Christmas Jars

Author: Jason Wright
Pages: 149
Rating: G

Summary:
Where had it come from? Whose money was it? Was I to spend it? Save it? Pass it on to the someone more needy? Above all else, why was I chosen? Certainly there were others, countless others more needy than I...Her reporter’s intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page.
Rising newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the secret behind the "Christmas Jars" – glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously given to people in need. But Hope discovers much more than she bargained for when some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness and brings above a Christmas Eve wish come true.

My Thoughts: This is  a very short, quick and easy read, but so sweet and awesome. If you have not read it before, it should definitely be a part of your holiday collection. It really encompasses the spirit of Christmas and of giving to others. I read it one Christmas Eve with my family. We just passed the book around the family and read a little until we were finished. If you're an emotional kind of person, you might cry. It has such a sweet ending. You'll love it. =)

The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck

Pages: 273
Rating: G

Summary: Based on a deeply personal true story, Glenn Beck’s bittersweet tale of boyhood memories, wrenching life lessons, and the true meaning of the giving season has touched the hearts of readers everywhere.If you could change your life by reversing your biggest regrets, sorrows, and mistakes . . . would you?When Eddie was twelve years old, all he wanted for Christmas was a bike. He knew money had been tight since his father died, but Eddie dreamed that somehow his mother would find a way to afford that dream bike.What he got from her instead was a sweater. “A stupid, handmade, ugly sweater” that young Eddie left in a crumpled ball in the corner of his room.Scarred deeply by the fateful events that transpired that day, Eddie begins a dark and painful journey toward manhood. It will take wrestling with himself, his faith, and his family—and the guidance of a mysterious neighbor named Russell—to help Eddie find his life’s path and finally understand the significance of that simple gift his mother had crafted with love.

My Thoughts: I read this book in like 3 hours. The first part I read in small chunks, and then I finished it by reading two hours straight. It's really hard to put down. At the end you find out that a lot of the stuff in the book really did happen to Glenn Beck, if not quite in the same sequence or way. Some of it is fabricated, but a lot of it is based on real-life events. This is a really great book, and you don't have to read it just at Christmas time. It's got a theme that works at any time of the year.

It's also a great book because I think we can all identify with some of the feelings that Eddie has. He is deeply angry, he hates God for ruining his life, and he can't seem to get past all the hurt and anger that his life has not turned out the way he wanted it to. We have all had difficult trials, where it's hard to stay focused on what really matters, and in that way, we can all relate to Eddie. The message of the book is mainly that God has given us the greatest gift of all: the Atonement. Sometimes we throw it on the floor in a crumpled ball and don't realize how important it really is. We're too selfish and too scared to leave our problems in the past and take that first step forward. I wish I could write just one quote from this book, but I can't. The whole book just works together and you won't be able to get the full message unless you read it. I highly recommend it. If you get the chance, READ THIS BOOK!!!