Good morning. MMMMMM Coffee is tasting good this morning! I had a busy day yesterday and today, tomorrow – and through the weekend is looking about the same. I enjoy my 30 minutes in the morning writing these posts and “chilling” before I rev up and fly out the door like the late rabbit in Alice in Wonderland….
I love my Shelf Awareness email I receive each weekday morning. It is filled with bookish news on book stores, books, trends, etc…. yesterday it gave the top 10 BANNED books of 2010.
And the banned books are:
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And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
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Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
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Crank by Ellen Hopkins
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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
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Lush by Natasha Friend
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What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones
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Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
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Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Have you read any of these? I have read #2, #5, and #10. Last year I participated in banned books week – this year it is September 24 – October 1, by reading banned books all week-long. Yes it is true I read Dr. Suess’ The Lorax (shudder!), The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian – see it up there on the list *waves*, SPEAK (oh wow this one was good!), The Bell Jar, Farenheit 451, Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix, Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret – yes, that is Judy Blume, Freedom Writers, The Face On The Milk Carton.
It was…. an awesome week and I plan to do it again this year. Banned Books are not what you may think they are…. they are books that have been challenged and asked to be removed…. in the case of the Lorax, people complained that it was bad for the forestry because the book is about removing trees. Yes…. I kid you not. 😉
On the flip of that, the books that are up for an award are as follows and SSSQQQUUUUUU for ROOM making that list. My book club voted for ROOM to be our May read. I am excited as I think it will make for awesome discussion!
Finalists for the Orange Prize for fiction are:
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson
Great House by Nicole Krauss
The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
Annabel by Kathleen Winter
Have you read any of these? Other than ROOM I have not but have been interested in Great House for some time now.
Ok… got to run…. work… work out, kick boxing… home….
This weekend I am going on a Girls Weekend – and I will give more details on that…. on another morning 😀
Book Journey 
Ooh thank you for telling me about the Orange Prize winners! Fabulous!
Morning honey! XOX
Sure Rebecca – I was excited – I had to share the news 😀
I’ve only read The Hunger Games and The Giver, which I think was also banned. I’m trying to get enough courage to read ROOM since I am so sensitive about children and suffering. I know it’s a book that will stay with me for a long time.
I have not yet read The Giver but have it and hope to one of these days…
there is not really child suffering in ROOM…. its hard to explain, but Jack is very content and has no idea that there is more tot he world. I bet you would enjoy the book!
Banned books is an interesting concept-in schools I do not have an issue with not having books that are sexually graphic, racist etc-beyond that it is your choice what you read-I noticed Laura saying she needs to work up the courage to read Room-for me that is one book I would never read-the subject matter has no appeal to me-It is my choice not to read it. Who are these people who think they can sensor what we read?
Right Esme – exactly 🙂 I adored ROOM when I read it, there is no child abuse or neglect its just a mom and her son kept in a room for 5 years…. I found it to be a very interesting take.
I’m always surprised to see Brave New World on the banned lists, but especially on this one since it’s the only classic novel listed.
ANd Jenna – top 10 for 2010 as a classic – thats pretty powerful…. what is in that one anyways that has people so upset?
I read Brave New World, way back in the day….but haven’t read the others.
I want to read ROOM…it does look very good.
Have a great day!
Thanks Laurel! Yes, read ROOM I would love to read your review of it!
I’ve read #5, #8 and #10 on the banned book list. But I’ve only read Room on the other list. I only managed to read one banned book during banned book week, from what I remember, but I’m hoping to plan ahead and read more this year. Thanks for mentioning the date!
I have to actively plan for banned book week – i hope to do more this year 🙂
I haven’t (yet) read any of the books on either of those lists. Sigh.
Really? I would love to read the orange list. 🙂
I haven’t read enough Orange winners to know if it’s a prize I could follow. But then, I’m not all that interested in most of them, either …
Oh, and by the way, thanks for putting that song in my head with your post title … (although it isn’t really worse than the song I had in my head earlier this morning: YMCA).
LOL I am so glad that you got that it was a song title! 😛 I had a song in my head yesterday…. it would not leave no idea how it got in my head and it was such an awful song I will not even tell you which one it was 😀
I had SO MANY songs in my head yesterday, it was almost crowded. :p Today’s a little quieter, so far.
LOL – glad the music has stopped Hannah 😛
I have read Room – very good and have Grace Williams Says It Out Loud in my pile of library books waiting to be read.
LOVED ROOM!
I love looking at lists of banned books. Of course, having worked in a library, my opinion of banning is “never”. However, I’ve read #5, #8, and #10. I’m still trying to imagine the issue with NICKEL AND DIMED. May have to go look that one up and see what the problem was. Take care, Sheila, and don’t wear yourself out! LOL
I was just thinking what the heck was Nickel and Dimed on the list for?!
I’ve read 5, 8, and 10
Thanks Kay and Joy! I have never read Nickel and Dimed so have no idea…. 😛
I cannot imagine what they see as a problem with Nickel and Dimed unless they are anti-working people. Barbara E. does tend to stir people up – and I say good for her. As for Brave New World, well I wonder how many people have actually read it. I have, and I think it should be on the shelves available for anyone to read.
What is the issue with Brave New World Barbara?
I’ve read Twilight – the whole saga. Does the e-mail state any reason why these books are banned?
Twilight is for religious something or another but I do not recall anything in the book…. and I read them all too 🙂
I’ve read #2, #3, #5 and #10 from the Banned Book list.
And ROOM and Great House (ugh) from the Orange Prize List.
Evidently, I do slightly better when it comes to banned books than prize winners. Yay me. 😀
I think that is me too Jill – banned books won. You did not like Great House huh? I will have to go see your review 🙂
Of the award winners…I have read Room and Great house in my list to read.
As for the banned, I am sorry to say I think I have only read one. If it is the book I am thinking of I have read Nickel an Dimed – it is about surviving on minimum wage is various careers in different parts of the US.
Jen C
I wonder why it is banned Jen?
We don’t really get people trying to ban books over hear but I often hear about the complaints lodged in America. I had a quick look at And Tango Makes Three which is an adorable book – and a real benefit to kids in a family with same sex parents. It’s laughable that people would think it was corruptive.
Ellie I am curious where you live now …. how interesting that book banning is an American “thing”. I never thought about that. 🙂
Of the banned books, I’ve read #2, but I have #5 and #8 on my shelves.
I loved #2 – I know you did too Kathy! 🙂 Hunger Games unread on your shelf? OOH – bring it to BEA….
I’m trying to imagine the issue with Nickel and Dimed whichis the only book I’ve read off the Banned Book list. It was certainly an eye-opener!
I loved Room and found it to be a rather upbeat book. Jack just has such a great attitude. I think listening to it on audio also enhanced my enjoyment. I have The Great House on my nook and was planning to read it next week when I’m on a long plane ride. I’ve got The Tiger’s Wife on reserve at the library.
Thanks for posting the lists, Sheila!
I think ROOM is pretty easy going too Susan – I think maybe people think it is about child abuse but really it is not…. I may have to read Nickel and Dimed now to see what all the hype is about 🙂
I have read 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. People are so crazy! If you don’t like a book don’t read it, and don’t let your kid read it, but don’t try to make it so no one can read it.
Wow! You are a banned book reader! 😀
I raced through the Twilight series a while back now – weird how it makes that list but kind of makes sense if its about the removal of trees!! But the books are so pretty – hmm! I need coffee to ponder!
I am heading back to London today to hand in my last EVER assignment as a student and have Room in my bag!
The Tiger’s Wife looks interesting i have added it to my GoodReads!
Have a coffee fuelled day! I know mine will be – well partially! 😀
Woo Hoo for ROOM – a great book to celebrate with! My book club will be reading it this month and I can not wait to discuss it with them 🙂
So far i am at the state of slight confusion with the book but i kind of fell in love with it from the start. I just want to know what the rest of the story is. I look forward to hearing what you and book club have to say! 😀
And definitely a great book for celebration – i have another to follow!