The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Okay, I finished the book last night. I couldn't put it down. Like I stated before, the first 200 pages or so gives you the entire background and history of Edgar and his parents. Once you reach a certain point, the story just takes off from there. Those first 200 pages, I kept thinking, there has to be more to this. Rest assured, there was. There were nights I was so tired, but I couldn't put the book down. I literally fell asleep with it on my lap, not because it was boring, but because I refused to put it down when I felt tired. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it was a surprise. I love the way I knew Edgar so well because of all the background information. I also loved the characters. I hated some and loved some. There was a part in there which was a little out there (when Edgar had the dogs do a trick with a syringe), but overall, I would recommend it, especially to a dog lover. This is a great story about a boy and his love of his dog(s) coupled with suspense and surprised. This is sure to be a keeper for some of you!

Books to Re-read

Everyone asks me why I collect my favorite books? They ask if I've ever re-read any and I always say "no". I always thought it was because when you read a book, it becomes part of your life. I read Stephen King a lot when I was a teenager and not so much now, but my favorite book was Pet Semetary. I remember reading it all day! Anyway, Stephen King wrote a comment/review on the back of a book I was reading and he said something to the effect of he hardly ever re-reads a book because there are too many books and so little time. I thought - "exactly!" Now I think, I have them for my kids. I want them to have something to remember me by and that is my books. I feel like they are part of me. I have my favorites which I've been collecting in hard cover and I enjoy that. I love to know that maybe one day my daughter will be sitting in her home and reading something I did also.

My First Follower

Rita - how in the world do you do it? Work full time, kids, family, school??? I worked for over 25 years in corporate America and got laid off in December 2007 and have been a stay at home mom now for over a year. My hat goes off to you. Yes, I love my kids too and they too make me a better mom and person.

I have 2 sons and a daughter. My middle child, my son, hates to read to it is hard for me. I have him reading the Kite Runner now. We're starting with 15-20 pages a day, but it's a start. I think there are some valuable lessons in that book. I loved it. He seems to be okay with it so far. About 40 pages into it.

I'm on twitter under: http://twitter.com/Book_Talk

When do you find time to read???

Okay, I don't know how people do it. I honestly am exhausted when I finally sit down at the end of the day and pick up my book. I want to finish my book but I am sooo tired, I fall asleep before I do. Is it because I'm older? I love the book, so it can't be that. I wish I could just sit and read!

Story of Edgar Sawtelle On Page 300

Okay, at first I was skeptical. I must admit that I am not an Oprah Bookclub reader. I pick books that seem to just call me. I know it's weird, but I feel that the books I read find me. I found The Story of Edgar Sawtelle at the resale shop by my house and I had seen it before at other ones, but never had the urge to get it. This time I couldn't resist and I brought it home. For those of you who don't know the story behind it. To not give too much away, the first 300 pages center around the Sawtelle farm and their breeding business. I was starting to get a little overwhelmed, if we can say that, with all the breeding terminology and training descriptions, but then I realized that this gives the reader such a feeling of belonging in the story. I feel like I am part of the Sawtelle family now and this story has just got a hold of me and I look for moments in my day when I dare to read even a half a page. I suggest that if you pick up the book and have the urge to put it down before you finish, I beg you not to. This story only gets better as the book progresses.

I collect books - sooo many! If you are one of the 1st 3 to join this blog, I will send you for free via media mail, one of the following books:

Julia Alvarez's Saving the World

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

First one to join, gets their choice of one of the above! Looking for other chica readers!!!

Cross Reference Books

If you loved:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, then try:

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Tag - you're it!

Harry Potter Half Blood Prince

Just got back from seeing the Half Blood Prince and loved it. I read the Harry Potter books when book 7 was published and loved it. I am still in amazement of how many books she wrote and how they really got so much better and in depth the later you got into the series. I thought the movie was well made and it was almost 3 hours long. It made me want to read the book again. I love that the characters all stayed. Have you seen it? Join the talk on my blog. Please! I love to read and would love to talk with other readers!

Why do I love reading so much?

I love a great book. Do I ever re-read a book? Not that I can remember. Do I own my favorite books? Absolutely! It's part of me once I've read it. It is part of my life. I admire writer's so much. The years these people put into their works. I mean it's their life. The dedication it must take to write a book. I just saw a special on Primetime with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and she said how she's just enjoying her family life now. Not having to deal with deadlines. She said for 10 years, she's been under pressure to produce book after book. I saw the part where she finished the book on TV with the reporter doing the story and I felt this exuberance thinking, my gosh, she just finished book #7 of her series! What a feeling that must be to know you're done.

I know a lot of people who are buying that Kindle and part of me wants to get it (if I could afford one), but mostly I feel like Carrie in the Sex In the City movie where she's lying in bed with Big and he says "I think you are the only person left in NY who takes books out of the library" or something like that. Carrie goes on to say she loves the smell of the books. I totally understood that. Nothing can replace the feel of the book in your hands. Or how many times do you read and read and then close your book for the night and look to see how far you are from the top of the book? I don't know, it's just not the same with an electronic book. What do I love about it, the built in dictionary. I love my bookshelf or should I say 5 bookshelves! I had my husband build a whole wall with shelves to hold all of my books! Is anyone out there understanding what I'm saying about this??

The last books I've read!

Okay, what are the last 5 books I've read?
The Angel's Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
The Dirty Girls Social Club, Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez
Good Morning Darkness, Ruth Francisco
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon

What are the last 5 books you've read???

Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angels Game

Okay, I just finished Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angel's Game and loved it. Did I like it better than The Shadow of the Wind? No, but it was definitely a keeper. I must admit that there were parts in this book that I actually cried in and was actually a little scared. I was reading it alone while everyone was out.

I waited in anticipation for his follow-up to The Shadow of the wind. I wanted a signed copy so I pre-ordered it from England from a signing he was doing at Hatchard's. I loved getting it in the mail and unwrapping it. Hatchard's did such a lovely job! It was better than Christmas gifts! Wait, it was like Christmas. Is anyone out there reading it or did you read it? Please blog me. I would love to get a great discussion started.