books – ToadMama.com

March 9, 2011

The Rat Pack

For the past ten years, there’s been a World of Pets Expo held at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Maryland. It’s like a big pet convention with all sorts of pet products, seminars, information booths, and special events. I went in 2010 for the first time to help man the American Brittany Rescue booth. This year, I went just for fun.

It was fun, too. The coolest part was getting to see so many different kinds of dogs. Plus, I got to meet Bill and Star of Greatest American Dog (CBS) fame. More on that later. Maybe.

Because I’m big on planning ahead for stuff like that, I checked the schedule of events beforehand. My interest was definitely piqued by this entry: “Debbie Ducommun, The Rat Lady: Teaching Your Rats Tricks and Dressing Them in Costumes.”

Rats in costumes? Oh. My. God.

At that moment, I knew. That was something I HAD to see. I mean, it had to be ridiculous, right? I went fully prepared with various lenses to shoot lots of rat pics and capture some images of this crazy woman and her costumed rats.

I mean, I say again… rats in costumes?

What sort of person dresses a rat? I get why someone might like to keep rats as pets. Sort of. But dressing them?

I had all sorts of plans brewing for a big ole blog post making fun of this person. Until I was overcome by a fleeting moment of maturity, that is.

Just because I don’t like rats, don’t have rats as pets (my dogs would eat them!), don’t think I’d be interested in dressing a rat if I did have one, etc., doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with any of it. Right? It’s just different.

Besides, this lady was actually pretty cool.

Her seminar was held toward the end of the day. I was dog-tired by then (no pun intended), but stood transfixed, listening as Debbie talked about about her history, background, affinity for rats, etc. She was quite serious. By “serious” I mean she is passionate about her rats. She knows her stuff.

The whole time she spoke, I kept watching the lid on that little basket of hers. Every now and then there’d be movement. It got to the point where I was so focused on the basket that I missed a lot of what she said. I was tired, remember.

IMG_8912_rat lady — Letting the Rat Out of the Basket

Finally, she let not one, but two, rats out of the basket. Not just any rats, hairless rats!

I never knew there was such a thing.

I think it sort of looks like an armadillo. Not the most attractive creature, but cute in it’s own sort of way.

IMG_8903_rat lady — At the Starting Bucket

These are fairly young rats. But she has managed to teach them a few tricks. One which involved a sort of tightrope walk between buckets.

She used treats to reward their positive behaviors.

And if they didn’t perform? It was back in the basket for them!

IMG_8905_rat lady — "Get back in the basket, you rat!"

I’m kidding about the basket as punishment thing.

It was neat seeing the little guys walk from one bucket to the next.

IMG_8916_rat lady — Check out that grip!

She also made the little buggers hop from one bucket to the next.

I think they preferred the tightrope thing. But what do I know?

It really was quite interesting. However, I was very tired. After about 15 minutes of rat tricks, I was completely ready to call it a day.

So I missed the costumes.

I know, I know. Sorry.

The Rat Lady (that’s really what she calls herself) has a web site, which you can get to by clicking the fan club image below.

And you absolutely should not miss her MEMORIAL PAGE, where she features a wide variety of pictures showing some of her rats who have passed on. (Seymour is the cutest rat ever!)

I hope you enjoyed meeting The Rat Lady.

So, how do you feel about rats?

The whole time I watched Debbie, I couldn’t help but think of a booked I LOVED as a kid:

Did you ever read that one?

Debbie Ducommun, The Rat Lady: Teaching Your Rats Tricks and Dressing them in Costumes

May 13, 2010May 13, 2010

Not Just Another Dog Story

I love to read. And I read a lot. By “a lot,” I mean it’s a rare day that passes where I haven’t read at least part of a book.

This is not a book-review blog. I do not mention every single book that I have read. In fact, I don’t mention most of what I have read/am reading.

meg_in_my_face — This is my "human" dog, Meg.

But every now and then I read something I have to mention. Like Hold Love Strong, by Matthew Aaron Goodman. Have you read that yet? I know Shannon did (loved it as much as me). And Amy, too (liked it okay). I think my MIL may have started it, but couldn’t get into it. But I could be wrong. My Mom has it now.

Anyway, this post isn’t about that book, it’s about this one: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. (NOTE: this book was released in May 2008. I apologize if this is old news for you, I’m just not always “up” on current happenings. A friend finally told me about this book a few months ago.)

I can see why some folks didn’t like HLS as much as me. Different people like different book genres. HLS certainly has a compelling story, but it’s more of a literary fiction-type book. It’s not a book you like as you read because it gives you the warm fuzzies, or because there’s a mystery to solve or a romance that intrigues you, or even a particular character you like (as in “this person could totally be my friend”) or can identify with. It’s just a very well-crafted book that gives you a glimpse into someone else’s reality. A reality which isn’t always pleasant.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is different. If you followed my last link, you may have seen this quote from Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants:

“The Art of Racing in The Rain has everything: love, tragedy, redemption, danger, and–best of all–the canine narrator Enzo. This old soul of a dog has much to teach to us about being human. I loved this book.”

Does it really involve racing? Yep. Racing is a huge component of the book. But it’s just the philosophy of racing, which is interwoven artfully throughout the story because it parallels and/or shapes Enzo’s philosophy on life.

Fans of just about any genre should be able to read and enjoy this 320-page book, which in my mind is an instant classic. I read it in only two sittings. It’s an easy read. Some critics complain that it is written at about an eight-grade reading level. I think that’s intentional. The book is, after all, being narrated by a dog who has learned much of what he knows from watching TV. Others say it is sappy, and contrived and written like a Lifetime movie.

Well, I obviously enjoyed it. I guess everyone needs sap once in a while.

There is an official book trailer video, but it’s about 3 minutes long. I much prefer the video I embedded below, which was created by a fan who described this as their favorite book “EVER.” It’s way up there on my favorite book of all times list, too.

[youtube NNY_JlCdxFY]

This next link should lead you to an excerpt of the first few pages of the book at Amazon.com. While you’re there, check out some of the negative reviews. Remember, not everyone likes this book. Many say it is just another sappy dog story capitalizing on the success of Marley and Me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I, for example, thought The DaVinci Code was awful, but it sold close to 100 MILLION copies and has been translated into over 40 languages.

If you have read, or if you do read, The Art of Racing in the Rain, I’d love to know what you think of the book.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

NOTE: This image doesn’t have much to do with the book. It shows all three of my girls, though.

I wonder if they understand as much as Enzo?

go_ahead_knock — My Favorite Picture of Our Three Dogs

March 13, 2010December 22, 2011

Hold Love Strong

In June of 2009, I grabbed a book off the library shelf. It was the first effort by a new author and it looked interesting.

Oh. My. God.

“Interesting” does not do this book justice. Even now, nine months and many books/short stories later, I still say it is one of the best books I have ever read. That’s my opinion, anyway.

I wrote about Hold Love Strong not long after finishing its last page. I liked it so much, I bought a copy for myself specifically so I could pass it around to all of my reading friends.

Shannon, my oldest daughter, loved it and was moved by it like I was. Amy, my youngest daughter, liked it, but not as much as Shannon and I. My mother in law, if I remember correctly, tried reading it, but couldn’t get into it. I’m not sure if I gave my mom the chance to read the book, and Hubby hasn’t tried. (He forgot all about it while it was making its rounds.)

Now, please keep in mind, different people like to read different things. You know, different strokes for different folks and all that. Fiction books are wholly or in part from a writer’s imagination. Fiction, as explained in more detail here, is broken down into categories, the two biggest being commercial fiction and literary fiction. The easiest way to describe the difference, without sounding like an elitist, is that commercial fiction is usually popular for the story it tells whereas literary fiction is more about how a story is told. Not that the stories aren’t good, mind you, they’re just told differently.

Hold Love Strong is literary fiction. It’s both a great story and, in my opinion, it is told exceedingly well. Reviewers have used words like poignant, lyrical, evocative, haunting, gritty, honest. It’s all that and more. The Book Lady does a pretty good job describing the book here.

What impressed me most was how honestly the book was written, how well it pulled me in and showed me the realities of life in the projects. And not once did it employ Black English in a manner that would even slightly be considered patronizing, condescending or demeaning.

The non-use of Black English is only one of the reasons I found it so surprising that the author is young, white and male. That and the nonjudgmental nature of the book. I just HAD to learn more about the man behind this work that I think every white person in America should be made to read.

Shannon was surprised when I told her not only had I e-mailed the author, but that he’d responded to me like the next day.

Hey, Shan, guess what? He e-mailed me again!

Oddly enough, mere hours before receiving that e-mail, the book had popped into my consciousness. I’ve often wondered how it had done. That’s why I got an e-mail, which, in all fairness, was addressed as follows: “Dear Everyone I know (and folks whose email somehow ended up in my contact list).”

I obviously fall into the latter bunch. But still.

How many of you got an e-mail yesterday from your favorite, up-and-coming author?

The reason for the e-mail was to announce the March 16th paperback release of the book.

I know nothing about publishing. I have no idea why this book was not the most talked about book of 2009. I’m clueless as to why Oprah hasn’t made this one of “her” books.

Maybe it’ll be more popular in paperback. After all, hardbacks are pretty expensive. Lots of other books do well in hardback, but they’re usually by established authors.

If you like literary fiction even a little bit, buy this book.

If you know someone else who likes to read literary fiction even a little bit, buy this book.

Seriously, I think all literary fiction fans will agree, this is a book that deserves to be on the bestseller list.

Maybe I’m off my rocker (doubt it!). Maybe this book really is just not that good (it’s fabulous!).

If you have read it, PLEASE let me know what you think.

NOTE: The pictures you see here have absolutely nothing to do with the content of the post. I just find blogs without pics boring. Hopefully, the images were not too distracting…

July 7, 2009

Another "Must Read"

I’ve been reading a lot lately. And lucky for me, I’m on a string of really good books. The latest, which I borrowed from the library, is Where the River Ends by Charles Martin.

I borrowed the image at left from the author’s Web site (sorry, Charlie!), but I didn’t think he’d mind. I hope not anyway. I mean, I had to do it. You know how I feel about imageless posts.

Have I ever mentioned my dislike for book reviews that are like a mini book report, recapping the story in way too much detail? I hate them. So I won’t do it here. I’ll just say, read the book.

It’s a love story that’s sort of along the lines of The Notebook; beautifully written, heartwarming and tragic. Not a cheesy romance, mind you, but a love story.

Seriously, add this to your wish list of gift books or get it from the library yourself. It is worth it.

I read it in two sittings, it was that good.

Now I have to find more of this guy’s stuff. I really, really liked the way it was written. The story was good, but the way it was told was awesome.

Keep up the good work, Charles!

June 12, 2009

The One Book You HAVE to Read

I’ve blogged previously about having read some good books. Well, I just finished one that totally tops them all! In my opinion anyway. And we all know that’s the only opinion that counts here at ToadMama’s Web Abode!

Seriously, Hold Love Strong, by Matthew Aaron Goodman, is one of the best books I have read in a very, very long time. It is the coming-of-age story of Abraham Singleton, a black man growing up in a housing project in New York City. It is narrated by Abraham himself. It starts with Abraham’s birth to his 13 year-old mother who shares a two-bedroom apartment at a high-rise project in Queens with Abraham’s grandmother, uncle, aunt, and two cousins.

The characters are exceedingly well-developed. The book is about the love of Abraham’s family and the struggles they face. Reading this book gives you a very real glimpse of life in the projects. It doesn’t just show you, it has you living with Abraham and his family. It is so well-written, sometimes you feel like you are Abraham yourself.

I grabbed the book from the library after having only read the inside, front jacket. Imagine my shock and disbelief when, a few chapters into the book, I looked at the back cover and saw that the author is a hot, young, white man! He immerses you into ghetto life like James Frey immersed you into the life of a drug addict with A Million Little Pieces.

The next day, I had to do some research. I had to know if this story, though fiction, was accurately depicted (unlike the Frey book which was embellished quite a bit). Matthew Aaron Goodman (remember that name, it will be huge) has a Web site. The “about me” page features the picture from the back jacket of the book. I saw an e-mail address, too, so I wrote and asked about the story’s accuracy, about whether anyone who had lived in those circumstances had read and commented on the book.

Here was part of his reply…

…the depiction of Ever Park is pretty accurate, or at least from what I’ve seen and experienced, and been told by close friends, coworkers, students I’ve taught, etc. I think that was the thing I most wanted to be sure of… that the people who I know and love who grew up in a place like Ever Park considered my depiction of a NYC housing project a fair and truthful rendering.

Seriously, read the book. It is raw (life in the projects, remember) and completely riveting. Note to the Moms… the language can be a bit rough, but that’s reality. While I borrowed this book from the library, I may just buy my own copy to share, I liked it THAT much.

If you do read it, let me know what you think.

PS – I just ordered my own copy!