Maw Books » banned books week

I Read Banned Books! Do You?

Natasha Maw — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:29:27 +0000

Banned Books Week!!! I love this week! (Although I wish we didn’t need it in the first place). Today is the beginning of Banned Books Week which runs from today, September 26th, to October 3rd.

From the American Library Association:

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Don’t think that challenging and banning books is something that doesn’t go on anymore. Check out this map which details where book censorship’s are taking place. Weird, how there is nothing in my home state of Utah! According to the ALA, in 2008 more than 500 cases of challenged books were reported with 70-80% go unreported.

I’ve been watching both Ellen Hopkins and Laurie Halse Anderson with interest as both are dealing with their books being challenged in the past few weeks. Hopkins just had an author visit (which she donated!) canceled at a middle school after a parent complained about her newest book Glass. She’s been tweeting her way through the challenge and canceled visit. Anderson’s (one of my favorite authors) books aren’t new to the banning circuit but is under a new round with Twisted and Speak and you can read her response. Fuel for the fire leading up to Banned Books Week!

Puppet video!

I was looking through a bunch of lists of challenged books and decided that I would quickly pull from my shelves books that I haven’t read yet (or way back in high school). In just a few short minutes I pulled the following:

I also realized that I have reviewed a lot more challenged books then I thought!

So yes, I read banned books. Do you?

Linkage galore:

ALA: Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read – September 26-October 3, 2009
ALA: About Banned & Challenged Books
ALA: Banned and Challenged Classics
ALA: Most Frequently Challenged Authors of the 21st Century
ALA: Activity Ideas for Banned Books Week
School Library Journal: Celebrate Banned Books Week, September 26–October 3
Random House: Censorship Causes Blindness Poster
Random House: First Amendment First-Aid Kit
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Challenged Children’s Books
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
Banned Books Week website
National Coalition Against Censorship – The Kis’ Right to Read Project
National Council of Teachers of English: Anti-Censorship Center
Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
J.C at The Bibliobrat is hosting a reading challenge during September to read banned/challenged books. Do check it our for some great linkage of banned book reviews from bloggers.

Last year I read and reviewed one banned book a day for Banned Books Week. At the end of the week I rounded up all the bloggers who also took the challenge to read banned books during the week. I think I’ll let J.C do the rounding up this year (see linkage above) as she’s doing an awesome job already. I had a great time last year and am committing myself to do the same this year. It was busy crazy as I didn’t read ahead and I haven’t read ahead this year either So I need some great cheerleading this week to get one done a day! I’m going to choose from the books I’ve listed in the photos above. Likely, the short ones.

I went back and looked at my post for Banned Books Week last year and I really don’t have much to add to what I already said, which was:

I for one, don’t like everything that I read (I’ve always admitted my dislike for harsh language and graphic sex) but everybody has the right to choose for themselves what they want to read. I don’t want anybody to tell me what I can or can not read and I certainly couldn’t imagine making that decision for others. I wholeheartedly admit there is a lot of trash out there amongst a lot of great books, but one should never take away someones agency to choose what they can or can’t read.

As a parent, it’s my responsibility to know what my children are reading and help them choose books appropriate for their age and maturity level. And then when the time comes, trust that I have taught them well enough to make those decisions on their own.

So, what about you? Are you planning on reading a banned/challenged book this week? Let me know if you are!

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Banned Books Week is Over! The Past Week in Review

Natasha Maw — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:23:47 +0000

I did it! I read a total of eight books in eight days for Banned Books Week! Granted they were short and some I barely got in my review before midnight but it was so much fun!

A quick recap of what I read and reviewed:

While I didn’t read them this week, other reviews I have of banned books are:

Unfinished Person at Just a (Reading) Fool also took the challenge (we had a lot of fun encouraging each other on Twitter) and read:

Jen at Devourer of Books highlighted eight of her favorite banned books:

Rebecca at The Book Lady’s Blog also hightlighted eight of her favorite banned books:

Michele at a Reader’s Respite also spotlighted banned books this past week:

Mo at Un-Mainstream Mom Reads read 13 banned books and has posted these reviews:

SmallWorld Reads also took advantage of Banned Books Week and read The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson.

Jeremy at Johnsenclan read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in honor of Banned Books Week.

Mari from Mari Reads read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

Nymeth at Things Mean a Lot read Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence, which she says is quite possible the king of banned books.

Amber Stults from Amber Stults – Book Reviewer and Author spotlights The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak.

Becky from Becky’s Book Reviews read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain this past week.

Heather from Age 30+ . . . A Lifetime of Books showcased a roundup of banned book reviews from bloggers, so make sure to visit for more reviews.

Abby from Abby (the) Librarian does a short roundup on posts about parents and selecting books for children.

Shannon from Books Worth Reading also does a roundup of banned book reviews.

Softdrink at Fizzy Thoughts gives us some great quotes about censorship and free speech.

There were a LOT of great posts about censorship in general and just about everybody has something to say about book banning. While I didn’t round-up these posts, I would like to acknowledge that there has been some great conversation going on this past week.

Did you read a banned book this past week?

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Natasha Maw — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:37:54 +0000

Unlike everybody else I know my age I made it through my childhood without reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, the 1963 Newbery Medal winner. Because everybody seems to rave about this book, I thought it was about time I read it for myself. To tell you the truth, I just didn’t get it. Oh sure, I saw the Christian parallels, appreciated how it didn’t talk down to children, and can see why science fiction and fantasy fans love it. But I’m just not loving it.

Meg and her little brother Charles Wallace are used to being different, although Meg wishes that she would fit in. It doesn’t help that her father mysteriously disappeared years earlier and all the neighbors are still talking about. Both of their parents are scientists and Meg’s mother still insists that their father will be home any day. One night they meet three women, a Mrs. Whatsit, a Mrs. Witch, and a Mrs. Who. These three women take them on a journey through the galaxies, to new planets, and meet new people in the search of their long lost father. Along the way they face trial and difficulty, learn about good and evil and the power of love.

Perhaps why I had a hard time enjoying this book is that I found all of the characters annoying. Meg, a teenager, acts like she’s four years old, and Charles who is four years old acts and talks like he’s twenty. Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Witch and Mrs. Who were just blah, and Aunt Bea was much too sickingly sweet. A Wrinkle in Time was a great reminder to me why I don’t love science fiction/fantasy.

I read A Wrinkle in Time during Banned Books Week. People have tried to censor this book because of witches, crystal balls and demons. Also, because Jesus is listed among the the names of great artists, philosophers and teachers. I got a chuckle from Forbidden Library when they said, “Got it. Let’s cross Jesus off that list, shall we?”

Do you love A Wrinkle in Time? Your thoughts? Share with me why I’m wrong here.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Natasha Maw — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:50:09 +0000

I have always wanted to read anything by Jean Craighead George after hearing her and Wendell Minor (the illustrator) speak at a conference about five years ago. Took me long enough as I’m finally reading my first book, Julie of the Wolves, the 1973 Newbery Winner.

Miyax, also known as Julie as her English name, lives on top of the world in the Alaskan wilderness, where she learns her Eskimo traditions and way of life. After marrying at the age of thirteen, she decides that she must run away to San Fransisco where her pen pal lives. She takes off across the Arctic but soon becomes lost and without food. That’s when she finds herself slowly being accepted by a pack of wolves. She learns how to speak their language and soon the wolves help her survive by bringing her meat. She also uses the survival training taught to her by her father to ensure that she stays alive. But as she finally makes it the civilization she discovers that she has fallen in love with not only the wolves, but her way of life.

This book delves deep into wolf ecology, the pack structure, the tundra environment, and the Eskimo traditions. While I found it all very fascinating, it was also very slow. Not much really happens in the book besides waking up each new day, seeing what the wolves are doing, and figuring out what to make for dinner. But I can totally see why this won the Newbery. I was transported into a different culture and environment and learned something new.

Overall, worth reading and I’ll be checking out the other books in the series, Julie and Julie’s Wolf Pack.

I read Julie of the Wolves during Banned Books Week. This one has been banned because of the attempted rape of Julie, which is basically her husband kissing her on the lips and then she runs away. I don’t even know if I would use the word rape here. It was all but one sentence.

Jean Craighead George’s website and Wendell Minor’s website.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

Natasha Maw — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:21:04 +0000

Oh, the memories! I remember reading How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell when I was younger and have always wanted to reread it. This was a total nostalgic read for me that I really enjoyed even though I felt like throwing up at every chapter. Seriously, I want to gag right now and let’s be thankful that I’m not pregnant because if I was I don’t know if I could have handled the thought of huge, gooey, withering, slimy worms being fried up and eaten with horseradish.

When Billy makes a bet with his rival friend Joe that he can eat fifteen worm in fifteen days, he’s in for a whole lot of trouble. But if he can do it, he’ll win fifty bucks! Joe supplies the fattest, longest earthworms that he can find and comes up with a myriad of ways to cook them. When Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem gulping the worms down, Joe gets worried and starts to cheat. Each new day brings a new worm. Who will win? Billy or Joe?

For some reason, I really enjoyed Billy’s family. When his parents find out about the bet they don’t try to stop him. They call the doctor to find out if it’s safe, and even his mother whips up a ice cream sundae with worm. How to Eat Fried Worms was really fun and boys and girls alike will devour this book (but hopefully not worms).

Have you seen the movie? I haven’t. I can see a lot of changes (for the best), but it looks like kids would love it:

I read How to Eat Fried Worms during Banned Books Week. Will you believe that people have tried to ban this book on the premise that eating worms is socially unacceptable? If anything, this book made me not want to eat worms. What are they worried about, that I’d whip up some worms for dinner? And seriously, if some little kid decides to eat a worm after reading this book, I say so what? Should gummy worms be taken off the shelves too?

Apparently, they don’t have a problem eating worms in Vietnam:

Another reason How to Eat Fried Worms is banned is because it promotes betting and gambling. What kid has gone through childhood without taunting another little kid and saying, “I bet you can’t do this! or I bet you can’t do that!” Show me a kid who reads this book and then becomes addicted to gambling. Not likely.

So if you had to eat a worm, without chopping it up or blending it up, how would you eat it? Maybe with spaghetti?

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Natasha Maw — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:16:06 +0000

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, the 1978 Newbery Medal winner, is the touching story of two inseparable friends. Jess, age ten, just wants to be the fastest runner in his school, to be known as somebody besides that kid who just draws. He wakes up early every day all summer long to practice running to ensure his victory on the school field at recess. But, there’s a new girl in town, Leslie, who’s unlike anybody that the school is used to. She boldly joins the boys’ race and outruns everyone.

Although Jess could resent Leslie for beating him, it’s the beginning of a friendship that both desperatly need. Their enjoyment and childlike love for each other is touching. Jess and Leslie take to the woods and pretend to set up a magical kingdom, like that of Narnia where they can be a king and queen and rule over all. Their happiness doesn’t last though as a tragedy unfolds, and Jess must learn to cope with his emotions.

There was a quote at the end of Bridge to Terabithia that I really thought encompassed the whole book. **Warning: Spoilers in the quote.**

He thought about it all day, how before Leslie came, he had been a nothing – a stupid, weird little kid who drew funny pictures and chased around a cow field trying to act big- trying to hide a whole mob of foolish little fears running riot inside his gut. It was Leslie who had taken him from the cow pasture into Terabithia and turned him into a king. He had thought that was it. Wasn’t king the best you could be? Now it occurred to him that perhaps Terabithia was like a castle where you came to be knighted. After you stayed for a while and grew strong you had to move on. For hadn’t Leslie, even in Terabithia, tried to push back the walls of his mind and make him see beyond to the shining world – huge and terrible and beautiful and very fragile? . . .

Now it was time for him to move out. She wasn’t there, so he must go for both of them. It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength.

As for the terrors ahead – for he did not fool himself that they were all behind him – well, you could just have to stand up to your fear and not let it squeeze you white. Right, Leslie?

Right.

I was surprised with how quiet of a book this was. Having previously watched the movie, I was expecting fantastical creatures, huge fight/play scenes, etc. but the book and movie were quiet different in that respect. But if the movie didn’t include the fantastical, I think kids would have been bored to tears. So in that regard I think the adaption was well done. Besides, Leslie does mention that she wants the kingdom to be just like Narnia. In the movie that’s exactly how it’s portrayed.

While reading Bridge to Terabithia, I wasn’t as emotionally involved that I know some people are when reading this book because I totally knew how it ended (having watched the movie). But I’m sure many will find this a tearjerker. Overall, a book that I would recommend.

Katherine Paterson’s website.

I read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson during Banned Books Week. This book has been censored on the premise of language, it gives kids a negative view of life, promotes witchcraft, shows disrespect to adults, and because ***SPOILER*** death is an inappropriate subject matter for children. So what we should lock kids up and tell them that they will never have to deal with death ever in their whole life? What’s wrong with teaching our children that death happens, not only does it happen, but it’s inevitable?

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Natasha Maw — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:17:53 +0000

It has been years since I’ve read a Roald Dahl book, one of the most beloved children’s authors of all time, so I was looking forward to reading James and the Giant Peach. James is sent to live with his two horrible aunts after his parents die a quick but very horrible death (by a rhinoceros no less!). Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge were “selfish and lazy and cruel” and beat James for no reason at all. When he wasn’t working, he had no friends, no toys, and wasn’t allowed to leave the house on top of a little hill where he could see the ocean and friends that he longed for.

But that all changes when a magical little old man gives James a bag of magical crystals that are sure to change his life forever if only he can eat them before his Aunts catch him. But instead he accidently drops them at the roots of on an old peach tree that never bears fruit. A peach begins to grow, grow and grow and there is no sign of stopping!

When it grows to the size of the house, the adventure really begins when James discovers that he can crawl inside where he meets a bunch of new friends – who just happen to be oversized insects – including a spider, ladybug, grasshoper, and earthworm. James and his new friends begin to roll away and are sent on an adventure that takes them into the ocean, through the sky and across the ocean to New York City!

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it was fun full of irreverant humour. I did get bored in the middle while the seagulls were flying across the ocean and they came into mishaps with the Cloud-Men. I always loved Lane Smith, the illustrator of the version I have, but I can’t decide about these illustrations. Some of them are really nice and some of them are a miss. But regardless, I still love him.

I haven’t seen the movie for James and the Giant Peach but thought it would be worth checking out. The movie trailer:

I read James and the Giant Peach during Banned Books Week. This book has been challenged because it’s too magical, advocates communism (what?!?), and because James disobeys his Aunts, despite the fact that they are abusive, as well as a myriad of other reasons. Relax people! Do you really think a story of a magical, huge peach is going to harm our kids? I think the kiddos are smart enough to figure out that this one is just a story!

Do you read Roald Dahl? I have most of his books, which one should be next?

Roald Dahl website.

Edited to add: The whole time I was reading this book I kept reminding myself to share my peach pudding recipe, and what would you know, I published it without the recipe! If you have fresh peaches, this recipe is TO DIE FOR! I’ve made it three times within the last month as peaches are on right now. I’m seriously salivating!

Grandma’s Peach Pudding

2 ½ cups milk
½ cup sugar
salt, pinch
2 heaping T cornstarch
2-3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 or 2 T butter
Fresh peaches with sugar
Graham crackers

Mix and boil milk, sugar, and salt together. Combine separately cornstarch with a little milk and make a thin thickening. When milk mixture boils pour in thickening. Pour a little of this into the beaten eggs and mix up. Add the egg mixture back into main mixture. Add vanilla and butter. Bring to a boil while stirring until mixture has reached pudding like consistency. Chill mixture. Roll out graham crackers. In a bowl layer graham crackers, pudding, fruit, graham crackers, pudding, fruit, and crackers. Let stand 2 or 3 hours. Serve with real whipped cream. I actually don’t use the stove for this and do everything in the microwave. With the exception of peeling and cutting peaches, it only takes about 15-20 minutes.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (But Not Really Anonymous)

Natasha Maw — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:30:13 +0000

So I was not really on planning on reading Go Ask Alice by Anonymous for Banned Books Week but the universe was conspiring me to read it and the story of how I ended up with this book is worth mentioning quickly.

Saturday morning my sister calls me and asks me if I would mind picking her up (the trials of a one car household) and taking a young woman to the bus station. This girl had just arrived in Salt Lake City a week earlier to move in with her boyfriend, but this mean boyfriend kicked her out of the house, knowing full well that she didn’t know anybody in the city. My sister, who is awesome about always following her promptings, felt that she could go out at 11:00 at night to the grocery store not knowing why she should. It was there that she noticed this girl crying on the sidewalk. She literally would have slept on the street if my sister didn’t take her home. The ex-boyfriend ended up at least buying her a bus ticket back home. Prior to the bus leaving, we were able to help outvwith a meal, a shower, a place to nap, and wash all of her laundry as the mean boyfriend had thrown all of her stuff out onto the lawn and then the sprinklers went off. Not a nice guy.

I found out that she is a HUGE reader and even though she had only been in town a week had already visited the library and had a book checked out which she asked me to return. That book was Go Ask Alice. A book that I was not familiar with and in fact had only heard of when I did my Banned Books post. And then after this very long day (at least 12 hours helping her out) and on my way home from the bus station I got a flat tire. My thanks for doing a good deed. And I don’t know how to change flat tires. Luckily, I had Go Ask Alice in the car and found myself with some time to read while help arrived.

In addition, on Sunday Abbi left a comment on the Banned Books post aking if I would review Go Ask Alice at some point, which was funny because I was right in the middle of the book and literally had it right next to me when I received that comment. So universe conspiring? Yes, I would say definitely so.

Like I mentioned, I didn’t know anything about Go Ask Alice by Anonymous prior to starting this book. I had no reason to believe that this wasn’t the real deal, a real diary written by a 15 year old drug addict. Alice, although it’s known that we actually don’t know her name, is a happy go lucky fifteen year old from a nice middle class family. While at a party she is unknowingly given LSD and thrown into the world of drugs. Within months she is an addict who can’t get enough, runs away from home and is promiscuous. She bounces back and forth with trying to be a good girl, a good daughter and empty promises to come clean. This book was published as a warning for all young people about the perils of drug experimentation and as an intimate look at the trials that drug use brings with it.

So right away I had some suspicions about this book that I couldn’t reconcile. First off, no way this is written by a fifteen year old girl! I know everybody’s different but there is no way that a fifteen year old girl would write like this was written, especially in a diary. It was written much to eloquently, she is way to vague about stuff, goes into no details about her first kiss, losing her virginity, etc. Doesn’t talk about her friends, gossip, nothing. And the words! The words! She uses words that I don’t even know how to spell, like gregarious and impregnable. And those are just two examples, there are a ton more just like it. And passages like: I was a shooting star, a comet piercing the firmament, blazing though the sky. And I tried to share the beauty with the others, but my words came out soggy, wet and dripping or tasting of color. Um, really? Maybe she’s a natural born poet but I didn’t think it the language matched a diary.

So about half way through reading Go Ask Alice I did something that I never ever do. I googled it. I never do this until after I finish the book but there were several things that were bothering me and I couldn’t help but see what other people thought. Imagine all the stuff I found, especially here, here, and here. Go Ask Alice isn’t a real diary at all! This made me happy because it meant that I was on the right track with my suspicions, but upset because I felt deceived. It’s fiction set up to look like a real diary in an attempt to scare the crap out of kids who think maybe they want to get high.

The author (she calls herself editor), Beatrice Sparks, always maintained that the book was based upon a real diary but did add other incidents and fictionalized accounts. What’s more is that Beatrice Sparks has gone on to write at least four or five more books all written from this “Anonymous” standpoint. Suspicious? I’d say so.

And I found out that Beatrice Sparks is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, taught at Brigham Young University (my alma mater), and now lives (she’s in her 80’s) in Provo, Utah. Literally a hop, skip and jump away from me. I thought that was interesting to me at least.

I can see the premise on this one: make it look like the real thing so it seems more real. But I think the same effect could have easily been achieved by being honest up front. Having been published in the ’70’s, the publishers totally got away with it but these days there is so much outrage over fake memoirs, why is Go Ask Alice still getting away with it?

I’m glad I read this book but it’s not going on the list of best reads of the year. I couldn’t get close to Alice or her story because I had such a hard time believing it in the first place. That’s not to say that the story isn’t unbelievable as far as the drug usage but I don’t think a fifteen year old would write like she did. Plus, there is tons of foul language and sexual references, which I was expecting going into it but still didn’t enjoy. But there is no doubt that this book has made a profound effect upon the millions who have read it.

On a sidenote, they made a straight to TV movie based upon Go Ask Alice and from the clip I saw on YouTube, it looks awful.

I read Go Ask Alice during Banned Books Week. This one has been challenged not on the basis of it’s authorship but because of the drug, language, and sexual references. I could see why parents would be upset about this one, especially if it was required reading, even if it’s a warning against drugs. I wonder, how does one compromise on a required school read if they don’t want to read it?

Also, what’s your take on how this book is marketed? It’s still on a lot of school reading lists, in the Non-Fiction section of bookstores and libraries, and is set up to look 100% like a real diary from a real girl. Somewhere I read that the copyright page indicates that it’s a fictionalized account but my copy doesn’t say that. To tell you the truth, I feel duped.

You?

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Natasha Maw — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:04:20 +0000

First off, I was really, really, really excited to read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume because it’s one of those books that I remember reading as a preteen. Not just reading it but loving it! I also remember thinking, “What would my mother think of me if she knew what this book was about? Am I allowed to read this book? I can’t believe I’m reading this book!”

After reading this description on Goodreads, I knew I couldn’t even begin to describe this book as well as they did:

If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl’s first reading of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret would rank near the top of the list. Judy Blume and her character Margaret Simon were the first to say out loud (and in a book even) that it is normal for girls to wonder when they are ever going to fill out their training bras. Puberty is a curious and annoying time. Girls’ bodies begin to do freakish things–or, as in Margaret’s case, they don’t do freakish things nearly as fast as girls wish they would.

Adolescents are often so relieved to discover that someone understands their body-angst that they miss one of the book’s deeper explorations: a young person’s relationship with God. Margaret has a very private relationship with God, and it’s only after she moves to New Jersey and hangs out with a new friend that she discovers that it might be weird to talk to God without a priest or a rabbi to mediate. Margaret just wants to fit in! Who is God, and where is He when she needs Him? She begins to look into the cups of her training bra for answers …

Reading this book was so much fun because it took me back to the little girl that I once was who asked the exact same things about her body. But what makes me smile is that as I’m now approaching 30, I wish I could go back to that little girl and tell her not to worry. First off, who seriously wants to get their period? I loved being pregnant simply for the fact that I had nine glorious months period free and I boo hood because breastfeeding didn’t keep it that way.

I also had to chuckle because I remember so clearly the same feelings I shared with Margaret in wondering if she could fill out her training bra. Let me share something very personal with you. My current bra size. Oh my do I dare? Ha! I (or maybe you) will probably regret this post simply for the reason that I’m being to divulgent. I can’t help it. This book brought it all out. And I apologize to my father-in-law because I know they read my blog. My bra size: I’m a 32 nearly A. Yes, a nearly A! Now, it hasn’t always been that way. I used to be a B cup and had a decent chest when I was breastfeeding. But for some reason, after my last child, I’m now smaller than when I started. I couldn’t believe it. Does it bother me? Not really but I wouldn’t mind if I could get back to that B cup either. Neither would my husband. I have to laugh because I’m smaller than many preteens out there. Thank goodness my self-esteem isn’t associated with my bra size, but oh, how I remember clearly the time when it was.

And I finally figured out where the whole I must- I must- I must increase my bust came from! I can’t tell you how excited I was to realize that this came from this book! And um, yes, I remember doing this. *shaking my head in embarrassment* And if you don’t know what I’m talking about then you need to read this one to find out!

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret reminded me of why I worried so much as a preteen. Come to think of it, this book was so much a part of my childhood that I probably was worried because Margaret convinced me I should be worried. I loved this book simply for the reason that it tells girls that they aren’t alone in their fears. And then I wish I could tell them, don’t rush. Getting your period isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be! You’ll soon wish you never go it in the first place.

I read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret during Banned Books Week, apparently people have problems with coming of age novels. When I was younger the only “talk” I got about my “changing” body was a stack of books and the assumption that I could figure it out. So for me, I was certainly glad to have Margaret.

Sidenote: My husband read my draft and told me I should sit on this for a day before I decide to really publish it. Publishing it anyways.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Natasha Maw — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:23:38 +0000

Who doesn’t love Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck? What a wonderful little book full of big ideas.

George and Lennie are two itinerant farm workers traveling from job to job in Salinas Valley, California during the 1930’s. What Lennie lacks in whits he makes up in brute strength and George who is kindhearted and sympathetic watches out for Lennie at a time when nobody else will. Both have dreams of one day owning a little piece of land. This dreams occupies Lennie’s every thought, that is, when he’s not thinking of mice, rabbits, or puppies and other soft things to pet. While Lennie’s strength is admired in the field, it’s something to be feared because he doesn’t know the limits of his own strength. That strength and his mental disability come together in a tragic way and forces George to make a decision that will affect the both of them forever.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this one although I already knew where the plot was going having read the book and watched the movie once before. I couldn’t help but be really nervous. The writing is wonderful, the foreshadowing executed to perfection, and the relationship between these two men is described in such a way that you can’t help but love them.

Steinbeck is an amazing author and I remember with fondness the period during high school were I vowed I would read every John Steinbeck novel at my library. I can still picture the aisle where his books were shelved.

As soon as I finished reading this one, I pulled out the movie, which I enjoyed. I was happy to discover that it followed the book exactly, down to the dialogue. You can watch the whole thing for free on IMDB.

I read Of Mice and Men during Banned Books Week and it has me wondering why people are so crazy as to point the finger at this one. Some people just have way to much time on their hands. As for me, I loved it and I can’t imagine a world of literature where it didn’t exist.

What’s your response to people trying to ban this book?