Why I Love...Book Recommended by Another

It's Wednesday...evening.  Oops!  Anywho...today's installation of Why I Love concerns book recommendations.  While I seem to be the main book recommender (huh?) in my circle, I have had two books recommended to me by a friend, and I have to say that I fell in love with both.  I was surprised by this because I don't tend to like what everyone else likes or go with the mainstream.  Regardless, these were the books:

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski:  I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book...times a million.  I remember seeing a synopsis of this book (before it became part of Oprah's Book Club) and thinking to myself..."Self, that sounds really good."  Alas, I forgot about it.  Of course.  Then a year or so later, my friend says "Hey, I have this book you should read.  I think you'll like it."  And that's how Edgar and his amazing self came into my life.  The book is about Edgar Sawtelle (ironic, right?), his family, and their dog breeding farm.  But it's not any ordinary farm and Edgar is not your ordinary boy.  He's mute, speaks only in signs, and has an otherworldly connection with the dogs his family trains.  Events transpire, seasons turn harsh, and unexpected trials are placed upon the family.  It's excellent.  If you choose to read this, keep Shakespeare's Hamlet in the back of your mind ;)


And the second book in this spouting of love...
 
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini:  I recently finished this book, given to me by the same friend who gave me Edgar, and loved it as well.  Suns follows the turbulent thirty years of Afghanistan as the Soviet regime was overthrown and the Taliban took over.  Placed in this setting are two generations of women who must cope with the upheaval on the national level, as well as huge upheaval and heartbreaking circumstances in their personal lives.  It's a beautiful story about the strengths of women, love, and perseverance.  A great book.  My full review will be coming soon :)




And that concludes this week's edition of Why I Love.  I'm sure I could think of a few more books that people have recommended and I've loved, but these were the first that came to mind.  Happy Wednesday everyone!