The Ladies in Waiting Book Club

LiWBC: Closing for the Summer

2012-05-07T16:03:00.002-04:00

The Ladies in Waiting Book Club is closing down for the summer. We look forward to reading with you again in a few months.

Wishing you a happy summer!

The Ladies in Waiting Book Club Editors

Don't Forget "The Way We See It": Work

2012-04-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

Work is supposed to be a place where I can forget about my struggles at home. Wrong!! I'm constantly in contact with families traveling with young children or coworkers who just had a baby.

When I hear the stories of sleepless nights, sickness, or how you need a sitter to drink, I'm reminded of what I want so badly and is yet so far away.

Work is the one place that I once didn't feel like a failure, but that has since left me feeling like one. I know I am great at my job as I know every guest by name and they actually care about me and how I'm doing. I am constantly wondering, "why me?" and if I can ever find my own sanctuary.

Submitted by Melissa L.

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

Don't Forget "The Way We See It": 1 in 8

2012-04-27T09:24:00.001-04:00

Submitted by: Jennifer (www.facebook.com/TurtleHope)

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

Book Review: Silent Sorority

2012-04-27T09:20:00.000-04:00

Read and reviewed by Jen K.

Title of Book: Silent Sorority

Author: Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing

Year of Publication: 2009

Number of pages: 218

Main topics presented: Memoir, coming to terms with unresolved, unexplained infertility, living childfree

Technical Review:

What is the book's format?

This is a memoir, written chronologically

How is the book organized?

Chronological organization, loosely interwoven with themes of stages of grief

Writing style?

Factual, but emotional, with dark humor where she can place it.

What is the author’s experience on the subject?

As an infertile patient

Does the author have a certain point of view or opinion?

She is not trying to get you to buy anything, but voices something that has been given VERY little attention – not everyone ends up with a child

What is the book's conclusion/closing statement?

She concludes without concluding, she has lived without children, and has slowly, come to terms with it, knowing that she will never be able to fully come to terms with it.

Personal Review:

Who would you suggest this book to?

It was so engaging, I’d recommend it to a broad audience – I might steer away from recommending it to those newly pursuing treatment, for they need the happy ending stories. This is for someone who is considering moving beyond treatment – and for the families (siblings, parents, friends) of people moving away from treatment

How did the book affect you?

Well, I read it the day before my dang period, so I was in tears! My husband had to ask me to put it down, but I snuck back in bed with a box of tissues and finished it. It was so moving – and while we are on different journeys, my infertility is secondary, she spoke to me in a way I needed – We have given up on treatment, we are ‘moving on’ and accepting that we will be a family of 3… I had thought that I could get over it, and cursed myself for still crying when friends announced their ‘good news’… This book, for me, served as a reminder that I (we!) have been wounded, and the pain will always be a part of who we are.

Is there anything you wish the author(s) had elaborated on?

While I’d love to know more about her story, they way the memoir was written was perfect, leaving out what was unnecessary. I got a little bored with the blog comments she included, but they did serve a point.

Rate this book on a scale of 1-5 stars. Why do you think it deserves this rating?

4 stars – the book was moving, real and on an important, little discussed outcome of infertility.

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Even my Mailbox isn't Safe from the Reminder

2012-04-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have apparently re-cycled on mailing lists, and the database gods think I should be on child #2. Gone are the postcards for photography with the headlines of "your child turning 1!" (or 2! or 3!). A lull in those types of mailings made me think I have cycled off the lists. How wrong I was.

Yesterday, when I opened my mailbox, this box -- a feeding kit for nourishing newborns.

For 30 seconds, as I was pulling this mystery box out of my mailbox, I was wondering what I ordered and had forgot about, or perhaps a late birthday present, or maybe even just a surprise present. All exciting options to think about. And then, I saw the baby on the side of the box, the return address from Similac on the label.

Another painful reminder of what should be so easy, what my body was supposed to be able to do, but can't.

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Barren Reminder

2012-04-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

Submitted by: Monica Wiesblott

Website: My Little Eye

Title: Barren Reminder

"There are 13 children that live within 100 yards of my front door and as soon as the sun sets, the sounds of baths, bedtime play and stories can be heard. These are the sounds that haunt me the most."

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Hard and Impossible

2012-04-26T09:06:00.001-04:00

Title: Hard and Impossible

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Book Review: Conquering Infertility

2012-04-26T09:06:00.000-04:00

Read and reviewed by: Elizabeth M. (www.davidandelizabethadopt.blogspot.com)

Title of Book: Conquering Infertility”

Author: __Dr. Alice Domar, PhD, & Alice Lesch Kelly

Publisher: Penguin Books

Year of Publication: 2002

Number of pages: 280

Main topics presented: depression, infertility, mind/body techniques, stress, relationships

Review

Conquering Infertility has been the most helpful book I’ve read so far on the topic of infertility. Even though the book does not offer advice on how to help you actually get pregnant, it is full of ways to help you cope and live as happily as possible while dealing with infertility. Dr. Alice Domar, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health and the director of Mind/Body Services at Boston IVF, so her perspective comes from her years of working with clients going through infertility and fertility procedures. The book is co-authored by Alice Lesch Kelly. It is written in a very factual tone with the personal stories of many of her clients woven throughout.

If nothing else, Conquering Infertility was extremely helping in confirming that everything I’ve been thinking and feeling through this process is completely normal! She covers just about every frustrating facet, from the stress of hearing about and living with pregnant/fertile women, the difficulties it brings to a marriage, friends and family relationships, spiritual questioning and even the financial pressure it brings. The most helpful chapter of all for me was Chapter 2, “A Toolbox Full of Coping Skills,” where she describes numerous ways to use mind/body techniques to deal the pressure, depression and anxiety that often accompany infertility. I immediately began implementing tools such as mini-relaxations, mindfulness and cognitive restructuring techniques with much personal success. My only complaint would be the author’s discouragement of pursuing alternative healing routes and emphasis on traditional fertility treatments as the main pathway to overcoming infertility. However, this was a minimal problem for me since, again, her focus in on the mental and emotional aspects of infertility.

I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with any part of the infertility process, but especially for those currently going through treatment. I would give it 5 stars because of the great deal of advice and practical tips that can help make living with infertility much more manageable.

Don't Ignore: "The Way We See It": Unknown

2012-04-26T05:30:00.000-04:00

UNKNOWN

After 13 long years

It is still unknown

Will I ever parent?

Where do I belong?

For what do I plan?

And so I live in a world of the in-between

Not single or newlywed

Not parents yet not child-free

Not knowing

Childless

Is this my career my calling

No, a job with the benefits I want

Should parenthood find me

But what if not

What if

If I were child-free

I would change my job

Probably sell my house

Return to the city

Where I do feel at home

The unknown leaves me waiting

Though beyond even wanting

Lacking control yet feeling guilty

For not making decisions and plans

Guilty

If only I knew the answer

I could trade my guilt for action

Could know where I will fit

Could plan for tomorrow

Empowered

Some days I am so tempted

To forsake any hope of parenthood

For the knowing that comes

When child-less is traded

Once and for all

For child-free

Submitted by: Lara

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Worst Possible Pain

2012-04-25T09:27:00.001-04:00

After 9 years of infertility, I finally became pregnant via IVF. With triplets. While shocked, my husband and I could not have been any happier. We were finally going to have our family after almost a decade of waiting. We thought "getting pregnant" was the hard part. Until we started losing our babies one at a time.

We lost our daughter, Eve, early in the second trimester.

We lost our son, Caleb, late in the second trimester - nearly into the third.

At our perinatologist's office there is a sign in every exam room. I've gazed at it dozens of times while I've waited to hear more bad news. "It's worse." "It's bigger." "She's going to die." "He's going to die." "Shunt." "Non communicating." "Brain surgery." "It's over."

I have one living baby in my body and still carry the bodies of my two unborn and still babies. And when I go to the doctor I see the same sign. I can't help but think...

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Pain

2012-04-25T09:27:00.000-04:00

Don't Want

What I don't want.

I don't want someone to tell me why don't you adopt.

I don't want to be told I need to be married first.

I don't want that pity look when I tell you my secret.

I don't want someone saying go to the bar and time it right.

I don't want to be alone anymore.

Stop saying I don't want because I Do Want a baby.

Submitted by: Gabrielle Lasko

Title of Photo: Pain

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Before and After

2012-04-25T05:30:00.000-04:00

Before:

After:

Many people think that solutions for infertility come easy and as expected. Can't get pregnant? Adopt! Do IVF! Little do they know how many thousands of dollars, how many failed adoptions, how many empty syringes, how many lost babies, how many failed treatments resolving infertility might take. And resolving one's infertility can take a form that you never imagined when you first began. Infertility is neither easy nor does it end as expected.

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Shopping

2012-04-24T09:20:00.002-04:00

Shopping - it was one of my favorite things to do. A way to celebrate someone through gift buying, rewarding myself for a job well done, day to day necessities, and just killing time when I was bored. I loved to try samples and find a bargain. Sometimes it was a splurge!

Until infertility struck. Then shopping became a painful reminder of what I didn't have. The grocery store in particular just about killed me over the last four years. As you walk in the door, you are confronted with shopping carts with the baby seats on them, then you round the corner and there is the display for the Baby Club. And you are clearly NOT a member. What a terrible name as far as I am concerned - can you be any more exclusive to some of your shoppers?

And as you are trying to pay for your groceries, you have the rows of magazines shouting about baby bumps, new celebrity moms, and the most frustrating to me - teen moms. Why on earth are they being celebrated for being irresponsible in the first place? I played by the rules, waited to get my education and a good husband... and no instant baby when we were trying to conceive. Instead, we spent incredible amounts of money, and I shed buckets of tears and had quite a few emotional meltdowns in Target, the local grocery and the commissary. Infertility and shopping don't mix.

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Why Can't I Have Just One?

2012-04-24T09:20:00.001-04:00

Title: What is Wrong With Me? Why Can't I Have Just One?

Submitted by: Colleen

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": Will it Ever Be Me?

2012-04-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Title: Expectant Mother Parking: Will it Ever Be Me?

Submitted by: Gracelyn (Semi-Charmed Life)

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Book Review: Infertility Journeys

2012-04-23T09:34:00.001-04:00

Read and reviewed by: Elizabeth M. (www.davidandelizabethadopt.blogspot.com)

Title of Book: Infertility Journeys: Finding your Happy Ending

Author: Lesley Vance

Publisher: Duck Hill Press

Year of Publication: 2010

Number of pages: 172

Main topics presented: miscarriage, tubal pregnancies, infertility treatment, dealing with infertility, living childfree

Review:

“Infertility Journeys” by Lesley Vance is mostly a memoir of her infertility journey, but with others’ stories and information about infertility added in. The book tells about her experiences with both infertility and pregnancy loss in chronological order, while including information about tubal pregnancies, miscarriage and treatment options (including holistic techniques). Although the author chooses to be child free in the end, she encourages the reader to look into her (or his) heart to determine the best way to build a family. Her writing style is factual, sensitive and to the point.

In terms of intended audience, I would say it’s geared toward those who have experienced tubal pregnancy, miscarriage, secondary infertility or those just beginning their infertility journey. Other than a brief section on holistic techniques such as guided imagery and meditation, there aren’t many recommendations for how to deal with infertility or information that is new or different from what most going through infertility already know. The chapter on grief was helpful, but could have gone more in depth on practical ways to deal with the grief that inevitably accompanies infertility. Although the book’s title and subtitle (“Infertility Journeys: Finding your Happy Ending”) led me to believe it would be full of others’ stories of infertility and suggestions on ways to build your family and how to find the right journey for you, most of the stories seemed to be from women who experienced secondary infertility or miscarriage, and were therefore not particularly helpful to me. And there weren’t many practical and “hands-on” tips for actually finding our own happy ending (as elusive as that can be.)

I would give the book 3 stars because it had small bits of good information and tips, and I did feel connected to the author and her story. But overall I thought the book seemed a bit disconnected, and I also found the title to be misleading since I didn’t find what I was looking for in the book.

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": The Hands of Infertility

2012-04-23T09:26:00.003-04:00

The Hands of Infertility

Tiny hand
we've never held
except in our hearts
and in our dreams

My smile
his beautiful eyes
forged from our love
soaked in our tears

Empty womb
an unfulfilled hope
fingers laced together
our hearts crushed

Even so
your tiny hand
and a dream of you
carry us on

Submitted by: HJ

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Don't Ignore "The Way We See It": The Happiest Place on Earth?

2012-04-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

I posted these photos on Inspire, an online forum, back in May of 2011. My husband and I had just returned from a short trip to Disney with our family. We thought it would have been a good idea to get away and spend time with family after having failed an IVF cycle. While the time with family was nice, the destination was not the ideal.

Some people call Disney World, "The Happiest Place on Earth". This is "The Way I See It".

May 23, 2011

I went to Disney World this weekend. Two weeks after a failed IVF. Not the greatest idea.

Happiest place on earth? I think not.

Interestingly enough, I sat through a whole movie that played this song:

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Mmm... really?

It's all lies Mr. Disney. And thanks for the ride on the Hormonacoaster.

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Show us the world from your eyes and join "The Way We See It" Photography Project during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2012).

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101 (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

ICLW - April International Comment Leaving Week

2012-04-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

Welcome to ICLW! We are so excited that we'll be getting new visitors to our site and book club.

New to the Ladies in Waiting Book Club?

I recommend visiting our About Us page. There, you'll be able to read a little more about our book club and the editors who make it work. The LiWBC is made possible by the dedicated efforts of each of our editors as well as special guest writers from the infertility community.

How does it work?

Usually: Books are suggested and voted on at the end of each month. A final selection is chosen through an online survey. This month, we've been reading Sarah's Key and French Women Don't Get Fat. Due to overwhelming closeness in voting last month, we decided to use our second choice from last month's voting as our October book selection - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.
Pick up the book at your local library, bookshop, or through our online book store (sold through Amazon) and read along with us.
Participate in contests, discussions, and read all of the recipes, crafts, and articles to accompany you through your reading.
Have fun and meet new friends!

How do I join?

There are many ways to receive daily updates and keep up with the Ladies in Waiting Book Club:

Receive daily email updates (highly recommended: sign up in the upper left hand corner of our site)
"Like" us on Facebook (highly recommended: get our news in your regular feed)
Join us on Goodreads
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our RSS feed
Connect with us on Google Friends
At the beginning of each month, join our Roll Call list so we can get to know you better!

Just for Fun

If you're here visiting for the first time, here are some questions we'd like to know about you (answer any or all!):

What is your favorite childhood book?
Do you have a favorite author?
What state do you live in?
Tell us something no one would ever guess about you.

Thank you for visiting The Ladies in Waiting Book Club. We look forward to meeting you and getting to know you better!

The Names of "The Hunger Games"

2012-04-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

One of many parts of "The Hunger Games" that interests the book's fans are the names given to the characters. I found many interesting articles written about the names from the book.

Be forewarned, the articles out there might not be easy for everyone to read as some relate to baby names for the babies of 2012. If this is going to bother you, don't click on the links and just read the summary!

Here are some interesting links and my summary of the different ideas of where the names came from.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120320/LIVING/703209983
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/03/21/the_hunger_games_names_explained.html

Katniss Everdeen---I found many spots on the internet that said Katniss is from the plant called Arrowhead which is part of the Sagittaria family. I can't really find a good reference to this but my plant books do reference that Arrowhead is edible and is the swamp potato which is exactly how Katniss' dad explains her name to her. Sagittarius also is the bow and arrow in zodiac signs so this fits Katniss perfectly. Here is a picture of Sagittaria sagittifolia which is the "swamp potato"

Prim Everdeen---Prim's name most likely came from the Primrose flower. There is a picture of a primrose on the April Roll Call post. The Greeks also believed that primrose had healing power and Prim also seems to be a healer with her mother. If you google primrose, you'll see tons of varieties of beautiful flowers. They come in many different colors and are just gorgeous. Has anyone ever planted primrose? I have quite a garden, but it appears to be more of a zone 7-9 plants....alas I'm a northern USA girl.

Gale Hawthorne---A gale is a strong wind. I have not read books #2 or #3 yet. I wonder if this will become more meaningful in the later books. I don't really see how it fits the Gale from the first book. One of the ways Katniss admires him is through his steady, quietness in the woods which to me is quite the opposite of a gale. Any thoughts?

Peeta Mellark---This one is a bit of a stumper and there are quite a few internet places that say Peeta is related to pita bread but I think there is probably something else to this. Peeta actually appears to mean stone and be possibly Scandinavian or Greek in origin. Peeta is actually a female name. The male reference is Peter.

Rue---Rue is also a plant or herb that is a woody perennial. It is known as the "herb of grace" in many Shakespearean references and this to meet fits Rue perfectly as she flew threw the trees. The plant also has believed to have medicinal purposes. Rue also is defined in the dictionary as meaning regret. For me, it was a regret that Rue was even in the games and regret that Rue was killed.

Thresh---Thresh's name I would guess comes from his district being agricultural. To thresh is to separate the seed from a harvested plant. I wish we knew more about Thresh because I admired him for letting Katniss go the way he did. Rue, Thresh, and their whole district were so admirable.

Anyone want to go through the other tributes? Cato, Clove, Foxface, Glimmer, Marvel. I don't have all their names. Did they ever name them all? How about Haymitch?

When you move onto the Capitol, the names all change to be Roman in nature and probably reflect the power and destruction of the the Roman empire. After all, what happened at the Colosseum was not much different than what happened in The Hunger Games.

Panem---This name is well worth a Wikepedia read. Collins did a great job naming the capitol. To pick a name that reflects the triviality and frivolity of the Roman Empire is just perfect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

Then go through the other capitol names: President Coriolanus Snow, Cinna, Caesar Flickerman, Octavia, Seneca, Plutarch, Venia, Portia. All of the names have Rome origins or go through Shakespearean plays of the Roman Empire!

The Hunger Games: Discussion Question #3

2012-04-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

Some questions about Katniss:

1) Do you think fire is an appropriate symbol for Katniss?

2) Why does Katniss ignore Haymitch's advice to head directly away from the Cornucopia? Did she do the right thing to fight for equipment?

3) How does the fact that Katniss is always on camera affect her behavior from the time that she becomes a Tribute?

"The Way We See It": Ways to Find Your Creative Voice

2012-04-16T05:00:00.003-04:00

We are a creative sort, lucky us! But…sometimes you want to make something fantastic, and inspiration is not playing along. We all have these days, weeks, months….but there is a way to work through it! I use these words like mantras to help me crack through my roadblocks.

Walk: Take a walk. I know that sounds silly and simple but it helps. Honest Walking gets your mind out of the place it is sitting in. It gets you to breathe, and smell and listen to something other than yourself. I love to take walks with a theme; a great example would be leaving the house with the idea of looking for transparent pink. As I walk I keep this “theme” in the back of my mind and won’t you know it, I start finding “transparent pink”in places I had never seen it before.

Plant: Stick your hands in earth. Connecting with the earth is a great way to get into the raw energy of what you need to tackle! It can be vigorous like transplanting trees, or simple like planting a flowerpot of color. My yoga teacher called it Karma Yoga; selfless service. The doing of an act for something else allows us to look within ourselves. Mother Earth can use all our help, go ahead plant something that will clean your air and clear your head.

Source: I do things old school. I still fill corkboards with little bits of interesting things. I have a little spot that I create in and I fill the walls (I often stare at) with little quotes, pictures that make me smile, and little ideas. It is like a library of your own mind, a resource space you can go to when things get creatively rough; walk the aisles and find new treasures.

Not a corkboard kind of person? Well, there are other ways to store your source material: Pinterest, a coupon wallet, note cards, post-it notes. The important thing is to create your own reference place.

Write: Something bugging you? Write it down. Something to big to say? Write it down. Words are powerful wonderful things - ask any writer, singer, teacher or mime. Words are your way to remember, and capture and tackle what is eating at you. Write what is inspiring you, even but for a moment. I recommend you carry a little book with you, write down single words, concepts or phrases as they come to you. Later you can use this as a source for your next creative project. I had a teacher once tell me to always have a sketchbook with me. He carried one with him every day of his 86 years and drew everywhere. Sometimes you just can’t make something happen that day, but you can prepare for the day when it will happen!

Friday Movie: The Running Man

2012-04-13T11:07:00.004-04:00

The Hunger Games has been likened to the 1987 movie, The Running Man, starring a few US Governors. Stephen King ghost-wrote the book that The Running Man was based on. King is a big fan of Suzanne Collins' work, so I take that to mean he doesn't take much offense at any similarities.

There are a few key differences between the two stories though. The Hunger Games rely on teenage "tributes" chosen by lottery, innocent of crimes and it is used as a means of control and reminder of the power of the Capitol. The Running Man game is played by convicts (mostly adult men) and is used as purely a form of entertainment for the masses; they chose strong men who would last longest and get the best ratings.

The Running Man is an instantaneous survival game broken into segments where famous and elaborate executioners hunt down the running man/men. It's usually completed within a day. The Hunger Games has an immediate death toll, as the tributes try to grab supplies and run to safety, but most of the game involves days and weeks. Time becomes an enemy as food, water, and basic survival in the elements can become the real killer of the tributes.

For both stories, if the tributes/victims aren't dying fast enough, the Gamemakers will manipulate the game to increase the drama (ratings). In the Running Man, it is the executioners in elaborate scenarios (like an ice rink). In the Hunger Games, it is the use of weather (rain), fire, or "mutts" (genetically manipulated creatures intent on specific tortures). The movie Running Man is more campy than the Hunger Games, with Arnold giving cheesy one-liner jokes after every kill.

NIAW: "The Way We See It" Photography Project

2012-04-12T10:08:00.000-04:00

As many of you are aware, National Infertility Awareness Week is being held this month from April 22nd through the 28th. Throughout this week, RESOLVE along with other organizations and individuals will be advocating for and educating the public about the disease of infertility.

This year the theme is "Don't Ignore Infertility" and as a creative way to explore this theme, the Ladies in Waiting Book Club is sponsoring a photography project. What better way to approach the public about the signs, pain and people of infertility than to share photos and words about ourselves, our loved ones, and the world we live in?

Would you like to participate? Here's how:

Project Name:
"The Way We See It" Photography Project

Goal:
The purpose of this project is to educate the public and our community about the ignorance and silence of infertility through photography and other creative means.

Categories:
There are three categories of photos and work that we are looking for:

Show Us Your Sign: A few months back, I read an amazing blog post called "We Must See Past What It Seems" on the Brave Girls Club blog. The post was about how each of us walk around each day with our personal struggles and mountains to climb, and about how we should treat each other tenderly since we don't know what each of us are going through. If you could wear a sign so that people would be more gentle with you, what would it say? Write a sign to tell the world how you are. Wear it around your neck or display it alone and take a photo.

Photo Credit: Brave Girls Club

Photo Credit: Socially Inappropriate Mom

Show Us Your World: What is it like to live everyday in your world? At the grocery store, church, family gatherings, vacations, and everywhere else, we are bombarded with signs and images that effect us on our journey. Take a photo of something that speaks to you (to your pain OR joy).

Photo Credit: Flickr

Show Us You: This category is for the super creative out there who would like to share their story in a unique way. Write a poem, take a different kind of photo, tell us your story, draw a picture, do whatever you like. Send it to us so we can show the world that they can't ignore infertility.

Photo Credit:
The Seeds Were Sown by Monica Wiesblott

Who Can Submit:

Anyone who is affected by infertility - patients, partners, husbands, wives, children, parents, etc.

How It Works:

Let us know you are participating by registering on the form below. Additional information will be sent to you using the email you provide.
Submit your photos to liwbookclub@gmail.com from now until Wednesday, April 25th. Any work received after this date will still be posted, but not during NIAW.
Examples and articles will be posted all throughout the week of April 15-21 to help you get inspired.
Projects will be posted during NIAW, April 22-28th and will be part of RESOLVE's Bloggers Unite Blog Challenge.

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The Hunger Games: Discussion Question #2

2012-04-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

Some questions about Peeta: 1. How does Katniss’ early encounter with Peeta affect their relationship after they are chosen as tributes? 2. Did your perception of Peeta change over the course of The Hunger Games? How and why? 3. Why does Peeta join with the Career Tributes in the beginning of the Games? What does he hope to gain? Why do they accept him when they start hunting as a group?