Nearing Home

by Billy Graham

Maybe I am too young to appreciate this book but I just could not get into it.  Since I am 50+ years younger than Billy Graham, I think I read this book a few years too early.  If I were to read this book again in about 20 years when I can retire, I may get more out of the book.

With that being said, I did not dislike the book at all.  I found his take on growing older as being uplifting.  I totally understood his views on getting older and “nearing home”.  He did reiterate that we should not concentrate on death but on making our elder years count.  When we are considered aged that we should not just sit back and watch the days roll by.  Growing old does not mean giving up but to look at the future as a new road – not just an old road.  He also wanted to let elders know that you should always keep your eyes on God even when you are getting closer to meeting him.

As a last note, I was never quite clear on whether or not this would be his last book.  When I first started reading it,I felt like it was a sort of eulogy and goodbye.  Maybe that what his intent the whole time.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookSneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I finished this book a while back.  I loved this book.  I did find it sad at times at the way that we have treated minorities in the past here in the south.  I can not believe that people could actually keep their mouths shut and take what was dished out by others.

I did enjoy the way Skeeter was portrayed and how she had compassion for the black people in the south and in Jackson, MS. It was interesting how she was essentially raised by a black maid and was not told why she was let go.  She never got the answers that she was seeking and how she realized that the other whites in the community treated their maids.  She then wanted to help the ladies by writing a book that would tell about they were treated and how much they loved the kids that they raised just for them to grow up and treat them like their parents.

I thought that the character Cecilia Foot was a refreshing one.  She wanted to fit into the upper society but she was too much of white trash to fit in.  She did add comic relief.  I do wish that they had included the scene in which they beat up a naked peeping tom up.

In the end, all I can say is that I can not look at a chocolate pie the same again.

by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly

January 8, 2011 – a day that changed the world of politics and gave a town, state, and country a reason to cheer.  The country was on a path of uncertainty with a congress that does not get along, two wars being raged in the Middle East, and an economy that was terrible.  At a Safeway in her hometown of Tucson, AZ, Gabrielle Giffords steps out to meet her constitutes at the “Congress On Your Corner”as she loved to do.  Within minutes shots are fired, 19 people hit, six dead, and a vibrant, well-liked, young Congresswoman lay fighting for her life with a bullet through her head.  Doctors gave her little chance to survive but they had no idea.

 This account if told through the eyes of her husband, Mark Kelly, who at the time of her injury was training to be the flight commander of the last trip into space by the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  The story takes you from their meeting, courtship, living separate lives due to jobs, and how life can change in an instant.  He talks about how a stubborn Giffords not only made it through the injury but has made and continues to make remarkable strives to recovery.  At the time of the shooting, doctors did not know if she would survive and if she did what state of life she would have.  She overcame all of the odds to return to Congress for the state of Arizona but recently with a lot of work ahead of her resigned from her position.

 She is a remarkable woman that has made a remarkable recovery.  She has overcome more than I could ever imagine.

 This book was a good read and encourage to know that people really can overcome the odds with enough courage and strength.

by Rebecca Skloot

What an intriguing book!  When Henrietta Lasks died in 1951, her death had little to do with history or did it?  Before Henrietta died of cervical cancer, doctors took her cells without her knowledge or consent.  Those cells changed the world of medicine like nothing before.

The author has spent uncountable hours researching and interviewing family members, doctors, and researchers.  Although companies have made billions off of Henrietta’s cells her family still lives in poverty.  I appreciated the weaving of the personal story with that of the medical side.  If you go to the doctor and are asked to sign HIPPA papers thank HeLa and how over the years consent rules and regulations are changed.

I found it interesting how the rules have changed since the 1950s and how cells from a poor black lady from the south have lived for over half a century.

as told by Colton Burpo to his parents, Todd & Sonja Burpo

Illustrated by Wilson Ong

I have read the adult version of Heaven is For Real and liked it.  I then received the kids version from Booksneeze in return for a review.  The book is a very condensed version of the nonfiction version.  It is written in very simple terms that kids can understand.  It also contains a series of questions that children may ask about the book and Colton Burpo.

Overall I thought that the book was really good.  I is a book that should be read to younger kids.  An older kid would think that it is too elementary.  I would like to see a version for kids 7-12 to see how Heaven would be address.  The illustrations were really well done.  It has lots of children (most with wings) and vivid colors.  It does use a large amount of the color yellow.  The illustrations and story would be loved by children younger than 5.  I will be passing this one along to another child.  Nicely done.

]]> http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/heaven-is-for-real-for-kids/feed/ 0 elmertang Heaven http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/it-couldnt-just-happen-knowing-the-truth-about-gods-awesome-creation-2/ http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/it-couldnt-just-happen-knowing-the-truth-about-gods-awesome-creation-2/#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:44:50 +0000 GDC http://elmertang.wordpress.com/?p=70 Continue reading →]]> It Couldn’t Just Happen: Knowing the Truth About God’s Awesome Creation

by: Lawrence Richards

Let me first state that I am a scientist and have studied both evolution and creationism. I am also a Christian and have no problems with either creationism or evolution. I feel that they can coincide with each other, if you will have an open mind and not shut out the other side (in which I feel there should be no sides). This book was an interesting take on how the author feels that the universe was created. I did feel as if his audience a bit off. He is aiming a younger audience but I feel that it is bland like a textbook. I see his points about how God created the universe but I think that he missed the point when he was trying to disprove science. I did like the way that he tried to use scripture to try and explain his viewpoints. I also liked how he did not always try to “brainwash” the reader into just creationism. I does not totally try to condemn this book as being one that should not be read but caution that all books on this matter should be read with an open mind and study the facts for both sides. I have read better but I have also read much worse. I may be back to reread this book and analyze it more at a later time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

by Jaycee Dugard

I have to say that this is one of the most disturbing books that I have ever read.  I can not believe that human beings could treat another human being like was described in this book.  I think that it is horrible that one young girl had to be plucked from her ordinary life to be abused and tortured for eighteen years.  I can not believe that the system failed her and her family in such way over the years.  Why did no one ever step foot in that back yard?

The book itself is written on a lower level that is evident that Jaycee’s words come through.  There are parts that came straight from her diary.  The exerts include drawings and scans of her actual writings.  She states that the book were her words and a reminded that she only had the education of an eleven year old girl.

I think that it is amazing that she survived and raised two children in horrible situations.  I am surprised that she can forgive – I know that she can’t forget.  I am happy that she is now home with a family that loves her even though she states that they really no longer knew her – especially her half sister who was a toddler when she went missing.

I think overall she is an inspiration of how a human can overcome more than others can even imagine.  I just hope that she can continue to overcome and move on to be an inspiration to others and especially those that have lived through similar situations.

by Ian Morgan Cron

I really wanted to like the book Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir of Sorts but I just could not get over the feeling that Mr. Cron was always blaming his father’s drinking for his problems.  I know that drinking is a problem in families and leaves deep scars that are hard to overcome.  He concentrated so much on his father that he left out Jesus in most of the book.  I really believe that the title should have been Me, My Father, the CIA, and Jesus.  Because that is the order in which I felt he concentrated his time and writing.

I felt that he did tell a great story but he even stated at the beginning of the book that “This work dances on the hyphen between memoir and autobiographical fiction.”  (pg. 4)  With that being said,  I never really knew whether or not to believe the details that he told.  Where they fact, skewed facts, or just ficiton?  I love autobiographical accounts of overcoming the odds but I just could never believe whole heartedly what was being said.

I did not exactly dislike the book but I could not really recommend the book by giving it five stars.  I would also like to say that I do not think that the book is entirely fiction but I would like to know what was actually fact.  I know that he was telling a story from “forty year old memories” but I just could not get into the stories that he told.  I was expecting more information about how his father was involved in the CIA and the adventures around his father’s work.  I was sadly disappointed.

]]> http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/jesus-my-father-the-cia-and-me/feed/ 0 elmertang bookmark yellow bookmark yellow bookmark bookmark bookmark CIA http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/heaven-is-for-real-a-little-boys-astounding-story-of-his-trip-to-heaven-and-back/ http://elmertang.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/heaven-is-for-real-a-little-boys-astounding-story-of-his-trip-to-heaven-and-back/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:45:49 +0000 GDC http://elmertang.wordpress.com/?p=47 Continue reading →]]> Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

by Todd Burpo

Todd Burpo is a small town minister that had one rough year.  He suffered injuries, illnesses, and even male breast cancer.  But, nothing compared to seeing his four year old son, Colton sick in the hospital.  The doctors gave no hope and had given up on him.  But the “Great Physician” had other plans for the little boy.  As the little boy was in surgery, he took a trip that the rest of us cannot understand – he had a round trip ticket to Heaven.

The story revolves around a little boys account of what and whom he saw in heaven.  He sat is Jesus’ lap and talked with a baby sister and grandfather he never met.  He told of what Heaven looks like and who was there – including Satan.

The account is vivid for a little boy.  The book is only 158 pages and is a quick read that will suck you in quickly.  I read the book in a matter of hours and really liked it.  I am a person of faith and hope that the account is both accurate and sincere.  I would recommend the book for a quick summer read if nothing more than to get your mind wondering what Heaven is really like.

by Greg Wright

“Don’t Screw Up!”  That is the central point of this book.

I thought that this book is a tribute to fathers that stay in touch with their daughters.  This book is a manual for any man trying to raise strong, upstanding girls in today’s society.

The book gives a guide to how one man learned to get into touch with his daughters through going on “dates” with them.  Some of these dates were complex, such as renting a limo and going to a fancy dinner and others where just simple trips to the park.  The book has  simple messages to fathers that can lose touch with their daughters – listen to the girls, get to know who they are, and find out their current likes and dislikes.  He does make the point that once you get to know your daughter that you will have to continue to get to know her.  A girl’s lives change like the seasons and the father has to continue to change with her.

I thought that this book was an interesting read.  I wish that my dad had had this manual while I was growing up although he and I had a pretty close relationship.