Saturday, October 31, 2015

Review: Q&A a Day for Creatives

Q&A a Day for Creatives
A 4 year journal

From the back cover: 
Q&A a Day for Creatives is your go-to source for inspiration, whimsy, and idea generation. Each page of this four-year journal features a compelling question designed to get you thinking, drawing, and dreaming. Open the journal to today's date and fill in the appropriate space as you see fit. (Pencil doodles? Watercolor? Musical scales?) As the journal fills year after year, you'll own a showcase of your ever-growing creative output. 

I am super obsessed with journals, so I was ecstatic to get this! I haven't actually started it yet, but I can tell it will be lots of fun! Some of the prompts seem pretty easy, while others are more thought-provoking, which is nice to get you thinking and get your creative juices flowing! I've flipped through several pages and found lots of prompts that I know I'll really enjoy doing, while there are a few I'm not so excited about, but will be good for getting me outside my comfort zone. The book itself is beautifully put together and of a good, sturdy make. The cover is flexible but not flimsy, and the inside cover is a beautiful sky blue color. The book is a good size and easily lays open for you to do your work. The pages seem to be good quality paper that should hold up through whatever artistic endeavors you put them through. (Though some markers would probably leak through.) I am very pleased with this journal, and can't wait to begin! (The only struggle is deciding  whether to start it now or wait until January 1st!)


I received a copy of this journal for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Book Review: Luther and Katharina

Luther and Katharina 
by 
Jody Hedlund

SHE WAS A NUN OF NOBLE BIRTH. HE, A HERETIC,
A REFORMER...AN OUTLAW OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.

In the sixteenth century, nun Katharina von Bora's fate fell no further than
the Abbey. Until she read the writings of Martin Luther.
His sweeping Catholic church reformation---condemning a cloistered life and
promoting the goodness of marriage---awakened her desire for everything she'd
been forbidden.
Including Martin Luther himself.
Despite the fact that the attraction and tension between them is undeniable,
Luther holds fast to his convictions and remains isolated, refusing to risk
anyone's life but his own. Katharina longs for love, but is strong-willed. She
clings proudly to her class distinction, pining for nobility over the heart of a
reformer.
They couldn't be more different.
But as the world comes tumbling down around them, and with the threat
on Luther's life a constant strain, these unlikely allies forge an unexpected
bond of understanding, support, and love.
Together, they will alter the religious landscape forever.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the historical value it held and learning what things were like back then---quite awful, I might say! It was also interesting to learn about Martin Luther and Katharina, and the hardships they faced. It kept my interest through its entirety, and rarely had a dull moment. It was my third read by this author and probably won't be my last. While Jody tends to focus perhaps a bit much on the physical aspect of relationships, her writing is good and she keeps the story flowing at a comfortable pace. I give it four stars.


I received this book for free from Water Brook Press in exchange for my honest review.