Raised Right

This is a tough book to review - partially because I'm still working out my views on some of the topics addressed. It was, however, timely.

While I can't agree completely with the author's stance on some points, I admire the way she has fought to untangle her faith from her political viewpoints. I believe that too many people use their faith to back up their politics, when really, faith has nothing to do with a political party.

It doesn't seem that the author has fully untangled her faith from politics - though, granted, I think faith tends to become entwined in nearly every aspect of a Christian's life. Her thought processes are interesting though, and she does a wonderful job of putting her sentiments down on paper. Understanding her way of thinking has helped, somewhat, to clarify my own. For this reason, I think it's worth reading.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah through Blogging for Books - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

December 1941

This book should be on the list of any WWII history buff. It is a well-researched, fascinating look at the days immediately surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
It's a good long book, but the author manages to keep it pretty lively as he follows the events leading up to and following the attack. It's an interesting look into the general psyche of that day.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

To Be Perfectly Honest

This book was quite fantastic. I really enjoyed Phil Callaway's account of one year of living truthfully. The book is written like a journal, so I read a few entries each day when I had spare moments. His account is so human, so very honest, and so very relatable.

It's surprising how dishonest we are - even in trying to live truthfully. Little "white lies" so often work their way into our lives, without us even noticing. This book will really get you thinking about how truthful you really are.

I loved how Phil also really had to use tact in telling the truth. He didn't blast people with exactly what he felt, but he thought his feelings through in order to present the truth in a way that would be accepted (when at all possible).

This book was certainly a challenge. I'll possibly leave you a little bit uncomfortable. However, it's worth the read - and the ensuing food for thought might just do wonders for your integrity and character.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah through Blogging for Books - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

The Encounter

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. To be honest, I really didn't expect much. It sounded mildly interesting, and the message of the book was worth a read, so I went ahead and got it.

It turned out to be well-written and really quite engaging. I read the whole book in a day (it's fairly short), and truly enjoyed it.

It's not an epic tale or anything groundbreaking; however, the message of forgiveness and reconciliation is beautifully presented in story form, and the author has done a wonderful job weaving his personal experience into the book.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

The Scroll

For starters, the cover really doesn't sell this book. I had the option of reviewing it, and kept passing it up, just because the cover is so unappealing.

Still, I love a good Indiana Jones-esque treasure hunt, so I figured I'd give this book a try. I kept picking it up, hoping it would get interesting, but I'd end up putting it down after a few pages.

After a while, the story picks up, but even then, the characters are "stock," the plot twists are pretty predictable, the bad guys are all Islamic or secular, and the good guys are all Christians/Jews.

Overall, it's not awful, but neither was it especially good. This is why I give it three stars.

Pershing - From The Generals series

Thomas Nelson's series "The Generals" chronicles the lives of great American generals, and it's a very well-done set of books, in my opinion. The content is well-written, well-researched, and the physical quality of the books is just fantastic.

This book was a short, yet fascinating look into the life of John J. Pershing, who led the American forces in WWI.

It was an interesting look at both sides of his personality - on the one hand, an inflexible, demanding military leader, and on the other, a warm, caring man who cared deeply about family and friends.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Ascent From Darkness

This book by Michael Leehan is a rather eye-opening look at one man's descent to Satanism. What I found fascinating was that he almost rationally chose to turn his back on God, and to turn instead to Satan. Because he felt that God had dealt poorly with him, he made the decision to turn to what he saw as God's "alter-ego."

This is a true story, and as the author says, it's not embellished or exaggerated to make for more exciting reading. Not that any embellishment would be necessary in this story. While Michael Leehan doesn't seem to be a natural writer (his style is not always easy to read, and much of the dialogue is stilted and odd-sounding), he tells his story candidly and powerfully. He drags out the good, the bad, and the really ugly in order to get his message across - and it's the message that comes through loud and clear in the end.

His message: "Remember, no matter how badly you think you’ve sinned or what kind of mess you may have made of your life, it probably pales in comparison to mine. Never give up, never lose hope. Jesus Christ specializes in fixing broken messes just like us.”

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.