Sandoval Family Blog

Quick book recommendation

Although I hate colds, losing my voice and feel guilty taking sick days - I did all three this week. What saved the day was reading a fabulous book,  Marley and Me, by John Grogan. (You must head to the Web site upon finishing the book to view photos of Marley from infancy to adulthood - how sweet - and of course, John Grogan keeps a blog, as so many cool writers do.)

Just had to take a moment to highly recommend this book as a sweet, heartwarming and quick read that any animal lover will love. People magazine sums it up well: "A funny, touching tribute to [a] 97-pound Lab who was as loyal and loving as he was disobedient."

As a side note: I will not complain nearly as much about the claw-marks my non-declawed cats leave on our couch after reading about the destruction a thunderstorm-phobic Lab can create.

If you can't speak...read

Had laryngitis all weekend and actually got in some good reading time...you know, since I couldn't talk. In the last couple of weeks, have finished...

"The Kite Runner" and the state of my nightstand

Finished "The Kite Runner." It was educational, interesting and well written. It wasn't my type of book, but I wanted to get through it for something different. A friend at work let me borrow it.

"Citizen Girl"

I bought this book at a used book shop on Monday. Thank God I didn't pay full price. I figured it would be pretty good, since it's by the women who wrote "The Nanny Diaries." However - it was awful.

"My Sister's Keeper"

Finished "My Sister's Keeper"  by Jodi Picoult last weekend - then passed it to my sister. We both really liked it. It's an emotional read, but a good one.

"A Million Little Pieces"

I breezed through - as in skipped several hundred pages - "A Million Little Pieces" last night and am now considering it read. I had to give up on the idea that I was enjoying it, and admit that although it is brilliantly written, it just wasn't a subject I was all that interested in.

"The Starter Wife"

Finished "The Starter Wife" finally. I picked it up and put it down many times before I finally "got into it." Once I was into it, it was a good read - if not a bit annoying, thanks to her detailed look at the Hollywood lifestyle. It also occurred to me about mid-way through the book that the author is likely Brian Grazer's wife, so she's probably got a good handle on writing about such things as the Hollywood lifestyle.

"Pawley's Island"

I finished "Pawley's Island" by Dorothea Benton Frank a couple of nights ago. It was a good, light read - very much like Anne Rivers Siddons or any of the other southern-lit writerly-type ladies of the day. I happen to be a sucker for southern literature, but have grown a bit tired of the typical "one of them is psycho" drama of Anne Rivers Siddons more recent books.

"Vanishing Act"

Finished "Vanishing Act" by Jodi Picoult. It was a good read, but a slightly repetitive one. Felt like it could have been at least 100 pages shorter and still made its point. My first read of Picoult and I will follow up with more by her. Sadly, she's never available via the library, so I'll have to buy any books by her. Luckily, Target tends to have a selection of her books that are reasonably priced.

Just got a bunch of books from the library and have started "The Starter Wife." It reminds me of watching "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Not sure I'll stick with it, but so far it's okay.