The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst (#25, Reader's Choice)

I am becoming suspect of some of the books Steph recommends to me. After she gave me Prep to read I should have never accepted another recommendation . . . redeem yourself!!!

The Dogs of Babel had a promising premise--a mysterious death, no witnesses save the dog, and the quest of the bereaved husband to uncover the clues to the truth. But the novel fell very short of entertaining me. The second the husband begins recounting the history of his relationship with his wife, the death is no longer mysterious but has suicide written all over it, not subtle at all. There were a few interesting twists, or better put creepy twists--think dogs getting their throats cut open, which were nicely tied up at the end, I like clean endings.

I suppose the book was supposed to be the journey of a widower back to life. I have never lost anyone (picture me knocking on wood) important, or even semi-important in my life, and I guess I can't relate to the husband. His behavior was irrational, ridiculous, and unsafe and everyone but him could see that--even his dog. I guess I went through the book blaming him for his wife's suicide. She had all the signs of depression or some bipolar disorder from almost the minute he met her, and he never did anything.

It was sad. I don't do sad.

The BFG by Roald Dahl, (#24, Reader's Choice)

I wasn't lying when I said I was going to read another children's book. I ventured back down to the "young adult" section of the library in search of a Roald Dahl book I had yet to tear through. All the classics were there, Matilda, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--it was hard to resist rereading something that would bring back nostalgic childhood memories. Instead, my eyes fell upon the one book on the shelf by Dahl I hadn't read--The BFG.

Steph and Shawn endured my continually fits of laughter on the beach as I sped through the world of the BFG and Sophie. I think I would group Roald Dahl in a category with J.K. Rowling--how they just come up with completely imaginary worlds and words is beyond me. I am left-handed yet my imagination fails me daily. Not Dahl though, what an amazing, bizarre, sometimes scary, but always exciting world he has created for children.

I like snapping a book shut with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished.

Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas by Tom Robbins (#27, Contemporary Literature)

Ladies and gents, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas was my inaugural Tom Robbins novel. This is shocking I know. After having read this delightfully quirky and wonderfully written book, I wonder how he escaped my good literature radar. I am always on the prowl for the next best author, the next best book. Someone who shall remain nameless recommended this author to me. This same person, though, did not think that this particular book would be the best book to kick off my adventures into Robbins' literary world.

Yes, this book was a little slow to get into, I admit. It is told entirely in the second person, which is strange at first but then you get used to it. I actually kind of enjoyed it. I found myself identifying with the main character more because of it. But I must say, I have never gotten this much attention for reading a book before. I brought it to work with me and while it sat out on the counter, I had countless people talk to me about it. I had people recommending his other books, people telling me how great he is, people telling me that he really appeals to the ladies, people asking me how the book was--that they hadn't read it yet, people whispering "fierce invalids--that's all you need to know". It was as if I had stumbled upon a secret society, of fans addicted to the work of a man who writes unique things and has quite a following.

Would I recommend Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas? I believe so. I mean, how can you resist reading a story that includes a jade enema, the disappearance of a fat fortune teller, and a runaway born-again reformed jewel thief monkey?