Katie
This gave me lots to think about, and was a pretty good read too.
Attention people who love to babble about how much you love bacon: It may be trendy to like bacon, but check back in with me after you've read the pig chapter.
This was really great and my heart hurt the entire time I read it. One less star because I disliked the ending
I just can't recommend this one. I was looking for a cultural review of the concept of happiness, and instead got a bunch of unsubstantiated stereotypes. There are some cute anecdotes? Continuing to portray Bhutan as happy in tandem with their massive ethic cleansing is a no-go. That's just one example- other reviewers have pointed out harmful and inaccurate narratives in other sections of the book.
I may have given this more stars if I had been a reader when it was first published.. The remembered sex abuse theme is too played out by now. Parts were compelling, and the writing was enjoyable.
It took a while for me to get into, and I do kind of feel bad saying it, but the Yiddish was an obstacle.. I just didn't feel at home. But a stretch is good, right? Once I got the characters voices established in my head, I really enjoyed the story and think it's one of the most creative books I've read in a long time.
I started reading it and didn't like it at all.. per my Grandmother's advice, I found that the book on tape was way more enjoyable.
I wish the editors had a few less hipsters and a few more natives write the chapters. Tennessee ended up being my favorite, Ohio was pretty accurate too.
Reading this book is like cruising along as a passenger in a race car. It's a fast and easy read and requires no special exertion from the reader. The best thing about it is that the dog is a narrator. The worst thing about it is how the author forgets this from time to time, or has to work at getting the dog into the scene to be able to describe to the reader what is happening. I would have definitely preferred a story without all the ends tied up, but more closely aligned with what Enzo, the pooch, might have seen/heard/thought.
I appreciated the last few pages- they made me smile in a way I was hoping to smile through the entire book.
I was so sad when this book was over.. and I don't feel that way very often. A great combo of sly humor and history.
This was an excellent book! I only wish that he had made a better effort with the vegetarian chapter..
I believed Richard Russo's quote on the back that I would care deeply about these characters but wow was he wrong. Couldn't get past that, and a lot of the trite writing didn't help. I gave up when there was a reference to dead fathers hanging out together in heaven.
Quirky and weird. At times, too much for my taste, but when I was in the mood for such things it hit the spot.
The characters in this book had very distinct voices, at least in my head. Fun and easy read. Things were wrapped up a little too nicely for my taste, and the Afterward took the shine off her nice ending.
I was compelled to read this, the same way I was compelled to read Twilight. It was a page turner, but the writing was not great and the foreshadowing made me gag. (Don't think I'm a snobby adult, I even disliked YA fiction when I was a YA) Everyone I know loved this book. I didn't love it, but parts were good. Some characters were memorable, but few were really interesting. I think the drunk guy was the best.
I overcame my inability to read and look at pictures at the same time! And, enjoyed this book a great deal. #2 is on my bedside table..