Books, books, books...that I read this month!

I finished December and started January by reading this book that I was given for Christmas:

People have always had strong opinions about Sarah Palin, and I feel like she is one of those people (like Glen Beck) who others (even some Christians) feel that it is okay to hate (even though Jesus said not to hate, ya'll).  Even though I don't always agree with everything that she says or does, I've always had a sort of fascination with her, and I very much enjoyed reading this book.  In the book, Sarah Palin reflects on a wide array of issues that shape her thinking and way of life, as well as her goals for the country.  She is frankly honest in this book, and I can tell that it is her voice throughout the chapters.

Next I read a Grandma Doris loaner:

This book was the kind of book that I enjoyed curling up under a blanket and reading each night--it was so cute and real and witty!  The characters were refreshingly real people, and they experienced real problems and real challenges.  The book is about a woman named Lucy who runs a non-profit organization that had its funding pulled.  Enter Alex, a former professional football player who needs a fiancee to win his bid for Congress, and a suggestion that she poses as his fiancee and he gives her the money for her organization.  This was a sparkly romance, a real treat to read!

Seth had been wanting for me to read this book ever since I gave it to him for Christmas in 2010 and he enjoyed it so much:

Oh. My. Word.  As a fan of VeggieTales, I was very interested in this book.  I wasn't sure if I could follow all the tech and geek terms in it, but I learned a lot about things that I had no idea about.  No Big Idea about.  (grin)  Phil Vischer really was incredibly innovative and far ahead for his time, and his telling of his story--how a young, Bible college dropout became responsible for one of the world's biggest hit kid shows, and then its spiral into bankruptcy is incredibly raw.  Business owners and tech lovers alike will enjoy and learn from this book.  I know that I did.

And finally...I literally read this book in like 20 minutes (it is only about 50 pages).  It had been recommended to me, and when I stopped by Barnes and Noble to pick it up, it was all sold out!  I ordered it off of Amazon and read it while I was in my sick bed this weekend (LOL):

I would say that this is a must read--one of the big, influential books of our times.  Andy Andrews asks very powerful, right questions as he provocatively explores the number of people killed by the Nazi regime.  This book is a wake-up call--not intended to point fingers at Republicans or Democrats--but rather for each one of us to become informed, passionate citizens who desire honesty and integrity from our leaders.  I thoroughly, highly recommend this book.  Especially because it has quotes like this:

"It is a fact that fewer than 10 percent of Germany's population of 79.7 million people actively worked or campaigned to bring about Hitler's change.  Even at the height of its power in 1945, the Nazi political party boasted only 8.5 million members.  So the remaining 90 percent of Germans....did what?  Stood by?  Watched?  Essentially, yes....Incredibly, there are currently 545 human beings who are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for every problem America faces....To be clear, that's 545 of them and 311 million of us.  Can 311 million Americans ever hope to wrestle the power away from 545?"

So, whatcha reading this month?