Celebrate freedom

I bought a sweatshirt for my husband some years ago that says, "Celebrate freedom. Read a banned book." The shirt then goes on to list ten books that were currently banned somewhere in these United States. Here are a few examples: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, and Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. (For more information, see banned books online, and other sources.)

1. Have you ever knowingly read a banned book?
2. Have you read any of the books I listed above?
3. Knowing that the above books have been banned, would you read them now? Why?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> I bought a sweatshirt for my husband some years ago that says, "Celebrate freedom. Read a banned book." The shirt then goes on to list ten books that were currently banned somewhere in these United States. Here are a few examples: <em>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</em> by Mark Twain, <em>The Catcher in the Rye </em>by J. D. Salinger, <em>The Grapes of Wrath </em>by John Steinbeck, <em>The Call of the Wild </em>by Jack London, and <em>Gone With the Wind </em>by Margaret Mitchell. (For more information, see <a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html">banned books online</a>, and other sources.) <ol> <li><em>Have you ever knowingly read a banned book?</em> Reply here</li> <li><em>Have you read any of the books I listed above?</em> Reply here</li> <li><em>Knowing that the above books have been banned, would you read them now? Why?</em> Reply here</li> </ol>

Children's books

With J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince making its sensational debut last weekend I started thinking about children's books. There have been a lot of wonderful ones over the years, The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, Bambi, the Mother Westwind stories, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Chronicles of Prydain, Nancy Drew, and on and on.

1. As an adult, do you own children's books?
2. If you do, do you still read them even when there are no children around?
3. What were your favorites as a child? Now?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> With J.K. Rowling's <em>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince </em>making its sensational debut last weekend I started thinking about children's books. There have been a lot of wonderful ones over the years, The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, Bambi, the Mother Westwind stories, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Chronicles of Prydain, Nancy Drew, and on and on. <ol> <li><em>As an adult, do you own children's books? </em>Reply here </li> <li><em>If you do, do you still read them even when there are no children around? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What were your favorites as a child? Now? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Come again?

Most stories are about people. Some authors are better with descriptions of places or things or weaving a tale than they are with character development. Some authors make the characters really come alive, seem like flesh and blood individuals with wills of their own, not merely the creation of someone's imagination.

1. What author that you remember having read does the best character development?
2. What book/series do you think is that author's shining work with regards to character development?
3. What was (were) your favorite character(s) in that book or series?
4. Do you ever find yourself really liking a character in a book that you're certain you would never be friends with in real life?
5. Do you ever re-read a book to visit a character because you miss him/her?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> Most stories are about people. Some authors are better with descriptions of places or things or weaving a tale than they are with character development. Some authors make the characters really come alive, seem like flesh and blood individuals with wills of their own, not merely the creation of someone's imagination. <ol> <li><em>What author that you remember having read does the best character development? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What book/series do you think is that author's shining work with regards to character development? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>What was (were) your favorite character(s) in that book or series? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Do you ever find yourself really liking a character in a book that you're certain you would never be friends with in real life? </em>Reply here</li> <li><em>Do you ever re-read a book to visit a character because you miss him/her? </em>Reply here</li> </ol>

Coffee table books

My own personal definition of a coffee table book is a book that is large, over-sized, has lots of pictures, is about a specific theme (e.g., Georgia O'Keeffe's 100 Flowers, steeple chasing, Disney Animation, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) and generally speaking not something that most people would sit down and read in an afternoon. Coffee table books are often displayed singly or in piles for the benefit of guests to peruse, to stimulate conversation, because they look good, or whatever.

1. Do you have any coffee table books?
2. Do you have one or two, or would you say you have a collection of them?
3. Do you keep them on your coffee table? If not, where?
4. What are they about?
5. Have you read them? All of them? None? Why?

If you want, highlight the stuff in the box, then copy it to your blog.

<a href="http://bookingthroughthursday.blogspot.com">Booking Through Thursday</a> <p> My own personal definition of a coffee table book is a book that is large, over-sized, has lots of pictures, is about a specific theme (e.g., Georgia O'Keeffe's 100 Flowers, steeple chasing, Disney Animation, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) and generally speaking not something that most people would sit down and read in an afternoon. Coffee table books are often displayed singly or in piles for the benefit of guests to peruse, to stimulate conversation, because they look good, or whatever. <ol> <li>Do you have any coffee table books? </li> <li>Do you have one or two, or would you say you have a collection of them? </li> <li>Do you keep them on your coffee table? If not, where? </li> <li>What are they about? </li> <li>Have you read them? All of them? None? Why? </li> </ol>