Banned Books Week 2022 - Some challenged favorites

The National Council of Teachers of English has compiled an eight page list of the works it has defended from 2002 - 2018. The sheer number of works...books, comics, films...on this list is astounding!

You can check out the link here.

Below is a list of some of my favorite books and the reason(s) they were banned/challenged.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

• Burned in Alamagordo, NM (2001) outside Christ Community Church along with other Tolkien novels as satanic.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Challenged in Eden Valley, MN (1977) and temporarily banned due to words "damn" and "whore lady" used in the novel.
• Challenged in the Vernon Verona Sherill, NY School District (1980) as a "filthy, trashy novel."
• Challenged at the Warren, IN Township schools (1981) because the book does "psychological damage to the positive integration process" and "represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature." After unsuccessfully trying to ban Lee's novel, three black parents resigned from the township human relations advisory council.
• Challenged in the Waukegan, IL School District (1984) because the novel uses the word "nigger."
• Challenged in the Kansas City, MO junior high schools (1985). Challenged at the Park Hill, MO Junior High School (1985) because the novel "contains profanity and racial slurs." Retained on a supplemental eighth grade reading list in the Casa Grande, AZ Elementary School District (1985), despite the protests by black parents and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People who charged the book was unfit for junior high use.
• Challenged at the Santa Cruz, CA Schools (1995) because of its racial themes. Removed from the Southwood High School Library in Caddo Parish, LA (1995) because the book's language and content were objectionable.
• Challenged at the Moss Point, MS School District (1996) because the novel contains a racial epithet.
• Banned from the Lindale, TX advanced placement English reading list (1996) because the book "conflicted with the values of the community."
• Challenged by a Glynn County, GA (2001) School Board member because of profanity. The novel was retained. Returned to the freshman reading list at Muskogee, OK High School (2001) despite complaints over the years from black students and parents about racial slurs in the text.
• Challenged in the Normal, IL Community High School's sophomore literature class (2003) as being degrading to African Americans.
• Challenged at the Stanford Middle School in Durham, NC (2004) because the 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel uses the word "nigger."
• Challenged at the Brentwood, TN Middle School (2006) because the book contains “profanity” and “contains adult themes such as sexual intercourse, rape, and incest.” The complainants also contend that the book’s use of racial slurs promotes “racial hatred, racial division, racial separation, and promotes white supremacy.”
• Retained in the English curriculum by the Cherry Hill, NJ Board of Education (2007). A resident had objected to the novel’s depiction of how blacks are treated by members of a racist white community in an Alabama town during the Depression. The resident feared the book would upset black children reading it.
• Removed (2009) from the St. Edmund Campion Secondary School classrooms in Brampton Ontario, Canada because a parent objected to language used in the novel, including the word “nigger."

The Stand by Stephen King

• Reason: "sexual language, casual sex, and violence"2002-2003 
• The Brookeland ISD reported that all Stephen King books were banned in all district schools.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

• Cleburne High School - Parents say novel pornographic

Earth's Children series, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

• Most common reason: Banned for sexual references, which were described vividly.
• A specific instance: Challenged, but retained from the Moorpark High School recommended reading list in Simi Valley, Calif. (1993) despite objections that it contains "hardcore graphic sexual content." Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, Mar. 1994, p. 70; May 1994, p. 99.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

• Challenged at the Arrowhead High School in Merton, Wis. (2004) as an elective reading list assignment by a parent because the book contains “sexually explicit and inappropriate material.”

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Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Book Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Well, what do you know? I'm back again this week!

These were SO hard to narrow down! (In no particular order)

1. “Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to.” ― Stephen King, Dolores Claiborne
   
2. “Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
   
3. “I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel, world. And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
   
4. “I’m not like the rest of you; I never made any plans about what I’d do when I grew up; I never thought of being married, as you did. I couldn’t seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth, trotting about at home, of no use anywhere but there. I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is leaving you all. I’m not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
   
5. “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.”
   ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
   
6. “May she wake in torment!" he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. "Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there—not in heaven—not perished—where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—May she wake in torment!" he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. "Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there—not in heaven—not perished—where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
   ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
   
7. “... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
   ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
   
8. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
   ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
   
9. “Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a very dangerous enemy indeed.” ― Anne Rice, The Witching Hour
   
10. “None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are.”
    ― Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat
    
    ...and a bonus quote because it's from my favorite book.
    
11. “It's an awful truth that suffering can deepen us, give a greater lustre to our colours, a richer resonance to our words. That is, if it doesn't destroy us, if it doesn't burn away the optimism and the spirit, the capacity for visions, and the respect for simple yet indispensable things.”
    ― Anne Rice, The Queen of the Damned

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Banned Books Week - Stephen King #BannedBooksWeek

Today is the final day of Banned Books Week and since tomorrow is the first day of the scariest month of the year, I though I would share again my post from two years ago about Stephen King and his works that have been challenged over the years. Plus, King is really hot right now with the new movie, IT, and streaming and cable TV series Mr. Mercedes and Gerald's Game, plus his new book with his son, Owen King, Sleeping Beauties.

 Until next year, Banned Books Week...adieu.

(Reposted from October 2, 2015)

I decided to touch on horror today for Banned Books Week since it is officially the scariest month of the year (like the spooky blog look?), and although this isn't my horror blog, I felt it was important to talk about challenged books and Stephen King.

I was looking through the lists of Most Frequently Challenged Authors on the ALA site and I noticed that Stephen King is the only true horror author listed. Why is Stephen King the only horror author challenged frequently, when there are so many other horror authors out there? I came to the conclusion that 1) it's because King is probably the most famous horror author in the world or 2) there is a sore lack of horror reading going on in this country, especially among young people. Referring to number 2, it's probably true that not many school libraries actually carry horror novels. I'm trying to look back to when I was in school and I can't really remember many horror novels in our school library. I started reading horror at a fairly young age (John Saul in 5th or 6th grade) and I obtained my horror books from either the public library, or from my parents' books. I remember reading The Entity in 7th or 8th grade. I wonder what my teachers thought?

I also started reading Stephen King at a pretty young age. My parents were fans and we also saw all the films that were released so it was natural for me to become a fan. And a lifelong fan, at that. My parents did not shelter me from books and what went on in them. If I had a question or concern, they were happy to discuss it. On the other side of the coin, I'm sure there were parents who would have been appalled that my parents let me read King's books at that age. And there lies the question. Who decides what is right for kids when it comes to books? The parents, that's who. So, if one parent objects to Stephen King and thinks that his books should be removed from the hands of all kids, well, that's where we have a problem.

Stephen King was one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century in the years 2002 and 2003. According to the American Library Association, Stephen King is one of the most "challenged" authors alive, meaning parents still want his books placed on special shelves in school libraries — or removed altogether. Pretty much every book Stephen King has ever written has been challenged and/or banned at one time or other. According to this site, every SK book on their lists have even been burned in protest.

Here are some factoids on instances where Stephen King's books have been challenged and some commentary on the subject from the man himself:

The Shining
Considered dangerous because it "contains violence and demonic possession and
ridicules the Christian religion."
Challenged by Campbell County, Wyoming, school system, 1983.
Banned by Washington County, Alabama, Board of Education, 1985.
(all from gumbopages)

The Stand
Reason: "sexual language, casual sex, and violence"

Banned and Challenged Books In Texas Public Schools

2002-2003 The Brookeland ISD reported that all Stephen King books were banned in all district schools.

The challenge was brought by a parent, and “…also brought to the attention of the Board of

Trustees.” This challenge was listed as one entry in our main report or our summary tables, since
it was not specific as to title and because of the large number of Stephen King titles in existence. (from ACLU Texas)

Carrie
Considered "trash" that is especially harmful for "younger girls."
Challenged by Clark High School library, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1975.
Placed on special closed shelf in Union High School library, Vergennes,
Vermont, 1978.

This quote was taken from an article Stephen King wrote which was published as a guest column in the March 20, 1992 issue of The Bangor Daily News. Read the entire article here.

So, just for the record, here is what I'd say if I still took time out from doing my work to defend it.

First, to the kids: There are people in your home town who have taken certain books off the shelves of your school library. Do not argue with them; do not protest; do not organize or attend rallies to have the books put back on their shelves. Don't waste your time or your energy. Instead, hustle down to your public library, where these frightened people's reach must fall short in a democracy, or to your local bookstore, and get a copy of what has been banned. Read it carefully and discover what it is your elders don't want you to know. In many cases you'll finish the banned book in question wondering what all the fuss was about. In others, however, you will find vital information about the human condition. It doesn't hurt to remember that John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger, and even Mark Twain have been banned in this country's public schools over the last 20 years.

Second, to the parents in these towns: There are people out there who are deciding what your kids can read, and they don't care what you think because they are positive their ideas of what's proper and what's not are better, clearer than your own. Do you believe they are? Think carefully before you decide to accord the book-banners this right of cancellation, and remember that they don't believe in democracy but rather in a kind of intellectual autocracy. If they are left to their own devices, a great deal of good literature may soon disappear from the shelves of school libraries simply because good books -- books that make us think and feel -- always generate controversy.

If you are not careful and diligent about defending the right of your children to read, there won't be much left, especially at the junior-high level where kids really begin to develop a lively life of the mind, but books about heroic boys who come off the bench to hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth and shy girls with good personalities who finally get that big prom date with the boy of their dreams. Is this what you want for your kids, keeping in mind that controversy and surprise -- sometimes even shock -- are often the whetstone on which young minds are sharpened?

Third, to the other interested citizens of these towns: Please remember that book-banning is censorship, and that censorship in a free society is always a serious matter -- even when it happens in a junior high, it is serious. A proposal to ban a book should always be given the gravest consideration. Book-banners, after all, insist that the entire community should see things their way, and only their way. When a book is banned, a whole set of thoughts is locked behind the assertion that there is only one valid set of values, one valid set of beliefs, one valid perception of the world. It's a scary idea, especially in a society which has been built on the ideas of free choice and free thought.

Definitely food for thought, and eloquently spoken, as usual, Mr. King.

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A Reading Life (48) - Almost six months later...

Yes, it's a pattern with me. I never quite do what I say/what I set out to do. I have good intentions, but then real life gets in the way...and my poor blog, which I love so, is so neglected.

I've been doing a lot of reading, as always, but just not posting my thoughts as much. I just get bogged down and then I don't want to talk about what I read. Sometimes I think it's because I think my thoughts should go a certain way, or the review should be just so, according to some standard. I'm not reviewing as many books for authors. I've pretty much decided to only accept books from authors I know/have reviewed for before (and that's mostly horror authors at the moment so will be over at my sister blog, Castle Macabre). So, my thoughts on books from my home library, mostly older books, should just be my thoughts. Right? I guess I just need to get that through my head.

I've also been listening to more audio books. Here's what I've listened to since January:

American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Jaws, Peter Benchley
Little Girls, Ronald Malfi (reread)
The Plantagenets, Dan Jones
Black River, Dean Koontz
The Bear, Claire Cameron
The Buried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro (currently listening)

I SO enjoy audio books, although I think my boys get irritated. I do find them getting into the stories sometimes though. I've also been listening to some writing podcasts, as I'm trying to focus more on my writing (now that I have a job that takes up more of my time...go figure). This below needs to be in my face constantly...

via GIPHY

I wanted to share with you some changes to my two online book clubs (on Goodreads), TuesBookTalk and Lit Collective.

TuesBookTalk has always been a genre based book club in which we read a different genre each month (decided by voting). We also have three non-fiction months in January, May and September. Recently, I decided to set genres for specific months to cut down on the amount of voting we do, and to make it easier for members. Below is the graphic outlining what genres we read in which months. Come join us any time. We now do our chats on Slack (we have a "team" on there for TuesBookTalk) and it's so nice not to have to deal with a character limit. Of course, thoughts can also be exchanged in the Goodreads group at any time.

Our June read, which is Science Fiction, is Dune by Frank Herbert.

Lit Collective is what we call an online reading retreat which takes place in the Spring and end of Summer/Fall. We will nominate and vote on a theme for the Spring retreat and then choose a list of 2-3 books to read and discuss in March, April and May. For our end of Summer/Fall retreat, we will focus on selected works of a particular author which will also be chosen by vote. We will read 2-3 works by said author and discuss in August, September and October. We generally have our chats after we've read the whole book. So, at the end of its designated month. We're also going to have our chats on Slack (Slack is free to join, by the way...forgot to mention that). As mentioned above, thoughts can also be exchanged in the Goodreads group at any time.

We are currently finishing up The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (on which I'm seriously behind, although it is a reread for me) and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Right now, it's looking like Sarah Waters is going to be our featured author for August, September, and October (I'm pretty excited if it does turn out to be her. I loved The Little Stranger).

via GIPHY

Finally, I'd like to share with you two events coming up on June 1st.

The SciFi Summer Readathon, hosted at my readathon blog, Seasons of Reading, starts Thursday and runs until Wednesday June 7th. Details and sign up HERE.

The Summer of IT!!! In anticipation of the new movie coming out in September, I'm hosting a three month read-along of Stephen King's massive tome, IT! This will be hosted via my reading community site, Gather Together and Read (for schedule/sign-up/discussion) and I'll also have an event for discussions via the Gather Together and Read Facebook group. Check at Gather Together and Read later today to sign up and get the reading schedule.

Well, it's summer so dipping my toe back in the pool of this blogging thing. No promises, but I'm going to try. We shall see...

What's going on in your reading life?

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Cat Thursday - Authors and Cats (56)

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

The second Cat Thursday of each month is Authors and Cats Thursday. Each time I will feature an author with their cat(s), or pictured with a cat(s).

I missed Authors and Cats last week! I have been so forgetful lately. So, I'm just going to go ahead and do it this week!

A very happy birthday this month to one of my favorite authors, Stephen King! (September 21)
King is known to be more of a dog lover, but it seems they do always have cats in their household. I would think they do at least inspire him, as they have figured prominently in at least two of his works, Pet Sematary and Cat's Eye. 

Here are a couple of shots of SK with some kitties. I couldn't corroborate for sure, but according to these images, one or both of these cats may be the cat from the Cat's Eye film. King was still relatively young in these shots. He looks like he's having fun. 

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Banned Books Week - Stephen King #bannedbooksweek

I decided to touch on horror today for Banned Books Week since it is officially the scariest month of the year (like the spooky blog look?), and although this isn't my horror blog, I felt it was important to talk about challenged books and Stephen King.

I was looking through the lists of Most Frequently Challenged Authors on the ALA site and I noticed that Stephen King is the only true horror author listed. Why is Stephen King the only horror author challenged frequently, when there are so many other horror authors out there? I came to the conclusion that 1) it's because King is probably the most famous horror author in the world or 2) there is a sore lack of horror reading going on in this country, especially among young people. Referring to number 2, it's probably true that not many school libraries actually carry horror novels. I'm trying to look back to when I was in school and I can't really remember many horror novels in our school library. I started reading horror at a fairly young age (John Saul in 5th or 6th grade) and I obtained my horror books from either the public library, or from my parents' books. I remember reading The Entity in 7th or 8th grade. I wonder what my teachers thought?

I also started reading Stephen King at a pretty young age. My parents were fans and we also saw all the films that were released so it was natural for me to become a fan. And a lifelong fan, at that. My parents did not shelter me from books and what went on in them. If I had a question or concern, they were happy to discuss it. On the other side of the coin, I'm sure there were parents who would have been appalled that my parents let me read King's books at that age. And there lies the question. Who decides what is right for kids when it comes to books? The parents, that's who. So, if one parent objects to Stephen King and thinks that his books should be removed from the hands of all kids, well, that's where we have a problem.

Stephen King was one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century in the years 2002 and 2003. According to the American Library Association, Stephen King is one of the most "challenged" authors alive, meaning parents still want his books placed on special shelves in school libraries — or removed altogether. Pretty much every book Stephen King has ever written has been challenged and/or banned at one time or other. According to this site, every SK book on their lists have even been burned in protest.

Here are some factoids on instances where Stephen King's books have been challenged and some commentary on the subject from the man himself:

The Shining
Considered dangerous because it "contains violence and demonic possession and
ridicules the Christian religion."
Challenged by Campbell County, Wyoming, school system, 1983.
Banned by Washington County, Alabama, Board of Education, 1985.
(all from gumbopages)

The Stand

Reason: "sexual language, casual sex, and violence"

Banned and Challenged Books In Texas Public Schools

2002-2003 The Brookeland ISD reported that all Stephen King books were banned in all district schools.

The challenge was brought by a parent, and “…also brought to the attention of the Board of

Trustees.” This challenge was listed as one entry in our main report or our summary tables, since
it was not specific as to title and because of the large number of Stephen King titles in existence. (from ACLU Texas)

Carrie

Considered "trash" that is especially harmful for "younger girls."
Challenged by Clark High School library, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1975.
Placed on special closed shelf in Union High School library, Vergennes,
Vermont, 1978.

This quote was taken from an article Stephen King wrote which was published as a guest column in the March 20, 1992 issue of The Bangor Daily News. Read the entire article here.

So, just for the record, here is what I'd say if I still took time out from doing my work to defend it.

First, to the kids: There are people in your home town who have taken certain books off the shelves of your school library. Do not argue with them; do not protest; do not organize or attend rallies to have the books put back on their shelves. Don't waste your time or your energy. Instead, hustle down to your public library, where these frightened people's reach must fall short in a democracy, or to your local bookstore, and get a copy of what has been banned. Read it carefully and discover what it is your elders don't want you to know. In many cases you'll finish the banned book in question wondering what all the fuss was about. In others, however, you will find vital information about the human condition. It doesn't hurt to remember that John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger, and even Mark Twain have been banned in this country's public schools over the last 20 years.

Second, to the parents in these towns: There are people out there who are deciding what your kids can read, and they don't care what you think because they are positive their ideas of what's proper and what's not are better, clearer than your own. Do you believe they are? Think carefully before you decide to accord the book-banners this right of cancellation, and remember that they don't believe in democracy but rather in a kind of intellectual autocracy. If they are left to their own devices, a great deal of good literature may soon disappear from the shelves of school libraries simply because good books -- books that make us think and feel -- always generate controversy.

If you are not careful and diligent about defending the right of your children to read, there won't be much left, especially at the junior-high level where kids really begin to develop a lively life of the mind, but books about heroic boys who come off the bench to hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth and shy girls with good personalities who finally get that big prom date with the boy of their dreams. Is this what you want for your kids, keeping in mind that controversy and surprise -- sometimes even shock -- are often the whetstone on which young minds are sharpened?

Third, to the other interested citizens of these towns: Please remember that book-banning is censorship, and that censorship in a free society is always a serious matter -- even when it happens in a junior high, it is serious. A proposal to ban a book should always be given the gravest consideration. Book-banners, after all, insist that the entire community should see things their way, and only their way. When a book is banned, a whole set of thoughts is locked behind the assertion that there is only one valid set of values, one valid set of beliefs, one valid perception of the world. It's a scary idea, especially in a society which has been built on the ideas of free choice and free thought.

Definitely food for thought, and eloquently spoken, as usual, Mr. King.

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R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril X! #RIPX

I look forward to this every year! I kept checking over at Carl's (Stainless Steel Droppings) site because he usually posts before the end of August and I wasn't seeing it. I was so worried that it wasn't happening this year. Carl, in honor of R.I.P.'s 10th illustrious year, decided to ask the lovely ladies at The Estella Society to host, and they accepted! So, it's on!!!

This challenge fits in nicely with my reading plans this Fall, as I'm hosting FrightFall Read-a-Thon in October (its 5th year!), Gothic September at Castle Macabre with Edgar Allan Poe short story read-a-longs, a read-a-long of Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift at my Anne Rice challenge blog, a read-a-long of Salem's Lot at my Stephen King challenge blog in October AND Season of the Witch at Castle Macabre in October with a read-a-long of a witch themed book (title to be determined and read-a-long will be in conjunction with TuesBookTalk). I'm insane, I know! Can you tell I love Fall/Scary reading? No way!

Here are some general guidelines and (non) rules, as outlined by Carl, and now, TES:

***********
Without further ado, pick your poison, won’t you? September 1st is here, and we’re ready to begin!

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.

That is what embodies the stories, written and visual, that we celebrate with the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril event.

As time has wound on, we’ve discovered that simple rules are best:

1. Have fun reading (and watching).
2. Share that fun with others.

R.I.P. X officially runs from September 1st through October 31st. 

***********

I normally do my sign up posts for reading "challenges" at my challenge blog, but I've decided to do shorter term challenge sign-ups on this blog and then add a short post over there just as a record of all challenges I've participated in.

There are various levels of participation. Here are the levels I'm planning on doing...

Peril the First: Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) ofR.I.P. literature.

The Wolf Gift, Anne Rice

Salem's Lot, Stephen King

Night Chill, Jeff Gunhus

Tortures of the Damned, Hunter Shea

*Witch themed book to be determined*

Peril of the Short Story:We are big fans of short stories and the desire for them is perhaps no greater than in Autumn. You can read short stories any time during the challenge. (since I just happen to be hosting read-a-longs of three Poe stories at Castle Macabre this month!)

Edgar Allan Poe short stories:

Ligeia 

The Cask of Amontillado 

The Fall of the House of Usher

Peril On the Screen

I love horror films and shows year round, but OH the horror movies I will be seeing this Fall! I'll be starting things off with The Visit (M. Night Shyamalan, one of my favorite filmmakers!) releasing September 11th. And next will be Eli Roth's The Green Inferno on September 25th. I know there are tons more coming out, plus all my scary shows will be starting back (The Walking Dead and American Horror Story, to name a couple). Right now, Fear the Walking Dead is running and it is GOOD!

Are you doing R.I.P. X? Feel free to join me for my plethora of events linked up in the paragraph above. As I always say...the more, the merrier!

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Upcoming Events in June

TuesBookTalk Read-a-Longs on Twitter (@tuesbooktalk  #tuesbooktalk) and on Goodreads will be reading, Watership Down by Richard Adams, in June. Our first discussion will be on Tuesday, June 4.  Our chats take place on Twitter at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT on Tuesday nights (see hashtag above).  If you can't join us on Twitter, feel free to share your thoughts in the Goodreads group.  Get the full reading schedule HERE.  Hope you will join us!

Hosted by Coffee and a Book Chick May 25 - July 27.

Show us your copy! Audio or print?

I don't feel like taking a pic since I don't have a smart phone so I have to hook up the USB cable to download a pic. Ugh! However, I will be reading this tome (and I do mean tome) in hardcover...my own copy.

Have you read Uncle Stevie before?

But, of course! He is one of my fave authors. My favorite SK book is Bag of Bones, but I really love all his books that I've read (except Christine and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon). I love SK so much that I even host my own perpetual reading challenge, The Stephen King Challenge.

What are you familiar with about Under the Dome or Stephen King?

What I know about SK is a whole other blog post. I'm familiar with Under the Dome, as I started reading it last year so I'm already pretty far in. No catching up for me! Yay!

What are you looking forward to?

Finishing the book, or course. And definitely the miniseries!



From the blog:
The Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon is a time when we all get together to dedicate the days of June 7-14 to as much reading as possible. You read as much as you can in order to get yourself a little further through that huge to-read pile! We know real life gets in the way and even if you can’t participate more than one day, you’re welcome to join in on the fun!

In the meanwhile, we will be hosting book-related challenges where you can win some awesome prizes and have a Twitter party at the hashtag #WWReadathon! You can posts updates on your blog, Twitter, Goodreads or Facebook — as long as the profile is public and we all can enjoy your reading progress!

Click the button above to sign up!

From the blog:
Summer Solstice Read-a-thon is a 24 hr event taking place on the longest day of the year...June 21, 2013.

It was created by Rie @ Mission To Read and is cohosted by Melissa of Harley Bear Book Blog, Lindsay of The Novel Life, Kathrin of StackedNPainted, and Melina of The Pretty Nifty YA Reader.

The goal of this read-a-thon is to take advantage of all the extra daylight and read as much as you can! Mini challenges and a giveaway will be happening this day so make sure to check out any of the host's blog's the day of for more information.

Don't forget to chat with us at the twitter party 12pm CST #SSReadathon.

Click the button above to sign up!

What about you? Will you join us in reading Watership Down? Are you participating in any of these other events?

Dewey's, Here Be Dragons and Let's Read Plays!

It's that time again! Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon! Even though I have a busy weekend, I still want to participate as much as I can.  My birthday is on Monday so this is my official birthday weekend.  Tomorrow, I'm going to my monthly library sale and...happy birthday to me...they're having a half price sale.  Woot! After that, Mom is taking me out to eat for our birthday lunch and then we're going to see "Sinister."  I am so psyched for that movie! On Sunday, I'm going to the Southern Festival of Books to hear Damien Echols speak and then going out to eat for my official birthday dinner with the entire family (my darling boys) and then we're going to the cheap movie theater to see "Brave" and probably "The Dark Knight Rises."  And I'm off work Monday, so what a great birthday! Anyhoo, the read-a-thon starts bright and early for me at 7:00am and I have one goal and one goal only.  That's right, folks...I'm reading IT.  Yes, Stephen King's IT.  That gigantic tome that I was supposed to be reading for the IT-along for several weeks now, but haven't had the time.  Wouldn't it be great if I could actually finish IT?  HaHa...too funny...finish it...IT.  Yeah, I'm already tired.  Okay, so 7:00am...and the book will be accompanying me on my outing tomorrow...will snatch as much reading time as I can while I'm out and about.  We shall see how IT goes. *snicker*

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Yes! I have been wanting to read this for ages.  We, Marie and I, are hosting a read-a-long at Historical Fiction Connection.  You should join us! Dates are October 13 through November 2.  Visit this POST for the full schedule.

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Let's Read Plays! Let's do, shall we?  A fun year with classic plays--November 2012 - October 2012
Hosted by Fanda Classiclit and Ngidam Buku  Click the button for all the details and to sign-up.

Here's my list:

Nov '12 Shakespeare's Tragedy--Coriolanus

Dec '12 Shakespeare's Comedy--The Tempest

Jan '13 freebie--Richard III

Feb '13 Shakespeare's History--Henry V

Mar '13 Greek--Antigone

Apr '13 Shakespeare's Comedy--Merry Wives of Windsor

May '13 Shakespeare's Tragedy--Troilus and Cressida

Jun '13 Oscar Wilde--Salome

Jul '13 Other author--Saint Joan

Aug '13 Shakespeare's Comedy--Measure for Measure

Sep '13 freebie--Macbeth

Oct '13 Shakespeare's Tragedy--Titus Andronicus

I'll be reviewing here, of course, and keeping track at my challenge blog.

Important Announcements

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon is less than two days away! It starts at 12 midnight on Monday.  Have you signed up?  I have received a ton of prize donations and I have a few authors and bloggers hosting mini-challenges and giveaways so it's looking like it's going to be a fun time.  Like I ever had any doubt! If you'd like to sign up or read more about the read-a-thon, go HERE.  Or you can wait until it starts on Monday and sign in at the starting line.  All participants must sign in at the starting line to be eligible for the giveaways.   Remember, you can join us at any time during the week of the read-a-thon.  Just be sure to sign in when you're ready to start.  Again, the sign-in post will go live on Monday at midnight.  Hope you will join me!

I recently announced a new reading challenge which I am co-hosting with Kate from Read 2 Review.  The Stephen King Challenge is a perpetual reading challenge and will start on February 1, 2012.  To encourage regular reading of the books (because, let's face it, we all tend to procrastinate when there is no eminent deadline), there will be periodic mini-challenges with prizes and we will have occasional read-a-longs.  Of course, I will be participating, as well as Kate, but we will be excluded from winning any prizes, of course.  For more information about the challenge and to sign up (I hope you will), please visit the dedicated blog.

Yes, I signed up for one more reading challenge! Amber at The Musings of ALMYBNENR is hosting the 2012 Tudor Reading Challenge.  Of course, I couldn't resist this one, for my love for the Tudors knows no bounds.  LOL! Plus, it will fit in nicely with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.  Certainly looking forward to it! Of course, my progress on the challenge will be tracked at my challenge blog.

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

Coming off a weekend of read-a-thon madness where I didn't (hardly) sleep and got almost no reading done.  Go figure! This week I'm participating in the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon, which runs through Sunday.  I know, such a sad, sad addiction.  ;O)

EVENTS

I just announced the Bag of Bones (by Stephen King) read-a-long over at Castle Macabre.  The television mini-series is set to air on December 11 and 12 and since it is one of my most favorite SK books, I thought a reread was greatly in order.  For all the details and to sign-up, go HERE.

Some of you might already be aware, but I'm mentioning it again because it is going to be largely affecting my life in November.  What am I talking about?  Yes, I'm signed up for NaNoWriMo...again.  My last two attempts have been major #fail, but this time, I'm determined to finish.  I'm in the right mindset and I can really feel the difference in my attitude, as compared to previous years.  So, if I disappear or, when I appear, I act like a grumpy bear, please know, it's not you, it's me...and NaNoWriMo.  Wish me luck!

WHAT I'M READING
Last week:

Road from the West by Rosanne E. Lortz  (my REVIEW)
You can also read Rosanne's excellent guest post and enter the giveaway for a copy of the book HERE.

This week:
For this week's reading plans, visit my Bout of Books read-a-thon starting post HERE.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit (want to read a book description? Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).

FOR REVIEW:
Unrest in Eden by Florence Byham Weinberg...from Stephanie Barko, publicist
The Christmas Village by Melissa Ann Goodwin...I reviewed this last month HERE (signed copy) a special thanks to Melissa! =O)

WON:
Children of the Night by Dan Simmons...from Pam @ Midnyte Reader

PURCHASED FROM BARNES AND NOBLE:
The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It by Debbie Ford
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Acting by Paul Baldwin and John Malone

PURCHASED FROM DEALS:
The Christmas List: A Holly, Jolly Treasury of Seasonal Stats by Quirk Books and David Graham
Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon

PURCHASED AT LIBRARY SALE:
A Christmas Garland compiled by Julie Mitchell, Illustrated by Kathy Orr (no cover image)
The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw
Distant Music by Lee Langley
The Lost Queen: The Tragedy of a Royal Marriage by Norah Lofts (no cover image)
The Collector by John Fowles
Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer
The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan
Madman by Tracy Groot
You Must Remember This by Joyce Carol Oates
A Separate Peace by Johns Knowles
The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

The hoarding continues.....

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

Last week was a great week! Namely, because my birthday was Saturday and I got to stop by the Southern Festival of Books and pick up Lisa Alther's novel, Washed in the Blood and, since I won a Speed Reader pass, I got to jump to the front of her signing line and be the first to have my book personalized and signed! Awesome!

I was also able to meet up, and chat briefly, with a couple of my fellow Tennessee book Bloggers...Nikki from Books Most Wanted and Marla from Starting the Next Chapter.  It was so great to finally meet some book bloggers in person. =O)

EVENTS
The Frightful Fall Reviewers Challenge is still going on until the end of the month.  You can still join in and qualify for some great prizes.  Go HERE to read all the details.

I have decided I am going to host a read-a-long of Stephen King's Bag of Bones via Castle Macabre starting the second week in November.  The television mini-series airs on December 11 and 12 on A&E and I want to reread it before watching the movie.  I will be posting all the info this week over at Castle Macabre, but if you're interested, feel free to express your interest in the comments.

WHAT I'M READING
Have not finished anything. =O(

Currently reading:
Road from the West by Rosanne E. Lortz
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (read-a-long)
Under the Dome by Stephen King (read-a-long)
Tick Tock by Dean Koontz (still listening on audio)

Review books I will be reading during the next two weeks:
The Darkness by Crystal Connor
Decayed Etchings by Brandon Ford
American Horror edited by Scott Nicholson
Silk Road by Colin Falconer

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit (want to read a book description? Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).

WON:
The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe...from vvb32 reads

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot...from Kat at Books, Crafts and Pretty Things

from Donna at The Happy Booker during the Banned Books Week giveaway hop:
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

The Writer's Compass by Nancy Ellen Dodd...from Carol at Carol's Notebook

PURCHASED AT SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS:
Washed in the Blood by Lisa Alther

PURCHASED FROM BETTER WORLD BOOKS:
The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford