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Masters of Death

I'm gonna be brutally honest (as I think you should be with opinions) I was entertained by this book but my attention was captured very minimally. What I mean by that was if I was bored enough I would read this book but if anything else was available to keep my attention I had no issues or qualms with putting the book down or even leaving it in my bag for later.

This is an issue for me. It told me just how indifferent I was with the outcome of the book and what happened to the characters. I still liked the book but overall would I recommend this book? Erm probably not. When I want to read a book and it has captured my attention so strongly I usually don't want to put the book down. I want to be reading the book non-stop and only take breaks for bathroom and food (only if I am unable to eat and read at the same time). If I like a book and I am unable to read, for example, I am working as a barista and if I am reading while no one is here and something is happening in the book and a customer comes in I mentally scowl. "What an evil customer right? How dare they interrupt my reading can't they tell this book is good?" The irrational thoughts such as those spring to mind. This. Never. Happened. That is a problem.

My reasons for only giving 3 stars:

Frankly, I could have given less stars but I already don't like hurting feelings. I think the author seems sweet and isn't bad at using diction or describing scenes, emotions, colors etc. I just think the book was a lot to unravel. A whole lot of flashbacks that were jarring, everything was tied together yes but to what effect? It seemed like fate was involved which makes things boring to me if characters can't choose.

I gave 1 of the stars because I liked the words used and it didn't feel like a high schooler wrote it. I gave my 2nd star because I liked the creativity of the blending of religions, creatures, realities and worlds. I do appreciate when someone thinks slightly outside the box but doesn't change too much which I believe the author did well. I gave my 3rd star because I genuinely did enjoy the vast character designs. They were each unique and had their own quirks. Also a vampire that turns into a cat when the sun is down and has the urge to eat unborn children? That was a new one for me.

I didn't give my 4th star because I felt like half of the book was just restating what was already said. There was a lot of repetition that didn't seem needed in my opinion. All in all the plot was lacking. And lastly I didn't give my 5th star because the ending was drawn out for so long and when Fox was finally face to face with the "Big Bad" to fight out this game that was set up from half way through the book the actual confrontation was literally half a page.... Like all that build up for what? I felt like that was the closest I have ever been to "blue-balled" as a female in my life. And maybe that's not fair to say maybe the fight wasn't important to tell and the author had it in there for some other reason. If that's the case then I revise the reason I didn't give my 5th star. The reason can be that I felt like the bad guy was badly written. He had no character other than being a demon and the king of vice. He was the personification of vices and also simultaneously nothing at the same time. I feel like there should have been more to him. Also the ending was one huge drawn out Deus ex machina as well which didn't help its rating.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

I liked the book, but I don't feel like I will think about this book as often as I do some other books I have read and enjoyed. Spoilers ahead.

The whole book (or like 95% of it) was in Enzo's perspective as the dog of his owner Denny Swift. To Enzo, Denny is the best owner ever and rarely does wrong, but to the eyes of an observant reader, Denny is a flawed man who makes mistakes while navigating the unfortunate cards he was dealt.

Between the issues of Denny's enabled disregard/neglectfulness of his family, the declining health of his wife of 6 years, legal proceedings, and Enzo's deteriorating hips and well being the book is almost more depressing and stress-inducing to me. Don't get me wrong, the book is still worth a read if you haven't already, but don't expect cute puppy cuddles and pats all the time.

Enzo the dog has a wild wild imaginative mind. His character is easily loved and most of the time, to me, he seemed way smarter than I've ever imagined a dog to be. That will make sense when you read the book. Enzo is no ordinary dog, somehow as he watched documentaries on the tv, Enzo was able to understand English almost as well and you and me. There was an ongoing theme of Enzo's thoughts throughout the book. He wants to be a human in his next life. He saw something on a documentary about dogs (apparently) that spoke of dogs returning as humans if they were good enough or deserved it. Another theme was about how life was a race car race. "The car goes where your eyes go," a saying Denny said around Enzo a lot.

Most of the book was enjoyable to read, but there were some chapters and scenes that I don't really want to read again. Sensitive subjects, sentences that leave tears streaming down cheeks. They were necessary to the book's story, but hard to get through at times nonetheless.

My aunt says this is her "all time favorite book" and she's crazy about her dogs so it makes sense. I've wanted to have her elaborate on why, but she claimed that any conversation about the contents of the book brings her on the verge of crying so she would like to leave it at that. Fair enough. I cried twice reading the book. I wonder if she cried at the same spots?

The two moments that made me set the book down and pretend I was okay at work (lol) were these moments: - When Eve, Denny's wife, had brain cancer and didn't like how she looked and therefore told Denny to leave her alone and go home since she didn't want him to "see her ugly." Denny of course responded with, "I don't care what you look like" but to no avail he was still sent away. This brought me to tears almost more than the other moment I cried (though they were close.) I feel like part of the reason I cried so hard is because I am married. Been married for almost 3 years now. I can't imagine speaking those words to my husband if I were in the same situation. The pain I would cause him, to force him to leave my side as I was slowly deteriorating and dying. I could never. Couldn't even fathom. - The other instance that brought me to tears was when Enzo passed on while being held by his owner. Enzo spoke in his mind to the reader about how he will find Denny and Zoe, Denny's daughter, once he is human. It wasn't Enzo passing away that made me cry, but rather when Denny later meets a little boy some odd years later and the boy claims to be the biggest fan of Denny and says "your car goes where your eyes go." Clearly Enzo had done it! He came back as a human like his dream and found them. I do not believe in reincarnation, but regardless my betraying eyes cried yet again.

Overall would recommend the book, but don't expect rainbows and puppies. The story really explains, at least to me, that Denny's life had the same tribulations and dangers of racing in the rain.