Banned Books Week 2012

A long time ago, there was an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson on Disney Channel that made reference to Fahrenheit 451. I don't remember much of the episode's plot (as it was a long time ago and TFJJ didn't last very long), but I do remember Jett taking part in a sit-in, and his inspiration came from Bradbury's novel.*

It's Banned Books Week! I have yet to read Fahrenheit 451 (it's on my to-read list), but I did finish my 2012 BBW read this morning: The Giver by Lois Lowry. It's one that's likely to be taught in school at some point, but for some reason, I was never in an English class that taught it. I know it wasn't because it was banned/challenged in the district; it was merely a matter of it not being on the syllabus in the English classes I took the year I took them. I managed to also miss anything by Jane Austen until college, as well as The Catcher in the Rye. We did read some fabulous literature in elementary, junior high, and high school. Plus, I had the chance to read some great literature in college courses from authors I'd hadn't encountered before then. As for the rest of them, I'm slowly making up for lost time, reading all the books I missed.

And because there are so many of them, combined with the fact that I'm a slow reader, it's taking a long time.

But, anyway: The Giver. I'm glad that I didn't know much about it going in. I knew it was a dystopian novel, and I knew it was greatly admired, but I didn't know anything about the plot. It blew me away. I gasped aloud at least twice, as realizations hit about the true horrors of the community system in which Jonas, the protagonist, lives. It's a brilliant novel, and Lowry's writing is incredible--this, I think, was the first book I'd ever read of hers, and I was so engaged that I forgot what time it was and the list of things I'd hoped to do today. And as soon as I was done, and found out there were three more books within the same series, I added them to my to-read list.

There are a lot of banned and challenged books that have been included on various lists over the years. The American Library Association has compiled lists by year, from 2001 to present day.

One of these days, I need to sit down and make my way through Brave New World. After The Casual Vacancy and The Hobbit, anyway. The freedom to read is a beautiful thing. What are you reading?



*I was curious. When I looked it up, I watched it on YouTube; someone had posted the episode in two parts (part 2).

The Weekend Before Dead Week

I'm tired. I'm annoyed that I feel like I've learned very little in my art history class because of the online lectures--a structure I don't do well with. I want to write more nonfiction but I have to wait until I have other things finished first. I feel like my French Lit teacher thinks I'm an idiot because I have a hard time speaking in French (I don't have time to think it out in my head), even though he probably doesn't. I have a lot of drawing stuff to do before Wednesday and because I don't have any kind of studio space in which to work, I'm having a hard time motivating myself to do anything at the house because I have to work in the dining room and there's TV and my roommates are usually here...

I've discovered as time goes on that I feel very uncomfortable with other people in the room when I'm drawing. It's like someone reading over your shoulder. I can feel the eyes on the drawing.

I've always had that discomfort, though. I'm fine in studio classes when we're drawing as a group until someone comes to walk around to see what everyone else is doing--that's when I get nervous and I feel my arm--and the mark-making--become really stiff. When I make rounds, I can't stand in one place too long because I don't want to do that to anyone else.

Perhaps all the time I spent holed up at home in my room in high school turned me off to any sort of ability to handle any normal social interaction. My extreme lack of confidence with drawing doesn't help, either.

But enough worrying and stressing. Linkage of interest:

First, this beautiful, wonderful ad.

Second, this video celebrating the awesomeness of free speech with quite a few awesome authors (including Sarah Dessen and John Green *cue major fangirling*).

Things I Need to Do Before Christmas:

• finish my Christmas shopping
• make serious headway in my Nano novel, considering I haven't touched it in a month
• clean the Tiny Blue Room, because everything's pell mell at this point
• reread The Outsiders (which I've been meaning to do for a long time)
• finish the last few things of schoolwork I need to do before the end of the semester on the 16th
• do some hardcore studying for my French final
• get my hair cut (or something...)

Two more weeks. I have to keep reminding myself that there's only two weeks left. 

Banned Books Week Goodness

Happy Banned Books Week! I always look forward to BBW; I get warm fuzzies around this time of year, not only because of our freedom to read but in the sheer amount of books and stories that we have at our fingertips. It's such a wonderful thing, to have the right to choose. And really, that's what this week is about. We can make the decision for ourselves.

First, FYA continues to promote awesome by poking fun at censorship. I love them so much. They are amazing. Also, this from The Literary Snob (who also reblogged this amazing post earlier this week).

Throughout the week, there have been readings and panels and other such awesomeness celebrating reading. I read from The Perks of Being a Wallflower at the Union earlier this week (the scene when Sam is up in the truck bed as they're going through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, my favorite part).

The ALA has posted many lists of challenged and banned books, including those most frequently challenged in the '90s, the 2000s, as well as by year (here's the list for 2010). If you're interested, poke around a bit. They have some really great resources and bits of information.

My Top Five Favorite Banned/Challenged Books

1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: This was one of the first books I fell for once I came to the realization of how awesome reading was (and more than just a means to get A.R. points). 
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: <3
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison: ...and the rest of the series that followed this amazing and hilarious novel.

There are more, as always. Reading is wonderful. <3 What are your favorites?

Some Points of Interest for 28 June

First, a friend of mine on Facebook linked to a picture of this Sign of Awesome. It kind of made my day.

Second, John Green has released the title of his new book, which will rock the world's socks off for sure. If you have not read any of his previous books, go now to your local library or bookstore. I'd start with Paper Towns; others would argue with me and insist on Looking for Alaska. And yes, Will Grayson, Will Grayson counts. When it comes down to it though, it does not matter, because all of them are AMAZING. John Green is a brilliant writer; you won't be disappointed.

Third, and most annoyingly, Meghan Cox Gurden responds to the uproar following her previous opinion piece. I have a hard time finding her argument sound, but I'd rather not think on it too much because it makes my brain hurt. This article has enflamed Twitter and the rest of the internet once again, even more so than her first, it seems. Two rebuttals I really like come from Gayle Forman and Bookshelves of Doom. Both are incredibly insightful but also offer different criticisms, which ups the awesomeness of each. Agreed, agreed, agreed. As for my thoughts...they are many, but one of the things that upsets me the most is that she suggests that adolescence--and all complications that come with it--can, essentially, be forgotten, like those things (some which are terrible) won't carry with you as you get older. As someone who's still trying to understand the complex and often inexplicable issues with change-overs in friends, the little things that were actually kind of huge, and has since developed a very poor sense of self-esteem from all the teasing and the unkind words, I beg to differ. YA helped me (and still does) understand myself in relation to the world, and it sure as hell didn't matter what the subject was, because I gained so much from every single YA book I read. There is a true reflection of ourselves that can be found there. It may not have the ultimate sense of influence, but even the smallest connection makes a difference.

Anyway.

FYA Strikes Again

Have I mentioned how much I love Forever Young Adult? I know I haven't posted a lot about it thus far, but rest assured I will tell you more as time goes on. They're kind of my heroes.

Anyway, they posted a clever, witty, and totally awesome response to an article that was recently published in the Wall Street Journal misinterpreting the way YA as a whole works. It is awesome (the rebuttal, not the original criticisms), and I agree with their assessment of how the WSJ handled the argument.

Slightly related: FYA has also posted their analysis of the new Breaking Dawn trailer (which was AWFUL, by the way, but made me laugh my butt off because not only did they show sexy times on Isle Esme, but also teased at pregnant Bella. HAHAHAHA). The analysis is hilarious. I love FYA so much.