The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Oh my! I was thoroughly surprised by this little book. Years ago, when it first arrived at whatever bookstore I was working in at the time, I thought ‘it must be just another dog book I will cry my way through.’ So I did not read it until this year.
I am so glad that I did! Was Mr. Stein hit by lightning or a stroke of genius? Was he channeling a wise and wonderful canine when he wrote this? I don’t have any idea, perhaps all of the above. Written entirely from the viewpoint of the dog, this book looks at the interrelationships among people and people with their domestic animals, but does not stop there! This precious novel enfolds the reader painlessly in a philosophical look at family life as seen through the soulful eyes of man’s best friend.
The dog’s ‘owner’ is, primarily a race car driver, although he also maintains a day job in a garage. He loves his dog, and as much as he does, he also loves and lives and breathes motor vehicles. The very fast kind. With dog as companion, he watches racing videos and studies the actions of each car and driver, commenting aloud to the dog, who watches beside him. He takes the dog for long drives and also to the track. The dog (as many do) loves to ride in the car. (BTW, I never would have guessed that I would read and enjoy a book dealing at all with auto racing. It’s not really ‘my thing.’)
When the family expands, the dog continues to observe: changes in behaviors, smells, emotions, are all his for the reading.
Is this dog a genius or are many of our beloved animals as observing and thoughtful of us and our milieu? His ‘conversant’ acquaintance with all aspects of racing, provide him with a measuring stick and an allegory for life with humans. The subtleties governing the driver physically and emotionally, track conditions, vehicle and other drivers and their cars become the metaphors through which the dog is able to explain to himself and the reader about life. Not just in the fast lane, but in the soft and hard pieces of family life as well.
I do not care whether you are a ‘dog person’ or not, this is a book for you; for everyone who is human.
Reviewed by
Victoria
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Acedia and Me, by Kathleen Norris
Acedia and Me, by Kathleen Norris
Kathleen tells the story of her life and how she discovers the source of her ineffectiveness and despair through studies with a group of Monks in South Dakota.
A pleasantly married woman, with a fine husband besought with acute health problems, she often seeks respite in a monastery. Her private retreats engage her in nearly constant study and regiment her chaotic life into the monastic routine of matins and vespers, thus giving her a solid foundation for her spiritual studies and discoveries. She had not considered herself to be at all a religious person, but finds some comfort in the trappings of this regimented life. Her discoveries are of great benefit to anyone, whether they be agnostic or Christian, Jewish or Buddhist. If only it could be required reading for all religions and all philosophical departments.
She begins the book by defining acedia and tells how this ‘lost sin’ became lost to the world.
This engaging book is a must read for anyone who finds themselves on a spiritual path, or for anyone suffering from depression, fear, despondency or a myriad of other spiritual, mental and emotional maladies.
Because of the far-reaching influence of acedia, it needs to be looked at on a business, political and global scale. It would be interesting to study this book in a class setting alongside the book, Outliers, by Malcom Gladwell.
Once again, this was not a book I intended to read, but merely skimmed the first few pages so that I would having 'talking points' in the book store. Based upon that, I sold a copy to a young man wanting something helpfully 'meaty' and philosophical to read. Well, this young fellow returned a few weeks later and sought me out. He had tears in his eyes, and reached out to me. He thanked me for selling him this book. He said it had given him hope and changed his life. He handed me the book, asking me to accept it as a gift of his gratitude for bringing it to his attention. So that is how I got the book. And that is why I was able to read it.
Ms Norris is a fine author with a number of other credits to her name. Let us hope she continues to keep writing works of this caliber. Category: Memoir/Philosophy
Reviewed by Victoria
Kathleen tells the story of her life and how she discovers the source of her ineffectiveness and despair through studies with a group of Monks in South Dakota.
A pleasantly married woman, with a fine husband besought with acute health problems, she often seeks respite in a monastery. Her private retreats engage her in nearly constant study and regiment her chaotic life into the monastic routine of matins and vespers, thus giving her a solid foundation for her spiritual studies and discoveries. She had not considered herself to be at all a religious person, but finds some comfort in the trappings of this regimented life. Her discoveries are of great benefit to anyone, whether they be agnostic or Christian, Jewish or Buddhist. If only it could be required reading for all religions and all philosophical departments.
She begins the book by defining acedia and tells how this ‘lost sin’ became lost to the world.
This engaging book is a must read for anyone who finds themselves on a spiritual path, or for anyone suffering from depression, fear, despondency or a myriad of other spiritual, mental and emotional maladies.
Because of the far-reaching influence of acedia, it needs to be looked at on a business, political and global scale. It would be interesting to study this book in a class setting alongside the book, Outliers, by Malcom Gladwell.
Once again, this was not a book I intended to read, but merely skimmed the first few pages so that I would having 'talking points' in the book store. Based upon that, I sold a copy to a young man wanting something helpfully 'meaty' and philosophical to read. Well, this young fellow returned a few weeks later and sought me out. He had tears in his eyes, and reached out to me. He thanked me for selling him this book. He said it had given him hope and changed his life. He handed me the book, asking me to accept it as a gift of his gratitude for bringing it to his attention. So that is how I got the book. And that is why I was able to read it.
Ms Norris is a fine author with a number of other credits to her name. Let us hope she continues to keep writing works of this caliber. Category: Memoir/Philosophy
Reviewed by Victoria
Cutting for Stone by Dr. Abraham Verghese
This delightful book , Cutting For Stone, by Dr. Verghese is truly a novel novel.
I question whether it is purely fiction or if perhaps it may contain the seed of a true familial history. Or perhaps legend. Several people from India travel to Ethiopia to work in a charity hospital several decades ago, during the reign of Haile Selassie.
Every possible human emotion is tenderly and viciously portrayed as the individuals encounter very real life in the conditions of northern Africa in the late 1940s and early50s. We find a vanishing doctor, a frighteningly out of date X-ray machine, A cherished and rare radio, a pregnant nun, peculiar medical conditions indemic to the African continent, abandoned children, loving foster care, magickal twins, female mutilation, and every odd take on religion you could imagine. And lots of love in many variant forms.
Not a thriller, but thrilling. Not a romance, yet romantic. Not a mystery, yet intriguing. Not a history book, yet historical.
I was not planning on reading it, because I was stuck within a couple of genres that were good escape reading, but Dr. Verghese himself stopped in to do a signing, and personally requested that I give it a chance. And so I did. And I am so glad. Thank you, Dr. Verghese for giving us all such a truly marvelous book.
Reviewed by Victoria
I question whether it is purely fiction or if perhaps it may contain the seed of a true familial history. Or perhaps legend. Several people from India travel to Ethiopia to work in a charity hospital several decades ago, during the reign of Haile Selassie.
Every possible human emotion is tenderly and viciously portrayed as the individuals encounter very real life in the conditions of northern Africa in the late 1940s and early50s. We find a vanishing doctor, a frighteningly out of date X-ray machine, A cherished and rare radio, a pregnant nun, peculiar medical conditions indemic to the African continent, abandoned children, loving foster care, magickal twins, female mutilation, and every odd take on religion you could imagine. And lots of love in many variant forms.
Not a thriller, but thrilling. Not a romance, yet romantic. Not a mystery, yet intriguing. Not a history book, yet historical.
I was not planning on reading it, because I was stuck within a couple of genres that were good escape reading, but Dr. Verghese himself stopped in to do a signing, and personally requested that I give it a chance. And so I did. And I am so glad. Thank you, Dr. Verghese for giving us all such a truly marvelous book.
Reviewed by Victoria
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