Books: October 2005 Archives

Recently, I bought the book "Cider House Rules" written by John Irving at Half Price books. John Irving is the author of one of my all time favorite books, "A Prayer for Owen Meany." The "Cider House Rules" came with this charming inscription in the front of the book.

For those of you who find the hand writing difficult to decipher, it says "Started reading - Not a Christian Book don't read".

Why is it that I want to read the book more now?

Perhaps this blog should have the same warning ...

I picked up "Because of Winn-Dixie" recently and read it to my kids. Matthew had really liked "The Tale of Despereaux" by the local author, Kate DiCamillo. Personally I never cared for Despereaux. Maybe I didn't like it because I kept coming into the middle of the story; maybe I just didn't like the narrator's tone. When I picked up Winn-Dixie I had very low expectations. I figured the kids would like it and I would just endure it.

I pleasantly surprised. I really liked this book.

It is a great kid's book. The story moves along nicely, the narrator doesn't talk down to the reader, the characters are nicely drawn, and the story is really compelling.