Review of Gone With the Wind in Piggy Hollow

[Gerry Steen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Gone With the Wind in Piggy Hollow" by Robin Lowery.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Do you live in a neighborhood at risk of being subjected to inclement weather such as hurricanes? Are you thinking of buying a house in such an area? Do you plan to renovate your home? If you answered yes to these questions, you should read Gone With the Wind in Piggy Hollow by Robin Lowery.

At first glance, I assumed that this book was a children’s book. The cover of the book, colorful and bright, depicted a seaside neighborhood inhabited by anthropomorphized piggies. I thought of my favorite childhood fable “The Three Little Pigs”. However, when I read the first few sentences of the story, I realized that the content was meant for adults planning to buy or renovate a house. I was surprised but not disappointed. I was happy to continue reading this fable with suggestions for homeowners to protect their homes from severe weather.

Four piggy brothers, Oink, Snout, Rooty, and SmartyPig, had been living together in a condo when they received a sizable inheritance from their rich uncle, Boss Hog. The three younger brothers decided that they would build houses similar to the houses in my favorite fable: one with straw, one with sticks, and one with bricks. SmartyPig informed his brothers that he would spend more money to build a fortified home with a continuous load path.

Two years later, Governor Henry McPiggy advised the residents of Piggy Hollow to evacuate. A hurricane, with winds of 170 mph and gusts of 210 mph, was expected to hit their town. SmartyPig decided to stay holed up in his fortified home. What did Oink, Snout, and Rooty do? What happened to their homes? To find the answers, read the story.

Governor Henry McPiggy visited Piggy Hollow to see the aftermath of the storm. Plans were formulated to help the citizens, including low-income families, build fortified homes.

This story was well-written. The fable was fun to read and commanded my complete attention. I learned everything I needed to know about the concept of fortified homes. The story conveyed the importance of owning a fortified home in vulnerable areas. Each written page was accompanied by a beautiful, page-sized picture, illustrated by Misha Malik, depicting the scenery and characters of Piggy Hollow. The pictures increased my enjoyment of the fable while I pondered the importance of the lessons it contained. The story was well-edited, which enhanced my reading experience. I did not find anything negative in the story. Therefore, I gave this informative fable 5 out of 5 stars.

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Gone With the Wind in Piggy Hollow
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[Frank Ezekiel]

A wonderful review, Gerry! I wasn't attracted to the book initially just by looking at the cover, but your review got me intrigued. Keep up with the good reviews.

[Lorna Kimondo]

Your review of Gone With the Wind in Piggy Hollow by Robin Lowery is engaging and insightful. The clever use of the piggy characters and the fable format to explain complex concepts like fortified homes is truly creative. Your description makes it clear that the blend of fun storytelling with practical advice was a winning combination. This review will inspire others to check out this unique and educational fable. Thanks for sharing!

[NetMassimo]

I can see why you thought it's a book for children after seeing the cover. I live in an area where the weather is becoming extreme, though not to having hurricanes, with the rick of suffering from damage. A fable for homeowners is original. Thank you for your great review!

[Kshitija Sonawane]

Natural disasters can ruin one's lifetime. They affect jobs, companies and even taking lives. A book like this sounds so good which gives ideas as to what to do in these situations.

[Leona Rodrigues]

This sounds like a must read for everyone as it will help one make suitable house-related choices. The review is well written and enjoyed reading it!!

[Sarah Zain]

Indeed, the cover and colors suggest that it is a children's book. But your review showed the richness of the content, especially since it talks about homes located in dangerous areas such as those exposed to hurricanes. If the pictures inside the book are as beautiful as the cover, I think they will increase my desire to read it.Thank you Gerry for the wonderful review.

[Susan Ledezma]

I didn't think originally that I was the target audience for this book, but I do see now why this book may be helpful. It seems like a very informative, but engaging book. I'll keep this book in mind as it seems that I may gain valuable knowledge from reading this book. Thank you so much for the extremely insightful review!

[Chinedu Umeobika]

Amazingly crafted review, Gerry! I would definitely give this book a try. And yes, it does look a lot like a children's book. I also loved the story of the Three Little Pigs as a child!

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Another great review! I live in southern Texas in the Gulf of Mexico so this book resonates with me. I, too, thought that this was a children’s book. How interesting that it is about building the best house for severe weather.

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

The cover suggests it's a children's book, which might have led me to pick it up for that reason, but I would have been quite disappointed if that were my only expectation. However, the captivating story inside has drawn me in, and I'm eager to learn from the wisdom of the builders featured in the book. Out of curiosity, I'm particularly interested in discovering which house withstood the hurricane and how it was constructed to endure such powerful winds. With so many people affected by floods and hurricanes worldwide, I hope they find lasting solutions and the support they need during these challenging times.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I too thought this was a children's book based on the cover. What a clever concept to have this lesson for adults in a fable form. I now want to know if SmartyPig got it right.

[Julie Marie Basil]

This sounds like a very unique approach for the author to share about the concept of fortified poems through the lens of a children‘s fable. Your review is both intriguing and informative!

[Anu Anand]

I also thought it was a children's book because of the cover. It's good to know you enjoyed reading it. I think I would also like to learn more about the concept of fortified homes. Thank you for sharing this wonderful review!

[Jeff Kanda]

The title got me too thinking that this is a children's book. You've highlighted on the main points that has made me aware what this book is about. Thanks for the detailed review!