Tilly Greene's Hot Thoughts

Superior Fire Department Toy Drive

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

::: Permission to Forward to anyone you can think of ;-):::

I am here in hopes of helping Todd get toy donations for the Superior Fire Department again this year. :-)

We live in a small old mining town, population three thousand. My husband who helps me with all things RJ runs the local fire department in town. It's a low income town and there are a lot of kids here that don't get much for Christmas. Weeks before Christmas the fire department decorates one of the fire trucks with thousands of holiday lights, fire personnel and yours truly spend weeks wrapping every toy brought in with festive Christmas paper. On Christmas Eve Santa and Ms. Claus ride in back of the fire truck and, with Christmas music blaring, the fire truck weaves its way up and down every street in town. The sirens blare every few minutes and as kids hear it they scramble out of their houses. The truck stops and Santa gives each child a toy. The drive itself takes seven hours. It's a big production and one that the fire department takes great pride in.

A few years ago I got involved in the toy drive. With the help of the Romance Community the Fire Dept has been able to give a toy to every child in town for 3 years straight. The toys are not expensive small stuffed animals and 1-4 dollar toys, but it doesn't take a lot to make it a magical night for the kids in town, especially when Santa is delivering the toys personally.

I know it's been a bad year for everyone, but I am really hoping we can raise enough toys again this year. Last year we barely brought in enough, but we did it! ;-)

If anyone is interested in sending in some toys it would be VERY MUCH appreciated by both the fire department and the kids in town ;-)

I really want to thank everyone who has contributed over the years. I go on the drive every year with Todd and I can't describe adequately how incredible the whole experience is. It chokes me up every year watching kids with huge grins on their faces, clutching tight to the toy Santa has given them.

You can check out photos of the Santa Drive here.

If you would like to donate toys or gift cards you can do so by sending them into:
Superior Fire Dept Toy Drive
C/O Superior Fire Department
236 Golf Course Rd
Superior, AZ 85173

The Department is not set up to take Paypal. So anyone who would like to contribute via Paypal can send their donations into Romance Junkies and I will forward the donations onto the Fire Dept. RJ pal info is - info is webmaster@chaosdesigns.net

Cat Brown AKA Chaoscat
(Chaos - It's not just a lifestyle, it's a state of mind)
Owner/Operator Romance Junkies
www.romancejunkies.com

The good news is flowing!

2009-11-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, so on Friday I received the news that three of my Torrid Teasers [New Zealand, Russia and China from the An Invitation to the World series] at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid would be released in a The Best of Torrid Teasers Vol. 2 [January 2010] along with three teasers from Susan M. Sailors and three from Cheri Valmont!

Great news!

And then, on Saturday morning, I was going through my emails and opened one from All Romance eBooks that informed me my contemporary erotic romance, And She Scores!, was accepted for their special project for February 2010. Every day of the month dedicated to all things red they will release a new ebook with the proceeds going to benefit the American Heart Association - really cool news!

So, it's only November, and 2010 is shaping up to be a fun year!

In January, The Best of Torrid Teases Vol. 2 and Double Punch will be released from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and Tease Publishing respectively.

In February, And She Scores! will be released from All Romance eBooks.

And over at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, Call Me Lucifer and My Angel release dates are still to be determined.

I'm not wishing the time away, but I can't wait for 2010!

It's National Bookstore Day!

2009-11-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

Think local!

Shop local!

Visit your local independent bookstore today and pick out a few books for your holiday gifts!

Visit IndieBound to help you find a book shop close to you and what else is around there to plan an interesting day out in your area.

Here is a Publisher's Weekly article on what the day is all about.

All About AAD!

2009-11-06T06:00:00.003-05:00

It's been almost two weeks since the Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend and it's still bouncing around in my mind. In a few short words the entire weekend was one of the best ever, but the parties were a blast!

Friday started with the LIP Ladies, Love Immortal Pantheon authors cocktail welcome. I was in on this one [and forgot the camera] and we offered Ambrosia [grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and champagne], nibble treats, and goodies [bath salts, wax chips, and packet of promo]. It was a lovely for everyone to gather and mingle before we moved into the dining room for raffle and more substantial nibbles, and then the night turned into a PJ Mixer! Favorite sleep attire was worn and favorite stuffed buddy were carried - it was a great night for all!

It was the perfect way to kick off the weekend - everyone was keeping it real!

Saturday was all about interesting panels and the booksigning, but the big event was the Masquerade! People went all out, from the makeup and hair, to the clothes, the costumes were from across the board and all were wow-worthy making for a fun time even more incredible. One minute you're talking with a Jane Austen Zombie and the next a faun!

Those are just two of the events that stand out in my mind and is helped because I remebered my camera, but when I think back on the entire weekend, and I can say I'll be going to next years weekend. In fact, mark your calendars, it is rumored to be toward the end of September, and the LIP Ladies are already talking about what we should do to kick it all off!

Now, have you done the AAD Scavenger Hunt? NO!?! Then get busy - go here to get started, there's some serious swag on offer to the winner! Oh, you've done everyone else and were waiting for me? Cool, don't forget to send your full and complete list to info@authorsafterdark.net.

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November!

2009-11-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

The parkin is made, cellar temp ale at the ready, and the twigs are stacked in the backyard fireplace with a strawman [the Guy] resting on top and ready for lighting - what does all this mean?

It's Guy Fawkes Day and the cutie is wearing his Englishness proudly!

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,'twas his intent
to blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow:
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!

A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!

Have a fabulous Bonfire Night!

What a birthday pressie!

2009-11-04T06:00:00.003-05:00

This month All Romance/OmniLit turn 3 years old and they are sharing the love! Here is what they are offering to their users:

Every day in November we will choose a winner at random from that day's purchasers and buy them the books they have on their wish list. *

To get a head start simply fill your account wish list with books you'd like to read (be sure to log in first) and then every day that you make a purchase during the month of November, you'll be eligible to win.

So what are you waiting for? Log in to your All Romance/OmniLit account and start making out your wish list. We want to make your wishes come true!

To get you started, search for Tilly Greene on All Romance/OmniLit.

*up to $100.00 per customer

Where is my mind at right now?

2009-11-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

With Castor and Pollux.

Not to long ago I spent time on the Antinoos site checking out the various sculptures of these two brothers, and this was the one that I now keep posted to my laptop for inspiration. It can be found in The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.

OPERATION eBOOK DROP

2009-10-26T09:40:00.002-04:00

What is it?

It was originally conceived when an author on the Kindleboards saw a message from a deployed troop member saying that Amazon's Whispernet for Kindle doesn't work overseas. The author sent the troop his book for free by email and the idea was born, and grew. He now collects names of deployed troops who would like to receive eBooks and he has shared his list with us to forward to any ARe author who would like to donate eBooks.

What can you do?

eBooks from ARe can be downloaded by anyone! with an internet connection. If you would like to donate eBooks to a troop member, either your personal eBooks or a gift certificate for the book of their choice, we have set up an easy system that will help you. Here are the 2 ways you can give to the troops.

1 - ARe authors can now purchase codes for their eBooks and send those codes to military personnel who can then download the prepaid eBooks.
To get the codes, authors need to go to the Publisher/Author page on the All Romance eBooks site. Those already registered with an Author Login can sign in to "manage booksigning events". Those who need to register for an Author Login can do so there. (A customer account is different from an author account.) Once signed in, select "Booksigning Events", then "Operation eBook Drop" where your eBook codes can be ordered and paid for to be dist! ributed by you to the military. Once you have your codes, contact cat.johnson@allromanceebooks.com for the troop email list. Then select a member off the list and send the download code to your book to them directly.

2 - Purchase eBook Bucks and ARe will send them to the recipient of your choice.
Do you want to give back to the troops but prefer if they choose the eBooks they will receive themselves? Go to http://www.allromanceebooks.com/store_credits.html and purchase eBooks Bucks. Contact cat.johnson@allromanceebooks.com for the troop email list, enter the email address of the member you'd like to send the eBook Bucks too and they'll receive an email from us with instructions on how to download their eBooks.

I strongly recommend making email contact with the troop member prior to mailing the download code for your book for two reasons. First you want to confirm the email address is correct. Second and more important, you will want to confirm they are interested in receiving the particular book genre you are sending. The program is not only for romance readers and they may only be interested in mainstream novels. We also want to confirm that if your book contains adult situations it is going to a member who welcomes that content.

Questions? Email cat.johnson@allromanceebooks.com

Cat Johnson
Manager Media and Public Relations
All Romance eBooks, LLC

http://www.allromance.com
http://www.omnilit.com

It's TIME!

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm packing up and moving on out to the Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend!

The Samhain/Linden Bay authors [Cat Johnson, Leigh Ellwood, Samantha Sommersby, Rosemary Laurey and Tilly Greene] have created a basket of goodies to be raffled off to support a local animal sanctuary, Pet's Alive. I've created a fabulous tote bag filled with goodies to also be raffled off.

Friday night, after everyone registers, the Love's Immortal Pantheon authors [Dagmar Avery, Cat Johnson, Kayleigh Jamison, Eliza Gayle, Selena Illyria and Tilly Greene] will be hosting a pre-Candy Shop PJ Mixer with ambrosia while talking about sexy Greek gods!

Saturday, from 2-5:00pm, is the Book Fair and it's open to the public! The books I'll be signing are:

After the fair, I'll be sitting on the Shifter's Unleashed panel - oh boy, watch out!

This weekend is going to be great fun and I hope you can come out, say hello, and get your book signed. There are going to be some great authors to greet. In case you don't know, the details are:

Holiday Inn, 3 Executive Blvd., Suffern, New York

Fabulous Fashion News!

2009-10-22T06:16:00.005-04:00

Judith Leiber has been making unique, fun, and stunningly beautiful handbags for years, and she still creates the must have handbag! Well, to celebrate self-publishing her biography [which I'd love to read], she's hitting the road. Alongside her travel mini-museum exhibition of her bags, she'll be signing her book "No Mere Bagatelles: Telling the Story of Handbag Genius Judith Leiber & Modernist Artist Gerson Leiber".

While it doesn't appear as if the book will be widely available, it would definitely be worth it to attend one of her retrospectives at either Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman, view the exhibit and purchase a book for her to sign. If you live near East Hampton NY, you can always stop by the Leiber Museum on Old Stone Highway, check out her bag collection, and most likely pick up a copy of her book there as well.

On a side note: Did you know that there are a couple of white peacocks in "An Invitation to the World: China"? There are and they're called George and Gracie.

Helping a Fellow Author Out

2009-10-21T09:41:00.006-04:00

Dancing With Danger

By: Desiree Holt

Rachel Windsor knew nothing about Gabriel Peralta except that he was walking sex appeal. He blew into her life without notice, here today then always gone on a puff of wind. But each time he appears, he does things to her body that even her fantasies haven’t conjured up, driving her to orgasms that shake her like a raging storm. His mouth knows every inch of her body. The imprint of his intimate kisses linger long after he disappears.

Now he’s back again, his life unexpectedly on the line. But even in the danger zone his sexual demands are more scorching than ever and this time, Rachel is determined not to lose him—or the erotic lifestyle that binds them.

Read an excerpt

Purchase the ebook

Life has dealt Desiree Holt a difficult hand, so helping promote her new release.

Book Talk!

2009-10-20T10:39:00.005-04:00

There was an interesting discussion about book covers yesterday on Borders True Romance blog. Reading the article, comments, and watching the video had me thinking about how I go about buying a book.

It's interesting to realize I no longer go into a bookstore with list of books in hand, eager to buy. My purchases in a brick & mortar are now strictly spontaneous, and normally based on the cover - something I think I learned from being an ebook reader. Show me an interesting cover and I'll pick it up for more details. However, if I can't read the title because the font is so elaborate, bye bye.

Anyway, back to hardcover/paperbacks purchases. If there is an author on my automatic purchase list [of which there are few] and one I want to keep [of which I have limited space for books], then the latest release is ordered online, and wings its way to me on the release day - no more driving around for a copy. Same can be said for a book that has my attention [normally non-fiction]. That is one I order online and am often surprised when it shows up on my doorstep. If they aren't a keeper but an author I know will offer me a good read, then I'll most likely pick up a copy for the next trip, and leave it wherever I am when I finish.

So, what's sitting on my shelf in my to-be-read stack?

Rogues' Gallery: The Secret History of the Moguls and the Money that Made the Metropolitan Museum

A Rogue of My Own

Burn: A Novel

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

Fire and Ice: A Novel

Child 44 - waiting for either Thanksgiving or Christmas flights.

And right now, while the cutie is in physical therapy, I'm reading Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 17)

Yup, some of these books have been on the shelf for over a year, and I'll be adding some more over the holidays! I guess it's obvious that right now, I'm reading ebooks before the paperback/hardcover. Soon, all my fiction and non-fiction will be an ebook, and that will leave my children's picture books and pop-ups the only ones I buy to place on a shelf.

With my mind bouncing between Heaven and Hell...

2009-10-14T13:34:00.006-04:00

I was sent this by my friend S [thank you :-)] and truly enjoyed it!

HELL EXPLAINED (By a chemistry student)

The following is an actual question given on a University of Arizona chemistry mid term, and an actual answer turned in by a student.

The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well:

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving, which is unlikely. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. There fore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct.....leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting 'Oh my God.'

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.

Anthology Subs Call - Forward by Charlaine Harris!

2009-10-13T08:37:00.005-04:00

ARe'S CHARITY CAMPAIGN GETS AN INFUSION OF NEW BLOOD FROM THE CREATOR OF "TRUE BLOOD"

All Romance eBooks is thrilled to announce that their 28 Days of Heart Campaign has received the support of Charlaine Harris. The famed, best-selling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series upon which HBO's new smash hit "True Blood" is based will be writing the foreword for the charity anthologies releasing exclusively from ARe in February 2010. All proceeds from the 28 individual stories and the 4 anthology eBook compilations will benefit the American Heart Association. Submissions are open until October 31, 2009. Details can be found at http://www.allromanceebooks.com/publishers.html.

Open Submissions Call!

All Romance™Needs You for the 28 Days of Heart Campaign to Benefit the American Heart Association during the month of love, when everyone's attention is focused on matters of the heart, we at All Romance (www.allromance.com) want to help fight the number one killer of women, heart disease, and we need your help and your submissions.

Beginning February 1, 2010, we will release one new short story per day for the entire month. All proceeds from the sale of these shorts, which will be offered exclusively on AllRomance.com as individual eBooks and also bundled into 4 eBook anthologies, will be donated to the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org).

The 28 stories will be chosen from submissions received between July 1 and October 31, 2009. Any author who has an eBook available on ARe, or whose publisher lists eBooks with us, is eligible to submit. Submissions must be 10,000 to 20,000 words. The preferred heat rating is 4 or 5 flames, though stories rated a hard 3 flames will also be considered. An explanation of the flame rating system can be found on our site. We are looking for a wide variety of themes and sub-genres, as long as the story is a romance.

The stories selected will be reviewed by an editor and provided with cover art, but please make sure submissions are as polished as you can make them before submitting. Previously published stories will be considered only if all rights have reverted back to the author and the story is no longer available for download elsewhere. Backlist and contact info for the authors whose work is chosen will be listed in the back of their story.

Submission details can be found here: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/submissions.html

Questions should be emailed to cat.johnson@allromanceebooks.com. Final selection of participants will be made and announced in November 2009.

It's On!

2009-10-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

I'm off to Ellora's Cave first ever readers conference, RomantiCon 09.

If you're in the area [Richfield (Akron), Ohio], then come on over to the book fair on Sunday - it's open to the public!

Amongst other things, I'll be talking about the fabulous Scotsman, Hamish Buchanan, and signing Highland Heat!

Have you entered yet?

2009-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

You have until October 15th to enter and the drawings will be every day from the 16th to the 31st! Goodies from Wick'd Reads, William Maltese, Dorlana Vann, The Artist Challenge, Karen Michelle Nutt, Tilly Greene, Jasper McCutcheon, Selena Illyria, BellaDonna Drakul, Mistress Rae, Kate Hill, Candle Artist Jfay [of Studio 3B], Jardonn Smith, Parawomen Scream Radio, and Vampire Wear are all offering treats!

It shall be a seriously HOT lead up to November!

The picture above was created by Amy, from Parawomen Scream Radio - thank you!

eBook Talk!

2009-10-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and OohRah! immediately came to mind.

Okay, I can hear the question now - What does a Marine just back from Afghanistan have to do with breast cancer? Besides loving breasts and all the pleasure they offer, Warrant Officer Dale Smythe lost his mother to breast cancer, and decides to volunteer at a local Run for a Cure.

While there, handing out cups of water and support to whoever needs it, he sees a young woman who is obviously isn't a runner or someone who had prepared much for the race. Besides being beautiful, he likes her determination to make it through to the end and, after asking if it was all right with the other volunteers he stood with, he abandons his post to run at her side and help her finish.

As for why Tasha is there, well, she doesn't always have the best experience when it comes to her mammograms, and figures this one more way to get the upper hand on them. Besides, the sooner a cure is found, the sooner she can stop stressing out.

So, yes, OohRah! is about a Marine and how his relationship works when he's deployed. However, there's much more to Dale, the man, than what he does professionally.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2009-10-05T08:44:00.003-04:00

Treat the ta-ta's well and go for that mammogram.

Can't do that?

Then make sure and do a self-exam.

Can't do that either or don't like to do it?

Then get your partner or a friend to do it for you. They won't complain. Remember, no matter what else is going on, think of those fabulous breasts of yours and do whatever you can to keep them happy.

Banned Books Week Day #8

2009-10-03T06:00:00.002-04:00

The ALA Banned Books Week has a variety new challenges this year that caused my eyebrows to raise.

"The New Joy of Sex " by Alex Comfort

"Challenged at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library (2005) along with seven other books because “they are very pornographic in nature and they have very explicit and detailed illustrations and photographs which we feel don’t belong in a library.” The library board approved policy changes that restrict children’s access to any holdings that may fall under the state’s harmful to minors statute and barred the library from buying movies rated NC-17 or X." Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

and

"The Joy of Gay Sex" by Charles Silverstein and Felice Picano

"Challenged at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library (2005) along with seven other books because “they are very pornographic in nature and they have very explicit and detailed illustrations and photographs which we feel don’t belong in a library.” The library board approved policy changes that restrict children’s access to any holdings that may fall under the state’s harmful to minors statute and barred the library from buying movies rated NC-17 or X. The book was relocated to the director’s office (2008) and it was eventually restored to the collection (2008). Challenged in the Lewis and Clark Library in Helena, Mont. (2008) due to objections over its content. The book has been in the library’s collection since 1993. The library director accepted the recommendation of the library’s collection review committee that the book be retained in the collection. Restricted minors’ access in the Topeka and Shawnee County, Kans. Public Library (2009) because a group contended that the material is “harmful to minors under state law.” Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

As an erotic romance author, I thought these were appropriate books to end this week with.

Today, I'm at the Collingswood Book Festival, stop by the Romance Unlimited booth and we can chat about my books, books in general, or Banned Books Week.

Banned Books Week Day #7

2009-10-02T06:00:00.004-04:00

The ALA Banned Books Week has a variety new challenges this year that caused my eyebrows to raise.

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt

"Banned for just four days from the Beulah, N.Dak. High School library (2008). Two school employees followed school policy to request removing the book after their son brought it home from an accelerated-reading program, in which students pick from a couple of hundred titles. The parents said the 1994 runaway nonfiction best seller was too pornographic and at odds with student behavior promoted in the school handbook. The board reversed its decision at the encouragement of the board president, who said the board moved too fast and unleashed a possible court case it would never win. He said there might be more palatable alternatives, like creating a list of restricted books that parents have to approve before their children can check them out. A decision to review school policies and investigate less-restrictive means to control library books was approved by the school board." Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

Interesting.

Banned Books Week Day #6

2009-10-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

Banned Books Week has noted a variety new challenges this year that caused my eyebrows to raise.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire

"Retained in the tenth-grade honors program of the Canandaigua Academy in Ontario County, N.Y. (2008) despite concerns about the sexual content on a few pages of the book. The district will offer alternative reading for anyone who objects to the book." Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

Interesting.

Banned Books Week Day #5

2009-09-30T06:00:00.003-04:00

Have you ever heard of "The Canon"?

I was taught that "The Canon" was a list of books that had long ago been deemed must reads. From the onset of its inception there has been criticism of what was and wasn't on the list, and there still is discontent. Since my days in the classroom have finished, I read for pleasure, and yet "The Canon" haunts me. I wonder if I've missed anything important and in my search for the list, I came across a website that notes the Western Canon by Harold Bloom The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages"].

Now, because it's Banned Books Week, I looked at the list not to see what I should read, but to see if anyone had challeneged any of these books. No surprise to find that they had. Here is a very small sampling of what I found:

Beowolf: A New Telling, by Robert Nye [challenged 1998]
The Cantebury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer [challenged 1995]
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain [challenged 2008]
The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger [2008]

Interesting.

Banned Books Week Day #4

2009-09-29T06:00:00.003-04:00

I'm not entirely sure what makes a book "a classic", but I know that I enjoy reading many books that have been given this title. They often put me in a different place or time, and that is what a good read should do.

When I first heard about Banned Books Week, I looked at the list, and was shocked to see "To Kill a Mockingbird " was challeneged that year for profanity and racial slurs. Well, you shouldn't be surprised that I picked up a fresh copy of that book, and read it again. This is where I started to pick a book from the yearly challenged list to read during this week.

Here are the top ten Classics* - where 1-9 have been challenged/banned:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
6. Ulysses by James Joyce
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
9. 1984 by George Orwell
10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The entire list of Classics* can be found here on the ALA and the details for some of their challenges can be found here.

Interesting.

*=Radcliffe Publishing Course, now at Columbia, compiled a list of the top 100 novels from the 20th century.

Banned Books Week Day #3

2009-09-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

Banned Books Week is the perfect time to learn and embrace the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The First Amendment Center has a load of information to help you know and understand the amendment that let's you read what you want to read.

Picture of the Bill of Rights made available by the National Archives and Records Administration through Wikipedia.

Banned Books Week Day #2

2009-09-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

I love pie charts. They make statistics more interesting than raw numbers do - at least for me they do.

What does that have to do with Banned Books Week?

Easy, the ALA has published a few pie charts that depict important information about book challenges in easy to grasp details. Reason, Institution, and Initiator are laid out in bright beautiful colors.

Number #1 reason books are challenged is for being "sexually explicit", followed by "language" and "unsuited for age". Putting those three together, it makes sense that "parents" are the largest group who initiate challenges. Again, it won't surprise anyone that, putting the reason for challenges given and who is doing it the most, that the "school library" and "public library" hold the dubious honor of being the institutions with the most challenges.

Interesting.