Maria the Bookworm

The Volunteers' Guide To Fundraising By Ilona Bray

2011-11-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

"The Volunteers' Guide to Fundraising: Raise Money for Your School, Team, Library or Community Group" by Ilona Bray is a very good book for those that are looking for ideas to help with fundraising efforts for various causes or community groups. It is published by Nolo, a publisher that prides itself on making the law accessible to everyone through quality books and resources. And Ilona Bray has authored a number of books for Nolo, including "Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits."

The book starts out with some basics on what your group can and can't do when raising money. Very good to consider to keep yourself and your group out of trouble. The second chapter focuses on volunteers and how to recruit, train, and keep volunteers with your organization or cause.

The third chapter will help you plan your group's fundraising strategy, which is a very good idea. A good plan will help you reach your goals. The next few chapters focus on various ways to raise money. These include: Sponsorships and other support from businesses, selling goods and services (new or used), requesting donations from individual members, event planning strategies, dinners and other food events, actions (live, silent, and online), fairs and festivals, benefit concerts and lectures, home and garden tours, and walkathons, contests, games, and sporting events.

All of these chapters contain tips, cautions, examples, and sample forms to assist you with your fundraising efforts. This guide really will make it easier for you and your group. The book is written in easy to understand language, and in a practical way. The book is meant to be used as you help your organization or group.

In addition to the text, the book has a CD-ROM included in the back with more resources. One resource is a bonus chapter "Applying for Grants From Foundations, Corporations, or Government." Also included on the CD-ROM are forms, spreadsheets, charts, overviews, and audio files to provide even more assistance to achieve your fundraising goals.

Bray has included insights and stories from a team of nonprofit experts that includes event planners, dedicated school parents, accountants, librarians, lawyers, and group leaders. If you are involved with any fundraising, this will be a handy reference to keep nearby. Combine it with "Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits" and you will have many ideas, strategies, and tips to raise money. All you'll need to do then is get out and implement them. Recommended for anyone who needs a guide on raising money legally and effectively.

Reading Guide for The Cossacks by Leo Tolstoy

2011-11-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Introduction to The Cossacks by Leo Tolsoy

The Cossacks by Leo Tolstoy is a novella about the experiences of Onenin, a young Russian aristocrat, who decides to join the army and finds himself in a Cossack village during the Caucasian War (1817-1864). The Cossacks was written ten years after Tolstoy's own experiences during the Caucasian War when he followed his officer brother on campaign. The novella explores a number of themes that were to become ever more important to Tolstoy as he developed as a writer: the purpose of life and nature of happiness and the truth of primitive rural life contrasted with the sophisticated culture of Russian urbane society. Tolstoy went on to write two of the most famous novels in history: War and Peace and Anna Karenina, but it was in The Cossacks that he started to find his voice as a writer.

The Cossacks was Tolstoy's first masterpiece. Published in 1863, it is the supreme example of Tolstoy's ability to make the familiar strange: at first glance it appears to be a retelling of the Russian romantic cliché of a young man riding off to the Caucasus, but rather than following the cliché Tolstoy instead examines a number of themes that he would develop in his later works: such as the interaction of different social classes, pacifism, and the nature of happiness and man's purpose in life.

Once you have read one of the many English translations of The Cossacks why not consider the following questions. These can also be used as the basis of a Book Group discussion on the book.

Reading Guide Questions

Tolstoy does not focus the narrative of The Cossacks on one single character. Who do you think is the main character of the book, and why?
Natural description forms a big part of the book. What do you think Tolstoy's opinion of nature is? Is Tolstoy a Romantic in the way he describes nature?
Like Onenin, Tolstoy came from a rich noble family. How does the character and experiences of a jeune homme like Onenin contrast with that of the Cossacks?
What is Tolstoy's attitude to war in The Cossacks, and from what you know of his other writing, how does it fit in with his later beliefs?
Would Onenin ever have been happily married to Maryanka?
Is Uncle Eroshka a likeable character?
What is Tolstoy's purpose in fictionalizing his experiences in the Caucasus?
By the end of the story where do you Onenin would rather live: the city or the mountains? Where would you rather live?
What is the nature of true happiness in the view of Onenin, Lukashka and Maryanka? What do you think the author believes?

Book Review: The Science Of Getting Rich

2011-11-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

Ideas and Concepts Merge In My Own Mind

I grew up having thoughts and feelings for just about every idea and concept in Wattles' book. But it took several years as a business man, and as a family man, to finally bring them all together in my own mind. Only then did I realize that I had been, since my early teens, using vision, purpose, faith, and gratitude, to help me build wealth, success, and happiness. By the time I was 19, I already believed that in order for me to be a good Christian, I needed to be a good capitalist. And in order to be a good capitalist, I needed to be a good Christian. And in order to be a good family man, I needed to be a good Christian and a good capitalist. But as a young teenager, struggling to help my mother come up with money to pay our home's mortgage and utilities, these were not ideas and concepts that I could easily grasp. It was difficult to see the 'big picture' when bills needed to be paid before we could eat.

But now, looking back, I have since come to realize that my mother, with almost no formal education, no career skills, no money, and three small children to feed, inherently understood many of the basic concepts in this book. My mother was not as eloquent as Wattles, and she didn't have much of an opportunity to put Wattle's principles into practice. But me and my brothers were inadvertently living and learning Wattles' concepts every day - through the actions of our mother. She taught us that even in the worst of times, that by sticking to our single-minded vision to grow and thrive, that we will survive; and acting everyday with purpose to achieve our goals, that our faith in each other and in our dream of creating a successful life will help us succeed; and our gratitude to God for keeping us healthy so that we could keep working and studying, we would eventually be successful. And eventually, we were.

Now, looking back, it seems unfortunate that even after many years of public school, and many years getting three degrees at three different colleges, not once - not once - were Wattles' ideas ever discussed in school. Four years of business school and the concept of being a 'good capitalist' was never discussed. I'm sure that those two words were never mentioned in the same sentence during my entire time in college. So, when I discovered The Science of Getting Rich by Wattles, I was amazed and relieved that I had finally found someone that was willing to openly discuss and share the same ideas and concepts that I was struggling to understand as a young man. Someone that was willing to apply the ideas and concepts of being a good capitalist and a good Christian to his own life and business. I couldn't believe that this simple little book was not mandatory reading in my MBA program. Maybe his message was considered too simple and unsophisticated. Well, Wattles' message might be a simple one, but it is an important one. His message has endured for the last one-hundred years - and it will endure for the next hundred. And its a message that every American, and everyone that wants to live the American dream, needs to understand.

There is No Big 'Secret'

Wattles' message was an important one for me. And its one that can help you change and improve your life too. But I'm here to tell you that there is no big 'secret' hidden in this book. Wattles' book does not contain any great earth-shattering, life-changing secret. Everything in this book you already know about or have already thought about at one time or another. What it does do is bring together and discuss several ideas and concepts about achieving and living a balanced and successful life. It presents it to you in a little book, in a structured and easy-to-understand format. Maybe you haven't been able to bring all of these ideas and concepts together in your own head. Maybe you didn't know how to apply these ideas and concepts to your life, business, and career. This book will help you see and understand these ideas and concepts - and shows you how they can apply to your life, business, and career.

Wattles uses short, interesting statements to show you how these principles can and should apply to your life. Chapter 5, titled "Increasing Life" is probably my favorite chapter in the book. Here is a quote from that chapter that sums up the theme of the entire book: "What God wants is that you should make the most of yourself, for yourself, and for others; and you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way. You can make the most of yourself only by getting rich; so it is right and praiseworthy that you should give your first and best thought to the work of acquiring wealth."

Another recurring theme throughout his book is about becoming rich and successful on the creative (creating wealth) plain, not on the competitive (me vs. you) plain: "You are to become a creator, not a competitor; you are going to get what you want, but in such a way that when you get it every other man will have more than he has now." Wattles statements are practical, insightful, and inspirational all at the same time.

Build a Rich and Balanced Life, Business, and Career

This book might change and improve your life, or it might not. Changing and improving your life is completely up to you, and you alone. It doesn't matter if you grew up learning and using these principles or not. You are here now, with this book in your hands. When reading Wattles' book you will need to look past all the media hype that has grown around his book. Look past all the get-rich-quick schemes, books, and programs you can see and buy on the internet that involve this book. You will not magically become financially wealthy after reading this book. This book is not about magic. It is about making smart choices and understanding what success is all about - and about where success comes from and how to create it for yourself.

Just sit down and read the book with an open mind. If you want to build a successful business and career that is in sync with a balanced and happy life, you will need to read it several times - and then read it several more times again. Once you get past some of the confusing and old-style terminology, you will begin to see and understand Wattles' message. You do not need to an American, believe in God, or religion, or Christianity to understand Wattles' message - or to benefit from his message. You just need an open mind, and a desire for personal fulfillment and advancement. Please read it carefully. It will be worth your time and effort.

After reading and internalizing Wattles' concepts in this book, you too should have a better idea of what it takes to begin formulating a life, business, and career - using vision, purpose, faith, and gratitude - to build wealth, success, and happiness. This book is here to help you take that first step toward the happy and successful life that you owe to yourself and to your family. It is now up to you and you alone.

A Plain and Fancy Christmas Written By Cynthia Keller

2011-11-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

An excellent read about two girls that had been switched at birth. One was Amish and the other a typical American girl who both found out through a letter from a nurse that was getting old and couldn't contain the truth about the switch any longer. An Amish family in the area of Lancaster, Pa. had raised Rachel Yoder and Ellie Shore grew up in the New York City area and had a lucrative job. When the letters arrived the girls didn't know how to react or if the letters were truthful. They appeared believable but how could such a thing occur? They each pondered for some time before telling their parents about the letters, wondering what their reaction would be after raising each in their own way all their life. They each decided to try living with their rightful parents to see that life would be characterized since the difference was so great. An Amish girl living in New York city amidst the towering buildings having so much available of which she never knew the existence of, so never missed those fancy stores and crowded streets and sidewalks. And a New Yorker used to all the good as well as bad things that she was raised around, used to going anywhere or getting almost anything she wanted to leave and work on a farm with no modern amenities. This would be a real challenge but Rachel and Ellie were up to trying.

Rachel tried living in Ellie's apartment in New York while Ellie went to the Amish farm to see how that would work out. The new and rightful families of each girl assisted each of them to try to adjust to their new style of living and existing. Ellie found it much easier to rent a small house not too far from the farm because she was having a hard time adjusting while Rachel didn't know what to do with herself now in this jungle of a city! The families got to meet which was another strange meeting but they all tried hard to be friendly and make this a success. Some cash had been given to Rachel to pay her expenses while Ellie had money of her own for her living arrangements. The many culture differences were quite a challenge to both girls and their families. After many adjustments in their lives they each had situated in their new homes but many times not knowing if they were happy or not.

I could go on and tell some of the many interesting plots and subplots that exist in the story but they are what makes this story such a great read. Just purchase the book and start reading. You will laugh, you will cry, you will try to place yourself in the same position, and in the end you will have surprises not knowing if this is the life you would have chosen.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

Books to Read After Harry Potter

2011-11-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

The epic Harry Potter series came to an end, with The Deathly Hallows. These seven book series captivated the reading audience with 'magic' and gave rise to a new generation of book lovers. Therefore, the conclusion of the series left a void among the ardent Potter fans, all over the world, who still craves for more.

Fortunately, there are several admirable books that can prove to be the best choice to read after Harry Potter. We will be covering ten such books that are mystical, innovative and endearing. These fantasy based books are meant for the adults and children alike and though these books may or may not follow the theme or genre similar to 'Potter', they are definitely excellent and can easily engross the reading world.

The Last Unicorn written by Peter S. Beagle is a classic novel that depicts the journey of a Unicorn, an immortal wizard and a cat. This fantasy based book narrates their pursuit to find what happened to the unicorns. The underlying theme of the novel reflects love, delusion against realism, failure, compassion and destiny. The story is an amalgamation of myths and folklore just like the story of Harry Potter. The fantasy has an emotional twist when the characters of the book give up their belief in the supernatural or mythological creatures.

Many people draw similarities between His Dark Materials, which is a trilogy by Philip Pullman and Harry Potter. This particular book series involves intricate and adult themes which make it appropriate for the grown-up readers. These books are pleasurable as they leave impressions of magic comparable to Harry Potter. Pullman's books are ideal for reading after the Potter series.

The Lord of the Rings is another epic trilogy that has caught the interest of several Potter fans. J. R Tolkien drew many things from mythology and some of the characters of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter have similar traits and features. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and gripping book which can surely capture the attention of Potter readers.

The Hobbit is another novel by Tolkien. It is a story that revolves around Bilbo Baggins - the hobbit and his adventures in Middle-Earth. In his perilous expedition, he comes across monsters and discovers inner bravery, strength etc. It is a fascinating and a must read book for Potter fans.

Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel is a novel based on secrecy, magic and marvel which makes the reading enjoyable. It is an excellent followup book after Harry Potter.

The Sparrow written by Mary Doria Russel is actually a science fiction however; it handles several themes that can earn earnest appreciation from Potter fans.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke portrays the life of two orphans who escapes to Venice and stumbles upon the mystifying Thief Lord. Though the Lord helps them, he also draws them into risky robberies. The story is about magic, mystery and bonding which reminds one of Harry Potter.

The Chronicles of Narnia are amusing books to read after Harry Potter. It is a fantasy series about the amazing kingdom of Narnia which spans across seven books. Narnia has loads of fantastic beasts like Harry Potter. Also, the passage to the world of Narnia is through a cupboard which reminds of platform 9 ¾. The story of Narnia is enthralling and engrosses the readers successfully.

Homeland by R.A Salvatore reveals the Drow world which is underground, deceitful and is inhibited by Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt is unable to adjust in the Muggle world just like Harry. However, unlike Harry who gets admission at Hogwarts School, Drizzt is practically left alone as despite being a great warrior, he declines to slay other Drows, which is a part of his duty towards his family and society. Salvatore produces a very sinister world, but the readers share Drizzt's loneliness and discover optimism in his compassion and might.

Earthsea Trilogy written by Ursula K. LeGuin is renowned for her writing style more than the story. The Wizard of Earthsea trails Ged as he turn into a full fledge wizard. The remaining part of the series tracks his adventures as he gains power. Earthsea is a delight for fantasy book readers. The wizard world reminisce the magical world of Harry Potter.

To conclude, it is always a special treat to revisit the Harry Potter series and read it all over again and again. This article is to bring a persons attention to what is available to read that are related to the Harry Potter series. There are web sites available that will show more books to read that relates to the same theme to be reviewed.

Composing Great Photographs

2011-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

I got my DSLR a few years back, and for a while was desperately looking for ways to improve my photography skills, particularly in composition. Photography is such an integral part of travelling. When I come home from a trip, sorting out my photographs and picking out good ones is one of the things I enjoy most. And so I went on the hunt for some of the best photography books on composition. While there are many factors involved in creating a great photograph, I believe that composition is as important as knowing all the dials on your camera and when or how to use them. After all, a great photograph that evokes strong emotions is most powerful, thus the image has to be something special that tells a story too.

Knowing how to compose a good photo is a priceless art and I have never been convinced it could really be taught. I strongly believed at one point that composition had more to do with the sheer talent and imagination of the person behind the lens. That is, until I read Bryan Peterson's book, 'Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography', which happened to be on a few professional photographers' reading lists. All the components that go into a well composed photograph is covered here, such as design, shapes, lines, colours and patterns. Subject placement and focus is one of the most important elements in designing a photograph. He invites readers to think critically when composing, so as when to realise that it is acceptable to 'break' basic compositional rules, such as the times when it is wise to place the subject in the centre of the photograph as opposed to following the common 'rule of thirds'. The bonus is that he includes many fabulous images from his portfolio.

Peterson further shows readers how to work with, and get the best out of different lighting conditions. He also writes on the various types of lenses and how to select the appropriate one to use on the field.

A highly regarded professional photographer, teacher and author, Peterson's writing style is engaging and his book is highly readable and easy to digest without being too wordy. While seemingly elementary, budding photographers and more advanced ones alike will likely find Peterson's book a great source of reference. I did find this book highly readable and a worthy investment in helping me improve my own photography skills. I do habitually try to visualise a powerful image in my mind's eye first before I release the shutter these days.

Artist Francis Bacon's Lifetime Accumulated Mess Transported Intact to Irish Museum

2011-11-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

Francis Bacon's Studio
By Margarita Cappock
Merrell Publishers Limited, 2005, 240 pages, hardbound, $59.95

Francis Bacon (1909-1992) was born in Ireland to British parents and today is recognized as one of the most significant post-war painters, his disturbing oil portraits acquired by major museum collections worldwide. Bacon is remembered primarily for his symbolic, macabre portrait of Pope Innocent X. London/New York publisher Merrell has produced a definitive, retrospective coffee-table volume on Bacon using the device of his unique (read unimaginably messy) studio as the springboard into his career and lifework.

Six years after his death in 1992 the contents of his rather cramped London studio were donated to the Dublin City Council in Ireland with the understanding that it would be recreated there with all its contents intact for public viewing. Easier said than done, because the studio, Bacon's home and workplace since 1961, contained 7,500 items - a treasure trove of precious artifacts to an art historian. There are two absorbing stories here: the challenge of cataloging, transporting and reassembling the contents of the studio (front door, paint-encrusted walls and all) across the Irish Sea to Dublin, and then the significance of each uncovered item as it related historically to Bacon's oeuvre.

"Maintaining the studio exactly as it stood was crucial to the experience," Dr. Cappock writes. So a team of photographers, archeologists, conservators and curators went to work, launching an indoor archeological dig to create a detailed diagram of exactly where each item lay/stood/hung so that the recreated space would be precisely accurate. Today the reconstructed studio is open to the public at Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, Charlemont House, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Needless to say, the piles and piles of clippings, photos, sketches, catalogs, books and even slashed canvases speak volumes to the historic arc of Bacon's work and Dr. Cappock finds in this detritus the inspiration for each phase of his artistic development. Some of the many graphic images Bacon collected over his lifetime reveal the macabre basis for much of his output: massacres, meat carcasses and the assassination of President Kennedy. Other photos show the subjects of his commissioned portraits including Mick Jagger. By the last page the reader has received a detailed, insider's view of the creative evolution of Francis Bacon.

For anyone building a library on 20th century art this impressive, heavy book, Francis Bacon's Studio, is a must.

Origami Book Reviews

2011-10-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

There are a number of origami books available which provide beautiful pictures, easy to follow guides and design ideas for all your origami decoration occasions. Origami books range from beginner origami difficulty with simple creations to advanced and expert design books incorporating mathematics and intricate detail into origami decoration production. To decide which book is best for you, here are my recommendations for which origami book you should choose depending on your skill and experience level:

Beginner - For beginners, the best origami book to get you started is the Absolute Beginner's Origami book by Nick Robinson. If online articles or other books with complex diagrams and confusing fold lines have previously deterred you from making origami decorations, then this is definitely the book for you. Featuring colour photos and a simple three step system, Absolute Beginner's Origami teaches even the most amateur of origami decoration makers to make some fantastic sculptures and models. The book can be purchased from Amazon with 20% off it's retail price, and is a great start for origami beginners.

Absolute Beginners Book
Intermediate -If you have some experience with making origami decorations, or want to challenge yourself with some trickier designs, then Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs is the book for you. Featuring beautiful colour images on glossy high quality pages, Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs has 40 projects for origami enthusiasts to create, with structured advice making creation as easy as possible. This book is best purchased off Amazon, where it can be picked up with a saving of over 10% on it's original price.

Ornamental Book
Advanced - If you are experienced with making origami decorations, and want to make some designs that really will impress and dazzle your friends and family, then Advanced Origami: An Artist's Guide to Performances in Paper is the book for you. This book goes beyond basic "how-to" origami guides, and looks into advanced techniques in origami paper and visionary art needed to make truly spectacular origami decorations. There are ten unique origami designs in the book which cannot be found elsewhere, with complete instructions, photographs and advice on advanced techniques such as wet folding. This book can be purchased for cheap on Amazon, with a 33% saving on it's RRP.

Advanced book
Expert - If you are a master of origami or want to become an expert in the art to produce spectacular origami decorations, then Origami Design Secrets: Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art is the book for you. Origami Design Secrets is written by Robert J. Lang, one of the world's leading origami artists, and in the book you will learn to make your own unique and expert origami designs and origami sculptures. Techniques are explained in great detail using some fantastic diagrams, and include expert origami methods such as combining uniaxial bases, the circle/river method and tree theory. This expert origami book can be purchased most cheaply from Amazon, with a saving of 16% on it's standard price.

Origami Design Secrets Book
So whatever your origami skill level there is a book for you, each of which will give you the information you need to make some impressive origami decorations for all occasions.

Creative Photo Book Ideas

2011-08-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

Collecting and preserving photographs has been a favourite pastime with most people, young and old. Sometimes they get stuck with so many photos from various occasions and varying times in the past, they wonder how to put them all together coherently.

The most common and popular photo book themes include-

Baby Album - You could start your album with photos from various trimesters in your pregnancy and record your emotions. You could include ultrasounds and photos of the nursery too.

Family Holiday- Holiday pictures are best arranged chronologically, i.e. day-by-day. You could also theme them place- by-place, or you could simply put up your favourite pictures from your holidays and record what you liked most about them.

Graduation Day- You could make portrait portfolios of your friends and ask them to write something for you to give it the feel of a personalised slam book.

Wedding Album- A wedding is the most special and important day in a person's life. A picture tells a thousand words and your wedding album could tell your whole love story. You could start with the 'Proposal' and go on to add your engagement photos, bridal shower photos, wedding photos and honeymoon photos.

But here some not so common ideas that could also be fun and entertaining:

1. Pets and Animals- Pets are part of family too and deserve an album unto them. Your pet album could include the day you brought your pet home and how you decided on a name for him/her. You could also make a portfolio of your pet.

2. Sports and Hobbies- Sports never fails to thrill and exhilarate its fanatics. You could start with a 'Training Journal' and go on to add photos of your teams, your uniforms, your coaches and your favourite cheers.

3. Photo Cook Book- A way to a man's heart is his stomach, or so they say. So why not make an album to record that special dish you made for your loved one for the first time! You could also make an album of the first time your child was in the kitchen helping you or making something for you.

4. Family History Book- What better way to preserve your family heritage than a collection of photos creating your own family tree! You could go back as far as you would like and sometimes be amazed at how many people love you and care about you.

5. Road Trips- While on bikes, cars or hitchhiking on a truck, you will see many billboards, signboards and signals. Click them to create your own 'Highway' album.

These are just a few examples. Think wild and you could come up with more of your own!

You can also visit my site MyPictureBook or have a look at our Published books to get more ideas.

Hello there, Taking photos is your hobby? Then why not turn your photos into memorable photo books?

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2001-09-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

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