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Continued from here:

I got all three from my local library, and here's what I thought: First book (20 and Counting, I think): I was actually pleasantly surprised that it was much less preachy than I anticipated it to be, and there was a whole lot more about budgeting and daily schedules than evangelism. I got the impression that the Duggars chose their words very carefully and any overt affiliation with any particular stream of theology was downplayed. The girls' book (Growing Up Duggar): The concept of a bunch of Duggar stories from the POV of the kids was so promising, but the book failed to deliver. I got about 3/4 of the way through before giving up on it. It was mostly a lot of second-hand stories, à la "Our parents told us about a heathen friend they had and this bad thing happened to them, so we've never done that bad thing!" No real life experiences were shared - besides one about Jessa getting on Jana's nerves when they were kids - because these young women have no real life experiences, for the most part. They've been so sheltered and don't really have much material to write a book about. It could've been half as long. The tone was also pretty judgy and preachy, which for some reason I interpreted as Jessa's influence (lol)! I felt like I was at a really drawn-out altar call. Second book (A Love That Multiplies) : I didn't finish this one. Aside from Josie's story, it was essentially a re-telling of the first book. As I read this one, I did start to wonder if the Duggars idolize money-saving in the same way that they idolize purity and childbearing. What did you all think of the Duggar's books?

Because I want to torture myself- I decided to listen to 20 and counting with Michelle's voice on audio CD from the library. The beginning was bad, dissing Jim Bob’s dad and the whole I was a sinner stuff, but it wasn't until the end of chapter 4 when they said Discovery Health approached them to do a special AFTER the Johnson road home was sold and demolished and they were living in the rental. I SWEAR that they must think we are stupid and not see in the first special that they are living in the Johnson road home and it is demolished after. They also said the sale of that house helped fund the campaign. They also only talk about the first 5 or 6 children and their personalities etc. then after a while just name them off like "Oh Josiah was born" This just angers me that the leghumpers never question them!