F5: Devastation, Survival, and the Most Violent Tornado Outbreak of the Twentieth Century by Mark Levine, Hyperion, 2007

On April 3, 1974 the forces of nature combined to produce 148 tornadoes in 13 states that altered the landscapes and lives of those in their paths. Author Mark Levine attempts to parallel the deadly storms with the political and social unrest of the time, and also educates readers on the natural forces behind tornadoes and the scientific advances designed to rank and track such storms. This book is most successful when it concentrates of the lives of the victims, and provides a satisfactory look at where these major characters are today and how that one day affected the rest of their lives.

I found this book enjoyable and somewhat educational but felt the author missed the mark with his tornado vs. the 70's analogy.

Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these fiction titles: Sing them Home by Stephanie Kallos, Grove, 2009. Siblings vs. nature; mom is taken by a tornado and Dad by a lightning strike 25 years later. This novel focuses on the devestating effects of natural disasters on a small town and the siblings struggles with both grief and the changes brought on by their losses. Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling, Bantam, 1994 is a futuristic thriller about storm chasers pursuing a potential F6 with the potential to destroy the world.

Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these non-fiction titles: Storm Warning: the Story of a Killer Tornado by Nancy Mathis, Simon & Schuster, 2007 which relates the killer F5 tornado that devestated parts of Oklahoma in May of 1999.
Devastation! The World's Worst Natural Disasters by Lesley Newson, Dorling Kindersley, 1998 offers dates, details, illustrations, and explanations of more than 500 historical natural disasters.

Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me by Jon Katz, Villard, 2008

Writer, photographer, and farm owner Jon Katz has written a delightful tale that chronicles his two newest dogs, Izzy, an abandoned border collie, and Lenore, a black lab puppy. Jon and Izzy become an admired pair of hospice volunteers due to Izzy's uncanny gift to calm, soothe, and in one case, heal patients. Lenore evolves into a treasured companion who helps Jon with his own personal healing from depression. Although the book contains a disclaimer that "no dogs die in this book" even the most steadfast reader may shed a tear or two while reading about the hospice patients. Katz skillfully and subtly emphasizes the wondrous healing capabilities of dogs on the soul.

This book instantly appealed to me on a personal level as I have a dog named Izzy and used to own a border collie. I found this book extremely enjoyable and well written and look forward to reading more of Katz.

Readers who enjoyed this book may like these fiction titles: Dog: a Novella by Michelle Herman, MacAdam/Cage, 2005 which features Jill,an unhappy and lonely woman that adopts a puppy who guards its own emotions. Once they connect,mutual healing is quick to follow. The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007 reinforces the fact that dogs improve owners lives, in this case helping them to make friends and even to fall in love.

Readers who enjoyed this book may like these non-fiction titles: James Herriot's Dog Stories by James Herriot, St. Martin's Press, 1986. I have long viewed Herriott as the original and authoritative writer of animal stories and this book shares stories about 50 dogs and their relationships with their owners. A Puppy is Better than Prozac: the True Story of a Man and the Dog who Saved his Life by Bruce Goldstein, DaCapo, 2008. Goldstein shares certain traits with Jon Katz; depression, a black lab puppy with the power to heal, and a gift for writing a moving story.