Book #11: Townie by Andre Dubus III

Townie by Andre Dubus III is a memoir of the author's life, focusing quite a bit on his relationship with his father. Mr. Dubus spent many of his teen and young adult years fighting. His reasons, he realized later, were selfish. He had spent so long living in fear of others that when he learned to fight, telling himself it was to protect himself and others, he actually did it to make himself feel good about not being scared anymore.

His fighting also brought about a new aspect to his relationship with his father. They began to be friends. He didn't understand a lot of the things his father enjoyed, nor did his father understand exactly what his son's life had been like since he had left. His father was proud of how he was able to defend himself and others, though. That made the author feel both happy and ashamed.

It was quite interesting to watch the author evolve from a scared boy in a poor neighborhood, to a tough guy that never backed down from a fight, to an educated, compassionate young man, to a writer.

The thing about this book was that although it wasn't the "I-can't-put-it-down" type, it was a book that after I had been away from it for a while, I was anxious to get back to it to see what was going to happen next in the author's life. Quite honestly, it was a slow read. In fact, it took me a month to read it. I'm glad I did, though. It was a peek into a lifestyle that I would otherwise have no idea about the existence of.

I would encourage anyone who enjoys memoirs to give it a try. Even if you don't speed through it in one night, it's a good story.

Book #6: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Rhoda Janzen's memoir Mennonite in a Little Black Dress sounded very promising. What's not to like about a book that starts out when the author's marriage ends because her husband leaves her for a guy named Bob he met on Gay.com?

Ms. Janzen tries to take a humorous look at her life, one in which she was raised Mennonite, left the religion, and still appreciated how much that lifestyle shaped her. Unfortunately, I felt like she was trying too hard to be funny and most of the time it just fell flat. Not to mention the uncountable number of times she mentions her husband leaving her for a guy named Bob he met on Gay.com.

I liked the glimpse into the Mennonite life, one that is different from the religion I had imagined. In fact, Ms. Janzen included an appendix that answered some common questions about the Mennonite life. Here again, she just tried too hard to be funny, but it wasn't.

I'm not one to give up on a book, but I seriously considered it with this one. There were 3 chapters toward the end of the book that I enjoyed, but the rest of the book bored me, frankly.

Book #9: Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: A True Story of Bad Breaks and Small Miracles by Heather Lende

This book is yet another one sent to me by my lovely friend Lisa in Seattle. It's not a book (or an author) I had heard of, and those are usually the best kind that she sends me.

In Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs, Heather Lende is an author living in small town Alaska, basking in the glow of her upcoming book tour when she is run over by a truck while riding her bike. In telling the story of her accident and her recovery, the reader is introduced to her faith, her family, and her community of Haines, Alaska.

We get to know the different personalities that make up the town of Haines and how they all pulled together to help Heather and her family as she healed. We see all the intimate connections between the residents and how their lives intertwine with Heather's.

Heather also gives us some great examples of positive energy and faith, and how they can make a difference when things are not going well. It seems to be a choice that she makes in life-to be strong, to make the best of her situation, and to be grateful for what she has.

There are descriptions of the natural beauty of her town and the surrounding area. If you are a fan of the wilderness, that alone is a reason to read the book. I connected with the author just by the fact that we are both animal lovers and the experience I had with a community coming together to help me when things were at their worst.

The book shows that there really are good, caring people everywhere.

Book #21: Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? A Rock 'N' Roll Memoir by Steven Tyler

The title of this book is quite accurate. "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" by Steven Tyler, lead singer of the iconic American rock band Aerosmith, clearly displays what is going on in his head.When you read this memoir, you'd better buckle up, because this is not a gentle journey!

Having been an Aerosmith fan for many years, I couldn't wait to read Steven Tyler's book. I read the band's autobiography "Walk This Way" when it first came out, but not to worry, this is certainly not a rehashing of the stories in the previous book. This is very clearly a book about the author, not Aerosmith. Of course, Steven Tyler IS Aerosmith, so the band is discussed, but only as far as he is related to it.

It starts out with his childhood in Sunapee, New Hampshire and works through his different bands, relationships, drug addictions and songs he has created. It's fascinating to read how he writes a song. It is beyond anything I can really grasp because he seems to think musically, live musically. It's like songs are all around him and he's made up of music.

He discusses his feelings toward the rest of the band, stating that they point fingers at him for his behavior when they engage in the same behavior. It looks like a love-hate relationship, that neither side can live without. They're so good together, making music and performing, but off-stage they cut each other down.

The part that touched me the most was his love for his mother. She passed away 3 years ago and his recollection of that time is both heart-wrenching and beautiful. I almost get the sense that she was his one true love.

If you are a fan of rock music in general or Aerosmith in particular, this is a book you need to read. It's not a linear read by any means, but once you get used to the way Steven Tyler thinks (there really is a lot of noise in his head!) it's a fun ride.

Book #18: A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas

Okay, I'm way behind on my reviews, so this is my attempt to get caught back up.

Abigail Thomas wrote her memoir "A Three Dog Life" focusing on her life after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury. The title is a play on the phrase "A three dog night" used by Australian Aborigines to describe the coldest of nights since they slept with dogs to keep warm. Her three dogs help to keep her going and normalize her life after it is turned upside down following her husband's accident.

Although the book is written because of a tragedy, I don't think it is dark or depressing. In fact I find it inspirational that this woman, who has had her normal life ripped away, keeps going and starts a new "normal" life. In this new life, her husband lives in a care facility, sometimes speaks in riddles and has lost his short term memory. Still, she loves him just as she always had.

The timeline of Ms. Thomas' life is not set out chronologically in the book. Some people may find this to be disjointed, but I was not bothered by the fact that it jumps back and forth. I found it to be reflective of how her husband's life must have been after the accident; no real consciousness of the passing of time, just now.

As a dog lover, I think this book subtly states how much some of us rely on our pets for normalcy. In order to be able to keep going, the simple act of napping with a dog can be refreshing.