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TBR* – My Cup Runneth Over
It has been with complete honesty that I have made up my list of books to read (see Summer Reading List and Reading List 2014). The list had books that I thought I wanted to read and would read in the near future.
It seems that I don’t follow my lists very well. Between the two lists, there were 18 books listed and I have read 7 of them. This is not a very good percentage. Now, I have read many other books but just not specifically the ones from my list.
In August I talked about stress reading. Stress reading is what I do along with stress eating. When stressed, I choose to read what I call “popcorn” books. Popcorn books tell stories that are not full of twists and turns but more often tell a story about a life. Yes, I will admit that they might be categorized as “Chick Lit”. It feels like this could be a derogatory term but it isn’t to me. Sometimes I just need light stories.
I am terribly behind in giving you reading ideas. Today in order to catch up a bit, I am going to just give you a list of some of my latest reads.
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett. I did not read this book when it came out. I liked it but will admit that when I was one-third of the way in the book, I wondered how the story was going to last for all those pages. It did and I was surprised by the ending. This book should be available from your local library or if you would like to buy it, it is available from Amazon.Bel Canto
The Summer Wind, Mary Alice Monroe. The story of three middle aged step sisters spending the summer at their Grandmother’s house in the south. The story moved along well. I absolutely have a fondness for Southern women books – especially if there is a character who is a bit nutty. There was not the nutty character in this book but is it a good Southern story. The Summer Wind (Lowcountry Summer)
This is Mariah Steward. It is not Mary Stewart or Martha Stewart. They sound the same but are different…
Mariah Stewart Chesapeake Series. This series of 7 books introduces the people who live in a small tourist town named St. Dennis. In each book two of the residents meet and fall in love. This is a rather simplistic explanation for the books but they are interesting and they are a quick read. The Chesapeake Diary Series 
Treasure Uncovered, Diane Greenwood Muir. This is the third book in the series that starts with All Roads Lead Home. Somehow, I missed reading the second book in the series. I do think that reading the first book is important but I didn’t have any trouble with the third book after missing the second book. The book has interesting characters and it seems to build well. It is the story of a woman who has gone home to Iowa to build a artist residence/community gathering space. The reader finds out about the people that she meets and the connections in the town. Diane Greenwood Muir
People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Jen Mann. Jen Mann is a popular blogger. She is not afraid to rant and rave about the world and poke a little fun at herself and her family. It is funny and witty but a little bit goes a long way. This book is now available from Amazon.People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Competitive Crafters, Drop-Off Despots, and Other Suburban Scourges
View from Penthouse B, Elinor Lipman. This is the story of two sisters (middle aged) who, due to their circumstances, live together in a penthouse in New York. The sisters add an assortment of people to their lives. Are they looking for happiness and do they find it? You will have to be the judge. This book was on my reserved list from the library and I don’t remember how it got there. I don’t think that I have read anything by Elinor Lipman before but it was a story that really kept my attention. She has many other books and I will read more of her books. You can look for this book in your local library. It is available from (you guessed it) Amazon.The View from Penthouse B
Here in the Midwest, it is supposed to be a cold weekend. Take some time today to make sure you have a wonderful book to read over the weekend.
Thanks for reading!
(Note: As you may have noticed, I have put in links for you to be able to buy the books I talked about from Amazon. Yes, I have signed up so that I get a SLIGHT (really slight) commission if you buy the books (or anything else) using the links on this page. What can I say? I am trying to pay for this blogging habit of mine OR this reading habit of mine. Either way, using the links is completely up to you. I understand if you don’t and I am thankful if you do. I just ask you to spend a bit of time reading. It is good for you!) (If it makes you feel better, in the last couple of months that I have been an Amazon affiliate, I have not made a penny. Really. So this might not have been the greatest idea.)
*TBR – To BE READ
Posted in Talking Books
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Yes, Someone Even Tried To Ban Winnie The Pooh
Seriously, Winnie the Pooh is on the list of books that people have tried to have removed from the shelves. Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte’s Web owe their status on the list of books that people have attempted to ban because these books have (gasp inserted here) talking animals.
Yes, you read that right. People complained because Winnie the Pooh talks. As do Piglet, Tigger, and Charlotte.
It seems that talking animals are an “insult to God.”
I wonder what they think of a bouncing tigger?
Anne Frank:Diary of a Young Girl is also on the list of books that people have requested be removed from circulation. Why? Because is it too depressing.
Really, do these people fart rainbows?
And just when you thought you had seen it all, in 2010, some schools in California banned the (wait for it….) the Dictionary. Yes, the dictionary was removed from classrooms because it contained the definition for the term “oral sex”.
Control is such an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it? For a list of other children’s books that attempts have been made to ban or have been removed, please see the list of 15 Classic Children’s Books That Have Been Banned in America.
In the meantime, I suggest that it is time to re-read Winnie the Pooh and/or Charlotte’s Web. I hope you read them and it rekindles your imagination.
It is the weekend!
Thanks for reading!
Banned Books Week – Author’s Responses
One of the interesting things about Banned Books Week to me is the author’s response to finding out that their work is either on the list or is being challenged.
Dav Pilkey has responded with a video that suggests what someone who wants to remove books from publication can do. (and it is not rude…)
Next is a video from John Green talking about the attempted removal of one of his books from a school’s curriculum.
And just in case you think that this doesn’t really happen currently, here is an article from the Dallas News that was written Sept. 21 and updated Sept. 22, 2014. Yes, that is from this week.
I truly like the message that if you don’t the message, you don’t have to read the message. It does not meant that you should block others from the message. We each have our own sensibilities. Really, no one is the guardian of the books I read but me.
Thanks for reading.
Banned Books Week – Bone By Jeff Smith
I will readily admit that graphic novels do not make it on my radar screen these days. The last time I picked up a comic book was when I bought and Archie and Veronica comic book for my daughter. Let’s just say it was a long time ago.
We did have a love affair with Calvin and Hobbes. Both Calvin and Hobbes and Archie and Veronica were comics. The books were compilations of comic strips. Sometimes a theme would carry over from one to another but the strips did not tell one central story.
In researching graphic novels for this year’s Banned Books Week, I went in search of Bone by Jeff Smith. If I had caught on the Captain Underpants was a graphic novel, (it tops the list of books that were attempted to be removed) I would have started there but I did not realize it was a graphic novel. I did, however, connect that Bone was a graphic novel and I picked it up.
I picked up the first book of the Bone series. There are 9 books in the series. The first book was published in 1991 and has the title Out from Boneville.
Synopsis
Three cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone have been chased out of Boneville due to Phoney Bones unethical ways to enhance his state as the richest man in Boneville. As the book starts, they have been running away from the townspeople for two weeks. The three soon get separated by a swarm of locusts. Fone Bone becomes our focus as he searches for his cousins and a return to Boneville. Fone finds himself in a strange land where there there are animals that want to attack him and where he has a mysterious protector. Fone escapes an encounter with his enemies (thanks to his protector) and meets the lovely Thorn. He had been told that Thorn was the one who would be able to help him find his cousins and get back to Boneville. Soon Thorn introduces him to her Grandmother and after yet another attack, they set off for Barrelhaven (the next town). They do find Phoney Bones and Smiley Bones in Barrelhaven where Phoney and Smiley have already gotten in trouble and hatched a plan to make money.
Opinion
The story was interesting. At first, you don’t know that there is a bigger plot but as the story proceeds, you see that there is more at work than just what is on the surface. I do wonder what happens in the next story and the following books. The story moves along quickly and the comic element contributes to the story. There is definitely a tale of good vs. evil in the book and good looks like it will win.
I liked it. Am I dying to buy the next book? No, I am not. The books are pricey especially when purchased separately. Because I wanted to include this for this week and I didn’t plan ahead well, I bought the first book. The books are available from my local library and I would probably go there to get the rest of the books.
Why there were attempts to ban the book
The reasons given for the attempts were the book’s political viewpoint, that it was racist, and had violence in it.
“I’ll be honest, I had two simultaneous reactions when I heard Bone was in the top 10. First, that I was being attacked and I didn’t know why. Then a thought like: hey, this isn’t the worst thing that can happen. A lot of my heroes are on this list. Mark Twain, Melville, Bradbury, Steinbeck, Vonnegut; authors whose work is about something — that do the kind of writing I aspire to.”
Jeff Smith
As with everything in life, it depends how you look at it. I really did not see anything offensive in the book that I read. Yes, there was an attack but I have honestly seen worse things on the evening news. I am sure that children who play video games have played games with worse violence. And it is all in the good vs. evil theme.
Do you read graphic novels? Tell me about the ones you have read.
Thanks for reading!
Carol Early Cooney 