Hi Everyone. The book I choose for July is one Vonnie recommended to me. She said it is really good and she can't imagine that anyone wouldn't like it, so we'll give it a try. It's called Fearless by Eric Blehm.
Yep. It was a weepy book. That last hour of audio or so was rough! I don't typically love non-fiction biography style books, but this one was pretty awesome. The things this guy had to overcome were what most people would consider insurmountable. I appreciated how much he attributed to God to get him through, because honestly that's the only way it could have worked out. And he sure had his demons.
Anyway, great choice, Mom. And Greg, thanks for making these so available for us and easy to access. I thought the book was very well written, with just enough humor interspersed, and appropriate stories to help you feel like you really got to know the main people in the book. By the end, I felt like I had lost a close friend, and that I wish I had more time to get to know him better. So sad to think that he was my age when it ended...
I love that we get to do this, as I wouldn't have chosen this book on my own, but it was definitely worth the time spent reading/listening.
Both the Audio and Digital Paper versions are available in the Dropbox, now. For kindle users (mom), use the .mobi file. Pretty much anyone else, use the epub file.
Okay, so I finally finished the book "Fearless". It was a good story and the last couple chapters were very touching where it was talking about our country and what a wonderful place it is. I sometimes have a hard time not getting angry about things that are happening in our country right now that threaten the kind of life we have always enjoyed. I was amazed at the amount of training required of these elite forces, and so grateful that there are men who will put themselves through that kind of training in order to defend our country. Adam Brown certainly went above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference. What an amazing man he was, as well as his friends and "brotherhood" in those special forces. That being said, I had a hard time wanting to read the book. The first part where it talked about his drug problem was frustrating. It's terrible what drugs do to people and so frustrating that people get involved in them. I really don't enjoy reading about that kind of stuff. It just makes me all up-tight inside. I understand addiction (as I'm obviously addicted to yummy foods like chocolate), and I understand that people really can't control themselves against those terrible drugs, but it just kind of makes me sick to see and hear about it. Anyway, then when we got into the military part, I just really don't enjoy reading about that stuff and, even though I'm grateful that there are people who do enjoy it, and who will go and defend our country, it's just not very interesting to me. I get angry at the terrorists and at what they do to those amazing men and also to innocent people. So, anyway, this wonderful man, Adam Brown, who did so much good and believed in God and took care of his family was finally killed by those awful terrorists. It's all so maddening and frustrating and then to have so many of his friends killed too--anyway, the book was good, but not one I would probably have recommended if I had read it ahead of time. I can't wait to move on to the next book so let us know what it is going to be, Greg! I love you all, and this is so much fun!
That's kind of funny, Mom, because I thought reading about the military stuff was interesting. Of course, the irony isn't lost on me that I'm sitting here munching on a powdered doughnut, yelling for Adam to keep pushing, train harder, swim faster!
Yeah, I couldn't do it.
And seriously, does that guy even feel pain? Because if I stub my toe, I'm down for the count, but he's got blistering eyes and bone shards, and he's still out collecting mines.
The drug stuff frustrated me, too, but I'm glad there are books like this out there to read. Drug use is obviously glamorized in enough sources to tempt people to use it, but if people are reading this book they're seeing the part that's not pretty. After the party, when you're hooked on crack and living in squalor, when you're letting your family down and have burned way too many bridges, it's not as fun. So even though it's hard to read, I think it should be. I think there should be MORE of this.
This was an engaging book and I think it's going to be one that sticks with me. Thanks for picking it, Mom!
I liked the fact that the story wasn't told by Adam. It helped to keep me from feeling strongly about anything that happened so I could just relax and listen to the story without caring too much and getting upset, especially every time he got hurt. I really liked Adam's and his wife's faith in God. Not a book I would have ever read on my own (I hate violence and war stories), but it was better than I expected.
I enjoyed the book. I thought it had a lot of good to offer. The story was intriguing, and the themes of redemption throughout made me think about how effective drug policies in the U.S. are.
I felt like I was being hit over the head, at times, with the religious references. The "he was a CHRISTIAN" theme was specifically stated in strange places. It was like the author went back after the book was written, trying to find places to put in references to Adam being a CHRISTIAN because the only publisher he could find was an agenda driven entity, and so he had to add something for the specific audience. It felt really forced, rather than flowing naturally. It wasn't that I minded the references. It was that so much of the book had little or no reference, and then, there it would be, suddenly, out of nowhere, with no real natural fit.
The story did highlight the dedication and sacrifice, and did a decent job of explaining the motivation, of those in the military. I thought that was great in a current political atmosphere of wearing a ribbon and giving lip service to "supporting the troops", all the while belittling, questioning, generally denigrating, finding fault, and often trying to find ways to prosecute them for what they do.
I don't usually care for books like this--but after about 5 chapters, I'm really enjoying this! And so far, only one swear word!
ReplyDeletedp
Yep. It was a weepy book. That last hour of audio or so was rough! I don't typically love non-fiction biography style books, but this one was pretty awesome. The things this guy had to overcome were what most people would consider insurmountable. I appreciated how much he attributed to God to get him through, because honestly that's the only way it could have worked out. And he sure had his demons.
DeleteAnyway, great choice, Mom. And Greg, thanks for making these so available for us and easy to access. I thought the book was very well written, with just enough humor interspersed, and appropriate stories to help you feel like you really got to know the main people in the book. By the end, I felt like I had lost a close friend, and that I wish I had more time to get to know him better. So sad to think that he was my age when it ended...
I love that we get to do this, as I wouldn't have chosen this book on my own, but it was definitely worth the time spent reading/listening.
Both the Audio and Digital Paper versions are available in the Dropbox, now. For kindle users (mom), use the .mobi file. Pretty much anyone else, use the epub file.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I finally finished the book "Fearless". It was a good story and the last couple chapters were very touching where it was talking about our country and what a wonderful place it is. I sometimes have a hard time not getting angry about things that are happening in our country right now that threaten the kind of life we have always enjoyed. I was amazed at the amount of training required of these elite forces, and so grateful that there are men who will put themselves through that kind of training in order to defend our country. Adam Brown certainly went above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference. What an amazing man he was, as well as his friends and "brotherhood" in those special forces. That being said, I had a hard time wanting to read the book. The first part where it talked about his drug problem was frustrating. It's terrible what drugs do to people and so frustrating that people get involved in them. I really don't enjoy reading about that kind of stuff. It just makes me all up-tight inside. I understand addiction (as I'm obviously addicted to yummy foods like chocolate), and I understand that people really can't control themselves against those terrible drugs, but it just kind of makes me sick to see and hear about it. Anyway, then when we got into the military part, I just really don't enjoy reading about that stuff and, even though I'm grateful that there are people who do enjoy it, and who will go and defend our country, it's just not very interesting to me. I get angry at the terrorists and at what they do to those amazing men and also to innocent people. So, anyway, this wonderful man, Adam Brown, who did so much good and believed in God and took care of his family was finally killed by those awful terrorists. It's all so maddening and frustrating and then to have so many of his friends killed too--anyway, the book was good, but not one I would probably have recommended if I had read it ahead of time. I can't wait to move on to the next book so let us know what it is going to be, Greg! I love you all, and this is so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of funny, Mom, because I thought reading about the military stuff was interesting. Of course, the irony isn't lost on me that I'm sitting here munching on a powdered doughnut, yelling for Adam to keep pushing, train harder, swim faster!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I couldn't do it.
And seriously, does that guy even feel pain? Because if I stub my toe, I'm down for the count, but he's got blistering eyes and bone shards, and he's still out collecting mines.
The drug stuff frustrated me, too, but I'm glad there are books like this out there to read. Drug use is obviously glamorized in enough sources to tempt people to use it, but if people are reading this book they're seeing the part that's not pretty. After the party, when you're hooked on crack and living in squalor, when you're letting your family down and have burned way too many bridges, it's not as fun. So even though it's hard to read, I think it should be. I think there should be MORE of this.
This was an engaging book and I think it's going to be one that sticks with me. Thanks for picking it, Mom!
I liked the fact that the story wasn't told by Adam. It helped to keep me from feeling strongly about anything that happened so I could just relax and listen to the story without caring too much and getting upset, especially every time he got hurt. I really liked Adam's and his wife's faith in God. Not a book I would have ever read on my own (I hate violence and war stories), but it was better than I expected.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the book. I thought it had a lot of good to offer. The story was intriguing, and the themes of redemption throughout made me think about how effective drug policies in the U.S. are.
ReplyDeleteI felt like I was being hit over the head, at times, with the religious references. The "he was a CHRISTIAN" theme was specifically stated in strange places. It was like the author went back after the book was written, trying to find places to put in references to Adam being a CHRISTIAN because the only publisher he could find was an agenda driven entity, and so he had to add something for the specific audience. It felt really forced, rather than flowing naturally. It wasn't that I minded the references. It was that so much of the book had little or no reference, and then, there it would be, suddenly, out of nowhere, with no real natural fit.
The story did highlight the dedication and sacrifice, and did a decent job of explaining the motivation, of those in the military. I thought that was great in a current political atmosphere of wearing a ribbon and giving lip service to "supporting the troops", all the while belittling, questioning, generally denigrating, finding fault, and often trying to find ways to prosecute them for what they do.