to renew my efforts at eschewing it altogether, no matter how engaging a book is or how redeeming its message seems to be. Anyway, if you read the book, be aware of the language you'll be encountering. It's not widespread, but it's consistently there. This is why I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this book as a good read.

The Diet Survivor's Handbook by Judith Matz and Ellen Frankel

This was a very interesting book.

I've been convinced for many months of the idea that diets don't work. I've read several books that give basic instructions on how to eat mindfully, and it makes sense to me. Not sure it's actually good for losing weight, but pretty sure it's good for self-confidence and peace of mind.

And for the first chapter or two, this book repeated the same kind of information that I've already read about leaving diets behind, the harm they do, and how to eat mindfully. But the title claims SIXTY lessons in "Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care" and that is what this book delivers, actually. Some of the 60 lessons were derivative of each other (does that phrase make sense?), but many of them were fresh--at least to me. Every "lesson" was accompanied by a writing exercise and suggestions for application. And every lesson was followed by a pertinent quotation, some funny, some just cool. My favorite lesson was #54. 

If you are interested at all in this kind of thing, this book would be a thoughtful addition to your study of leaving diets behind. It was a quick read, worth re-reading the parts that seem most applicable to you.

Sex: no

Bad language: no

Clean Gut by Alejandro Junger

I recommend this book.

Mostly. This is a follow-up to Junger's book "Clean". Apparently, Dr. Junger has scented big business, cuz this book is part of a much bigger program that has all sorts of components to it. This part is his diet plan. Yup.

Because of his personal story at the beginning of the book and the diet plan at the end of the book (neither of which I was particularly interested in), the "meat" of this book was not hard to get through. Junger explains how most of today's diagnosed ailments can be traced back to an injured/irritated gut. Much of what he said seemed believable. Some seemed to be a stretch. And the very restrictive diet at the end of the book was too extreme for me. I cannot believe that a diet heavy in meat and protein is better than one that includes whole grain and is conservative with animal products. I also don't like diets that call for expensive/unusual ingredients and/or lots of supplements. I'm just not on board with that at this point. Still, the middle of the book was interesting and very worth reading, and I feel even more motivated to take better care when I choose what I eat. I probably should read his first book, "Clean" too. Hm.

Sex: no

Bad language: no

Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss

I recommend this book.

I'm thinking lately that eating fewer refined/processed products would be a lot better for me and my family. So I'm reading a bunch of books on the subject. Awhile ago I read "The End of Overeating" and found it totally fascinating. It started my thinking on this subject. (And so far it's the best book I've found about this kind of thing.)

Michael Moss' book is on these same lines, only it's more of a report, even a history, of the processed food industry and its unhealthy relationship with salt, sugar and fat. It seems like a pretty even-handed report to me. I didn't feel that Moss was viciously condemning the industry, just reporting on the facts that govern it, no matter the efforts made to cut down on the use of these three potentially harmful ingredients. 

It took me awhile to get through. I wasn't expecting so much history and, frankly, I wasn't all that interested in it either. But it was all very informative and adds to the big picture I'm starting to build up in my mind about a lot of the food that we Americans have been blithely eating for decades now. I get tired of hearing about the "obesity epidemic"--I get particularly tired of hearing what the government should be doing about it. Ultimately, I believe that every individual has his/her own choices to make about what to eat. I guess what I would find most valuable is truth in advertising and full, clearly explained disclosure of ingredients. And better education about the effect that salt, sugar, fat and all those chemicals that are included in our processed foods--better education about what these do in our bodies. When once I can understand these things, I like to think that I am smart and powerful enough to make good decisions without big brother weighing in. Hm.

Anyway. It was a good book, both interesting and surprising in some ways too. A great addition to my collection on this subject.

Sex: no

Bad language: no

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

I highly recommend this book.

I really, really like Brandon Sanderson. His books definitely take a commitment, though, because they are detailed and deeply imaginative. He is an AMAZING world builder and it seems to me that he'll never run out of ideas.

This book (a stand-alone), takes place in T'telir, capital of Hallandren, where color and the power of Breath govern life, determine deity, enable the powerful, and define the powerless. We follow the story of Siri, who has left her home to be the wife of the God King, and the story of Vasher, a powerful figure shrouded in mystery and carrying the sword Nightblood, a living entity with its own mind and will. And of course, since this story is written by Brandon Sanderson, there are many other characters, bright, well-developed and filled with life. It's a big book with a complex set of stories all woven together.

Brandon Sanderson is amazing. I am never disappointed by his books. I do sometimes get bogged down in the many, many details contained in his worlds. Like I said before, I sometimes feel his books take commitment to finish. They drag a reader in and take over his/her whole imagination until they're finished. Pretty amazing.

Sex: no

Bad language: no

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

I recommend this book.

I like Georgette Heyer. Her writing is classy and complex. My favorites are, of course, her Regency romances which are incomparable. "Penhallow", however, is one of her mysteries. I haven't read more than 3 or 4 of these. They are interesting, but not as engrossing as her Regencies.

Penhallow is the name of our main character: a crusty, infirm, autocratic old man who takes pleasure in cruelly antagonizing his family, friends and neighbors. He is more than unpleasant; he is vicious. At last, one day before his birthday, Andrew Penhallow is murdered. And this death, which was seen by his murderer as a relief to many, turns out to be the epicenter of a destructive quake for the entire Penhallow family.

This was not your ordinary whodunit where our canny detective fingers the murderer and life goes on happily for all the rest. We read more about the effect of Penhallow's death on his family than we do about the investigation of his murder. In fact, we know who the murderer is from the very beginning! And the murder doesn't even take place until well over halfway through the book!  Since it was obvious from the beginning (and was included in the blurb on the back of the book) that Penhallow was our victim, it seemed like it took FOREVER for him to be murdered. I kept waiting for the mystery to "start". This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book, though. It was just unexpected.

It was all involved and interesting and very well written. The atmosphere was thick and dark and the setting was beautifully illustrated. It was a long book--457 pages, but it went quickly. I love Georgette Heyer!

Sex: nope

Bad language: nope

Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red by Harry Kemelman

I highly recommend this book.

     I forget how much I like this series until I run into a random Harry Kemelman book somewhere and add it to the "to read"shelf....and eventually pick it up and rediscover the quiet, intelligent, balanced, rational and dedicated Rabbi David Small. 

     In this book, Rabbi Small, teacher and guide to the Jews in the small town of Barnard's Crossing, is hired to teach a course in Jewish studies at Windemere Christian College. He believes he knows what he's getting into, but he is unprepared for the modern college student...and for the murder that takes place among the small college population.

     This is an intelligent series. Kemelman's main character, David Small is a Rabbi, which means that one of his main purposes in life is to seek education just for the sake of learning. When we see the world through Rabbi Small's eyes, we get to take a thoughtful and rational view of all things. Rabbi Small, trained in the art of Talmudic argument, has the gift of eminently logical thinking. He states and restates all aspects of whatever problem he is considering and, in his hands, confusing situations suddenly gain clarity. This is what makes him so good at illuminating the solutions to the mysteries that he encounters. 

    Kemelman has a really wonderful way, too, of describing the Jewish community and the temple, and of explaining the Jewish religion and view of the world--all without losing the interest of the reader. I feel like I learn a ton every time I read one of his books. And I'm in awe of his ability to show the small-mindedness that a church community can get caught up in without disrespecting Jews or the Jewish religion in general. So he provides what we imagine is a realistic picture of a Jewish community while preserving the integrity of the Jewish religion. Very cool.

   Also, since this book was published in 1974, it's a little time capsule--filled with Women's Lib, civil rights, civil unrest, the disrespect of the modern college student and the like. So much fun! I really liked it and I think I'll make a better effort at collecting some more Rabbi David Small books. 

Sex: Yeah--it was 1974, (aside: did you know that the early seventies are included in the sociological delineation of the world-changing decade of the 60s? They call it the "long 60s", since the effects of that decade lasted beyond the years from 1960-1970). Anyway, it was 1974, so free love was still in vogue and we get affairs here and there. No descriptions, though and no titillating situations at all. In addition, these sexual situations are not glamorized at all. I do appreciate that. 

Bad language: nope