Tag: Memoir

Review for My Dog Skip

My Dog Skip by Willie Morris

Genre – Memoir, Historical, Humor

Rating – PG – rare uses of mild language

Series – No, stand-a-lone

Synopsis –

Willie receives a dog for his ninth birthday, while his family has had previous dogs, but Skip is special. Skip and Willie grow up a small Mississippi town back in the 1940’s. As Skip & Willie grow up, they have many adventures and learn a few lessons along the way. Whether it’s Willie’s night at the cemetery or Skip driving the car, it sure to bring a smile to your face.

My Thoughts –

This book was such a heartwarming & quick read that I didn’t want it to end!! I am a sucker for a good dog story and feel like I find a new one every year. I discovered this one by chance when I saw the movie for the first time. It was cute and brought tears to my eyes at the end. When I realized it was a book first, I quickly put it on hold from my library. My Dog Skip is less then 200 pages long and yet after reading it you feel like you’ve known Skip and Willie all your life.

The stories are not really in chronological order just by theme or year. Despite that fact, I didn’t mind it; it just flowed so easily. So, sometimes you get many little stories within one chapter or one single story. Morris has a humorous way of writing which made me chuckle and smile several times. You could picture the town and the characters. 🙂 Who would have thought to create a prank around a dog driving a car or putting dewormer into cookies.

I will say its not really character driven, just mostly focused on the author’s memories of growing up with his dog. He names some of his friends, but doesn’t give very many details about them. Skip makes up for it though for he has quite the personality.

Language – Many 3 uses of mild language.

Violence – None

Innuendo – None

Conclusion –

Morris writes such a charming book about a time long past & makes you want to go back and visit this small town. You can tell how much the author loved his dog & all the fun adventures they had together. Plus it was pretty clean and might make for a fun read aloud!

Have you read this book or seen the movie? How is your fall going? What have you been reading?

Anna

Review for Will’s Red Coat

Will’s Red Coat by Tom Ryan

Genre – Nonfiction, memoir

Rating – PG-13 for brief strong language

Synopsis –

The author tells the story of an elderly dog named William who had a rough live before being put up for adoption. After hearing about William, Tom Ryan decides to adopt him. Little does he know of the hardships and baggage that Will brings with him. William goes on a journey that transforms him.

My Thoughts –

I had previously listened to the audio book Following Atticus last summer, and it came as a complete surprise when I received Will’s Red Coat for Christmas.

I enjoy the author writing style! It is laid back and personal. We get a glimpse into the wilderness of the New Hampshire mountains. Anytime I read a book like this, it inspires me to go hiking and spend time in nature.

I love Will’s redemptive story. With a little patience and understanding, we can plant seeds that may later lead to a change in person’s life (or an animal in this case). Reminds me how patient Jesus is with us and how he is always ready for when we turn to him.

The chapter about Will’s last days had me in tears. Will’s transformation affected so many lives. I was astounded at how the Facebook group reached out and filled the home with flowers.

Now, the author has an interesting theology and I cannot say that I agree with everything he says especially were salvation is concerned. I also believe the Holy Spirit is the one that does the transformation in our lives. I just wanted to mention that it is there.

Language – There wasn’t a ton, but the F-bomb was used three times. As well as some other uses of colorful language.

Violence – None

Innuendo – None

Conclusion –

Looking for a book that combines picturesque descriptions of landscapes with a dog’s friendship, then this is the book for you! This is a thought provoking novel about dogs impact on our lives. Aimed at adults, but nothing that a mature teen couldn’t handle.

Do you love dogs? Have any favorite dog books? Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Anna

Review for The Girl who Said Goodbye

The Girl who Said Goodbye by Heather Allen

Genre – A Memoir

Rating – PG-13 for descriptions of atrocities committed and violence

Synopsis –

This book tells the story of a young women named Siv Eng who survived the Khmer Rouge takeover in Cambodia. It goes back and forth between when she was little and during the take over. The author walks through the what Siv Eng went through from the years 1963-1980.

My Thoughts –

Before reading this book, I had never heard of the Khmer Rouge takeover. They were basically a communist group that was able to completely over throw the previous government and separate families to dehumanize them by taking away everything from religion to language. I was surprised at how effective they were in moving a whole country’s people to camps.

Siv Eng goes through so much in the 7 years of the take over. Its heartbreaking to read of her separation from her family. The people like Siv Eng who lived in the cities were forced to work in jungle labor camps collecting rice or digging trenches. Just imagine what it would be like to survive on just getting a bowl of soup. They had to supplement it with whatever they could steal.

Throughout the book you can see evidence of how God protected her even in her darkest days of illness. In one of the chapters Siv Eng cried out to the God. We find out that later in life she comes to accept Jesus as her Savior. We see how God provided kinder chiefs who would help Siv Eng find missing jewelry, move her to work in the gardens, and find certain missing family members.

Language – None

Innuendo – At one point in the book, the author mentioned that it was common for soldiers to rape women, but nothing happened to any of the characters. Other then the one mention, there was nothing inappropriate.

Violence –

Now due to this being a memoir Siv Eng mentions things she saw like rotting corpse, soldiers shooting the prisoners, or beating that happened. Also she mentioned how leeches who latch onto their feet. In one chapter it discuss how they had to detach a leech. A few sections mentioned mass murders or digging a mass grave. Several mentions of soldiers killing people.

Other –

There are many instances where individuals had to lie to the soldiers or to the Khmer Rouge in order to survive. Also, there is a mention of how the prisoners used helmets to relieve themselves.

Conclusion –

I really enjoyed this memoir! It opened my eyes to something that had happened in history. To me it is fascinating reading survival stories. The human body can endure so much pain and heartache with God’s help. This would be a good book for teens on up due to some of the content mentioned. I highly recommend reading it!!

Anna