"So Help Me, God" by Mike Pence

So Help Me, God by Mike Pence is his autobiography up through his time as Vice President of the United States.  I am not big on politics, but was interested to read this to get some insight into the job of Vice President, as well as to see how he worked with President Donald Trump.  I found his personal background quite interesting, but all the things he dealt with while serving as Vice President became quite lengthy and at times boring.  I skipped over some parts that held little interest for me; however, I did find the things he accomplished quite interesting.  I especially liked the part at the end dealing with the riot at the Capitol over the results of the controversial election.  He also showed how his faith in Jesus guided his actions and choices.  Each chapter highlighted a verse of scripture.  After reading this book, I am convinced that Mike Pence would be a good president.  I think anyone who is interested in politics would find this book interesting.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"The Answer Is . . ." by Alex Trebek

The Answer Is . . . by Alex Trebek is a collection of his personal reflections on his life.  The chapters are very short so it's a book you can easily read during short periods of free time.  I learned a lot about him that I didn't know before as well as some things about the show Jeopardy!.  I liked it because I was interested in learning more about Alex Trebek.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"The Making of a Miracle" by Mike Eruzione with Neal E. Boudette

The Making of a Miracle--The Untold Story of the Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal--Winning US Olympic Hockey Team by Mike Eruzione with Neal E. Boudette is the story of growing up playing sports.  I enjoyed learning about Mike's family life outside of sports.  The highlight of the book is the Olympic team that beat the U.S.S.R. and then went on to win the gold Medal.  There is good inside stuff about that.  I enjoyed this book and it moved right along. 
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  And now something good, something really good and wonderful and incredible and amazing, had happened, and at that moment, that's when I stopped believing.  The thought just kept going through my head as I moved from one teammate to the next.

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"The Pale-Faced Lie" by David Crow (True Story)

The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow is about his terrible childhood, his abusive parents, and his struggle to be free from his father’s control and the guilt and shame he felt most of his life. He also had an older sister and a younger brother and sister. This is a sad story and one that is hard to believe families like his actually exist. It sheds light about life on an Indian reservation and how much damage can be caused by abusive parents. His dad was an ex-con who got away with murder and expected David to help him in his criminal activities. The only times David’s father was pleased with David was when he did mean things to people that his father thought was hilarious. Although David had a lot of obstacles to overcome, including his upbringing, hearing loss, poverty and dyslexia, he had a lot of determination and mental toughness. He barely graduated high school and went on to graduate college, majoring in political science. This book made me want to keep reading to see what was going to happen next and how he succeeded (I knew he did since he wrote the book). This was heartbreaking, but at the same time, extremely interesting.
 (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 9/25/19:
The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow is the true story about his family.  He had three siblings and they idolized their dad who told them stories about his World War II feats.  But, there was another side to Thurston Crow, the dad.  David tells the story of growing up with his dad and his mentally ill mother including plenty of action!What I enjoyed most about this book is that I really never knew what was going to happen next.
(5++ stars)

Teaser from page 8:  Other days, Dad tied me to the pine tree in our front yard.  He'd wrap a thick, scratchy rope around my chest and ankles and tug on it hard to make a tight know.

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"The Unwinding of the Miracle" by Julie Yip-Williams

The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams is the true story of how Julie overcame so much. She was born blind in Vietnam.  Her grandmother wanted her killed just two days after she was born. With 300 other people in a boat, she made it to Hong Kong and then America where she attended Harvard and became a very good lawyer. She married and had two daughters.  But unfortunately, she could not overcome colon Cancer.  She wrote this book for her daughters to remember her.

Julie tells her story and pulls no punches.  There is some humor also.  Rest in peace, Julie.  Job well done!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars) 

Teaser from page 8:  But also as your mother, I want you to feel the pain, to live it, embrace it, and then learn from it.  Be stronger people because of it, for you will know that you carry my strength within you.

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"Becoming" by Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama

I heard that Becoming by Michelle Obama was a good book and was curious to learn more about her and what it was like living at the White House and what it would be like being a First Lady.  This book did not disappoint.  It satisfied my curiosity and also was very inspirational.  My favorite character in this book was Michelle Obama's mother.  The first part of the book is about her childhood, the middle about her career and developing her relationship with Barack, the last third about the Presidential campaign and her time at the White House.  She is very open about sharing her story.  Living in the White House has some perks, but the inability to go anywhere when you wanted or even just outside on the balcony without notifying the secret service and getting their permission would be a deal breaker for me right there!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 12:  When I thought I had a good idea about something, I didn't like being told no.  Which is how my great-aunt and I ended up in each other's faces, both of us hot and unyielding.  

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"The Sun Does Shine--How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row" by Anthony Ray Hinton

This book tells the true story of Ray Hinton, who found himself on death row for a crime he did not commit!  Most of this book is very depressing.  He even had evidence that he did not do it, but it was ignored.  No one paid any attention to that.  The last part of this book is uplifting!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review:
The Sun Does Shine—How I found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton is the sad true, but inspirational story of his life. He was wrongfully convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. This book shows his journey of appeals and his imprisonment. It made me more appreciative of my freedom and certainly made me more aware of the injustices that happen in our nation. It is an emotional read, making me feel both sadness and anger. I even cried at one point when he received news that his mother had died. He lost 30 years of his life because of prejudice and he’s not the only one! This is horrible! 

The afterward was especially sobering.  It listed the names of all those who are sitting on death row as of March 2017 by state so the reader can pray for them!  It said that "Statistically, one out of every ten sentenced to death is innocent. This was a shocking statistic to me and one that should put an end to the death penalty." 

This was hard to read because it is a true story of injustice but I’m glad I read it. It speaks to the issue of capital punishment and I think it’s good that people be made aware of how inhumane life on death row is. It was sort of funny how Ray kept his sanity and sense of humor while locked up wrongly all those years by using his imagination. I recommend adults and teens read this book.  (5 stars)


Teaser from first page of the forward:

He resisted mightily the notion that he was arrested, charged, and wrongly convicted because of his race, but he ultimately couldn’t accept any other explanation. He was a poor man in a criminal justice system that treats you better if you are rich and guilty than if you are poor and innocent.

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"Dog Medicine" by Julie Barton

Dog Medicine by Julie Barton is a true story about how her dog helped her. Julie had a rough childhood to say the least. She tried to go it alone and that turned into a total disaster. She needed help and fast! She decided to get a puppy! She could not even take care of herself so it was hard to see how she would manage to take care of a young dog.

I LOVED this book! I rooted for Julie all the way! This is a very short book. It goes fast so give it a chance, you will be glad you did! (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 104:  And, miraculously, I knew in that moment that I was more than capable of caring for him.  I felt enormously driven to create a space for Bunker that felt safe, free of all worry, fear, and anxiety.

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"The Last Girl" by Nadia Murad

The Last Girl--My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State by Nadia Murad is a true story!   Nadia was born and raised in Kucho, a small village in Iraq.  Life was okay and she enjoyed her large family.  She had plans for her future, but that all changed when Isis moved in and took over.  Her life became a nightmare! 

Teaser from page 60:  I couldn't see them as people.  Like the guns they carried and the tanks they drove, the men themselves were just weapons to me, and they were aimed at my village.

This is not an easy book to read.  Nadia went through unspeakable horror!  This book opened my eyes to what these people had to deal with.  I give her so much credit for telling her story!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"It's Good to Be Gronk" by Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski with Jason Rosenhaus

It's Good to Be Gronk is a non-fiction book that tells the story of how Rob Gronkowski turned into "Gronk."  (For those who do not know who he is, he is a professional football player for the New England Patriots.)  I enjoyed how he told about growing up and rough housing with his brothers as well as the big influence his parents played in his life.  I also liked how he gave us insight into how hard he works and his thought on parts of his football games to this time.  If you are a Pats fan like me, you will love it!  I know I did.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

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We Both Liked "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle is a Must Read

American Sniper is Chris Kyle’s story of his life, the American SEAL sniper credited with the most kills in the Iraq war. The book starts with a little from his childhood and how he was a cowboy, then goes into depth about his Navy and SEAL training. It covers his experiences in Iraq during the war over his four deployments and touches on his personal life as a husband and father. He was a great warrior and was completely dedicated to serving his country by killing the bad guys. It shows the struggles between he and his wife due to their different priorities.

I liked the book because I learned some new things; however, can’t help but think both he and his wife would have been better off not getting married. Chris was definitely “married” to the Navy and being a sniper. Time after time, he put his career ahead of her and his children. I enjoyed reading about the training he went through and the combat situations he experienced, but when he went into detail about the different weapons, I got bored with that. I did learn though that choosing the right weapon is kind of like choosing a golf club—there are a lot of options. I also was shocked at how much hazing goes on when new guys are assigned to a SEAL team.

I guess what bothered me most was that he proclaimed to be a strong Christian, yet seemed to be very self-centered when it came to his marriage, his language was rough, he got into a lot of bar brawls and drank a lot—all things strong Christians would not do. If you want a glimpse of what really goes on in the Iraq war and the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families, this is a must read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

American Sniper is the true story of Chris, a sniper, and the best one in the service.  I have read a few books on the war and this one ranks right up there with the best, if not the best that I have read!  His account is absolutely riveting.  I was able to experience through his telling what is going on and what he went through.  WOW!  I LOVED this book!  Chris was an American hero for sure!  This is a must read and if you have a chance to see the movie, do it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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"It Was Me All Along" by Andie Mitchell, a memoir

It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell is the true story of "the fat girl."  She continued that way until one day while in college she got on a scale and was shocked by the number.  This book tells the story of how she put on the weight and how she took it off, but it's more than that--it's how she deals with life too.

I found it fascinating--she pulls no punches and sounds like someone I would enjoy spending time with.  Through her book, short as it is, I did and am glad for that.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

I am so proud that Gerard lost his excess weight.  I find it hard to believe he was over 300 pounds in high school (long before I ever met him), but here's the proof:  From 300 pounds to 140. 

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"Pioneer Girl" is a Must Read for "Little House on the Prairie" Fans!

Pioneer Girl--Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Annotated Autobiography (Pamela Smith Hill, editor) has stories that were not seen on the TV show.  I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie so enjoyed this book very much.  The pictures are priceless!  If you were a fan of this show, then this is a must read for you.  I liked it a lot!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Rascal" by Sterling North (Updated)

Image from Amazon

Rascal by Sterling North is about a young boy who after his dog digs up a raccoon’s nest, takes a baby raccoon for a pet and names it Rascal.  This is a fun read for young readers and older people who are young at heart.  Rascal and his young owner, Sterling, get into all kinds of mischief.  I enjoyed it very much!  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review, 3 stars:
Rascal by Sterling North is a cute read about a 12-yr.-old boy and his pet raccoon during World War II.  It has some very funny parts and when he goes camping for two weeks, I felt I was right there with him.  This isn't by any means a page turner though and parts of it seemed to drag a bit, but it's short and I enjoyed the connection the boy had with the raccoon.  I enjoyed the illustrations as well.  

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"Stronger" by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter

Being a huge Boston fan, it is a "no brainer" that I was going to read Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter.  I read it and loved it!  Jeff was one of only two people who lost both of their legs at the Boston Marathon last year when the bomb went off.  He was able to identify the bomber for the cops.  I especially liked the part that dealt with his recovery which proved what Jeff was made of--Boston Strong!  Thanks for telling your story, Jeff, and God bless you and Erin!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"A Sliver of Light" by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd

A Sliver of Light by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd is an incredible tale of three people on a hike in Iraqi Kurdistan and then crossed over into Iran.  The border patrol arrested them and they were in a situation they will never forget.  This is a great story told by all three people in a way that reads like a novel except it was real life!  This was an eye-opening book for me that I won't soon forget.  Thanks for sharing! 
 (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Prepared for a Purpose" by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski--an Amazing Story!

Prepared for a Purpose by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski is an amazing true story about how Antoinette stood up to a gunman who came into her school where she works and her own personal story.  Both are really good because this woman has been through a lot!  I enjoyed reading it and believe it will keep your interest as it did mine.  
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Prepared for a Purpose by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowskiis mostly about Antoinette's personal life and very little about the gunman at the school who she confronted.  She is definitely a strong woman, coping with many problems while praying for God's help which is mostly what this book is about.  I liked it all right but it didn't really grab me.  I did feel sorry for her though having to deal with so many issues.  It's worth your time.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"Pure Joy--The Dogs We Love" by Danielle Steel

Pure Joy--The Dogs We Love by Danielle Steel is a short memoir about her dogs she had over the years filled with funny, sad and touching stories, including pictures.  She also gives some advice for dog owners.  If you are a "dog person," you will enjoy this quick read.  I am and I did!  
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"Zlata's Diary--A Child's Life in Sarajevo" by Zlata Filipovic

Zlata's Diary--A Child's Life in Sarajevo by Zlata Filipovic is her diary over a two year period of war in Sarajevo. She is 11 years old at the beginning and I was surprised to read how her life was much like that of American children. The book is pretty sad and depressing, day after day pretty much the same thing. It shows how terrible war is, how innocent people are impacted, and how very basic things made her so happy.

It made me thankful for all I have was a reminder to me that I have nothing to complain about! It goes fast but gives great insight into what it's like to live in a war zone.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

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"A Street Cat Named Bob and How He Saved My Life" by James Bowen

A Street Cat Named Bob and How He Saved My Life by James Bowen is a true story the bond that developed between him and a street cat he named Bob that helps them both.  The second part of the book focuses more on James than it does on the cat.  This book is nowhere near as good as Dewey, the Library Cat which is one of the best books I ever read!  In my opinion, this is still a book well worth reading because the parts that have Bob, the cat, in it are really good!  Glad it has a happy ending!  (4 stars)

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