The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson

A disgraced journalist gets hired by an elderly Swedish financier to write his family's history. The project is a cover for the financier's real motive which is to solve the mystery of what happened to his niece who disappeared thirty years before. The journalist knew he was dealing with a dysfunctional family but even so is horrified by what he discovers. Along the way he enters an association with an odd young woman named Lisbeth Salander whose research skills do much to keep the plot moving along. Lisbeth ("The Girl" of the title) is the most interesting character in this novel and she appears again in two following novels that make up a trilogy. Larsson died in 2004 at age 50 and his novels are being published posthumously. Lots of characters to keep track of but a fun read.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Car racing as a metaphor for life is the theme of this beautiful story told in the first person by a dog named Enzo. Much of the philosophy is like what we've been taught at Unity Church: We are the creators of our own destiny. You are responsible for what you are and what you have done. Live in the moment. Your car goes where your eyes go (or as we say at church "What's held in mind produces in kind.")

While struggling with his lack of an opposable thumb and with a tongue that won't let him form words, Enzo reflects sensitively on the career and family problems of his owner, a professional race car driver. This is truly an excellent novel both for its plot and for Enzo's personality and philosophy.