Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man - Steve Harvey

If you're familiar with Steve Harvey, perhaps you'll expect this to be a comical spin on male-female relationships. At least that's what I thought. I was wrong. Kind of.

Between the front and back covers of this book are Harvey's beliefs as to why women don't receive what they want and need from the men in their lives and why men get by with behaving badly. He breaks the book into three parts: The Mind-Set of a Man, Why Men Do What They Do, and The Playbook: How to Win the Game. Harvey is serious about imparting information and (in his words) empowering women, but he also keeps it light and entertaining. Enough so that I - an old married gal with a misconception from the onset - thoroughly enjoyed the book (and completed it in 2 settings).

That is not to say that I agreed with Harvey 100%. Overall, though, I give the man his due. He doles out responsibility and chastises each gender where appropriate and pulls no punches in separating the boys from the men. If you're over the age of 30, you've witnessed (if not experienced) at least some of Harvey's observations and can appreciate the idiocy and shortcomings of our human nature.

Just for fun

Play along with me, just for fun. Can you name 10 books that you'll never forget reading? They don't have to be "classics" - just books that you enjoyed so much (or that impressed you in some way) that you'll never forget the experience. Here's my list:

1. Handmaid's Tale
2. Sleepers
3. A Time to Kill
4. Helen Keller
5. The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank
6. The Outsiders
7. Old Yeller
8. Charlotte's Web/Stuart Little
9. Traveling Pants (only because I read them with my daughter)
10. The Shining

It's harder than you think to come up with 10, but can't wait to see yours!

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

This summer has been particularly busy at my house, and I've had little time to read. To pick this book off the shelf for my return was practically divine intervention.

Meet Enzo, a lab mix, whose master, Denny, is a race car driver. But don't be fooled into thinking Enzo is just an ordinary dog. Far from it. Enzo has the soul of a philosopher and the heart of a racer. He lives within the physical confines of his canine body, yet thinks much like you and I.

Enzo is the one that stands beside Denny as he builds his racing career, as he expands his world to include Eve and baby Zoe, and especially in the aftermath of Eve's death. Not only do Denny and Enzo have their grief to deal with, they are now in the race of their lives - fighting for custody of Zoe and facing a bogus child molestation charge.

This is an incredibly well-written book that made me experience a range of emotions. I laughed, I nearly cried, and I groaned out loud a time or two. In the end, it's the story of a loyal and faithful dog and his absolute love for his master.

If you're not a dog lover, you may find this book a little on the corny side, but I enjoyed every word it. In fact, it was one of those easy reads I found difficult to put aside. In the end, I couldn't help but fall in love with Enzo. Maybe you'll see a little Enzo in your dog.