George Washington Carver By John Perry

George Washington Carver is a short book about the great scientist.  It tells of his life beginning to end in 154 pages. While that seems to be not enough to a true Carver lover as I am I found myself finding out things that I did not know.  It is a delightful little read that leaves you thirsting to find out more about the humble genius of a man that he was.  We could all with less cause take a lesson in humility from this man.  John Perry has made this man who was always bigger than life to me seem more human than I had read of him previously.  After reading the book I feel that I have been able to meet the man. 
I would recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in history( black or white), science (interesting not dry school stuff), or a biography of an American.  This book I read in one setting as it is very short but it feels complete.  A sure 5 star book.
I was provided this book for free for this review.

Upside by Bradley R E Wright

This is a book discussing the real state of world affairs. It uses statistics to tell us of what the state of the world is rather than an alarmist view of the world. It does little predicting of where the world is heading but it does remind us that we tend to solve world problems as they come up and start affecting our daily life.

This book sounds very dry but it is instead uplifting. I read this book thinking I should but found myself feeling better about myself and the new generations coming after me. This book encourages the reader to think things through instead of just mindlessly accepting the views expressed by the media. It also tells us how stories are slanted negatively in order to get grant dollars as well as to make a good news story. Many people have quit watching the news because of way that it makes the viewer worry and many obsessively watch news and get physically sick with worry. Most are obviously in the middle. This book tells how the lives of the people of the world-not just USA is really getting better in most ways rather than how we're all doomed and there is nothing you can do about it or that it is all someone's fault. It actually tells some ways that the still young can live their life in such a way as to make it better. Get an education, don't marry too early, eat well but not too much, get some exercise, and quit watching so much TV and instead get out into society. I actually read this book in a matter of a couple of days because it was so interesting. It is short-only 222 pages (unless you read the notes which I don't). I would recommend this book to any who are concerned about the way of the world.

I recieved this book free for this review. I was not encouraged to give either a good or bad review.

Sweet Santuary by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Marinusen Columa

Sweet Santuary is a story of a single divorce mom, Wren, raising her musically gifted young son, Charlie.  She has a full life raising him and has just about sworn off of men since her marrage.  She has returned to her hometown to raise him because of financial difficulties and the family home being unoccupied.  Throughout the book there are hints of being the family outcast because of a childhood experience but until the end we don't know the full story.  This is a story of family trials and love. This is a story of a small community loving a young family and how they support her in the everyday life raising a child. 
I loved this book.  It is a sweet Christian love story that is not predictable.  It has the twists and turns of family life with an exciting ending.  How refreshing.  I loved the characters and felt like they seemed like someone you might meet in your own hometown (if you come from a small town in America). It does make single motherhood look doable without glossing over it or making Wren look sappy and sweet.  I like that this book has us Christians look normal and not goody two shoes.  Christians just doing the best they can with all the problems of the rest of the world.  Christians relying on God through prayer for our help but sometimes getting no for an answer.
I recieved this book for free for this review.

A place called Blessing

A Place Called Blessing is a book about the life of Josh, who grew up in foster care.  It tells of his life with the good and the bad.  It does not make out that foster care is horrible in fact it is better than the children's home that he eventually ended up in but just that there is no one who loves you best and always as in a loving family.  In that respect you grow up never learning unconditional love and trust.  Love and caring is based on behavior.  Josh truthfully never had that in his original family either.  It is a story of how Josh learned to love and trust others.
This is a beautifully written interesting story.  I read it as quickly as possible and still live my life.  If I had not been doing anything else I would have read it in one setting it was so good.  I don't think I have read many books better than this one.  There is nothing in this book that I can criticize as it is close to perfect.  I laughed.  I cried.  I learned to be a better person to those around me as I never know how that person's life has been.  Josh has changed me for the  better.  I hope that everyone has the opportunity to read this book.
This book was provided to me for free from Booksneeze for this review.

To be Perfectly Honest

Phil Callaway is challenged by his editor to tell the truth for one year then write a book about it.  He states in the beginning that as a humorist he lies for a living.
I was amazed at Mr. Callaway's honesty and how he tried to do it without being mean.  Phil also shares his honest thoughts that he has through the year--some of which maybe should have just flitted across his brain and just stayed in there.  By a third of the way through I had to read the book in a room by myself as I was laughing so much. Mr. Callaway speaks honestly of his faith and his difficulties with witnessing his faith to others and how he overcame the fears and passed on his beliefs to others.  The reader also meets and falls in love with the author's mother who has dementia.  The author does a wonderful job of describing the funny and sad parts of loving someone with dementia.  By the end I had to read through the tears as I was grieving right along with him.
I recieved this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group for this review.