tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84761954243469803152024-02-06T20:56:42.673-08:00The Book ProjectObjective: To prove that the best literature tells the truth, doesn't sugarcoat life, and is always unapologetic.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-86461501994647472252012-01-12T12:45:00.001-08:002012-01-12T13:05:52.823-08:00Non-Banned Book Update<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/BeastsOates.jpg/200px-BeastsOates.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 296px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/BeastsOates.jpg/200px-BeastsOates.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I just finished a book that hasn't been banned (that I know of), but has all of the "shock and horror" of one that is on my lists.<div><br /></div><div>Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates is a novella that delves into a short segment of the narrator/protagonist, Gillian's, life. Gillian is obsessed with her English professor, Andre Harrow. Andre is coarse, frantic and anti-establishment, and his wife Dorcas is an enigmatic sculptress of primal totems. After Dorcas happens upon Gillian following her one day, she decides she's taken a liking to her, and at length she and Andre invite her into their little world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, Gillian is not the first. Many of the girls she lives with in her dorm house have been "interns" for the Harrows before, and one day while house-sitting for them Gillian stumbles upon the disturbing details of that agreement. Still, she finds that she can't stay away, and after seeing her roommates, one by one, drift away or try to harm themselves, she is not deterred. It all crumples into a ferocious climax that leaves the reader wondering if the "beasts" Dorcas creates are simply manifestations of the beasts that dwell within human beings themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was a brilliantly crafted, haunting book, and though it left me with the strong desire to take a shower afterward, I can't shake it from my mind that easily. Well done, JCO. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-5296729256589471702012-01-09T16:52:00.000-08:002012-01-09T17:46:18.339-08:00The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie<a href="http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/Images/parttimeindian.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 500px;" src="http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/Images/parttimeindian.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>(WARNING: there are some spoilers in this post. If you don't want to read the spoilers, skip to the fifth paragraph.)</div><div><br /></div>Imagine that you're a Native American kid. You were born with "water on the brain", and as a result, you look and even act a bit different from other people. For this, you're made fun of and called names by people on the reservation you live on- and funnily enough, every single one of those people is dirt-poor, just like you. Finally, you've decided you've had enough, and after an unfortunate incident that lands a teacher with an injury and you with a suspension from school, that same teacher opens your eyes to a world outside "the rez": white kids' school. <div><br /></div><div>That's the set-up for a hilarious, semi-autobiographical account by Sherman Alexie called <i>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</i>. It's part diary, part cartoon album, as the main character, Arnold aka Junior, is a budding cartoonist and doodles a LOT. (The drawings in this book are done by Ellen Forney.) It deals with a lot more than just Arnold going to school with white kids, though that's a huge part of it; it also touches on relations not just between races, but among people of a certain race. Also, it touches upon aspects of Alexie's life, such as going to an all-white school and being born with hydrocephalus (excess of cerebral spinal fluid in the skull). </div><div><br /></div><div>Arnold's foray into a school outside the reservation not only sets off the kids already at that school, but it alienates him from many people within the rez, among them his best friend, Rowdy, the toughest kid Arnold knows. Much of the book deals with Arnold's desire to make up with Rowdy, as well as a brief rivalry between the two when both of them make their schools' varsity basketball teams. Meanwhile, Arnold makes tentative friends at his new school and gets a girlfriend, Penelope.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's also a focus on death. A number of characters die in this book, including Arnold's older sister, Mary (nicknamed "Mary Runs Away"), his father's best friend, and his grandmother. Each separate incident prompts Arnold to think about how fragile life is, why people drink, and why the best people in the world have to die. Somewhat morose for kids, but appropriate, considering so many young people have attempted or committed suicide in the past year alone. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even so, someone out there obviously thinks that no child out there can possibly bear witness or deal with alcoholism, poverty, racism, sex, not fitting in, or any type of death (whether suicide or otherwise). In April of 2010, the Stockton (Missouri) School Board<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part-Time_Indian#Banned"> removed the book from the school's library</a> after a parent complained of the content. The ALA asked the board to reconsider, but in September of that year, the Board upheld its decision and kept the book out. </div><div><br /></div><div>In mid-October of that same year, Newcastle Middle School in Wyoming tried to use the book in its eighth-grade English curriculum, and the district allowed it under the condition that students not allowed to read it would bring a signed paper allowing them to read an alternate book, <i>Tangerine</i> by Edward Bloor. Two weeks after that decision was made and the news relayed to students, the book was banned outright. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last, in Richland, Washington, during the month of June in 2011, the Richland School Board voted to prohibit the use of <i>Part-Time Indian</i> for all grade levels, subject to a pilot program involving ninth-grade English students. Soon after, the Board decided to remove it entirely, but reversed the decision a month later. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, Sherman Alexie himself has received many positive reactions for his books and speeches from young people, many of whom have gone through the things he describes in his books. This just goes to show that no matter what books, or how many of them, a group tries to get rid of, these things happen. Depression happens. Sex happens. Death happens, every day, and there's nothing a person can do to stop it. So why try to hide it? It makes no sense to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Either way, this is a wonderful book, completely accessible to younger people, and I hope more people read it.</div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-74905981835543689492011-08-12T10:22:00.000-07:002011-08-12T10:25:27.829-07:00A Link For You.I apologize for having let this blog slide so horribly since March. I will try and make it up to you with this link from the ALA's website, listing books banned and challenged in 2009. Somewhat outdated by now, I'm sure, but as I'm attempting to get more information together for my newest reviews, I thought some of my readers out there might like a list, just in case. :)
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<br /><a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2009banned.pdf">http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2009banned.pdf</a>
<br />Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-51442911919174974862011-03-22T15:02:00.001-07:002011-03-22T15:03:56.874-07:00Oh, The Places You'll Go,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lieunpyQma1qan16to1_500.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 700px;" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lieunpyQma1qan16to1_500.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>(from <a href="http://chocolatita.deviantart.com/art/Frase-Dr-Seuss-04-201743797">chocolatita.deviantart.com</a>, via <a href="http://thisotherpartofme.tumblr.com/post/4031110226">thisotherpartofme.tumblr.com</a>)Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-15274265400532370622011-03-15T09:31:00.000-07:002011-03-15T19:43:05.328-07:00Writing a Death Sentence: Salman Rushdie, His Work, and the Unforeseen Consequences<div>In writing a novel, an author no doubt has many thoughts on the process. They think of plot twists, what words work best together. They think of what it will feel like to write the final word of the final sentence, then to edit, and finally, to have to published. They dream of the success they might have with their work, if it could become one of the greatest books ever written. They certainly don't ever imagine that their books could be the literal death of them. </div><div> </div><br /><div>That, however, is what has happened to Salman Rushdie. </div><div> </div><br /><div>Born in India to parents of Muslim heritage just weeks before the nation's independence from Britain, Rushdie has endured great success with his novels, which are based mainly on his native land. Though his first work, a sci-fi novel named<em> Grimus</em>, was a blip on the screen, he compensated for its failure by writing <em>Midnight's Children</em>, a complex tale about a boy born at the stroke of the midnight of India's freedom, and consequently given the power of mind-reading and a connection with the other children born at that time. It was also his first brush with controversy: in the novel, he criticized Indira Gandhi, then prime minister of India, who nearly took him to court for defamation; however, she was assassinated before anything could go further. </div><div> </div><br /><div>His fourth novel, <em>The Satanic Verses,</em> caused a far greater stir. The book was published in 1988, and is about two men who are the sole survivors of a plane crash. One, who has retained his Indian Muslim identity, takes on the persona of the archangel Gibreel while the other, who has left behind his heritage, is transformed into a devil. The two men go their separate ways, with the "angel" committing a murder/suicide and the "devil" reconciling with his estranged identity as a Muslim.<br /><br />The striking title refers to verses apparently from the Koran which allow the person praying to appeal to three pagan goddesses. The book also was loosely based in part on the life of the prophet Muhammad as well, and it was for this reason (derogatory references/blasphemy, in Muslim leaders' eyes) that the book was banned in many Muslim countries, and eventually a fatwa (religious opinion concerning Muslim law) for Rushdie's death was proclaimed by Ayatollah Khomeini on February 14, 1989. While Rushdie has not since been harmed, others connected to the book have apparently suffered and died in the years following the fatwa.<br /><br />To think that a book, a relatively small, innocuous pile of papers bound by string and cardboard, could be so damning to a single person or group of people. To think that simple suggestions, ideas, and words printed from imagination and <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> supposed fact, could hold so much weight and even cause people to want to kill someone else. It's almost unimaginable, isn't it? But it happened to Salman Rushdie, and even though Khomeini is long gone, the fatwa and threats remain in place. It's almost terrifying to think that one can't speak his or her mind without the threat of death hanging over his/her head in some places, but unfortunately this is very true in many parts of the world. Too many, in fact.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Satanic Verses</span> is a long-weekend read, at the very least; it is dense, filled to the brim with words and lovely images and devices, and it takes you on an incredible journey (if you can hold on through the entire thing). I unfortunately was unable to finish it on my first try, but sometimes soon I will try again, and I intend to make it. This is one book that you can't let pass you by, if you ever get the chance to read it. Take the risk.<br /><br />(Sources: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses">Wikipedia</a> (links within page))<br /></div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-42187626376134802472011-03-14T08:44:00.000-07:002013-05-08T11:48:18.605-07:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167352178l/22628.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167352178l/22628.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 377px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 252px;" /></a><br />
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When you first approach and start reading this book, you wonder if it could be written any more simply; however, as you read further, you can see very clearly how teens can relate to the protagonist's feelings, thoughts and dilemmas. I had it on a list of to-reads for a while before finally stumbling upon it at my campus library, and I devoured it in two days. It moves quickly, but there is much more than just words.<br />
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Charlie is a naive teenager who is struggling a bit in school and also struggling to find his way in life. He's not very well-known, and he ends up floating around and meeting two step-siblings, Sam and Patrick. Through the book, which is composed of Charlie's letters to an anonymous "friend," we witness Charlie's growth into their hard-partying, misfit circle and also his coming of age, replete with drug experiments, first dates and first loves. We also learn about Charlie's past; his only friend committed suicide shortly before Charlie went into high school, and his aunt Helen has also passed of causes that Charlie refuses to talk about. To cope, he hangs out with Sam and Patrick (who we find out is gay), who perform in a rendering of<em> Rocky Horror</em>, reads books his English teacher Bill assigns to him on the side, and listens to music by the Smiths, Nirvana and other artists.<br />
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The book explores many topics- abortion, abusive relationships, drugs and alcohol, feminism and radicalism, suicide, homosexuality and its stigma in society. At the end, we find that Charlie has to be committed to a mental hospital for some time after sinking back into memories of his aunt Helen and what killed her. However, even with all of this in his path and in our own minds as readers, he (and we) both emerge from the conclusion with a positive notion, one that assures us that everything will be okay after all.<br />
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Of course, thanks to all of the "taboos" that <em>Wallflower</em> tackles, it has been removed from Portage (IN) High School classrooms, challenged at the West Bend Community Library in Wisconsin for containing "child pornography", and restricted in high school in Wyoming and Virginia to juniors and seniors, even though Charlie begins writing his letters in the novel as a freshman. As if teens don't go through all of these changes, all of these growing pains, and they don't face situations like these while growing up. Also, it was challenged in Montgomery County (TX) Memorial Library System along with 15 other young adult books with gay positive themes by the Library Patrons of Texas. Good old Texas, still convinced that homosexuality is sin and unnatural. Well, I've got news for you guys: it isn't. Get over it.<br />
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While I believe that kids should at least be guided while reading books such as <em>Wallflower</em> and shouldn't be given material like this at too young an age, I'm also of the opinion that kids can never be too young to learn about life. There are young people out there who already do this and more, in <em>real life.</em> That is not fiction, or a movie that one can turn off. Chbosky certainly didn't pull all of these storylines out of his own head- obviously, things like these are taken from real-life experiences or stories from others. We must stop assuming that things like this don't happen in our society, because they do.<br />
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Read this book and take heed.</div>
Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-28760241189319117282010-11-09T13:25:00.000-08:002010-11-09T13:47:49.494-08:00Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/02/03/bless.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 434px" alt="" src="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/02/03/bless.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Bless Me, Ultima</em> is one of those surprising novels, one you expect to be less intriguing than it really is. At least, that was (admittedly) my first thought of it. The novel focuses on a young boy, Antonio (or Tony), and the years spent with the woman who helped bring him into the world, an elderly <em>curandera</em> (healer) named Ultima. Tony is a precocious six-year-old with a curious, yet powerful connection to the medicine woman, even in the midst of his own troubles within himself- being torn between his mother's desire for him to be a priest or farmer, and his father's wish for him to be a <em>llanero</em>, in the countryside, wandering free and untamed. He also yearns for a strong tie to the God he so believes in, but in the events that unfold within the story, he wonders if it is best to believe in some other spiritual being, such as Mother Nature and the "presence" he feels within the river he lives by, or perhaps nothing at all.<br /><br />There are very relatable concepts and themes in this novel- family conflicts, a search for one's own identity, good versus evil and the question of religion and faith. Is there a God? and if so, who is He, really? Should one cleave to Him, or follow another path? The book itself, while simply written (even plodding in terms of writing style in some parts), still gets a strong message across to the reader, making it a spellbinding and very enjoyable book.<br /><br />Of course, the undertones of pagan worship and spiritualism in the novel have made it a target in some communities for book censors. In Norwood, Colorado, parents complained of the usage of profanity (which, in all honesty, is used quite sparingly amongst the young male characters of the novel and sometimes the men) and "pagan content," spurring the ninth-grade students reading the novel to stage an all-day sit-in inside the school to protest the book's removal. The superintendent of schools, Bob Conder, actually discarded copies of <em>Ultima</em> and then had parents get them back and destroy them. If that isn't profane, then I don't know what really is. Of course, later on in his apology, Conder admitted he based his opinion of the novel on excerpts of it, taken (more than likely) completely out of context.<br /><br />This is the problem with bannings and challenges: the people who object to the material do not take the time to read and understand it. There are so many layers to this book that readers young and old can relate to. Speaking from experience, I've definitely had instances of doubt like Tony, even now at the age of nearly twenty- such as, what should I believe in? What DO I believe in? If God exists, then why is there so much wrong with the world? Why would a God create something and then let it go to seed? I believe this is exactly what Anaya was trying to get at- after all, he creates characters which reflect it. The deep-seated Catholics are devout, yet destructive and not very representative of the true nature of the religion, and the untamed <em>llaneros</em> like Tony's father, Gabriel, are restless and violent. In the end, it is nature that wins out- Ultima's blessed, calm, and beautiful yet incredibly powerful nature, which we take very much for granted.<br /><br />I'm not saying that this book has cemented my lack of faith, because it doesn't. I do believe there is a God or some sort of higher being out there, yet the way in which man has twisted His Word has turned me away from organized religion and encouraged me to seek my own way of life- one in which I go after my desires, find what I want and also what I am meant for, and as long as I'm good to my fellow human beings and I represent Him the best way I can, He will forgive me for what I've made mistakes with. It's simple as that.<br /><br />With all of that said, please read this book. It will surely make you think about a lot of things- not just religion and family, but good and evil in general and how things are not always as they seem.</div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-87806021869494523682010-10-02T06:34:00.000-07:002010-10-02T06:37:52.591-07:00Back From the Dead, Part Two.I am horrible at keeping my promises, aren't I?<br /><br />I apologize. Things here have been frightfully hectic over the past couple of months. School is back in session, work is... well, work, and I'm caught in between commuting to both. It'll be a bit easier starting next week (I've found a job closer to home, thank goodness), but I may be distant with you still, though I'll try my best to post some things I find interesting.<br /><br />Unfortunately, my mind hasn't even been on banned books recently. I've found time to get halfway through <em>Lolita</em>, which I'll talk about in a post to come, but other than that, my well has run dry. I'm basically reading things that interest me, and have strayed from the list I so faithfully took down seven months ago. I'll get back to it, though, I promise. (Uh-oh...)<br /><br />More to come shortly. Please don't stray too far.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-30483430687836359492010-08-24T07:23:00.000-07:002010-08-24T07:46:48.546-07:00Back From The Dead.I know it's been a frightfully long time since I've written a word on this blog. Since I've started working more hours, I've had barely any time to myself- and the time I DO have, I spend unwinding via Twitter and Tumblr. I know, priorities, I must have them. :<br /><br />Anyway, I promise I'll get to talking about more banned books soon. I'm currently reading a great one- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I tweeted about it and not even a minute later I got some replies talking about how great it was, so I'm excited to read it for myself. I'll let you know how it goes!Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-6455688972327833622010-07-05T14:50:00.000-07:002010-07-05T16:27:56.477-07:00Guilty Pleasures: What's Yours?So, I just finished the latest book in the <em>House of Night</em> series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Yes, you read right. In case you have no idea what this series even is, it's about a whole school of vampires- or vampyres, as they're called in the text. This is a world that prays to a goddess, holds classes at night, and of course, drinks blood- and it is still so new to Zoey Redbird, even as she realizes her own abilities as a leader of the pack, or High Priestess. Though the books are light fare- superficial in some areas, a bit tell-y instead of show-y (sorry, <a href="http://angieothersideofthemoon.blogspot.com/2010/07/show-dont-tell.html">writer speak</a>)- I have to admire the way mother-and-daughter team P.C. and Kristin work together to create a credible vampyre world. They integrate Indian folklore as well as other stories and culture to make a great setting for their tales. And of course, the high school-type drama doesn't hurt its appeal to teens, either.<br /><br />Anyway, when you consider some of my favorite books (I'll definitely make a list sometime in the near future), it is kind of strange that I like such a... fluffy... series. However, I guess we all need something to take the edge off of our serious reading lives. So? What are some of your "guilty pleasures" in reading?Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-72624682592536401212010-07-02T15:10:00.000-07:002010-07-02T17:01:18.491-07:00I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou<a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x1/x7195.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 245px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 398px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x1/x7195.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This is one of those books that many people read when they get into high school. For me, it was a book I'd always meant to check out, but never truly got the time to. Now, thanks to this massive undertaking I call my Little Book Project, I've found the M.O.<br /><br /><em>I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</em> is the story of the early life of Marguerite Johnson, better known as Maya to her brother Bailey, or "Sister" to her grandmother, called Momma. Left behind for most of their childhood in Stamps, Arkansas to live with their grandmother, they only see glimpses of their well-to-do father (who turns out to be a drunkard) and their high-class mother (rumored to be a whore by some). One day, during a visit to her mother in St. Louis, Maya is raped at the age of eight by her mother's boyfriend, Mr. Freeman, and chooses to be largely silent from then on. As time goes on, she develops and then breaks free from an inferiority complex, and finds her identity as a woman and a minority.<br /><br />An interesting anecdote regarding the book: Angelou was challenged to write it by fellow author James Baldwin and editor Robert Loomis as an autobiography that is also a work of literature. The result became a complex and amazing story, ending with the unexpected feat of becoming a mother at the age of 17 after an awkward coupling with a boy she barely knows. The themes in this book are incredible- racism, the wonder of books, finding one's identity, motherhood in all of its forms, etc. Angelou's prose sings just like the poetry she so wonderfully writes, creating unforgettable images of life as she saw it back then in Stamps. Of course, the vividness is a part of the reason why it's caused plenty of controversy. <em>Caged Bird</em> has been censored in no fewer than five different school districts in more than five different states, and that's just <a href="http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/books/cagedbird.asp">according to the Marshall University Library system. </a>Apparently, it depicts rape, homosexuality, and other themes in a tasteless manner. From some of the complaints I've read concerning this classic, I picked it up nearly expecting it to be full of filth on each page. Far from it. Angelou makes sure the event of her rape is painful enough for the reader to know it was wrong; however, more often she creates images of beauty and hope that fulfill the reader. Though the event of an unplanned pregnancy at a young age is also a concern, Angelou doesn't even make it seem like it's a bad thing, and that is what a great writer does.<br /><br />If you haven't ever read this book, I insist you do when you get the first possible chance. Borrow it from a library or pick it up in a bookstore; just read it, because even with all of its rough edges it is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. To know that this woman came from practically nothing to become one of the most influential authors in the literary world is astounding, and shows her true strength. At the risk of sounding cliché... this is a definite must-read.</div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-81681327605087381332010-06-24T12:15:00.000-07:002010-06-24T13:09:19.540-07:00Jodi Picoult: Banned AuthorOnce more, I write to focus on the collective work of a certain author; in this case, one of a very different mold (or maybe not) than Pat Conroy, and certainly one of a different mold than George Orwell. Jodi Picoult seemingly writes for a specific audience- women, mostly- yet her books tackle tough subjects, and ones that anyone- male, female, young, old, etc.- can relate to or be touched by.<br /><br />The term "tough subjects" is no overstatement; Picoult's books deal with topics such as suicide, teen pregnancy, depression, violence in schools and a child's right to her own body. Because of this, they have been censored in various school districts. Parents have even confronted Picoult publicly on their opinion of her writing being "smut" and "trash." Also, Picoult's hometown of Hanover, N.H. has pulled her books, <em>The Pact</em> and <em>Nineteen Minutes; </em>the latter censoring came on the grounds that the layout of the school in her novel (about a mass murder by a student at his high school) too closely resembles that of Hanover's high school. <em>Nineteen</em> was also restricted in a high school in Beardstown, IL, with the students having to obtain parental consent, due to "foul language" and "sexual content." (Not to the subject matter, however.) Another book of hers, <em>My Sister's Keeper</em>, was one of 2009's most challenged books due to sexism (?), homosexuality (??), offensive language, sexual content, religious viewpoints (figure that one out too), drugs, violence and suicide.<br /><br />Despite all of this, her books are a success with readers, largely because they explore the mindset of teens; how they feel, think, act. Many young adults feel the emotions she displays ring true, as do I. While some of her writing is a bit trite, I do think she effectively portrays many of the struggles of being a teenager in American society, and the pressures, struggles, and confusions that ensue. That, and not the bans, is the important thing. As stated in so many of my posts, all of the things she writes about are present in America. No amount of censoring changes it; the best parents can do is educate their children on what's out there and how to deal with it.<br /><br />You can read an article Picoult wrote about censorship and her role in it <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_new/PAW04-05/15-0608/perspective.html">here</a>.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-38859686686439954582010-06-10T09:17:00.000-07:002010-06-12T10:27:05.555-07:00Pat Conroy, Banned AuthorPat Conroy is a name perhaps perpetually linked with the word "censorship." At least three of his books have been removed from shelves due to their weighty, serious themes- those of suicide, mental illness, rape and death.<br /><br />For example, the book <em>The Prince of Tides</em> deals with at least three of the above themes outright- it centers upon the Wingo family, with surviving son Tom as narrator. His older brother Luke was killed, and his twin sister Savannah has attempted suicide repeatedly and struggles with depression and schizophrenia. Savannah blames their childhood on the reason why they are so screwed up- their father, Henry, abused them regularly, and their social-climber of a mother, Lila, would never let them speak of it for fear that it would hurt their image. The same spoke true for an unspeakable event in their past- a brutal episode in which a man nicknamed "Callanwolde" escapes from prison with two other men and attacks the family, raping Tom, Savannah and Lila. The only reason they survived was because Luke came home, discovered the attack and set the family tiger, Caesar- a product of one of Henry's many failed business dealings- on two of the men. Tom kills his own attacker. In the years afterward, Savannah tries hard (and fails) to take on the life of a new person by moving to New York, and Tom tries to move on and live a normal life with his wife, Sallie, to no avail. Tom ends up traveling to New York to help his sister, and finds a connection with Savannah's psychiatrist and her son.<br /><br />Another book of his, <em>Beach Music,</em> centers on Jack, a food critic and author with his own demons in the South who moves to Italy with his daughter Leah after his wife, Shyla, commits suicide. There he escapes from his family- alcoholic father Johnson Hagood, ailing mother Lucy, brothers Dupree, Dallas, Tee and John Hardin (the last of whom is schizonphrenic), in-laws (who tried to get custody of Leah), and friend Capers Middleton, who sold out another friend of theirs, Jordan Elliott. Jordan is also in Italy, transformed from anti-Vietnam protester (and accidental murderer) to Catholic priest and in hiding from prosecution for the deaths of two people. When Lucy ends up nearly on her deathbed from her leukemia, Jack comes back to South Carolina and subsequently brings his past with him, realizing why he stayed away- and also, why it's imperative for him to come back.<br /><br />Though at times both of these novels are terribly melodramatic (especially in terms of dialogue), they are almost irresistible- compulsively readable, funny in spite of their weight. The characters are well-developed, and Conroy makes no bones about tackling tough subjects such as the ones illustrated in these stories. Likewise, parents have sought to ban his works with the same sort of efficiency. In Charleston, W.Va., parents at Nitro High School attempted to ban these two works for depictions of violence, sexual content, language, sexual assault, and suicide. A student of Nitro High School, Mackenzie Hatfield, got in touch with Conroy and informed him through email that his books were being censored, thus bringing him into the ring. He <a href="http://timeenoughatlast.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/pat-conroy-banned-books-and-censorship/">replied to her</a>, calling the censors "idiots" and maintains that his books reflect real life, in which good and bad happens, quite obviously. I'm in full agreement with him on this. As I quote from his email:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><blockquote>About the novels your county just censored: “The Prince of Tides” and “Beach Music” are two of my darlings, which I would place before the altar of God and say, “Lord, this is how I found the world you made.” They contain scenes of violence, but I was the son of a Marine Corps fighter pilot who killed hundreds of men in Korea, beat my mother and his seven kids whenever he felt like it, and fought in three wars. My youngest brother, Tom, committed suicide by jumping off a fourteen-story building; my French teacher ended her life with a pistol; my aunt was brutally raped in Atlanta; eight of my classmates at The Citadel were<br />killed in Vietnam; and my best friend was killed in a car wreck in Mississippi last summer. Violence has always been a part of my world. I write about it in my books and make no apology to anyone. In “Beach Music,” I wrote about the Holocaust and lack the literary powers to make that historical event anything other than grotesque. <p></p></blockquote></blockquote><br />When you read of a history such as that one, how can you possibly ask him to write about only happy things? Of course one might wonder exactly why he focuses on the horrible side of things, but he is enough of a talented writer to make these subjects accessible, if a bit hard to stomach at first. The job of a writer is to make one's story realistic- to shock readers, to make them laugh, cry, react. No writer wants to hear that his or her book lulled someone to sleep. No one wants to hear that his or her book isn't something someone out there can relate to. Conroy achieves his purpose, and he does it well. That is the most important thing. In the end, the books were returned to the classroom on the condition that students be offered alternative reading material. <br /><br />There is another book of Conroy's I haven't yet read, called <em>The Lords of Discipline;</em> I'll most likely update this post with my review of that book, or perhaps even create a new one about it. As for you... read one of Conroy's books on your own, and decide for yourself whether or not Nitro was right in censoring them.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-60697952645940490972010-06-05T09:26:00.001-07:002010-06-05T09:29:46.715-07:00An Apology.<a href="http://dangerousbooks.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/autobio_malcolmx.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://dangerousbooks.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/autobio_malcolmx.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I am very, very sorry I haven't written in what feels like a month. Having just started a new job, plus going to Springville almost every other weekend, I haven't quite had much time. I promise I'm still reading, though, and I will definitely give you more banned books to check out soon. In fact, when I'm not working, I'm making trips to the library to check out everything they've got. I've checked off quite a few books. Reviews to come shortly.</div><br /><div>Right now, on my currently-reading list is <em>The Autobiography of Malcolm X. </em>I'm kind of surprised I've never read this before, whether for a class or just on my own. Ah, well. I'll be finishing it soon though. Maybe I'll write a review for it. So far, it's pretty riveting, although true to what I imagined it would be as well. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-87731753061111663022010-05-23T18:07:00.000-07:002010-06-05T09:25:33.917-07:00Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson<a href="http://bengalspurr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/SnowFallingOnCedars-764186.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 249px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 408px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://bengalspurr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/SnowFallingOnCedars-764186.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This book showed up to me first on the shelves of my high school library. I looked at it for a while before putting it back, convinced that I wasn't really interested, yet ever since then it beckoned me to it. I didn't answer its call until recently, when I saw it first on a banned books list online, then on the shelf at my local library. Finally, I picked it up, and was astounded.</div><br /><div><em>Snow Falling on Cedars</em> is ultimately a beautifully-written book, simple (though full of details- you may want to skip a few dull parts) yet it calls forth emotions you can only feel, not describe. It is the tale of a Japanese-American man, Kabuo Miyamoto, on trial for the murder of one of his neighbors, an old friend-turned-rival named Carl Heine. It is also the story of Kabuo's wife, Hatsue, who had a romance when she was younger with an American boy, Ishmael Chambers. Ishmael, now a war veteran and a reporter, finds out the truth about the night of Carl's death- and it can set Kabuo free. But it's a battle between his sense of justice and his bitterness about the way his affair with Hatsue ended, mixed with a general hatred of the Japanese after losing his arm in WWII. </div><br /><div>The book is a bit descriptive of sexual encounters between teenaged Hatsue and Ishmael, including a near-episode of sexual intercourse. However, this isn't the only reason why it has been censored. The book has faced backlash since (as far as I can tell) 1999, when it was banned from classrooms and a library in a Boerne, TX high school because of depictions of violence, sex, and racial bigotry. (Granted, the war scenes in the book are also quite graphic.) It was restricted in Kitsap, WA in 2001, challenged in Modesto, CA for use in Advanced English classes in 2004, pulled from Grade 11 classes in a Catholic school in Toronto, Ontario in 2007 and challenged in the Coeur d'Alene (ID) School District in 2008. </div><br /><div>The Catholic school, perhaps I can imagine; everyone else should really be ashamed. If you consider the time period in the book, and the subject matter, then of course you're going to read about racial bigotry; it was nearly a common trait back in those days after the war. If you mention WWII, you're going to have violence. That's war. Contrary to popular belief, it is not sunshine and daisies. And of course, if you write about a romance between two characters, it's very likely there's going to be sex involved. Sorry to burst your "we need to protect our children" bubble, but they've probably seen this all on MTV anyway if they're in high school. </div><br /><div>This is a gripping, heavy and important read that everyone should enjoy. If you like your plot fast-paced, then perhaps it's not for you; the plot opens up slowly, leaving plenty of room for detail and imagery. Also, though the characters at times seem unsympathetic, the way they are written allows for the reader to understand their humanity. Overall, a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-31900669933862109732010-05-20T09:08:00.000-07:002010-05-20T09:34:53.532-07:00My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmcsJacTXLSmUOga5ITFGeHhLStCQDlb9kld3488Ov1onoBGTlUOuvU1zDD8F7lk8UrghNESsTvd85YtCWJAr4ZcPBlawD3S4eM3Zz0qCG9qBOjYEvGjx6KzTqEGuV1LUkosRvz-hvxI/s320/my+heart.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmcsJacTXLSmUOga5ITFGeHhLStCQDlb9kld3488Ov1onoBGTlUOuvU1zDD8F7lk8UrghNESsTvd85YtCWJAr4ZcPBlawD3S4eM3Zz0qCG9qBOjYEvGjx6KzTqEGuV1LUkosRvz-hvxI/s320/my+heart.bmp" /></a><br /><div>For many a teenager, sexuality is a source of confusion. You begin to feel things during puberty that you're unsure you should be feeling. You start wondering what girls or boys you find attractive. You begin experimenting. Contrary to what the old-fashioned of us may believe, it's completely normal- even if you think you may like someone who's the same sex as you.<br /><br />This book deals with that secondhand, through the perspective of a fourteen-year-old named Ellen. She loves her older brother Link, and thinks she is in love with his best friend, James. It isn't until she goes to high school for the first time and begins to find "friends" of her own that she begins to wonder if Link and James aren't just friends, but a couple. When she brings it up, Link vehemently denies it, and that breaks up his relationship with James. Soon, Ellen finds herself in her own relationship with James, who finds that he is perhaps not gay but bisexual, and wonders if she's just a placeholder for her brother until he finds his way.<br /><br />This book is better-written than <em>The Drowning of Stephan Jones</em> by far. It deals with the topic of sexuality and the debates that come with it in a more realistic and delicate tone. Ellen's voice is sincere and refreshingly innocent. There's no graphic descriptions of gay sex, no gratuitous swearing (though the "f" word for gay people is used), and overall I think Freymann-Weyr broaches this topic very well, in a way that teens can understand it without getting deep into the nitty-gritty details.<br /><br />Still, it has been challenged. <a href="http://www.sibbap.org/booksmp.htm">Fairfax County Elementary/Middle School Library Systems have faced complaints about this book </a>(scroll down to second title for info on this book) due to the "sexual" content (Ellen loses her virginity to James), the topic of homosexuality, and the use of alcohol by the underaged characters. <a href="http://www.abffe.com/bbw-fayetteville.htm">Fayetteville, Arkansas parents </a>have accused this book and librarians who support it of "promoting a homosexual agenda" (remember that conversation?) and object to the profanity and depictions of gay sex. (Where, exactly, are those?) The Library Patrons of Texas also have tried to remove this book. To my knowledge, they haven't succeeded.<br />I've complained about those who have used the "homosexual agenda" to ban and challenge books before, so I won't do it again. I'll only say that the proponents of the ban are wrong. The mere mention of homosexuality in any book is not grounds to ban it, by any means. Gay people are a part of this society, and no amount of sticking your head in the ground or fighting exposure is going to change that. So, if you're looking for a good, quick read that deals with a tough topic, pick this one up.</div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-5256246591072154022010-05-19T15:54:00.000-07:002010-05-19T16:41:33.571-07:00George Orwell: Banned Author (Dystopian Novels, Part Two)<div><br /><br /><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.houdinination.com/covers/orwell_1984.jpg" />In all honesty, I suppose you could call this Part Three, seeing as another, perhaps more juvenile but certainly fitting part of this book sect is <em>The Giver</em> by Lois Lowry. (Not to mention <em>Fahrenheit 451, </em>so perhaps Part Four.) I've realized this perhaps a bit too late, but I'll make up for it when I write about <em>Brave New World</em> by Aldous Huxley (which I WILL read sometime along the way, even though I'm dreading it).<br /><div>Anyway, on with the show. George Orwell's one of those writers which you fully expect to be on a banned list, just because he brushes elbows, literature-wise, with "taboo" topics such as communism and censorship. These two topics are the main focuses (foci?) of <em>Animal Farm</em> and <em>1984</em>, respectively. The former is an allegory to the Stalin regime, in the form of- what else?- a farm; the latter is a glimpse into a world where one who thinks for him- or herself will be arrested. Needless to say, certain governments would not be pleased- or parents, for that matter. </div><br /><div><em>Animal Farm</em> was banned by the Soviet government because of its political content (background: Orwell was in fact a critic of Stalin during his regime), as well as Kenya and Yugoslavia, among other countries. In 1982, Dekalb County, Georgia challenged the book. As for <em>1984,</em> there's been some debate over what it actually stands for. When it was first reviewed, critics thought of the book as a veiled attack against Stalin; however, parents in Jackson County, Florida would later want it removed from classrooms on the grounds that it is pro-communist. (Source: <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1842832_1842838_1845280,00.html">Time.com</a>) According to <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/1984">Squidoo.com</a>, Orwell has also been accused of writing <em>1984</em> with an anti-Semitist slant based on the character of Goldstein, the "Enemy of the Party."</div><a href="http://ayesha5.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/theanimalfarm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 178px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ayesha5.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/theanimalfarm.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I first read <em>Animal Farm </em>on my own in my sophomore year of high school because I was curious about a book I had heard of for a couple of years now. I also read <em>1984</em> twice- once in my fall semester of senior year for pleasure reading, then again in my spring semester for my Lit of Censorship class. My teacher was beyond enthusiastic about teaching us the finer points of Orwell's prose, and while it left much to be desired- very dry, very bleak- it was also somewhat enlightening, and it left me with the warning it intended: never take anything at face value from your government, and fight for your freedoms. A cynical message, perhaps, but truthful enough. </div><br /><div>Altogether, I guess Orwell's won out- his books have been translated into many languages, and there are millions of copies in print, not to mention he is still being taught in high school English courses. At least our society (partially) knows the value of his work, and though the kids may be bored to death with it, I would hope they learn something from reading both of these books. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://blog.bookcoverarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/pieratt_1984.jpg" /></div></div></div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-2807434667069159012010-05-16T19:38:00.001-07:002010-05-19T13:00:07.890-07:00The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Dystopian Novels, Part One)<a href="http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/the-handmaids-tale.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 251px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 381px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/the-handmaids-tale.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It seems to be a recurring pattern here- if you write a book about a world that scares people, you're going to find those who want to ban it. It's happened with so many books I've read- <em>The Giver,</em> which I've recently reviewed, as well as the novels of George Orwell, <em>Brave New World</em> by Aldous Huxley, and a book I've recently finished, <em>The Handmaid's Tale</em> by Margaret Atwood. The latter of these books is a whirlwind, and it ties with <em>1984</em> as the one that scares me the most. </div><br /><div>It's simple: imagine a world where women have absolutely no rights. They are not allowed to read or write. They are given positions and ranks, and if you don't follow the rules you're banished to either serve men akin to a prostitute or slowly die in a cloud of toxic fumes. Perhaps the most thankless job is that of the Handmaid, a glorified breeder who services the highest-ranking men, or Commanders, by giving them children. There's no pleasure in the sex, or the "Ceremony," and the wife of your Commander hates you on principle. This is the life that the main character, Offred, lives. It's only by the grace of God, or a higher being elsewhere, that she can even remember her husband and daughter. </div><br /><div><em>The Handmaid's Tale</em> is a scary look at what is true for very many societies today- not the exact replica of real-world societies, but close enough. To think that in another country I, as a woman, would not be allowed to read, or would be given my father's name- Offred= Of Fred, Ofglen= Of Glen, etc.- or even in this one in the future, shocks me to my bones. After reading this full-to-the-brim novel, I find myself perhaps more affected than when I read <em>1984</em> (about a society ultimately unable to think for itself- men and women alike), simply because the society Atwood created targets women specifically. We, in her story, have become the servants of men. Granted, we still govern mainly among ourselves, but we have no true power to speak of. </div><br /><div>This powerful book is peppered with sexual innuendos, suicide references, and some swear words, all used to convey the dire sense of oppression and desperation Ofglen and her fellow women feel in this world. Consequently, the Judson, TX school superintendent at first banned the book from AP English classes, only to see the ban overturned by the school board after parents, teachers and students appealed. Upper Moreland, PA schools also downgraded the novel to "optional", rather than "required" reading material for 11th graders for "age-inappropriate" material. (Also <a href="http://www.sibbap.org/thehandmaidstale.htm">see here for a complete description by one group as to why the book should be removed from classrooms.</a> ) The sex in this book is merely for procreation, not for enjoyment, whereas the allusions to death, except for a couple of graphic descriptions, are simply that- allusions. The profanity in this book is spoken by all adult characters, and it is no more than what you'd expect from typical highschoolers. Overall, I can't see why parents or school officials would think that this book is age-inappropriate when much worse is being shown on TV and in music videos. </div><br /><div>As for the writing, Atwood's prose is dripping with metaphor, description and flowery language that at times is hard to follow. You will have to read passages and sometimes even single sentences a second time just to digest all that is being said. Some aspects of the plot could have been better laid out- I think Offred's former husband Luke, as well as their daughter, and their whereabouts could have been more thought into, rather than just sticking with her life with the Commander and his wife, former singer Serena Joy. However, Atwood gets her point across very well, and paints a portrait of a world none of us could ever think real, but (once again) is very close to the truth in some poorer countries, as stated before. I would recommend this book only if you enjoy reading deeper, more complicated stories, or are looking for a book that will occupy your time- the way I read it, hungrily in two days, is not really the best way to go. I'll be rereading it somewhere along the way, most likely.</div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-32581273924265377182010-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:002010-05-16T19:36:48.113-07:00The Drowning of Stephan Jones by Bette Greene<a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n63/n317962.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 273px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 441px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n63/n317962.jpg" /></a>I came across this book in the library, as noted before, after putting it on the very long list of banned books I have yet to read. After finishing it, unfortunately I am left wanting.<br /><br />This is the story of a small town in Arkansas with a devout connection to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit- so much so that when a homosexual couple comes to live amongst its people, turmoil ensues. The sad story is seen alternately through the eyes of Carla, the teenaged daughter of a very liberal librarian, and Frank Montgomery, one half of the targeted couple. There are many layers to this story- Carla's fixation with Andy Harris, the ringleader of the group that harasses Frank and his partner, Stephan Jones, that has her trying to conform to please him, as well as Andy's and the rest of the town's hatred of homosexuals fueled by the church and its pastor Roland Wheelwright. Then there's Carla's mother, Judith, who faces constant scrutiny and censorship for her book and display choices by the townsfolk, and then Stephan Jones himself, who studied for the priesthood before coming to terms with his sexuality and harbors a deep fear of the water. All of these, which come to a head in the violent climax of the novel, are wonderful premises; however, Greene doesn't do much to see them through. Her writing is clumsy at best, with unrealistic dialogue and paragraphs of description that run longer than they should. All of this makes for a reading experience that, rather than enlightens you, makes you keep from rolling your eyes- and that's a shame, considering the weight and intensity of the topic, not to mention its importance.<br /><br />All the same, though, someone somewhere saw fit to try and remove it from bookshelves. The Library Patrons of Texas (another Southern state- go figure) objected to the content of the book, and it was also banned in a school district in South Carolina. Without being too prejudiced toward either of these fine states, I can easily imagine why the book would be banned there; the topic of homosexuality is not at all a popular one there. They probably imagined that a <a href="http://angiesbookproject.blogspot.com/2010/04/rainbow-boys-by-alex-sanchez-and.html">"homosexual agenda"</a> was being promoted, as with so many of the other books on my banned list.<br /><br />As it's written right now, Greene's novel will surely resonate with her target audience (teens)- it's bold and gets straight to the point, and its overall message is powerful. However, I would have liked to see a bit more subtle writing, as well as some more realism. The town could be one anywhere in the Bible Belt, and the characters anywhere in the country, but the reader can sense a false tone in the writing itself, and that sours it for me.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-74235984748565663712010-05-10T11:20:00.001-07:002010-05-10T11:28:02.287-07:00Library Expedition #2So, I very narrowly avoided catastrophe earlier this afternoon on my second official visit to the library. I made my way to the Young Adult section without much expectation, and found a score of books on the list I have yet to read through. At least ten books, I kid you not. Needless to say, I wanted to take them all out, but that was impossible- I only have a little messenger bag! So I settled for <em>The Drowning of Stephan Jones</em> by Bette Greene, <em>The Diary of Anne Frank: The Definitive Edition,</em> and <em>The Handmaid's Tale</em> by Margaret Atwood. Then, not even fifteen minutes after getting my receipt for these books, I found <em>Nineteen Minutes</em> and <em>My Sister's Keeper</em> by Jodi Picoult- both banned books- and a book not on the list, <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em> by Lauren Weisberger. (Don't judge, I just saw the movie and liked it.) Needless to say, I became incredibly indecisive. Go back up there and get another receipt, or wait until I return <em>City of Light</em> by Lauren Belfer (almost halfway through)? Decisions, decisions. The insatiable bookworm in me wanted badly to go up there NOW, especially after having seen a woman march up to the counter with at least six hardcovers in her arms. However, I weighed the pros and cons. Lots to carry... walking home... would I be able to finish them all before June 1? Hmm. Thankfully, my mother's voice came floating back to me, saying, "You have enough books... finish the ones you have now." She always was more sensible. Usually.<br /><br />I ended up walking out of the library before I could give in to weakness. But I vow to take out those books once I return <em>City of Light</em> at the end of the week. It's happening.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-15545996491838413152010-05-05T08:56:00.000-07:002010-05-05T08:58:09.106-07:00This is about the worst thing that could ever happen to a book.<a href="http://z.about.com/d/classiclit/1/0/K/n/2/iStock_000000332718XSmall_bookburning.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 425px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://z.about.com/d/classiclit/1/0/K/n/2/iStock_000000332718XSmall_bookburning.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Please, don't let it happen. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-34551072075065183542010-05-05T06:14:00.000-07:002010-05-05T06:41:53.566-07:00On Libraries...Recently, I've been very interested in how libraries are viewed in our society. I realize now more than ever that my peers just aren't interested in reading- more on their Facebook pages and what's going down on the next episode of "Jersey Shore" than anything else. It's sad, but a veritable fact. Kids in my high school never wanted to read, either for school or on their own- they could find about a million "better" things to do, including stupid stunts or prank calls. Um. Fun. Even my brother thinks this way- at least, if you can believe <em>his</em> Facebook. He has books, but I don't think I've ever seen him touch them. It's a huge difference from me- I've been reading since the age of three, and remember being so excited as a little girl, when my mom would take me to the library every couple of weeks. It was she who instilled a love of reading in me, and for that I'm thankful.<br /><br />Anyway, the fact is that kids (and people in general- even politicians) don't see the value of reading, and thus the value of libraries is also diminished. Meanwhile, there is much more to a library than just books- you can borrow movies there, you can use the Internet, and many libraries also hold documents about your neighborhood or city. Plus, it's a place where you can get stuff for free. All you have to do is return it on time. What could be better than that?<br /><br />If you're interested in supporting libraries, check out this group on FB:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=77&post=460&uid=110609512299912#!/group.php?gid=110609512299912">http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=77&post=460&uid=110609512299912#!/group.php?gid=110609512299912</a><br /><br />You'll find people just like you, who love libraries and what they offer to the communities they're in. If you can, stop politicians and the like from cutting funding to libraries. Go to your local library, donate books and use the institution all you can. It offers an entire world to you that would be very hard to discover otherwise, what with the expense of books and general indifference toward reading many people show nowadays.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-29145345564177996262010-05-02T08:26:00.000-07:002010-05-02T09:33:46.856-07:00Just Listen by Sarah Dessen<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/7qt2Wl990ZlkLt3idKFpQ34bZrZs2LDS1VqwWMk1BHpXyHBRvLk6htrn1DZGRZChmtPSlVbW4mzXxUg9uK0kxVktA4z5SqTr/n1646761.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 244px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 329px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/7qt2Wl990ZlkLt3idKFpQ34bZrZs2LDS1VqwWMk1BHpXyHBRvLk6htrn1DZGRZChmtPSlVbW4mzXxUg9uK0kxVktA4z5SqTr/n1646761.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Though I'm not much for teen fiction books, Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors to read. I started reading her in eighth grade (if I remember correctly) with <em>Dreamland,</em> then went on to <em>This Lullaby, That Summer </em>and then <em>Someone Like You</em> and <em>The Truth About Forever.</em> Her books are entertaining, funny and thoughtful, and while her writing isn't always the most descriptive, her stories resonate with readers. Though my favorite book remains <em>This Lullaby,</em> <em>Just Listen </em>does come in a close second. </div><br /><div>This book is about a girl named Annabel. She's a reluctant model with seemingly the perfect life- though things are far from perfect. Her middle sister Whitney struggles with an eating disorder, and after a party in which she had a bad encounter with her former friend Sophie's boyfriend, Will, Sophie's set out to make her life hell. However, through it all, Annabel finds comfort, friendship and then love from an unlikely source- Owen Armstrong, a music junkie going through anger management. Through him and his friend Rollie, she re-connects with her former best friend Clarke and finds strength within herself- the strength to tell others the truth and to just listen to herself. </div><br /><div>This book was challenged at the Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida in 2007; it was considered "too intense" for teens. Chairperson Jennifer Faliero even ventured as far as to call the book "repulsive," because of its dealing with an attempted rape. Now, I wouldn't call the book's dealings with it "repulsive" in the least; rather, Dessen shows female readers through Annabel and another victim of Will's, Emily, that this crime is not the girl's fault and moreover that you can find the strength to go on after something like this happens. Like it or not, there are plenty of Will Cash characters out there in real life who prey on girls and then act innocent, as though they were minding their own business when the girl "came on to them." It's infuriating, but true, and no amount of book censoring is going to change that; rather, it may just let the real-life culprits believe they can continue getting away with it. </div><br /><div>In short, I'd recommend this and any of Dessen's books to teenage girls and young women. Dessen writes stories that the female reader can relate to, as well as being entertained by them. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-76724821529063500562010-04-26T12:47:00.000-07:002010-04-26T13:38:39.420-07:00The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger<a href="http://smallhandsbigbooks.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/the_catcher_in_the_rye-large1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 374px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://smallhandsbigbooks.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/the_catcher_in_the_rye-large1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>If you can believe me (and I hope you can), I first read this book in FIFTH grade- way before I knew what it was really all about. Still, I got the impression that it had a deeper meaning than just on the surface. Now, after reading it several times, I have a much better grasp of its theme and what the main character, Holden Caulfield, stands for. </div><br /><div>Holden is a young man who's just been expelled from a fancy prep school for a poor academic record. Unwilling to come home early and talk to his parents about it, he kills time in New York City until he's due to go back home. This novel is a record of those three days, including a fight with his roommate just before leaving, a night spent with three tourists girls at a club, an awkward encounter with a prostitute, and a humorous drunken episode. Throughout the book, Holden describes the people he came into contact with at Pencey and even some of the girls he's been out with as "phony"; he also embodies the confusion and angst many teenagers go through, making him one of the best-known characters in American literature. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>However, because of his excessive swearing and rebellious attitude, this book has been through the wringer in terms of censorship. According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye">Wikipedia</a>, between the years 1961 and 1982 <em>The Catcher in the Rye</em> was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States. The use of profane language, sexual references, blasphemy and Holden's "being a poor role model" are just a few of the reasons. I admit that during the time it was written, people likely had never read such words in print before; my first time reading it I remember hiding it from my mom because I was worried she would take it away. However, without all of this language and references, how else was the author going to create a credible, honest character? I also have to object at some of the other reasons. I don't believe Holden was ever truly meant to be a role model; rather, he is more of a character that teens can relate to, and whom they can see in themselves. The way I've interpreted it, he may also be the kind of character Salinger created to show adults their own faults, with the suggestion being that youth rebels because it doesn't find any truth in those who are meant to show it to them. In fact, one of the youngest characters in the novel other than Holden- his kid sister Phoebe- is the one whom Holden reveres as a hero. Not every novel is written with a clear, noble hero in mind; often the protagonists with the most faults can teach us the most about life, the world and ourselves. If creating a fallible character is blasphemy... well, every novelist is in danger of hellfire- and most of the human population, for that matter.</div><br /><div>At any rate, read this book if you haven't already, because it is definitely a great one. The late Salinger has written a classic which teens and adults alike should read and hold dear, and many authors themselves have paid homage to. </div>Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476195424346980315.post-18206251354416690262010-04-24T11:11:00.000-07:002010-04-24T11:44:30.641-07:00Success!I have (finally) successfully obtained a library card. Yes, the Buffalo and Erie County Library system is at my fingertips. Of course, the branch right around the corner from my house isn't the biggest one around- a small young adult section (just one shelf and a spinning rack, really) and only one book at a time by some authors. I'll most likely have to look elsewhere for all of the books I have yet to read, but it is wonderful just to sit there, around so many books, and know that I can take any of them home. Today it was <em>Beach Music </em>by Pat Conroy and <em>Snow Falling On Cedars</em> by David Guterson, along with <em>City of Light </em>by Lauren Belfer (which is based right here in the city of Buffalo, in the time of Grover Cleveland). My mom is right, I hardly need any <em>more</em> books to add to my reading list, but I can't help it. I feel that no one could ever possibly have too many books. There's always so much more to read and learn. :)<br /><br />With that said, I am on my way to finishing <em>Madame Bovary</em> by Gustave Flaubert, another banned book (this time by, I believe, a government). I'll get to explaining the specifics once I finish. I also still have a handful of past reviews to get to, so in short, I've got quite a bit of work to do, and all of this before I start my actual job- at Dick's Sporting Goods, on Tuesday. Oh, the mundane. But a job's a job, and I feel as though I already work two full-time jobs, what with this blog and the NHL playoffs causing me to frequently update my other one. Oh, and have I mentioned I'm starting work on a story? Hopefully this one will turn into the novel I've always planned to write. Oh, life.Angelica Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991986908597881973noreply@blogger.com0