Reading Books For Pleasure

[graceanne]

Warning: Small Rant ahead

I DO NOT GET the issue with the Harry Potter books. I mean, The Wizard of Oz is a classic, but Harry Potter is demonic? I personally think the books are stupid, and I didn't realy enjoy any of the movies. Neither did my kids, but it sure isn't worth the huge freaken fuss.

 

[FungiUg]

So three fun (i.e. involving lots of rope and with pictures) books arrived from Amazon this week, one of them being the classic Midori book. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, although my partner looked through some of the pics in Midori and went "that would be fun to do!"

Now all I need is some rope.

 

[FurryFury]

Warning: Small Rant ahead

I DO NOT GET the issue with the Harry Potter books. I mean, The Wizard of Oz is a classic, but Harry Potter is demonic? I personally think the books are stupid, and I didn't realy enjoy any of the movies. Neither did my kids, but it sure isn't worth the huge freaken fuss.

I did enjoy the Potter books and movies but I only got started because some people were trying to get them banned.

National Banned Book week is upcoming. I like to read at least one "challenged" book a year at that time. It pleases me that most libraries do NOT bow the the pressure of banning these books.

It puzzles me that people get so worked up about trying to get some books banned. They are afraid of these books. The day I'm too afraid to read a book or let my child read it because it will change their or my beliefs will be a sad day indeed.

How strong can your beliefs be if you must fear books? Yanno?

 

[FurryFury]

So three fun (i.e. involving lots of rope and with pictures) books arrived from Amazon this week, one of them being the classic Midori book. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, although my partner looked through some of the pics in Midori and went "that would be fun to do!"

Now all I need is some rope.

Sounds like fun! The Midori pics are art IMO.

 

[Recidiva]

Warning: Small Rant ahead

I DO NOT GET the issue with the Harry Potter books. I mean, The Wizard of Oz is a classic, but Harry Potter is demonic? I personally think the books are stupid, and I didn't realy enjoy any of the movies. Neither did my kids, but it sure isn't worth the huge freaken fuss.

I read all the Harry Potter books with my daughter, she was 10 when they started, now she's 18, and still really involved and happy with the books and movies when they come out. For me it was always fun to read them and share the world with each other, and have Harry Potter discussions and books and movies to look forward to and wonder what would happen.

It's a bit like baseball, if you don't get it, that's fine.

 

[FurryFury]

I do enjoy sharing and discussing books with my girl!

 

[Recidiva]

I do enjoy sharing and discussing books with my girl!

Harry Potter was great because it really was a decent read for an adult. At least much better than a lot of stuff out there. She writes in layers. So my daughter could read a funny adventure and I could read a wise philosophy treatise.

 

[graceanne]

I do enjoy sharing and discussing books with my girl!

So do I. I got Harry Potter from the library - no one was interested.

I kinda wonder though. If all the people with issues with Harry Potter had kept their mouths shut, would Harry Potter have been as popular? Hm. lol

 

[FurryFury]

So do I. I got Harry Potter from the library - no one was interested.

I kinda wonder though. If all the people with issues with Harry Potter had kept their mouths shut, would Harry Potter have been as popular? Hm. lol

Probably not!

 

[FurryFury]

http://www.banned-books.com/

Support!

The "10 Most Challenged Books of 2006" reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

* "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;

* "Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;

* "Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;

* "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

* "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

* "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;

* "Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language.

* "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group

* "Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;

* "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.

For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom’s Banned Books Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks

The Office for Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association’s basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

 

[graceanne]

Probably not!

I know the first time I heard about it it was on Christian talk radio and Dr. Dobson (who I normally really like) was going off on the books. I might not have ever heard about them otherwise.

 

[FurryFury]

The Harry Potter series ranks as the number one most challenged book series of the 21st Century (2000-2006). Now that the series has come to an end, will efforts to pull books deemed "controversial" from library shelves still be in the national spotlight?

Dobson is not my fav at all but some of his parenting books do have a few good tips. The rest is too heavy handed for me to employ.

 

[Recidiva]

So do I. I got Harry Potter from the library - no one was interested.

I kinda wonder though. If all the people with issues with Harry Potter had kept their mouths shut, would Harry Potter have been as popular? Hm. lol

My daughter doesn't care about it. She didn't read because there was buzz, she read because she loved it.

 

[bholderman]

Harry Potter?

First, a good read even from an adults perspective.

Second, when will the fundamentalist right understand that when they spout off they double the interest in the subject thereby making it more popular?

Third, based on number two, god forbid kids should enjoy reading books...

 

[bholderman]

My favorite book? Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Perhaps one of the most excruciatingly non-action tales (its understandable why high school students hate it). But, for me personally, Melville took the English language to a height of artistry. I've read the book several times because his use of language is so exquisite.

"Towards thee I roll thou all-destroying but unconquering whale. To the last I grapple with thee, from hell's heart, I stab at thee, and for hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!"

God, Melville was good.

 

[graceanne]

My daughter doesn't care about it. She didn't read because there was buzz, she read because she loved it.

I've yet to meet a child who'll read a book cause it's controversial. If it's not interesting to them they won't read it. Not unless they're being made. lol

 

[Recidiva]

I've yet to meet a child who'll read a book cause it's controversial. If it's not interesting to them they won't read it. Not unless they're being made. lol

It also sounds like you live in a very different world than we do. We don't listen to Christian radio or go to church, so the criticism about it didn't reach us first, before the books. It reached us probably by the third or fourth book, by which point it seemed entirely too silly.

I'm also a huge science fiction and fantasy fan, with a lot of pagan exploration in my spiritual roots, so my daughter grew up with all of that. Christianity is a bit exotic in this house

 

[graceanne]

It also sounds like you live in a very different world than we do. We don't listen to Christian radio or go to church, so the criticism about it didn't reach us first, before the books. It reached us probably by the third or fourth book, by which point it seemed entirely too silly.

I'm also a huge science fiction and fantasy fan, with a lot of pagan exploration in my spiritual roots, so my daughter grew up with all of that. Christianity is a bit exotic in this house

My oldest is the only one who reads well enough to choose her own books, and she prefers books that she can relate to. She's a big Junie B Jones fan, etc. She does not like fantasy or sci fi, which is really aggravating for me, cause when I was her age I was really into The Chronicles of Narnia, and Bunnicula, and the Wrinkle in Time series.

 

[Recidiva]

My oldest is the only one who reads well enough to choose her own books, and she prefers books that she can relate to. She's a big Junie B Jones fan, etc. She does not like fantasy or sci fi, which is really aggravating for me, cause when I was her age I was really into The Chronicles of Narnia, and Bunnicula, and the Wrinkle in Time series.

My oldest is 18 now, so she's got her paths all carved out. She wants to teach English. She loves anything and everything if it suits her definition of well written, so she and I have a lot to share.

My youngest at nine still hasn't decided to read at all. He doesn't see the point to it. From a mother who was eating books alive by age three...I don't get it. But at least we have a shared love for video games. Even though I have to read all the screen prompts for him.

 

[graceanne]

My oldest is 18 now, so she's got her paths all carved out. She wants to teach English. She loves anything and everything if it suits her definition of well written, so she and I have a lot to share.

My youngest at nine still hasn't decided to read at all. He doesn't see the point to it. From a mother who was eating books alive by age three...I don't get it. But at least we have a shared love for video games. Even though I have to read all the screen prompts for him.

My oldest is nine, the youngest is four. My middle girl is six, and can read, like, Dr. Seuss and stuff like that, but not chapter books. Not yet, at least. lol

I've heard that sometimes boys take a bit longer to get to the point where they enjoy reading. Maybe he'll get there, he's just moving at a different rate. *shrugs* I dunno, my son's 4 and can't read so I can't be sure what he'll do when it comes time to learn to read.

 

[Recidiva]

My oldest is nine, the youngest is four. My middle girl is six, and can read, like, Dr. Seuss and stuff like that, but not chapter books. Not yet, at least. lol

I've heard that sometimes boys take a bit longer to get to the point where they enjoy reading. Maybe he'll get there, he's just moving at a different rate. *shrugs* I dunno, my son's 4 and can't read so I can't be sure what he'll do when it comes time to learn to read.

Mine's got Asperger's. He WILL kick my ass at those video games. Physical space is just a lot more interesting to him than emotional concepts. And he's KING there.

 

[ecstaticsub]

I do enjoy sharing and discussing books with my girl!

My daughter, 12 yrs old, reads constantly. She also is sometimes hesitant to discuss certain issues (mostly sexual) with me. So she asks me to read the same books that she is reading. It has been a wonderful way to communicate in a way she is comfortable. The only bad part is that I spend all my book reading time on books she wants me to read as opposed to ones of my own. It's worth is though.

She just recently asked me to read Between Mom and Jo about a son of a lesbian couple. It brought up a discussion of her own sexual identity. I have a feeling she will be reading more books on the subject.

 

[bholderman]

My daughter's eight, and even with mommy defintely in the picture, that still a tip to index in the memory banks.

I may even pass that onto the Mrs.

My daughter, 12 yrs old, reads constantly. She also is sometimes hesitant to discuss certain issues (mostly sexual) with me. So she asks me to read the same books that she is reading. It has been a wonderful way to communicate in a way she is comfortable. The only bad part is that I spend all my book reading time on books she wants me to read as opposed to ones of my own. It's worth is though.

She just recently asked me to read Between Mom and Jo about a son of a lesbian couple. It brought up a discussion of her own sexual identity. I have a feeling she will be reading more books on the subject.

 

[subkitty72]

NPR this morning...

I heard an interview with Native American writer Sherman Alexie talking about his first book for young adults. He's hilarious! And the book sounds like a riot! I don't have any children, but I HAVE to read this book. Then I'll give it to one of my siblings' brood.

Here's a synopsis:

Writer Sherman Alexie is out with his first book for young adults. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tracks the misadventures of a young teen, Arnold Spirit, Jr., who decides to leave the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. Alexie, who describes the book as semi-autobiographical, speaks with Renee Montagne.

If you can, listen to the interview on the NPR website. I guarantee Mr. Alexie will make you smile.

 

[Recidiva]

I heard an interview with Native American writer Sherman Alexie talking about his first book for young adults. He's hilarious! And the book sounds like a riot! I don't have any children, but I HAVE to read this book. Then I'll give it to one of my siblings' brood.

Here's a synopsis:

Writer Sherman Alexie is out with his first book for young adults. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tracks the misadventures of a young teen, Arnold Spirit, Jr., who decides to leave the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. Alexie, who describes the book as semi-autobiographical, speaks with Renee Montagne.

If you can, listen to the interview on the NPR website. I guarantee Mr. Alexie will make you smile.

I adore Sherman Alexie. Read everything he's ever written.