Book Review: Tell Me Where It Hurts

Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr. Nick Trout

This was a very engaging book about a composite "day in the life" of an animal surgeon at Boston's Angell Animal Medical Center. I enjoyed Dr. Trout's writing style and sense of humor. Although it is written as if it chronicles a single day, we get a glimpse of his own background, previous cases, and current issues in veterinary science.

He also tried to show the deep connection between people and their animals. His descriptions of people's attitudes and reactions was pretty good and covered a wide spectrum. I think, though, that if you aren't already an "animal person" you would still not understand how much animals mean to some people. It is a hard thing to describe to someone who just doesn't get it ... like the daughter of the elderly man in the book, who kept referring to her father's beloved dog as "it."

Overall it was a charming read that had me smiling at points and teary eyed at others.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 5/11/08) as part of its Early Reviewers program

RIP: George MacDonald Fraser

One of my favorite authors died yesterday ... George MacDonald Fraser. He wrote the wonderful Flashman series of books which my friend Dennis just introduced me to last year.

I just got one of his non-fiction books for Christmas, Quartered Safe Out Here. I stumbled across this book while shopping for my Secret Santa as part of LibraryThing's SantaThing. From my Secret Santa's library I knew (1) he reads tons of military history and biography and (2) he'd listed George MacDonald Fraser as a favorite author. Quartered Safe Out Here is Fraser's autobiographical account of serving in Burma during the latter part of World Ward II. A perfect match!

In reading about the book, I decided to add it to my own LibraryThing tbr/wishlist and to check it out some time. Then, lo and behold, a few days later my sister sent me Quartered Safe Out Here for Christmas! (She is known for prowling through my tbr/wishlist and is very generous about sending me books from it.)

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/01/george_macdonald_fraser_1925_2.html

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2234527,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/arts/03fraser.html

Book Review: There's No Place Like Here

There's No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern

This is the story of Sandy Shortt, who searches for missing persons and things ... and then goes missing herself. The story is told from Sandy's perspective with flashbacks to tell us about her childhood and background. We also learn about Sandy through a secondary storyline told by Jack, who hired Sandy to find his brother and who then goes looking for Sandy.

I wasn't so much taken with the story of Sandy's going physically missing as I was with her going emotionally missing. Ever since childhood she had removed herself from ordinary human interaction and kept herself at a distance from other people. I felt bad for the people in her life who had to put up with her disappearances.

Overall, it was an entertaining read but not something I couldn't put down. I actually enjoyed Jack's portion of the story a bit more than Sandy's. He seemed more "real" to me.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 1/2/08) as part of its Early Reviewers program