The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

Summary:

Instinct told them that the way home lay to the west. And so the doughty young Labrador retriever, the roguish bull terrier and the indomitable Siamese set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they would soon have died. But, together, the three house pets faced starvation, exposure, and wild forest animals to make their way home to the family they love. The Incredible Journey is one of the great children's stories of all time--and has been popular ever since its debut in 1961.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 160 pages

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: 1961

Nothing feels better than to read an old childhood classic read. Plus I was able to include it in my Around the World in 52 Books Challenge. It's been many years since my Daddy read me this (Hey I may be 21 but Daddy is the only thing I've ever called my father) story. I loved it then and I really loved reading it now that I'm older.

The story of the young lab, old bull terrier and the Siamese cat is one that is timeless and one that appeals to both the young and old as well as new readers and those who just want to revisit the story.

Now I like the variety of children's/juvenile fiction books that are on the market now but I think that it's important that we still expose the young people to these heartwarming tales that have warmed the hearts of readers of decades.

I loved reading about Tao, Luath, and Bodger again it was like I was visiting old friends that have stayed the same as I got older. Now I feel like I appreciate this little gem of a book all the more and though times got tough for the unlikely trio and they had to face starvation and wild animals I enjoyed traipsing through my home province of Ontario in the wilderness with them.

I highly recommend this book to my fellow Canadians and of course to everyone else. Read it to your children, read it again if you've read it and even if you aren't a kid give it a try. You won't regret this tale (pun intended) of adventure and friendship. The best way to read it is with your favourite hot beverage and a pet cuddling you (or a child).

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Breakfast at Tiffany's A Short Novel and Three Stories by Truman Capote

Summary:
In this seductive, wistful masterpiece, Truman Capote created a woman whose name has entered the American idiom and whose style is a part of the literary landscape. Holly Golightly knows that nothing bad can ever happen to you at Tiffany's; her poignancy, wit, and naïveté continue to charm.

This volume also includes three of Capote's best-known stories, “House of Flowers,” “A Diamond Guitar,” and “A Christmas Memory,” which the Saturday Review called “One of the most moving stories in our language.” It is a tale of two innocents—a small boy and the old woman who is his best friend—whose sweetness contains a hard, sharp kernel of truth.
Summary takrn from Goodreads.com

So after years of trying to avoid most of the modern classics I decided to break down and read this one. I spotted it by chance a week ago and picked it up figuring that with it being so short it would be a quick read. Plus I'm trying to branch out and try some books that I might not usually give a chance.
Sadly I hoped that this book would be much better than it was, yet it never achieved anything more than mediocrity in my eyes. While I did find Holly Golightly to be amusing I just could not get into his writing. To me it was dull and slow. But it seems like the majority of people who have read it do enjoy it. This may be a case of it being a book that just isn't for me.
I did enjoy Breakfast at Tiffany's more than I did his short stories which I found to be dreary and poorly written. I did not like how here was a lack of fluidity but then again I am not a fan of short stories in general and I don't think that I will be reading anything else by him in the near future, perhaps in 10 years or so when I'm older I'll give this one another shot.
I do hope that despite my review while very short and not very favourable that you give this book a try for yourselves. Far be it for me to hinder people from reading when I think people should be reading more.

 ★ ★ 1/2