Melniczenko Musings

New Product Up at Funky Playground Designs ...

2009-11-16T05:20:00.001-06:00

I'm really excited about this week's newest release ... its a template pack based on the pages of Melanie (AKA - melrio) who is an amazing scrapper! I love how this set turned out and I think you will too! Grab it up today because it will be at a special price for just new release day - $1.50!!!! You can't beat that - FOUR templates for $1.50! After Monday, it'll be back to $3.00 so don't miss out! You can pick it up HERE!

And here are the 4 layouts that the templates are based on ...

And here are a few layouts that the FPD Layout Artist Team put together ...

So, I hope you'll take a moment to head over to my store at Funky Playground Designs to check out this week's new release!

Review Musings: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

2009-11-08T11:40:00.000-06:00

Goodreads description:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is black. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark.
The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl springs up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

My review:

I really liked the premise of this novel ... the execution, not as much. The story had a great deal of potential but it didn't quite live up to that potential, in my opinion. I enjoyed the process of reading the novel - it kept me interested, it went fairly quickly. But, there was something missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on as I read.

As I've given it some thought, I think there were two things that got into the way of my fully enjoying this book. One, the character development was lacking. I just never felt like I really cared about them or who they were or what they were going through. They were almost a secondary consideration to the conceptual pieces of the book which were intriguing. I never really became engaged with ANY of the characters. They were very flat and not particularly engaging. It's strange - I didn't dislike them but I didn't really care either way what happened to them. Which is not a good feeling when reading a book that I think in many ways centers around your rooting FOR the very characters that just aren't leaping off the page. Secondly, the 'slang' from the world that Dashner created was very distracting to me for some reason. It just didn't seem to blend well with the narrative. It felt almost like a JOLT every time that I came across yet another slang word in the dialog which took me out of the story.

Perhaps my feelings about this book were colored by the fact that I've recently read some really great YA dystopic novels - The Hunger Games for instance. Maybe if I'd had more distance, I'd have appreciated this one a bit more.

I struggled with the rating on this one - I'd really have liked to have given 3 1/2 stars but I ultimately went with 3 stars since it really had some flaws that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book.

I understand that this is the first in a series of books about this world. I am planning to give the 2nd Maze Runner book a read ... the world Dashner creates is very intriguing so I'd like to revisit it but I do hope that some of the flaws in this one are resolved for the second in the series.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

New Releases AND a SALE!

2009-11-06T23:29:00.001-06:00

In celebration of International Digital Scrapbooking Day, I have two new template packs up in the Funky Playground Designs shop for sale! And, they are 50% off so you can grab them for A DOLLAR! What a steal! They go back to regular price after the weekend so you might want to grab them (and the others that I put in earlier in the week) while they are on SALE!

Here's what I've just put up for you ...

Layout Guides Set: Funky Sampler:
All of the designers at FPD are putting together samplers in a similar color scheme etc for NSD. This is my contribution ...

And the FPD Creative Team BLEW me away with their beautiful pages using this template set so I wanted to be sure to share some of them with you ... Those ladies are amazing scrappers and I'm so proud to be a part of the team. They inspire me EVERY day. I'm so honored to see how many of them were interested in using my templates!!!

Layout Guides Set 6: Cheryl (aka gonewiththewind):
Another in my series of templates based on layouts of GREAT scrappers. This one is based on some of the beauitful pages of Cheryl (aka - gonewiththewind). Cheryl is an amazing scrapper and I'm thrilled that she was open to the idea of my doing this template set. I think there are a lot of us who would LOVE to scrap like Cheryl!You can see her entire FPD gallery HERE. She's amazing, I promise!

And here are some of Cheryl's original layouts on which this template pack was based ...

Okay, that is it for now ... thanks to all of you who have already purchased some of my template sets. I can't begin to tell you how much your support has meant to me as I try to figure out this whole template making thing out!

Template Challenge!

2009-11-06T22:13:00.000-06:00

Head over to Funky Playground Designs to grab this week's freebie template - HERE! In addition to the freebie template, you can use it to enter into a contest to win $5 to the FPD store! You have a number of days to complete the challenge so that it doesn't get into the way of your shopping all day tomorrow! I hope you will join in! I can't wait to see your pages.

Template Freebie - Check Back on Saturday!

2009-11-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

This week's Template Freebie will be a bit late in celebration of International Digital Scrapbooking Day ... check back on Saturday morning to see what I have in store for you ...a template AND a challenge!

In the meantime, just wanted you to know that my shop over at Funky Playground Designs has lots of template goodies at CRAZY sale prices ... head over HERE to check out the deals! And check back in the store on Saturday ... I have a couple of fun things you might want to check out - and they will also be ON SALE! By the way, while you're over at the FPD store, you might want to check out the celebration going on in the forum on Saturday - LOTS of fun stuff is being planned for you! Don't miss out!

FPD Color Challenge - wk of 11/2/09

2009-11-02T20:23:00.001-06:00

Check out the details HERE!

Here is my layout for the challenge:

Credits:
Take the Fall by Valorie Brown
I hope you'll join in this week! You just might win $5 to spend in the FPD Shop, just for playing along!

Revealing My Surprise ...

2009-11-02T19:58:00.001-06:00

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had a little surprise coming up and now I can finally tell you all about it. I've been asked to be the November Guest Designer at Funky Playground Designs!!!!! So, I now have a wonderful little month-long shop over there & I'll be selling lots of templates (and a few other things!) HERE! I am so excited about this opportunity! I hope you'll come visit the shop and check out what I have over there for you ...

I have five, yes, FIVE template packs up for you tonight ... and here they all are -

Layout Guides Set 1: Journaling

Layout Guides Set 2: Lots of Photos

Layout Guides Set 3: White Space

And here are the the first two of a number of sets that I have coming for you this month that are based on layouts of some of my favorite scrappers!

Layout Guides Set 4: Corinne (aka cOr1nn3)

Layout Guides Set 5: Julie (aka mrs2a50)

I look forward to bringing you more goodies throughout the month! So, check back often - as new things go up in the store, I'll be sure to give you the details here on the blog!

Review Musings: The Lost City of Z by David Grann

2009-11-02T11:02:00.002-06:00

Goodreads Description:

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve "the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century": what happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z?

In 1925, Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history. For centuries, Europeans believed the world’s largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions around the globe, Fawcett embarked with his twenty-one-year-old son, determined to prove that this ancient civilization—which he dubbed “Z”—existed. Then he and his expedition vanished.

Fawcett’s fate—and the tantalizing clues he left behind about “Z”—became an obsession for hundreds who followed him into the uncharted wilderness. For decades, scientists and adventurers have searched for evidence of Fawcett’s party and the lost City of Z. Countless have perished, been captured by tribes, or gone mad. As David Grann delved ever deeper into the mystery surrounding Fawcett’s quest, and the greater mystery of what lies within the Amazon, he found himself, like the generations who preceded him, being irresistibly drawn into the jungle’s “green hell.” His quest for the truth and his stunning discoveries about Fawcett’s fate and “Z” form the heart of this complex, enthralling narrative.

My review:

I rarely read non-fiction because it always leaves me frustrated. I get halfway through the book and am bored to death. But, I figured I'd give this book a chance since almost all of the reviews I'd read were great. And, WOW, what a ride this book was! It gripped me from page one and didn't let go until the final word. It was a wonderful book, well written, engaging and truly interesting. I'm not much of an adventure/travel type reader so I am still a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't know a lot about the Amazon or the El Dorado legend. In fact, I wasn't particularly interested in either of them. However, this book made that region come alive in a way that made me feel as if I was there.

There was an excellent mix of geography, anthropology, culture, exploration and discovery. I love how David Grann was able to weave together the present day with the story of Percy Fawcett. I didn't want to put it down ... such a gripping read. Finally ... a non-fiction book that I can wholeheartedly recommend!

My review: 5 out of 5 stars!

Template Musings #7

2009-10-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Friday means a FREEBIE so here's this week's template! I have included a tif file in the download since a few of you requested it ... Enjoy!

And you can pick it up HERE!

Please feel free to tell your friends about the template but don't share the file - just send them here to download it! Thanks so much!

FINAL REMINDER: I'll be removing the download links for all the freebies #s 1-6 as of October 31, 2009 (tomorrow) so be sure to go grab the other templates that you want before that time. I'll be leaving the weekly template freebies up for a month in the future so be sure to download what you want as you go!

Book Review Musings: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2009-10-29T07:53:00.001-05:00

Goodreads description:

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

This novel was really interesting and, overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. What struck me immediately about the book is how much of the premise reminded me of the movie The Village. There are many differences, of course, but there are also quite a few similarities. It took me awhile to get the setting of the movie out of my head, to see this book as its own entity without seeing the scenes from The Village in my mind as I read. Eventually, however, I became engrossed in the story of the novel and was able to let go of those similarities and begin to enjoy the novel for its own merit.

The novel is very character driven and this kept me from focusing on what could have been a downfall of the book - the plot. Although the premise was interesting, I think the plot was not nearly as fleshed out as it could have been. There were clear holes in the plot that were frustrating. There were aspects of the story that forced me to not over think the story or I would have been annoyed at some of the inconsistencies that I saw in the story otherwise. I was able to get past it but I can understand that some readers might not. I don't want to go into detail on these inconsistencies because I regard them as spoilers and wouldn't want to post them here. But, some aspects of the world created by Carrie Ryan seem a bit outlandish and made me have to force myself to suspend my disbelief in some ways. Again, I was able to get past it but I wanted to mention it as it is ultimately the reason I didn't feel comfortable giving the novel 5 stars.

However, the author's writing was excellent which helped me let go of my issues with the plot. I became very invested in each of the characters in the novel and felt that Carrie Ryan really did a fantastic job with making each of the characters memorable and engaging. That is what saved the book for me - the characters. My only character issue was about the relationship between Mary and Travis. I eventually came to understand what the author was doing with their relationship but there were times when I just didn't 'GET' the relationship between the two of them. There was in some ways, for me, a sense of much ado about nothing. Yet, in the end, I think Carrie Ryan pulled that relationship off for me, despite the rocky start.

I was also surprised at how the scenes with the zombies were portrayed. I anticipated that their interactions with the characters would bother me (as I'm not a big fan of the zombie) but in the end they didn't come off nearly as scary as they could have been. This was something that was a bit lacking in the book - the Zombies were not nearly as frightening as I think Ms. Ryan intended, at least not to me. The 'idea' of them was much more frightening than the reality.

I've read that a lot of other readers were unhappy with the ending which I can understand. It left a lot of questions unanswered ... But, that is likely because they will be answered in the sequel that will be published in 2010! So, it didn't bother me or take from the overall book that there were questions remaining as I knew that there was a sequel planned.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked Mary and reading about the struggles she faces given the specific circumstances of her life. I will be reading the sequel and hope that we learn more about this world of Mary's and how it came to be the way it is. And, a part of me can't help but to hope that the sequel will fill in some of the holes from the plot of the first book.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Book Review Musings: House of Stairs by William Sleator

2009-10-28T06:17:00.002-05:00

Synopsis from Goodreads:

One by one, five sixteen-year-old orphans are brought to a strange building. It is not a prison, not a hospital; it has no walls, no ceiling, no floor. Nothing but endless flights of stairs leading nowhere -- except back to a strange red machine. The five must learn to love the machine and let it rule their lives. But will they let it kill their souls? This chilling, suspenseful indictment of mind control is a classic of science fiction and will haunt readers long after the last page is turned.

My review:

I read this book for the two Young Adult Dystopia Reading Challenges that I'm participating in for the next few months. Ann Kingman from Books on the Nightstand talked about this book during the podcast where she introduced the challenge and I thought it sounded intriguing. It sounded vaguely familiar but I had not read it when I was younger.

This was a very quick read and it is written in a very simplistic style. But, the content is incredibly creepy and disturbing. As I read the book, I sometimes felt a bit claustrophobic, imagining a world of stairs all around me. Very creepy.In addition to the creepy factor, I loved how it also intertwined a very clear message without feeling didactic. I remember being a pre-teen/teenager and being amazed at how cruel the other kids could be to each other and how difficult it can be to rise above that with the pressure there is to 'go with the crowd'.

The idea of a house of stairs with a small machine conditioning kids to behave in a certain way is rather creative and an interesting world to be involved in during the read. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the novel and how the author introduces them to the young adult reader throughout the novel.

I'd definitely recommend this to young adults because it has a very interesting story that is both compelling and educational. I also think this might be a good book to give a reluctant reader as its very simplistic and might draw in those who aren't as compelled to read on their own.

FPD Color Challenge - week of 10/26/09

2009-10-27T19:31:00.003-05:00

It's a new week and there's a new color challenge up over at the Funky Playground - I hope you'll join in this week! Check it out here ...

And here is my layout for the challenge using Sarah Bennett's new kit ...

Credits:
Crazy/Beautiful kit by Sarah Bennett
Circles and Squares Template Pack by Sarah Bennett

Template Musings #6

2009-10-23T08:00:00.013-05:00

It's FRIDAY which means that I have a brand new freebie template for you! I've added a few fun goodies to the template that you can either use or replace with your own items! And, as always, I've added some shadowing which can be removed easily by removing the layer style from the layer.

Please let me know in the comments what you think .... and link me if you use it! Also, would you prefer that I include a tif file along with the psd file? Just curious what you guys like. Let me know!

Please feel free to tell your friends about the template but don't share the file - just send them here to download it! Thanks so much!

You can download it HERE!

REMINDER: I'll be removing the download links for all the freebies #s 1-6 as of October 31, 2009 so be sure to go grab the other templates that you want before that time. I'll be leaving the weekly template freebies up for a month in the future so be sure to download what you want as you go!

FPD Color Challenge - week of 10/19/09

2009-10-21T21:11:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry for posting this a couple of days late! I've had some computer issues that have made it difficult to get on and get this posted. So, I apologize for my tardiness. Onto the challenge ...

I don't know about you but everywhere I turn I'm seeing HALLOWEEN. In the stores, on TV, and of course my kids are obsessed with it and we're having a blast figuring out costumes, etc (Alex has decided on Buzz Lightyear and Meighan has decided on Little Red Riding Hood). So, this week's color scheme is a traditional Halloween scheme ... ORANGE and BLACK! Let's see those Halloween (and non-Halloween) pages ...

And, here is my page for the challenge using Leah's wonderful Halloween kit!

Credits:
Vintage Spooky by Leah Farquharson
Layered Up Page Templates Vol. 1 by Tania Shaw

Another YA Dystopic Reading Challenge

2009-10-20T08:31:00.000-05:00

Well, I just can't help myself. I signed up for another YA Dystopic Reading Challenge. Since I'm already committing myself to so many YA Dystopic books for the BOTNS challenge, I thought I'd go for it and join in on this one as well - Bart's Bookshelf is hosting a YA Dystopian Reading Challenge. So, I'm going to use my 7 books for BOTH challenges!!! See the previous post HERE for a list of what I'll be reading ... So, if you're going to do one of the challenges, why not do both? Go check it out ...

Books on the Nightstand Reading Challenge: Dystopian YA Fiction

2009-10-19T20:28:00.001-05:00

Books on the Nightstand is offering up a Dystopian YA Fiction Reading Challenge and I'm definitely going to be in on this one! I love dystopic literature and I agree with Ann Kingman's statement that some of the best in dystopic literature comes in the form of the Young Adult novel! I've read a lot of dystopic novels but there were a number of new to me novels mentioned on the Podcast where they introduced the challenge. I'm really looking forward to this challenge. So, here are the details & I'll sum up this post with which books I'm planning to read before December 31st for the challenge. I hope you check it out HERE and join me!

So, first, let's define dystopian fiction - according to Wikipedia it is defined as follows: The utopia and its offshoot, the dystopia, are genres of literature that explore social and political structures. Utopian fiction is the creation of an ideal world, or utopia, as the setting for a novel. Dystopian fiction is the opposite: creation of a nightmare world, or dystopia. Many novels combine both, often as a metaphor for the different directions humanity can take in its choices, ending up with one of two possible futures. Both utopias and dystopias are commonly found in science fiction and other speculative fiction genres, and arguably are by definition a type of speculative fiction.

The Rules of the Challenge (as indicated on the challenge post at Books on the Nightstand):

There are always rules in dystopic societies. We will be benevolent despots in the running of this challenge. Your participation is voluntary and we will be deactivating the Reading Challenge Police, so you are on the honor system.

1. You must do as you are told. You are hereby commanded to read 3 works of dystopic fiction that were written or published primarily for young adults. Books must be read between October 5, 2009 and December 31, 2009 in order to count for the challenge.

2. Secret activities are forbidden in dystopic societies. You must post your reading list and/or your review(s) of the books that you've read. Reviews can be formal or informal, as you like. You may post them one at a time or all at once, it's up to you. If you have a blog, please post there. If you do not have a blog, there are two options:

A. (Preferred) - use one of the special discussion threads we've set up on Facebook or Goodreads.
B. Post your reading list and/or reviews in the comments on this post.

3. A dystopic society controls the spread of information among its citizens. If you have teens or tweens in your life, tell them about this reading challenge, and consider doing it together.

4. Dystopic governments control your behavior with a system of rewards. So, there will be prizes!We'll do a random drawing from all participants at the end of the challenge.

5. Dystopic governments can track the identities of community members. Post the URL of your list/review in the Simply Linked box below. If you posted at Goodreads or Facebook, include the URL of the discussion post.

Doesn't this sound FUN? I think so ...

And, so, after giving it some thought, I'm going to be reading the following books (yes, I'm planning to read more than 3 - always the overachiever, I guess):

#1 - The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is black. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark.
The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl springs up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

#2 - Candor by Pam Bachorz
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town
where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way
to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them
all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved
teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages
to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to
get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into
cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor,
and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

#3 - House of Stairs by William Sleator

One by one, five sixteen-year-old orphans are brought to a strange building. It is not a prison, not a hospital; it has no walls, no ceiling, no floor. Nothing but endless flights of stairs leading nowhere -- except back to a strange red machine. The five must learn to love the machine and let it rule their lives. But will they let it kill their souls? This chilling, suspenseful indictment of mind control is a classic of science fiction and will haunt readers long after the last page is turned.

#4 - Gone by Michael Grant
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.
Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.
It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

#5 - The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

#6 - Feed by M.T. Anderson
This brilliantly ironic satire is set in a future world where television and computers are connected directly into people's brains when they are babies. The result is a chillingly recognizable consumer society where empty-headed kids are driven by fashion and shopping and the avid pursuit of silly entertainment--even on trips to Mars and the moon--and by constant customized murmurs in their brains of encouragement to buy, buy, buy.
Anderson gives us this world through the voice of a boy who, like everyone around him, is almost completely inarticulate, whose vocabulary, in a dead-on parody of the worst teenspeak, depends heavily on three words: "like," "thing," and the second most common English obscenity. He's even made this vapid kid a bit sympathetic, as a product of his society who dimly knows something is missing in his head. The details are bitterly funny--the idiotic but wildly popular sitcom called "Oh? Wow! Thing!", the girls who have to retire to the ladies room a couple of times an evening because hairstyles have changed, the hideous lesions on everyone that are not only accepted, but turned into a fashion statement. And the ultimate awfulness is that when we finally meet the boy's parents, they are just as inarticulate and empty-headed as he is, and their solution to their son's problem is to buy him an expensive car.
Although there is a danger that at first teens may see the idea of brain-computers as cool, ultimately they will recognize this as a fascinating novel that says something important about their world.

AND, that is what I"ll be reading between now and the end of the year! I'm so excited! I've already got a couple of them on my nightstand, waiting for me. And the rest are on their way from the library! And I'll be coming back periodically to post my reviews, etc. I really do hope you'll consider joining in the challenge - I think its going to be fascinating!

In closing, I thought I'd give you some other dystopic fiction (YA and adult) recommendations. I've read each of these and highly recommend them all ...

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

1984 by George Orwell

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

And there is a pretty cool list of dystopic fiction compiled on Wikipedia - HERE.

Book Review Musings: The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine

2009-10-17T09:18:00.012-05:00

Goodreads Description of The Blue Notebook:
A haunting yet astonishingly hopeful story of a young Indian prostitute who uses writing and imagination to transcend her reality.

An unforgettable, deeply affecting tribute to the powers of imagination and the resilience of childhood, The Blue Notebook tells the story of Batuk, a precocious 15-year-old girl from rural India who was sold into sexual slavery by her father when she was nine. As she navigates the grim realities of the Common Street—a street of prostitution in Mumbai where children are kept in cages as they wait for customers to pay for sex—Batuk manages to put pen to paper, recording her private thoughts and stories in a diary. The novel is powerfully told in Batuk’s voice, through the words she writes in her journal, where she finds hope and beauty in the bleakest circumstances.

Beautifully crafted and deeply human, The Blue Notebook explores how people, in the most difficult of situations, can use storytelling to make sense of and give meaning to their lives. All of the U.S. proceeds from this novel will be donated to the International and National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children (http://www.icmec.org).

My Review:
This may be one of the most difficult books I've read in a long time. It certainly took me back to my days working with sexual assault victims all day. Heartbreaking, poignant, beautiful, compelling, and riviting. I finished it 2 days ago and wasn't really able to review it until now because the images from the novel have stuck with me and given me so much to think about.

This is certainly not a pleasurable read but it is definitely one that will open your eyes to the issue of violence against children. I feel fairly educated on the topic given my years of work in the field, but I got a great deal out of this book. The beautiful way that this story is written makes Batuk and her experiences come alive. There were moments that I felt I was there with her, in part because of how well the author was able to describe each moment with simplicity and brilliance. I don't tend to cry as I read. I tend to be emotional, yes, but not to the point of tears. This book was an exception. There were moments that I just had to lay the book down and cry for this girl and all of the other girls like her in the world. There were other moments where I was sick to my stomach to see what this girl went through - how powerless she was to control her body, her life, her future. It was truly heartbreaking. But, I am so glad that I read this story and got to know this amazing (fictional) girl.

I don't think this is a book for everyone - if you are uncomfortable reading about brutal, uncomfortable situations then you may want to avoid it. Ultimately, this is a book about child prostitution, sexual abuse, physical abuse and violence in general. It is not a happy book. It is not an uplifting book. It is, however, a wonderful story that gives you insight into the day to day life of a girl who (like many, many other girls throughout the world) is essentially a slave to the wants, needs and desires of the people around her. She finds what little control she can in the world around her through writing.As difficult as it is to read, I think its important for us to all see the raw ugliness that is not unusual in our world. And to think about what WE can do to try to help eliminate this kind of violence against children.

In addition, 100% of the American proceeds of the book will go to the International and National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Template Musings #5

2009-10-16T07:00:00.014-05:00

It's Friday which means that I have a brand new freebie template for you! I hope you like this one! Please let me know in the comments what you think .... and link me if you use it! Please feel free to tell your friends about the template but don't share the file - just send them here to download it! Thanks so much!

You can download it HERE!

Also, I'll be removing the download links for all the freebies 1-6 as of October 31, 2009 so be sure to go grab the other templates that you want before that time. I'll be leaving the weekly template freebies up for a month in the future so be sure to download what you want as you go!

And thanks so much to all of you that have used the templates and made beautiful pages with them. I love seeing your work and it thrills me when you choose to use my template to create your scrapbook pages! So, thank you again.

Layout Musings

2009-10-14T08:25:00.012-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted any layouts so I thought I'd share a few I've finished up since my last layout post ...

Health Care Musings

2009-10-13T20:13:00.000-05:00

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably been hearing A LOT about healthcare these days. It's all over the news in America right now and you practically can't get away from it ... So, last night I downloaded the most recent podcast of This American Life (a show from Chicago Public Radio) and after listening to it today, I just HAVE to share it with my blog readers.

This American Life is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to as I commute to work every day. If you haven't heard of the show, it's really hard to explain but I definitely recommend that you check it out ... Here's how they describe themselves and I think it's pretty accurate ... "there's a theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme. It's mostly true stories of everyday people, though not always. There's lots more to the show, but, like we said, it's sort of hard to describe."

Basically, they pick a theme/topic for each episode and show a variety of different stories on that theme. Very cool concept and I've really enjoyed it. I've learned a lot about so many different topics. And I find that they are very even-handed in their coverage which I appreciate.

Anyway .... the episode that I listened to today was all about Health Care and there were some really interesting tidbits that I think everyone could benefit from learning. This is the link to the actual show I'm talking about - Episode 391: More Is Less. I hope you'll check it out. Some of the details on what's covered are below in case you're interested ... taken directly from the This American Life website ...

An hour explaining the American health care system, specifically, why it is that costs keep rising. One story looks at the doctors, one at the patients and one at the insurance industry.

Prologue.Former Bush Administration official David Frum explains a very surprising fact about Bush's economic failure, as it relates to health care. Frum is a regular contributor to the radio show Marketplace. (5 minutes)

Act One. Dartmouth Atlas Shrugged.
Are doctors to blame for the rising costs? NPR Science Correspondent Alix Spiegel reports on the shocking results of studies about varied health care spending. Hear more health care stories this week from Alix at npr.org. (18 minutes)

Act Two. Every CAT Scan has Nine Lives.
Or is the problem the patients? Producer Lisa Pollak reports. (12 1/2 minutes)

Act Three. Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Polar Bear and an Insurance Company?
Or maybe the insurance companies are to blame? Producer Sarah Koenig reports. (12 1/2 minutes )

Act Four. Now What?
Host Ira Glass talks with Susan Dentzer, editor of the journal Health Affairs, about what current health reform proposals do to fix the rising costs of healthcare...And points at a surprising, kind of heartening phenomenon happening within the current debate. (6 minutes)

Song: "Doctor My Eyes," The Jackson Five

Please note that I believe there will be a second podcast next week on the same topic so if this one interests you, check it out. By the way, I subscribe to their weekly podcast via I-Tunes for free. And I think you can also listen right from their website. Either way, give it a listen ... you might learn something. I definitely did!

FPD Color Challenge - week of 10/12/09

2009-10-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I'm so excited to share with you this week's FPD Color Challenge ... I love this combo and hope you will as well. Check out the details HERE! I hope you'll take a moment to join in this week ... don't forget, one of those who join will win a $5 GC to the entire FPD Shop!!

And here is my layout for the challenge using Traci Murphy's beautiful Expectations Collab with Faith True ...

Credits:
Expectations by Traci Murphy & Faith True
Layered Up Page Templates Vol 1 by Tania Shaw

Review Musings: South of Broad by Pat Conroy

2009-10-10T13:49:00.000-05:00

Goodreads Description:

The one and only Pat Conroy returns, with a big, sprawling novel that is at once a love letter to Charleston and to lifelong friendship.

Against the sumptuous backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina, South of Broad gathers a unique cast of sinners and saints. Leopold Bloom King, our narrator, is the son of an amiable, loving father who teaches science at the local high school. His mother, an ex-nun, is the high school principal and a well-known Joyce scholar. After Leo's older brother commits suicide at the age of thirteen, the family struggles with the shattering effects of his death, and Leo, lonely and isolated, searches for something to sustain him. Eventually, he finds his answer when he becomes part of a tightly knit group of high school seniors that includes friends Sheba and Trevor Poe, glamorous twins with an alcoholic mother and a prison-escapee father; hardscrabble mountain runaways Niles and Starla Whitehead; socialite Molly Huger and her boyfriend, Chadworth Rutledge X; and an ever-widening circle whose liaisons will ripple across two decades-from 1960s counterculture through the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

The ties among them endure for years, surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, and Charleston's dark legacy of racism and class divisions. But the final test of friendship that brings them to San Francisco is something no one is prepared for. South of Broad is Pat Conroy at his finest; a long-awaited work from a great American writer whose passion for life and language knows no bounds.

My review:

I should start by saying that Pat Conroy is one of my all time favorite writers. And his previous novel, Beach Music, is one of my all time favorite books. Hands down, Pat Conroy's prose speaks to me. I feel it physically and emotionally. And, I think he's one of the most amazing Southern writers ever born.

And onto South of Broad ... I really tried to not compare this novel to Beach Music because I was concerned that it could never live up to my feeling for that book. And, ultimately, it did not. However, it came fairly close which I was a bit surprised at, to be honest. The first few chapters were not as tight as they could have been which made me feel initially that the book certainly couldn't live up to Beach Music. So, if you are reading it and not sure about the first section, please keep going. It's worth it. I promise. It smooths itself out in time.

Conroy's Charleston, SC just jumped off the page ... I have never been to Charleston but I now feel like I have. His descriptions were so fantastic, so amazing that I felt like I was there ... experiencing it all. Again, this is tied to Conroy's ability to truly paint a picture with this words. Amazing. That's all I can say ...

The unfolding of the plot and the characters in this novel is breathtaking. The layering of the experiences within the prose is difficult to explain but pure heaven while reading it.

The characters are what I cannot stop thinking about ... I felt connected to each and every one of them. As if I were a member of their group of friends. I love that Pat Conroy's men and women are always real - good, bad and the ugly - and true to life. They are not predictable, they shock you with the words they say, they make you cry at the things that they do. They are simply wonderful to read about.

In terms of dialogue, I've heard a lot of people criticize Pat Conroy (for this and other books) in terms of the way people in his novels talk to one another. There seems to be some who dislike the very cleverness that I adore. I love reading the dialogue among these characters ... the things that they say are yet another way that you come to love them all as if they are in your own life. For me, no one does this quite as well as Pat Conroy! And I revel in each and every word!

All in all, South of Broad gives the reader an impressive group of characters to learn about and come to care about. The numerous story lines come together in themes of prejudice, privilege, friendship and love. It moves from Charleston to San Francisco and makes you FEEL both places.

I truly believe that Conroy is a master of American fiction and this novel is yet another example of his impressive skill! I love his books and will be purchasing this one for my ongoing collection of Conroy novels that I love to return to over and over again!

Template Musings #4

2009-10-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

My fourth template is now READY! I hope you like it! It's based on a layout that I did earlier for my FPD Color Challenge layout a couple of weeks ago! Enjoy!

The layout that it's based on is this one ... which is a new favorite page. So, I hope you'll have fun using the template that I used to create this page that I love so much!

And now to the important stuff ... you can grab it HERE. Please leave me a commment if you like it or if you use the template, link me up so I can see it! I'm so excited whenever one of you show me what you've done with the templates! Thanks! Happy Scrapping!

FPD Color Challenge - week of 10/5/09

2009-10-05T19:32:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! It's that time again ... time for us to work with a brand new color scheme for the FPD Color Challenge! This week we're celebrating FALL with our color scheme. Check out the forum HERE for all the details ... I hope you'll join us this week!

And here is my layout for this week -

Credits:
Everything by Tania Shaw Designs
Hold Your Hand Mini kit
Amy kit
Layered Up Page Templates Vol 1

Book Review Musings: Columbine by Dave Cullen

2009-10-03T08:30:00.008-05:00

Description at Goodreads:

Ten years in the making and a masterpiece of reportage, "Columbine" is an award-winning journalist's definitive account of one of the most shocking massacres in American history.

It is driven by two questions: what drove these killers, and what did they do to this town?

I should start by saying that I tend to dislike non-fiction. It rarely keeps my attention/interest for very long. This book is an exception to my general dislike of non-fiction. Dave Cullen's book is intriguing, fascinating, revolting and tragic. I could not put it down. I was horrified and amazed at how little truth there was in much of what I saw on the news and read in the media about the events at Columbine over the last 10 years.

Dave Cullen has provided his readers with a thorough, well-researched account of the events of Columbine in April of 1999. The pictures he painted with his words were incredible. At times, I felt as if I was there as a bystander watching it all unfold. I came to feel as if I knew all of these people - the victims, the survivors, the investigators, and the killers.

I have a tendency to try to stay out of the 'weeds' on situations like this because I find the fact that they occurred so difficult to stomach. I get the basics of the 'news' and then let it go. It's how I cope, I suspect. However, the Columbine case has always been fascinating to me. This book is THE book to read about the Columbine situation, in my humble opinion. It takes you in and gives you the facts and circumstances around a situation that defies understanding for many of us.

I feel like I finally have some sense of what might have led to the events of that day (or as much understanding as most of us are likely to ever have) ... how these two boys came to a place where they would do such evil things. I think many saw them as a pair of angry loners who were bullied at school and who killed out of revenge for that. However, Dave Cullen shows us the truth ... a truth that isn't so cut and dry. The psychological aspects of the book and how Dave Cullen puts Dylan and Eric into perspective by helping the reader understand their psychological motivations are fascinating. It is a compelling story and really gave me a better sense of how it all came together so gruesomely.

What strikes me now that I've finished the book is how little I really knew about Columbine. Most of the information that I've read/seen/heard is WRONG. These boys weren't bullied. They were smart, had friends, dated, had good families who cared about them. They weren't part of the Trench Coat Mafia we all heard so much about. They weren't Goths. There were no lists of people they wanted to 'take down.' What I think impressed me most about the book was its refocusing on Dylan and Eric. Who they were. What led them to that day in 1999.

This book ultimately leaves you feeling so many different emotions - amazement, sorrow, sadness, empathy, anger. I would put the book down occasionally and find it difficult to 'let go' of the story. It would follow me. Not an easy read at all. But, ultimately, a rewarding one.

The author takes these tragic and horrible events and creates a gripping story that I didn't want to put down. There's a sadness in every aspect of the book because of what these two boys did, but there's also a tremendous sense of hope as the author tells the stories of the survivors and how they have coped with the tragic events that changed them all in so many ways.

I definitely recommend it and think it should be considered THE definitive Columbine book!

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!