I have survived my first week in my new position — and more importantly, the first week of the fall term! But even during such a week, I found time to …
♥ … peruse this timeline of celebrating 30 years of liberating literature, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, which takes place this year Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012. (BTW, it’s not celebrating the fact that books continue to be challenged and banned; it’s celebrating that librarians, readers, people like YOU, continue to read and fight for freedom of expression and the right to read.) You can read more about the history of Banned Books Week here.
Reprinted by permission of the American Library Association
♥ … enjoy this Flavorwire gallery of 10 literary authors who illustrated their own work. My personal fave in the gallery is T. S. Eliot, whose charming cat drawings reminded me of James Thurber’s work (who didn’t make the list, oddly enough).
♥ … read about the “Unknown Man” case in Australia, a still-unsolved mystery of a man found dead on a beach in December 1948. It’s a fascinating read (of course, it’s on the Smithsonian site!), and the article goes into great detail about how the police gathered clues and followed up leads. A rare edition of a book also plays a BIG role in this mystery.
♥ … chuckle, grimaced, and at turns nod my head through reading this opinion piece on the trouble with intentions in writing. Here’s a sample:
Yet it’s necessary to write as if your sentences will be orphaned, because they will be. When called to the stand in the court of meaning, your sentences will get no coaching from you. They’ll say exactly what their words say, and if that makes you look ridiculous or confused, guess what?
Related articles
- Banned Books Week 2012 (grownupmatilda.wordpress.com)
- Banned Books Week celebrates 30 years of defiant reading (teleread.com)
- What is Banned Books Week? (popbooks.wordpress.com)
- Alan Engelbert: Read a banned book lately. (wvgazette.com)
- No sex please, we’re American – Banned Books Week turns 30 (guardian.co.uk)
- Banned Books Week Draws Attention to Censorship (washington.cbslocal.com)
