From Twitter 10-01-2010

( Tweets. Scintillating, innit. )

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Have you ever had one of those weeks…

I’m a wee bit disappointed that my Banned Book Week plans sort of collapsed under the weight of circumstance, but today being the last day I figured I could make some time to write just a bit more on the subject.

A few friends told me to stick with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and now that I’m about 2/3 of the way into it, I think I get their point. Chbosky has a real knack for authenticity overall. This is turning out to be the sort of book that would have been a big deal for me 15 years ago.

After that, I still have plans to read (well, listen to 10 discs worth of) Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. And, after I buy groceries, I’ll be picking up a copy of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, which is currently being challenged in a school about three hours from where I live. (You can read about the challenge here and here.)

Some of the most interesting (to me at least) has been the UK coverage of Banned Book Week. Most of the articles talk about how surprising it is that we have this problem in the United States, and how alien the idea of a banned or challenged book is in British schools. Never having lived there, I have no idea how true this is. Anyone want to ring in and tell me how this goes on other shores?

Among those articles was a short piece by Lauren Myracle, (American) author of the YA “IM” series (ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r) has frequently been under fire by groups who want to ban, challenge, or censor her books. Over at The Guardian, she talks about extending an olive branch to those who want her books off the shelves.

~*~

It’s not a Win But Fail, but I reviewed The Social Network if’n you’re interested. I’d have linked sooner, but it only just went up on the 1st. Ah, writing. It’s life in (occasionally very) slow motion.

My friend John sent me this link from The Oatmeal about the word “literally.” All I can say is that I think I want the final image on a t-shirt.

Look, I know comprehensive sex ed a serious and contentious issue (and it’s a serious issue that I’m a pretty fierce advocate for in my daily life), but killing off the abstinence-only zombie as a concept has had me laughing for the last couple of days. Points awarded to the ACLU on all counts. (For the record, I’m also totally in favor of fighting zombies.)

I am very seriously considering entering this. I don’t know how I will manage it, but it sounds like an experience I need to start having.

I keep meaning to link to this OTHER take on Prufrock, and then forgetting. This time, it’s Lovecraft. I am officially terrified of coffee spoons.

I am also terrified of the effect this recipe is likely to have on me.

This post has been mirrored from Christian A. Young's Dimlight Archive. To see it in its original format, visit dimlightarchive.com