Friday, April 26, 2013

Artful Reading Club - April 2013

This month I chose to read Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace.  This was the first book in a series called Defenders of Hope Series.


The books starts out on New Year's Eve with the family mom, dad and 2 children planning on how they were going to spend theirs News Year's Eve.  A deadly car crash leaves dad and the 2 children dead and mom with the memory of following behind them in another vehicle, seeing the family van being struck and looking into the face of the driver who kills her family and leaves the scene.

What follows in the books is how Gracie continues on with her life without her family.  She continues to see the family van go over the embankment in her dreams.  She wears a locked necklace to remember the faces of her children.  Gracie's live continues on, she moves, teaches school but continues to pressure the police to find the person who killed her family.

The book goes in several directions involving diplomats whose children attend her school and have to be guarded due to threats of kidnapping.  One of her students has a father who is a police officer and he works for the child protection unit.  Steven and Gracie become involved but both come with a lot of left over baggage that must be sorted out.

So you can see where this is going everyone has something to do with bits and pieces of the puzzle.
The characters wrestle with their convictions about God and must resolve issues within themselves.

I can say that I will not be looking for the next book in the series to read.  I find there are way too many books out there to read and this one was not a favorite.

My Collage involves image that I related to the story:  a family van, a bed, a chair with a child's toy left behind, a necklace to remember loved ones.  I inked, collaged and stamped for texture.






12 comments:

  1. Sounds moving, I really like the art work that symbolised the book Happy ARC Dxx

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  2. Your collage is brilliant! The story sounds hard going and rather depressing - well done on finishing it. Heads up for a cheerier tale next month!

    Janet xx

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  3. It's my biggest fear, loosing my family! I won't read this book, it will cost me my sleep!
    The collage looks great. I really like the necklace! ♥

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  4. Such a sad story to build on...can't say it would appeal to me either, I would be to distressed imagining the same thing happening to mine. But it did inspire a fabulous collage :D XXX

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  5. I'm a bit late getting here this month, but that a whole other story. You seem to pick books that are either not really worth reading, or ones you have no interest in continuing in the series. The premise is tragic. I can see why you weren't fond of continuing the series. Of course, your collage is fabulous. You make the BEST collages!! Even bad books can be inspirational.

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  6. Your collage is so poignant, wonderful work. I will give this book a miss though as I could not bear the sadness. Thanks for the review.
    Jen x

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  7. Like San, I feel the book would be too intense for me in its emotions and the strong images of the accident that would stay in my mind. It is one of the fears of every parent, with the roads so busy and some drivers being what they are. The rest of the book sounds acomplex weaving together, but as you say, so many books, so little time.
    Your collage brings all those elements together cohesively, and the subtle colouring gives it a sad overall feeling. A lovely interpretation.

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  8. Sounds like a gritty story that maybe could have been more effective with less subplots thrown in, sorry you didnt enjoy it. Great collage though, loving all the layers and texture.

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  9. I must admit that the storyline would not encourage me to read this book. Well done for persevering to the end. You have produced a lovely piece of artwork, with lots of elements of the story within it. Love the subtle colours you have used. :-)

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  10. Yes, the book doesn't sound too compelling; but I think your collage is wonderful. x

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  11. Oh this sounds like such a sad premise for a book, I don't think I would be able to read it :( Your collage is also a little sad, but excellent

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  12. A shame you didn't enjoy the book enough to carry on with the series - I shall give it a miss! Good that you were still inspired to do your artwork though - great collage. x

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