Beginnings and endings ... not just first or last lines, necessarily, but a start or a finish that made me smile, made me feel good. I'm starting with just two books, ones I've read or read again recently. It wasn't until now I realized they had some common themes. :-)

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson. The title is the beginning! Not wishing to celebrate, make that endure, his 100th birthday celebration at the retirement home, Allan Karssohn climbs out his window and walks away. Like his life, this becomes an adventure including a suitcase of money, several interesting characters (who join him on his journey) and an old bus. And an elephant.

Jacob Jankowski, the main character in Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen, is also in a retirement home. He too, has has a life filled with adventure -- orphaned during the Depression, he finds work with a traveling circus. There are some distressing moments in this book, survival during that time was hard. The ending of this book made me want to cheer, it was that good.

Reading Hermit With Dog