Like James Herriot? You'll love Dr. Pol, too. This book takes you on Dr. Pol's rounds and alongside him in his clinic, ministering to animals big and small. Lots of his insights can be applied to our own lives, even if we don't have our arm up cows', you know.

An easy read, and there is a twist here, but ultimately, I was frustrated with the main character.

Best-seller books, rock-star galas and sexual scandals . . . sounds like modern-day fodder, right? Well, guess again! This was all around in the 1500s in (what would eventually be) Italy. The Chef's Secret takes you back to rich (in so many ways) Papal times and all that that entailed. Of course there were murders, too, and the promised secret. Or maybe even two. Since I read an uncorrected proof that looked like it was cobbled together by sixth graders making a yearbook, I wasn't expecting much. Seriously, there was tape for binding. But I was surprised, and aside from a few stutters, it kept moving until the end.

An interesting look at the modern way western medicine has evolved in light (or shadow) of wellness screening. A game-changer.

I heard Rick (a Republican political strategist) on the radio and he was quite the raconteur--I promptly ordered and couldn't wait to chuckle my way through his book. Well, guess again. Although his humor can't hide, the overriding theme is anything but funny. I actually couldn't read it before going to sleep or I'd have nightmares. The thought of a second term is that scary. An important message that I certainly hope the DNC has absorbed. Please.

Figured it out pretty early on. That always bugs me. Plus, there were some loose threads at the end, and plot devices that seemed to go nowhere. I won't spoil it for you, but the main character, Mabel, was a bit of a sellout. Oops.

Tara was the product of a loving but frighteningly flawed set of parents who raised her in survivalist-style, becoming more deeply entrenched in their conspiracy theory worldview as the years passed. Her recollection of her upbringing and ultimate awareness of what she needed are told with honesty and grit. Shockingly raw. Such a great read, and good for Tara.

This is the third Henry Wiggen book (I previously referred to the series as a trilogy, but just learned there's one more--oops--maybe that was wishful thinking), and although I can't speak for the last one, this was my least favorite. I felt the character (yep, the "seamstitch" is a new one) development was weak, and the story thin. I also didn't really appreciate the diatribe of scolding readers in the preface. It put me on edge when reading it, as though if I didn't like his book there must be something wrong with me and the way I read. He wants readers to have "ears", and to not need spoon-feeding. True enough. But if sometimes, someone doesn't like your book, Mark, it might be because it's not very good.

What a frustrating journey for Dorothy, and what a sad chapter in one family's history. Well-documented and heart-wrenching.

Douglas packed a lot of oddball, Sedaris-esque humor (?) into this little book. It's a quick, weird read. There's apparently a lot going on in that head of his, because did you know that he also created this cool sculpture in B.C.? No? Me, neither.

This memoir of a troubled, yet talented and intelligent boy was sharp, and felt out of focus. One can feel his intellect, yet I don't have the mindset to try and follow his jagged storytelling style. I'm glad he made it, and glad he wrote a book, but it was pretty weird.

This is an insightful trip through the arduous process of creating a team of hero dog and handler. SO MUCH WORK! We can never be grateful enough. Hopefully we will never need them, but if we do, how humbling that they put that much time in to save the rest of us. The handlers deserve a hand, and those dogs deserve a belly rub!