The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

So I have a story about The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski.

I was walking out of the gym one night, with this NYT Bestseller under my arm and one of the trainers stopped me and said, "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?...What book is that?" And points to the book under my arm. I was caught off guard, one, because I wasn't expecting the question and two, I had a gym towel around my neck under my coat, and I thought he was trying to catch me walking out with it.

Anyway...I started to babble. I don't recall what I said exactly, but I stuttered that it was about a boy that couldn't speak and he has a dog and he trains dogs and that there was a murder.

The trainer looked at me funny and said, "Ooookay...is it good?" I answered, "Yes, yes it is..." and ran out of the gym with my stolen towel (and NO, I don't feel bad...I could put a child through college with the amount of money I spend in that gym. The towels should be embroidered with my name of them!). Anyway, weeks later, I still can't figure out a good way to describe the story.

You know what? I don't know if there is a good way to explain it. NYT describes, "A mute takes refuge with three dogs in the Wisconsin woods after his father’s death. " Is that really that much different than my explaination?

Was it good...yes, very. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Why don't you read it and explain it yourself.


I am finishing up another book from my book angel Erika, The Archangel Project by C. S. Graham. Strangely enough, like the Broken Window, it deals with the issue of big brother and how you can be tracked by your cell phone and credit cards and travel. My mother and I went to AC this weekend and had a discussion on all you would have to do to truly disappear. I decided, if I have to do so, I'm going to Mexico...Canada's way too cold! Anyway...enjoying the book.




In case you are wondering...here's the latest NYT Bestseller list. Only 3 on my radar.

1 EXTREME MEASURES, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.95.) Mitch Rapp teams up with a C.I.A. colleague to fight a terrorist cell — and the politicians who would rein them in.

2 THE BRASS VERDICT, by Michael Connelly. (Little, Brown, $26.) Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller (the Lincoln lawyer) team up to find a killer.

3 THE LUCKY ONE, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A marine returning home sets out to track down the woman whose photo he found in Iraq.

4 BONES, by Jonathan Kellerman. (Ballantine, $27.) The psychologist-detective Alex Delaware is called in when women’s bodies keep turning up in a Los Angeles marsh.

5 THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, by David Wroblewski. (Ecco, $25.95.) A mute takes refuge with three dogs in the Wisconsin woods after his father’s death.


6 ROUGH WEATHER, by Robert B. Parker. (Putnam, $26.95.) The Boston private eye Spenser gets involved when a gunman kidnaps the bride from her wedding on a private island.

7 A LION AMONG MEN, by Gregory Maguire. (Morrow, $26.95.) A looming civil war in Oz, seen through the eyes of the Cowardly Lion; Book 3 of the Wicked Years.

8* TESTIMONY, by Anita Shreve. (Little, Brown, $25.99.) A sex scandal at a Vermont prep school is caught on tape.

9 A MOST WANTED MAN, by John le Carré. (Scribner, $28.) Intelligence agencies converge in Hamburg when a young Muslim man with mysterious connections shows up.

10* DARK SUMMER, by Iris Johansen. (St. Martin’s, $26.95.) A veterinarian cares for an injured dog with an amazing secret.

11 ONE FIFTH AVENUE, by Candace Bushnell. (Hyperion, $25.95.) The worlds of gossip, theater and hedge funds have one address in common.

12 THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer. (Little, Brown, $25.99.) One woman won’t surrender to the aliens that have taken control.

13 HEAT LIGHTNING, by John Sandford. (Putnam, $26.95.) Virgil Flowers investigates murder cases linked by a lemon in the mouth of each victim.

14 MILLENNIUM FALCON, by James Luceno. (Del Rey, $26.) Jacen Solo’s daughter, Allana, discovers a curious device aboard her grandfather Han’s beloved spacecraft; a “Star Wars” book.

15 THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. (Dial, $22.) A journalist meets the island’s old Nazi resisters. 12

16* THE OTHER QUEEN, by Philippa Gregory. (Touchstone, $25.95.) The captivity of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Book Angel Delivers...AGAIN

Aimee just gave me her copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. It was brand new in the Amazon box. Apparently she pre-ordered it, but couldn't wait for the delivery so she sent her husband out to the store to buy her another copy. UNBELIEVEABLE. I just started reading it, but I am again annoyed by Harry's know-it-all attitude. He's such a brat.

I just read an article that said they are planning to make a musical of the books. I don't know about this one...I think that a musical might be a stretch for HP...but you never know.



Today I got another fantastic delivery from my Book Angel ET. Now I have 3 new books to read: WATER LIKE A STONE by Deborah Crombie, PRETTY LITTLE MISTAKES by Heather MeElhatton (A do-over novel...interesting) and I GAVE YOU MY HEART BUT YOU SOLD IT ONLINE by Dixie Cash.

If only she could get me a copy of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS (hint hint). Its #1 on the NYT list. I'd love to find out what all the hype is about.



Speaking of the NYTs...here is the latest.

HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
2. PLAY DIRTY, by Sandra Brown
3. FORCE OF NATURE, by Suzanne Brockmann
4. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
5. LOVING FRANK, by Nancy Horan


HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE, by Duane Chapman with Laura Morton
2. QUIET STRENGTH, by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
3. LONE SURVIVOR, by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson
4. IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM, by Denise Jackson with Ellen Vaughn
5. GOD IS NOT GREAT, by Christopher Hitchens

LOVING FRANK sounds interesting.

Get the full list of NYT bestsellers here...

Back from Vacay...A LONG WAY GONE

I'm back from vacation and I have to tell you about A LONG WAY GONE by Ishmael Beah. This book is #4 this week on the NYT Bestseller list. It is a very enlightening *true* story of a young boy in Sierra Leone forced to become a solider as means of survival as his family and country is destroyed by Civil War.

Ishmael tells how he is tragically separated from his family at 12 years old, and forced to find his own way with his young friends. He tells how he is brainwashed and drugged to commit the cruel and brutal fighting and killing that is so clearly against his nature.

The story is simply written but gives wonderful first hand insight into the life and mind of a child soldier.

It is hard to believe he is only 25, and has experienced so much in his short life (and now living safely in the United States). It makes you realize what a sheltered life we live in the US, and the evil that lurks in our small, small world. I give it 5 of 5 stars.




If you liked the movie BLOOD DIAMOND starring Leonardo DiCaprio, you might want to give this book a read.



On the NYTs Bestseller list:
HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
2. THE SECRET SERVANT, by Daniel Silva
3. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
4. HIGH NOON, by Nora Roberts
5. THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN, by James Lee Burke


HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. LONE SURVIVOR, by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson
2. QUIET STRENGTH, by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
3. GOD IS NOT GREAT, by Christopher Hitchens
4. A LONG WAY GONE, by Ishmael Beah
5. LEGACY OF ASHES, by Tim Weiner

THE INNOCENT MAN by John Grisham - LOVED IT

Some authors, you read one book, you have read them all. Once again, John Grisham seems to be able to avoid this trap by taking a trip into the relm of non-fiction with THE INNOCENT MAN.

It reads like an episode of City Confidential



It is really a tragic story of what can happen when the law has an agenda of its own. It is a story of a man who "lost" years of his life, trying to prove his innocence, as he loses his mind in prison. I can't imagine the horror of being put in jail for a crime that I didn't commit, watching the evidence come in stacked against me, and the more I scream that I am innocent...the less I am heard. It must have been a nightmare. Grisham really tells the story and the horror of what happened to this tragic figure in a small town.


I know I am trying to survive life after John Grisham, but I am glad I picked this one up. I give it 5 of 5 stars!

john grisham

grisham

On the NYT Bestseller list bores again!

HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
2. LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN, by Janet Evanovich
3. BUNGALOW 2, by Danielle Steel
4. DOUBLE TAKE, by Catherine Coulter
5. DROP DEAD BEAUTIFUL, by Jackie Collins

#1 sounds interesting...the rest...SOS!

I just finished...
THE BOOK OF ILLUSIONS By Paul Auster. I thought he spent too much time explaining things like movies that never existed. Had I not paid for the book, I probably would have let it fall under my bed and left it there. 2 stars. Sorry Paul.

Hidden on my bookshelf...

I'm reading a nice little book called HISTORY LESSON FOR GIRLS by Aurelie Sheehan. It's a coming of age story. I'm enjoying it. I picked it up a while back and never got around to reading it. The cover is beautiful...I don't know how I missed it.



I also read WHO ATE MY CHEESE? Its a business book, that I have had for a long time. It was a quick and simple read, but it was magic, because I am inspired (again) to embrace change at work. I bought copies for the 6 members of my staff. I am not sure how they will respond to it...more on that to come.




Took a quick look on the NYT Bestsellers list. Time to start reading again!
BTW...the hotlinked books are available at ZOOBA.com for just $9.95 ABSOLUTELY NO Shipping and Handling. You can't find a better deal than this!


HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. CROSS, by James Patterson
2. FOR ONE MORE DAY, by Mitch Albom
3. DEAR JOHN, by Nicholas Sparks
4. NATURE GIRL, by Carl Hiaasen
5. WILD FIRE, by Nelson DeMille

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama
2. THE INNOCENT MAN, by John Grisham
3. CULTURE WARRIOR, by Bill O’Reilly
4. THE GOD DELUSION, by Richard Dawkins
5. MARLEY & ME, by John Grogan

First of all...I gave away my old books to Goodwill

That's right You had your chance for FREE BESTSELLERS (you pay only S&H). Too bad.

Second of all, I have been having a very hard time finding a book that is worth my time. I ended up with Kidnapped: A Novel (Irene Kelly Mysteries). I don't even know where to begin. Hmmmm....in a word: "Confusing". Too many characters...while I could follow the story, I couldn't follow who was who. Afer a while I wanted to give up. But I kept on reading. How everything just fell into place. Instead of saying "what a smart book" I said, "Thank God I finished." There are two reviews on Amazon with five stars. I strongly disagree. I give this one 2 out of 5 stars.

You can get it on Amazon...or Zooba...I say...skip this one.




Here's what is going on the NYT list... Looking forward to reading the Woodward.
HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. FOR ONE MORE DAY, by Mitch Albom
2. THIRTEEN MOONS, by Charles Frazier
3. MOTOR MOUTH, by Janet Evanovich
4. THE BOOK OF FATE, by Brad Meltzer
5. THE THIRTEENTH TALE, by Diane Setterfield

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5 at a Glance
1. STATE OF DENIAL, by Bob Woodward
2. CULTURE WARRIOR, by Bill O’Reilly
3. I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK, by Nora Ephron
4. SAVING GRACES, by Elizabeth Edwards
5. MARLEY & ME, by John Grogan

Books I might be reading soon...

Still looking for the next good read. Found these two new-comers on the NYT bestsellers list this week. Look Interesting.


THE EMPEROR'S CHILDREN, by Claire Messud. (Knopf, $25.) A group of privileged 30-somethings try to make their way in literary New York just before 9/11.

SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS, by Marisha Pessi (Viking, $25.95.) A motherless teenager who has spent much of her life on the road with her father joins a circle of students who are enchanted with a teacher bearing a tragic secret.


A note on my last read. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS sits for the second week in a row at #10...I think this is its final resting spot.