One Ordinary Citizen’s Extraordinary Journey
By: Nancy Birchall
I just finished reading Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue. I’m glad I read it. At one time I was #48 on the waiting list at the library. That was a sign to me that I was in for an interesting read. And it was. I admit I was a bit curious to learn more about this vice presidential candidate who the Republicans pulled out of relative obscurity into the 2008 presidential election. I assumed there was probably more to her and her life that I had not been told by any of the media.
I recommend the book highly for several reasons. It is well-written and easy to read. I did not know a lot of things about Sarah, one being that she has a journalism degree. So she wrote her own book. I got a fresh look at the state of Alaska and how living there instills certain characteristics in families; basically a lot of independence, determination and grit.
I was floored with the political process associated with the choosing and marketing of party political candidates. Sarah would have been a much more effective Sarah if her “handlers” had let her speak her mind and be herself. All her prompting, coaching and correcting made me think of the title of the Broadway play, I Love You. You’re Perfect. Now Change.
Those of you who like political intrigue will be fascinated with the tactics of both parties in the 2008 election. John Grisham couldn’t have provided a more fascinating screen play. It’s quite shocking what we the people never know…unless we keep reading books like this.
Being a Mom, the parts that really spoke to me were about her children. She wrote a beautiful letter from God to her family when she knew her fifth child would be born with Downs Syndrome. She states many times that her faith in God kept her lifted her up during trying times as a public servant, wife and mother. Her book is a beautiful testimony on top of everything else.
Sarah quotes Mark Twain in the introduction to her epilogue. I think this quote sums up what she will continue to do with her life. You go, girl!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Every book we read can teach us about something. We may learn from the lives of the characters, the climate of the times, the events surrounding the story, or the impact the book is having on our own thoughts, perceptions and ideas.
Read about the people you agree with and the people you do not. Read about the people you admire and those you do not. All teach us something about who we are and the human condition. Then our job is to go out and live our own extraordinary story. Who knows…someday it may be a bestseller.
