Week 2: "American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot" By Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson is the current host of The Late Late Show that comes on following David Letterman.  I know, who's really up that late to watch him? Well, I am! That's why I became highly interested in reading his book. 

Craig was born in Scotland.  Yes, I know, as Mr. Wick on The Drew Carey Show he had an English accent. And actually if you ask him, that would be the accent of a Scottish man trying to play a Latino and having it come out English.  Go figure.  This book tells of Craig's life from birth to present day.  So present day in fact, that while writing this book, he married his wife Megan and his mother, Netta, passed away.  He writes about both things as they are happening...it's pretty surreal.  Craig's story is told through his own words which makes for a VERY easy read.  He tends to write as he talks.  Sometimes, it would seem as though he was reading the story to me as I could easily hear his Scottish voice coming through the words on the page.  Craig didn't have a glamorous life.  He didn't "wander" into America and get scooped up by a talent scout.  In fact, he is lucky to have even made it out alive, let alone to America.

"An alkie that can't even remember to commit suicide."  That's how he describes himself again and again.  In Scotland, drinking is the only real thing to do, after working of course.  He drank himself through approximately 16 years of his life.  And not "party drinking," but the need-a-drink-to-stay-alive-and-not-get-attacked-by-the-killer-ducks kind of drinking. He couldn't function without it.  He is currently clean and has been for more than 20 years.  In his book, he writes about ALL people that impacted his life, whether good, bad or indifferent.  He gives credit where it is due and even changes a few names to protect those that may not want their own story told.  He became a US citizen not even a year ago and TREASURES the fact, that I think too many of us born here completely forget about (if we have even acknowledged it all), that America truly is one of the ONLY free countries in the world.  I would say this book is a 4 out of 5 and if you are interested in reading really great biographies, I would suggest you read about Craig Ferguson and find out why he is Scottish born but American on purpose!

Week 1: The Shack by William P. Young

 "Where is God when bad things happen?"  That seems to be the preface of this book.  I finished it in two days, because I could simply not put it down.  It made me question my Faith, my Relationships and ultimately my Love.  

The Shack starts out with the telling of Mackenzie Allen Phillips when he is just a boy.  It prefaces his outlook on life, his personality and his view of fatherhood.  The author tugs at my heart strings and already has the tears welling in my eyes...and we're only in the Forward!  The author then moves on to Mack as a grown man, complete with wife and five kids.  (Two kids are away at college, they really have nothing to do with the story.)  By Chapter 3, the author is telling of The Great Sadness, which is really where the entire book takes off.  

If you have heard of this book before, or even read it, you already know of the sadness and what it is.  For those of you that don't, it is not a secret...so I will simply catch you up to speed.  While on a camping trip with his three younger children, Josh, Kate and Missy, the events of the weekend unfold to where Missy (his youngest) is kidnapped and ultimately killed.  Her body is nowhere to be found, but her red sundress and her blood are found on the floor of The Shack.  By now the tears that had been welling in me, were freeing flowing and making it hard to read.  I was also short of breath as I had been holding it for most of the chapter. Almost a year to the day, Mackenzie is summoned to go back to The Shack by a letter he found in his mailbox.  He wonders if it is the killer playing with him, someone playing a cruel joke or God wanting to speak to him.  Why does he think it might be God?  You would have to read to find that out for yourself. 

Is it a dream...is it real...is it Mack's reality in a dream?  No one will ever know for sure, but Mackenzie Allen Phillips does indeed head back to where he found the last image he ever had of his Missy.  Where the stain on the floor was as red as her dress, and where God was going to intervene.  I will say that I was not expecting the image of God to be what it was.  (Again, you will need to read the book to find that one out).  Obviously this tells you that He was in fact at The Shack.  So was Jesus. So was Sarayu.  And Mack has been waiting a year to question them All. 

Where were "they" when Missy was being murdered?  Why didn't "they" stop it?  What good can possibly come of something so terrible?  Can forgiveness EVER be an option?  The events that took place that "weekend?" There are simply no more words to use to describe them.  This book will take a toll on your heart.  Whether you Believe or not.  Whether you are a "Father" or not.  I could not have started this journey with a better book.  I give it a 5 out of 5 and I HIGHLY recommend that you read it.  In one way or another, your life will never be the same after you do.  Oh, and I will NEVER look at ladybugs the same way again!