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Ryan DeJonghe - The Avid Reader
I didn't always read, but that changed in June of 2013. I dropped the unnecessary stuff and picked up the awesome stuff--like reading! I started posting my reviews on Amazon and within a few months rose to the top 0.1% of reviewers. My reviews then went to Goodreads, and now my blog (http://ryandejonghe.wordpress.com) and Twitter (@Ryan_Reads).
If you are reading this, why not leave a comment or send me a note? I love talking to other folks about books and my reviews.
Publishers and authors, feel free to drop me a note if you want me to review your book. I usually stick to mainstream publishing, but I'll consider anything. If I review your book, I’ll give you a fair and thorough review and let you know when the review goes live. You can reach me at dejonghes@gmail.com.
Happy Reading!
The Art of Racing in the Rain
As a dog lover, I still wasn’t too thrilled to read a book written from a dog’s perspective—but I’m glad I did. The dog perspective breaks the paradigm of the mundane and forces the reader to think about life from a different standpoint. What happens when we drop our pretenses? Why can’t we just live in the moment? And, what are our own dancing zebras? (You’ll have to read the book to understand that last one.)So, rule #1—don’t let the fact that it’s written from the dog’s perspective hold you back. Rule #2—don’t let the sad parts hold you back, either. Personally, I’m ranking this book up there with TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE. High statement, but well deserved. We knew Morrie was dying, and the writing is on the wall with THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN. It’s worth the journey; you’ll be glad you partook.
The fictional story is a congruent journey from point A to point B. Like other fiction, there are points of conflict and resolutions. However, I am most impressed at the subtle life lessons thrown into almost every chapter. You could probably go through the book with a highlighter and highlight one paragraph from each chapter that would be worthy of remembrance and review. It’s really something special. And for that, I’m giving it five stars and putting it on my favorites list.