Book Reports

As a kid I hated doing book reports, but today I'm anxious to share a few snippets about the books I read in hopes of piquing the interest of folks to pick up some great books ... and read.  I'll rate each book on a scale of 1 - 10 based solely on the enjoyment I derived from the book.  My "10" could be the next person's "2" ... but, so it goes.  The most recent read will appear at the top of the list. 

We are probably some of the last holdouts who still read real, honest to goodness books.  Yes, the kind you actually flip real pages of paper with your own thumb.  Imagine that!  Yes, I understand that we're dinosaurs of a sort.  But hey, when we get tired of turning pages we'll go buy a Kindle or Nook or whatever else is available when we get to that point.

Many of our books, paperbacks mostly, are picked up from campground or RV park book exchanges.  Our newest supply came from the Frisco, CO library.  They have a paperback exchange section, but recently requested that we take all we want.  There's simply more books than shelf space.  We happily obliged for our own reading pleasure and to share with other avid readers.  Enough already.  Enjoy ... and read!

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston

Rating: 8

Released in 1994, this book is as relevant today as when it was written two decades ago due to the recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa where over 1,200 people have died as of August 19, 2014. It’s a fascinating true story of the history of the Ebola virus.  Did you know that in 1989 a strain of Ebola flared up about 10 miles west of Washington, D.C – within sight of the Washington Monument?  The Hot Zone is both horrifying and spellbinding at the same time.  I couldn’t put it down.  

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein  
Rating: 10
What a creative way to tell the story of this family ... let Enzo, the dog, tell it from his perspective.  I absolutely love this book.  I'll never look at dogs the same way again. 

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson

Rating: 10

The true adventure of two American scuba divers who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II – a sunken German U-boat off the New Jersey coast. 

Winterdance - The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen  

Rating: 10

The true story of Gary Paulsen and his passion for running dogs.  He tells a great story about training for and running the 1,180 mile sled-dog race.  Between his ignorance of what he's getting himself into and his fierce determination to run the race, he keeps you laughing and, at the same time, in pure awe at his accomplishments.

Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Rating: 10

Historical novel of a young girl’s life in a nineteenth-century Hawaiian leper colony, and her journey as she rises above the limitations of a devastating disease.