Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
PA #13 "The Art of Marriage"
I found this on Belle's Bookshelf, and I really liked it. It really simply shows what marriage should be.
Of course, I am not thinking about marriage yet, but two of my close friends are engaged, and when I read this, I realised that both of those friends are in for great marriages in their future, because I feel that they fit right inside of this list...
Of course, I am not thinking about marriage yet, but two of my close friends are engaged, and when I read this, I realised that both of those friends are in for great marriages in their future, because I feel that they fit right inside of this list...
The Art of
Marriage by Wilferd Peterson
"Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
"Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage
must be created.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best."
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best."
Saturday, May 12, 2012
PA #12 A Post About My Puppy
In October this last year, my family fell in love with a little Bichon Cockapoo puppy. We got him about 3 weeks after first meeting him. He is a cute little bundle of fur who I just adore! This post is pretty much all pictures of him... Yay!
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| How he looked when we first met him |
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| My sweet little boy liking my Mom's sweater |
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| His first night at home <3 |
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| This is the hat that I knitted last year. Oscar likes it |
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| A puppy sleeping on his puppy. |
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| My favourite picture of Oscar, basking in the sunshine |
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| ZZZ |
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| Is there anymore food in there? |
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| Butterfly ears!! |
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| This is what Oscar looked like yesterday... a wet boy |
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
"Wizards First Rule: People are stupid." - Terry Goodkind
Reading Reflection #8
Synopsis from the cover:
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword - to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed... or that their time had run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Sounds.... interesting? I was introduced to this series from my Dad, which is funny, because my Dad and I never agree on anything, but we both love this series!
So this book took me quite a bit of time to read it. Or at least, what I consider to be a lot of time. It was 820 pages, each page filled top to bottom with small writing, and it took me just under a week to finish it. It was crazy. The last time I read a book this length, it only took me like, 2 1/2 days...
Anyhow, onto stuff about the book.
This book gave me a lot to think about. Terry Goodkind is the kind of author that will give you something that confuses you at first, but then resolve it pretty quickly. Or not so quickly... depends...
The one really big question I had is listed below.
"What is this 'power' that Kahlan has?" - Many, many times throughout the book, you realise that Kahlan is a feared person, someone called the "Mother Confessor". She evidently has a "power" that really scares people. Just about everybody in the Midlands is nervous around her, but Richard doesn't know of this power. The readers are also blind to what the power actually is, and you don't actually discover what her power is, until about half way through the book. I won't ruin it for you, so you just now will have to read the book to find out what her power is.
So in this first book, we got to meet a lot of different characters, and I am going to list my favourites, and such... so here it goes!
Rachel - This little girl is a total sweetheart, and I just love her to pieces. I really hope that we get to see more of her later on in the series!
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| Credit |
Synopsis from the cover:
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword - to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed... or that their time had run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Sounds.... interesting? I was introduced to this series from my Dad, which is funny, because my Dad and I never agree on anything, but we both love this series!
So this book took me quite a bit of time to read it. Or at least, what I consider to be a lot of time. It was 820 pages, each page filled top to bottom with small writing, and it took me just under a week to finish it. It was crazy. The last time I read a book this length, it only took me like, 2 1/2 days...
Anyhow, onto stuff about the book.
This book gave me a lot to think about. Terry Goodkind is the kind of author that will give you something that confuses you at first, but then resolve it pretty quickly. Or not so quickly... depends...
The one really big question I had is listed below.
"What is this 'power' that Kahlan has?" - Many, many times throughout the book, you realise that Kahlan is a feared person, someone called the "Mother Confessor". She evidently has a "power" that really scares people. Just about everybody in the Midlands is nervous around her, but Richard doesn't know of this power. The readers are also blind to what the power actually is, and you don't actually discover what her power is, until about half way through the book. I won't ruin it for you, so you just now will have to read the book to find out what her power is.
So in this first book, we got to meet a lot of different characters, and I am going to list my favourites, and such... so here it goes!
Rachel - This little girl is a total sweetheart, and I just love her to pieces. I really hope that we get to see more of her later on in the series!
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander (AKA Zedd) - This is an older gentleman who Richard had known his entire life. He holds many a secret up his sleeve
Richard Cypher- Though Richard is a hard headed fool a lot of the time, I still find that he is a really loyal friend, and totally trustworthy!
Those are my three favourite characters....
I just started reading the second in the series "Stone of Tears" and so far it is living up to my expectations! There are 13 books in total, so I better start reading! Especially since Stone of Tears has 1000 pages... yipes!
TTFN!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Commentation!
Writing Reflection #7
So once again, I am commenting on other peoples blogs for my English class... so here it goes!
Numero Uno http://nathaliejm.blogspot.ca/2012/04/personal-addition-what-to-do.html?showComment=1336416271254
So this blog post was about upcoming graduation and university. I feel the same as she does, and it is really scary to think that I am going to be graduating, and even scarier is the fact that 3 days ago, I turned 18! I am an adult... very weird thought...
Numero Duo
http://hollysayss.blogspot.ca/2012/04/reading-reflection-7.html?showComment=1336417165077
So Holly posted about the book that she is reading, and it sounded interesting, but what really caught my eye was what she was saying about really getting into her book. I love it when that happens. Usually. During this one book series I was reading Beth Revis` "Across the Universe" series, and I started to use her "swear word" that was "frex" it was kind of funny that I kept using a word that isn't really a word that we use. That's what a good book can do to you!!
Numero Tres
http://kathleenskraftyblog.blogspot.ca/2012/05/last-friday-my-sister-and-i-got.html?showComment=1336418105467
Ok. Getting a beautiful tattoo? Totally blog worthy. Kathleen's tattoo is gorgeous, and the lyrics that inspired the song is totally great too!! I really don't think I could ever get a tattoo though... too much for me... oh well!
Once again, I had a lot of fun looking at a bunch of peoples blogs, and reading their work. I found it frustrating that I couldn't always find a persons blog through their name though. I wish that everybody would have their blog linked to their name. That is my one request.
TTFN!
So once again, I am commenting on other peoples blogs for my English class... so here it goes!
Numero Uno http://nathaliejm.blogspot.ca/2012/04/personal-addition-what-to-do.html?showComment=1336416271254
So this blog post was about upcoming graduation and university. I feel the same as she does, and it is really scary to think that I am going to be graduating, and even scarier is the fact that 3 days ago, I turned 18! I am an adult... very weird thought...
Numero Duo
http://hollysayss.blogspot.ca/2012/04/reading-reflection-7.html?showComment=1336417165077
So Holly posted about the book that she is reading, and it sounded interesting, but what really caught my eye was what she was saying about really getting into her book. I love it when that happens. Usually. During this one book series I was reading Beth Revis` "Across the Universe" series, and I started to use her "swear word" that was "frex" it was kind of funny that I kept using a word that isn't really a word that we use. That's what a good book can do to you!!
Numero Tres
http://kathleenskraftyblog.blogspot.ca/2012/05/last-friday-my-sister-and-i-got.html?showComment=1336418105467
Ok. Getting a beautiful tattoo? Totally blog worthy. Kathleen's tattoo is gorgeous, and the lyrics that inspired the song is totally great too!! I really don't think I could ever get a tattoo though... too much for me... oh well!
Once again, I had a lot of fun looking at a bunch of peoples blogs, and reading their work. I found it frustrating that I couldn't always find a persons blog through their name though. I wish that everybody would have their blog linked to their name. That is my one request.
TTFN!
:D
Reading Reflection #7
Synopsis from Cover:
It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!
Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.
To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.
The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:
Tell the truth.
When my friend told me that since she had gotten "Thumped", but is in the middle of IB exams, I had to "steal" it so she wouldn't read it instead of studying, I was thrilled!
This is the sequel to Megan McCafferty's book "Bumped" and it is just as good! It continues the story of Melody and Harmony, starting 35 weeks after Bumped finished.
I found this book a lot easier to understand compared to Bumped, but that may be because since I had already read Bumped (and re-read it multiple times already) I had gotten to know the characters, and Megan McCafferty's writing pattern.
The plot in this book takes some interesting twists and turns, which make it even better than I thought it would be. Quite a couple predictions that I had right from the beginning came true, and I am proud that I caught on right away!
My favourite part about Thumped was the change you see in the main characters. Both girls really come out of their shells and show how they really are. You see more of the other characters too, and learn some interesting things about them, including Melody's agent, who has a little secret of this own!
When I was reading this book, I realised how odd this series truly is, especially considering that it was written for young adults. Its all about a world where girls are encouraged to have babies. And yet, the consequences, though shown, aren't focused on. I really hope that this doesn't send the wrong message. Of course, we aren't living in a world where older women can no longer reproduce and it is left up to the girls. But still, it could potentially have the wrong effect.
Megan McCafferty had a lot of guts to write a series like this. I am sure that she has probably faced a lot of criticism about it, but that shouldn't change the fact that she wrote a really great series of books.
Hopefully more books about Melody and Harmony to come!! :)
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| Credit |
Synopsis from Cover:
It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!
Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.
To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.
The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:
Tell the truth.
When my friend told me that since she had gotten "Thumped", but is in the middle of IB exams, I had to "steal" it so she wouldn't read it instead of studying, I was thrilled!
This is the sequel to Megan McCafferty's book "Bumped" and it is just as good! It continues the story of Melody and Harmony, starting 35 weeks after Bumped finished.
I found this book a lot easier to understand compared to Bumped, but that may be because since I had already read Bumped (and re-read it multiple times already) I had gotten to know the characters, and Megan McCafferty's writing pattern.
The plot in this book takes some interesting twists and turns, which make it even better than I thought it would be. Quite a couple predictions that I had right from the beginning came true, and I am proud that I caught on right away!
My favourite part about Thumped was the change you see in the main characters. Both girls really come out of their shells and show how they really are. You see more of the other characters too, and learn some interesting things about them, including Melody's agent, who has a little secret of this own!
When I was reading this book, I realised how odd this series truly is, especially considering that it was written for young adults. Its all about a world where girls are encouraged to have babies. And yet, the consequences, though shown, aren't focused on. I really hope that this doesn't send the wrong message. Of course, we aren't living in a world where older women can no longer reproduce and it is left up to the girls. But still, it could potentially have the wrong effect.
Megan McCafferty had a lot of guts to write a series like this. I am sure that she has probably faced a lot of criticism about it, but that shouldn't change the fact that she wrote a really great series of books.
Hopefully more books about Melody and Harmony to come!! :)
“I'm in crisis. I'm about to bump with a five-foot chino-chicano.” - Megan McCafferty
Reading Reflection #6
Synopsis from Cover
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.
Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.
Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.
This was one of the strangest books that I have read in a really long time. However.....
IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!
The book is written with each chapter jumping between Melody and Harmony. Melody lives in "Otherside" where she is in the club for pregnant teens at school (a high honour) and her agent is trying to get the perfect boy for her to "bump" with.
Harmony on the other hand, lives in "Goodside", in a house with her house sisters, praising God, and getting ready to have a child of her own.
These girls are totally different, but that is what makes this book so good!
I had a lot of confusion during this book, some of it caused by the language that Megan McCafferty uses. She uses words like "preg", "bump", "spermilicious", and many others. Just looking at the book, I realise now that people could be really easily confused. The first sentence says:
" I'm sixteen. Pregnant. And the most important person on the planet." Don't you think that would confuse you too?
I had a number of different questions and comments throughout the book, and my one prediction came completely true.
Pretty much everything I commented on though, if I tell you will ruin the book. Everybody needs to read it now!!!
The one thing that I can comment on is how strange this society is. It is totally different from this society, where people are often frowned upon if they have children as teenagers. In this book, it is encouraged! But not only do you have the child, you sell it, and to be able to sell your baby, you have to "bump" with the perfect guy. A minimum of 5' 7 or so. There are even fake "baby bumps" these things that you can strap around your body to make it look like you have a baby growing inside you.
Keep and eye out, because I also just finished reading the sequel to "bumped" called "Thumped" and I will be reviewing that very soon!
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| Credit |
Synopsis from Cover
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.
Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.
Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.
This was one of the strangest books that I have read in a really long time. However.....
IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!
The book is written with each chapter jumping between Melody and Harmony. Melody lives in "Otherside" where she is in the club for pregnant teens at school (a high honour) and her agent is trying to get the perfect boy for her to "bump" with.
Harmony on the other hand, lives in "Goodside", in a house with her house sisters, praising God, and getting ready to have a child of her own.
These girls are totally different, but that is what makes this book so good!
I had a lot of confusion during this book, some of it caused by the language that Megan McCafferty uses. She uses words like "preg", "bump", "spermilicious", and many others. Just looking at the book, I realise now that people could be really easily confused. The first sentence says:
" I'm sixteen. Pregnant. And the most important person on the planet." Don't you think that would confuse you too?
I had a number of different questions and comments throughout the book, and my one prediction came completely true.
Pretty much everything I commented on though, if I tell you will ruin the book. Everybody needs to read it now!!!
The one thing that I can comment on is how strange this society is. It is totally different from this society, where people are often frowned upon if they have children as teenagers. In this book, it is encouraged! But not only do you have the child, you sell it, and to be able to sell your baby, you have to "bump" with the perfect guy. A minimum of 5' 7 or so. There are even fake "baby bumps" these things that you can strap around your body to make it look like you have a baby growing inside you.
Keep and eye out, because I also just finished reading the sequel to "bumped" called "Thumped" and I will be reviewing that very soon!
I ran out of ideas for a quote.
Writing Reflection #6
So I am supposed to comment on other peoples blogs for the next couple weekly reflections for my English class. So here it goes!
The first blog I posted on was here: http://bacdcw.blogspot.ca/2012/04/personal-addtition-5.html?showComment=1335234472531
I posted on Brighton's blog, because she had posted this really unusual "personal addition" it caught my attention, and made me curious. I was reading the other comments that had been posted, and then I decided to post my opinion on what it really meant. I am deliberately being unclear as to what it was, because now, if I have peaked your curiosity, you will just have to go and see what it is yourself.
The next blog I commented on is this one:
http://abrdy.blogspot.ca/2012/04/reading-reflection-7.html?showComment=1335234824272
Ashleigh was talking about the book called "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". My friend has suggested to me multiple times that I read this book, but I haven't yet picked it up. Hearing Ashleigh talk about it made me want to read it more... Now I just have to find time in between all of the other books that I want to read.
Finally, this is the third blog I decided to comment on: http://crizelyneve.blogspot.ca/2012/04/you-cant-change-my-religion-and-beliefs.html?showComment=1336399650053#!/2012/04/you-cant-change-my-religion-and-beliefs.html
Criz hit a topic that is really true for me. I often feel pressured by other peoples beliefs, even though I am a strong Christian. I really think I need to do what she did and delete those people who post things about atheism on Facebook, because I find it really irritating and I don't want to have to deal with it anymore.
I really like commenting on other peoples blogs. I know that it is nice when I get a comment on my posts, and I think that other people would feel the same way!
So I am supposed to comment on other peoples blogs for the next couple weekly reflections for my English class. So here it goes!
The first blog I posted on was here: http://bacdcw.blogspot.ca/2012/04/personal-addtition-5.html?showComment=1335234472531
I posted on Brighton's blog, because she had posted this really unusual "personal addition" it caught my attention, and made me curious. I was reading the other comments that had been posted, and then I decided to post my opinion on what it really meant. I am deliberately being unclear as to what it was, because now, if I have peaked your curiosity, you will just have to go and see what it is yourself.
The next blog I commented on is this one:
http://abrdy.blogspot.ca/2012/04/reading-reflection-7.html?showComment=1335234824272
Ashleigh was talking about the book called "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". My friend has suggested to me multiple times that I read this book, but I haven't yet picked it up. Hearing Ashleigh talk about it made me want to read it more... Now I just have to find time in between all of the other books that I want to read.
Finally, this is the third blog I decided to comment on: http://crizelyneve.blogspot.ca/2012/04/you-cant-change-my-religion-and-beliefs.html?showComment=1336399650053#!/2012/04/you-cant-change-my-religion-and-beliefs.html
Criz hit a topic that is really true for me. I often feel pressured by other peoples beliefs, even though I am a strong Christian. I really think I need to do what she did and delete those people who post things about atheism on Facebook, because I find it really irritating and I don't want to have to deal with it anymore.
I really like commenting on other peoples blogs. I know that it is nice when I get a comment on my posts, and I think that other people would feel the same way!
“There's a desire to protect children from the horrors of the world at the same time other children are being exposed to it. The more information kids have about things that are going on in the world, the better decisions they will make.” - Deborah Ellis
Reading Reflection #5
Synopsis From Dust Cover:
There's not much that upsets young Valli. Even though her days are spent picking coal and fighting with her cousins, life in the coal town of Jharia, India, is the only life she knows. The only sight that fills her with terror are the monsters who live on the other side of the train tracks -- the lepers. Valli and the other children throw stones at them. No matter how hard her life is, she tells herself, at least she will never be one of them. Then she discovers that she is not living with family after all, that her "aunt" was a stranger who was paid money to take Valli off her own family's hands. She decides to leave Jharia . . . and so begins a series of adventures that takes her to Kolkata, the city of the gods. It's not so bad. Valli finds that she really doesn't need much to live. She can "borrow" the things she needs and then pass them on to people who need them more than she does. It helps that though her bare feet become raw wounds as she makes her way around the city, she somehow feels no pain. But when she happens to meet a doctor on the ghats by the river, Valli learns that she has leprosy. Despite being given a chance to receive medical care, she cannot bear the thought that she is one of those monsters she has always feared, and she flees, to an uncertain life on the street.
Alrighty, so this was one of those books that you read and you don't want it to end. I find that all of Deborah Ellis' books are like that. This one made a really serious issue seem not nearly as bad as we think it is.
I always thought that leprosy was actually contagious through being near someone who had it. I was proved wrong. Leprosy is actually just in a smaller percent of the population, and is curable if you get the medication in time.
I believe that Valli had the same ideas as I did about leprosy. After all, when she got near to the "monsters" on the other side of the railroad tracks in the beginning of the book, she was horribly frightened that she would turn out like them. Ironically, she kind of did. But not because she came close to them on the other side of the tracks.
This was certainly a book that got you thinking, and as I had said before, it got you thinking about serious issues. This book really made me want to know more about leprosy, and being the kind of person I am, I investigated. :D
Some facts from The Leprosy Mission Canada
One child is diagnosed with leprosy every 20 minutes
Since 1981, over 15 million people have been cured of leprosy with Multi-Drug Therapy
There were over 224,000 registered cases of leprosy at the beginning of 2007
95% of the population are immune to the leprosy disease, and yet 1 100 new cases are diagnosed each day.
There are even more facts about leprosy on their website. This is really an awful disease, and not something that anyone, not just children should have to endure.
Deborah Ellis did a really amazing job with this book. I said it before that she is really good at taking difficult topics and making them easier to swallow, but she did an exceptional job this time. She shows the fear Valli had of the monsters, and the life that she had on the streets in a way that wouldn't scare younger children. Also, even while we read about Valli living on the streets, Deborah Ellis still manages to add in a little lesson about giving to those less fortunate than you.
This was a really well written book, and I have a feeling that more of Deborah Ellis' books are going to find their way into my hands. (Books have a funny way of doing that...)
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| Credit |
Synopsis From Dust Cover:
There's not much that upsets young Valli. Even though her days are spent picking coal and fighting with her cousins, life in the coal town of Jharia, India, is the only life she knows. The only sight that fills her with terror are the monsters who live on the other side of the train tracks -- the lepers. Valli and the other children throw stones at them. No matter how hard her life is, she tells herself, at least she will never be one of them. Then she discovers that she is not living with family after all, that her "aunt" was a stranger who was paid money to take Valli off her own family's hands. She decides to leave Jharia . . . and so begins a series of adventures that takes her to Kolkata, the city of the gods. It's not so bad. Valli finds that she really doesn't need much to live. She can "borrow" the things she needs and then pass them on to people who need them more than she does. It helps that though her bare feet become raw wounds as she makes her way around the city, she somehow feels no pain. But when she happens to meet a doctor on the ghats by the river, Valli learns that she has leprosy. Despite being given a chance to receive medical care, she cannot bear the thought that she is one of those monsters she has always feared, and she flees, to an uncertain life on the street.
Alrighty, so this was one of those books that you read and you don't want it to end. I find that all of Deborah Ellis' books are like that. This one made a really serious issue seem not nearly as bad as we think it is.
I always thought that leprosy was actually contagious through being near someone who had it. I was proved wrong. Leprosy is actually just in a smaller percent of the population, and is curable if you get the medication in time.
I believe that Valli had the same ideas as I did about leprosy. After all, when she got near to the "monsters" on the other side of the railroad tracks in the beginning of the book, she was horribly frightened that she would turn out like them. Ironically, she kind of did. But not because she came close to them on the other side of the tracks.
This was certainly a book that got you thinking, and as I had said before, it got you thinking about serious issues. This book really made me want to know more about leprosy, and being the kind of person I am, I investigated. :D
Some facts from The Leprosy Mission Canada
There are even more facts about leprosy on their website. This is really an awful disease, and not something that anyone, not just children should have to endure.
Deborah Ellis did a really amazing job with this book. I said it before that she is really good at taking difficult topics and making them easier to swallow, but she did an exceptional job this time. She shows the fear Valli had of the monsters, and the life that she had on the streets in a way that wouldn't scare younger children. Also, even while we read about Valli living on the streets, Deborah Ellis still manages to add in a little lesson about giving to those less fortunate than you.
This was a really well written book, and I have a feeling that more of Deborah Ellis' books are going to find their way into my hands. (Books have a funny way of doing that...)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Le Newspaper BlackOuts
Presenting:
NEWSPAPER BLACKOUT POETRY!
What is this, you ask? Well, you take a newspaper, find some words that you like that fit together, blackout the rest of the article. This 'twas invented by a certain fellow named Austin Kleon.
As per usual, since I am posting it on here... I am doing this in English class!
Here are the three poems that I created, under the theme of "love"
So there we are! Since the pictures didn't turn out so well, and you can't actually read what they say, I captioned the pictures with with the words from the poem.
You should try your own Newspaper BlackOut Poetry!
NEWSPAPER BLACKOUT POETRY!
What is this, you ask? Well, you take a newspaper, find some words that you like that fit together, blackout the rest of the article. This 'twas invented by a certain fellow named Austin Kleon.
As per usual, since I am posting it on here... I am doing this in English class!
Here are the three poems that I created, under the theme of "love"
 |
| "Its the heart that is the home" |
 | |||
| "I think I love you. You know you do" |
 | ||
| "Little Children Love Life, and Love the Voyage of Life" |
So there we are! Since the pictures didn't turn out so well, and you can't actually read what they say, I captioned the pictures with with the words from the poem.
You should try your own Newspaper BlackOut Poetry!
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