Book Journey

Lord Of The Flies by William Golding (Banned Books Week 2014)

Published on September 21, 2014September 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

Originally published in September of 1954, a dystopian type novel where a group of British boys are stuck on an inhabited island who try to given themselves while waiting for rescue with disastrous results. Lord Of The Flies has been called an early Hunger Games.

When a plane full of English school boys crashes onto a deserted island with no adult survivors, the boys ages 6 – 12 have to figure out a way to survive.

When Ralph, one of the older boys is voted to be their leader, and the runner up to his leadership Jack, a boy who will put in charge of the other boys and call them “hunters”, it looks like they are off to a good start. They are each assigned duties like building a fire (so a passing boat might see the smoke), gather food, make shelter, and eventually hunt the wild pigs they find on the island.

Of course, boys will be boys, and the system quickly deteriorates as most of the survivors would rather swim and lay in the sun. When Jack takes a team of boys hunting instead of maintaining the fire as he was supposed to things start to change for the worse. Soon Ralph is being challenged by his authority and Jack feels that perhaps since he can provide food that he is the better choice for a leader. The boys split into two different areas of the island.

While Ralph maintains Piggy, a heavier but also brilliant boy who with the help of his glasses can make fire, Ralphs team are not hunters. While Jack leads a team that is fed well by the hunt, they are unable to make fire. Unable to work together the two groups of boys turn savagely against each other; crazed from the heat and lack of basic survival needs with no adult supervision, the boys go too far…

and there is no turning back.

In my quest to read all banned books during banned books week, this is a small (202 pages) book that has been on my classic shelf for a couple of years, waiting its turn to be chosen. As I left for the cabin on Thursday afternoon, I grabbed this one off the shelf.

At first Lord Of The Flies took a few pages to sink into the rhythm. The book starts out after the crash. (Think LOST). You do not receive a lot of back story here as to where they were going, but you do pick up that they are a choir.

As the book starts to movie forward you have Ralph who is mainly given leadership because he has the conch shell which calls the wandering group together. Piggy, who is constantly and sadly made fun of throughout the book, is a young voice of wisdom. Jack, comes along as a stronger boy one who wants recognition and quickly finds he is skilled at hunting which impresses the other boys.

According to author William Golding, Lord Of The Flies was written to trace the defects of society back to human nature. (There is a wonderful back story to the book in the final pages)

I read the book in the space of a couple of mornings at the cabin. The book easily held my attention as the frustrations quickly rise when Ralph discovers that it is a lot of work to try to get things done hen only a few are doing the work. When the boys turn against each other and start acting live savages (one group turning to wearing face paint made from berries and mud on the island, all society acceptances seems to flow away.

Towards the end of the book my eyes were flying across the pages wondering what was going to happen.

I am so glad I had an opportunity to read this book called by Time Magazine in 2005 “One of the top 100 books of all time” and having won many awards.

SO why was this book banned?

Challenged at the Dallas, TX Independent School District high school libraries (1974).
Challenged at the Sully Buttes, SD High School (1981). Challenged at the Owen, NC High School (1981) because the book is “demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal.”
Challenged at the Marana, AZ High School (1983) as an inappropriate reading assignment.
Challenged at the Olney, TX Independent School District (1984) because of “excessive violence and bad language.” A committee of the Toronto, Canada Board of Education ruled on June 23, 1988, that the novel is “racist and recommended that it be removed from all schools.” Parents and members of the black community complained about a reference to “niggers” in the book and said it denigrates blacks.
Challenged in the Waterloo, IA schools (1992) because of profanity, lurid passages about sex, and statements defamatory to minorities, God, women and the disabled.
Challenged, but retained on the ninth-grade accelerated English reading list in Bloomfield, NY (2000).

Leave a comment on this post and not only be entered to win one of the banned book week prizes, but also one commenter on this post between now and next Sunday will be entered to win a copy of this book sent directly to your home from Amazon.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts on the comparisons to Hunger Games?

If you have not read it, would you consider reading it? Why or why not?

Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Perigee Books; Reissue edition (July 27, 1959)
Language: English

Morning Meanderings… Books in and Banned Book Week is ON!

Published on September 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)49 Comments

Good morning – happy Sunday… all of that 🙂 It has been a wonderful weekend away at our cabin with my friend Wendy – watching movies, exploring the area… waiting for the roofer dude. Now home and prepping for this amazing week (the fall book sale is at the Library!) and I had books and audio come in this week:

You can see there are two books there with the word Christmas in them as well as a book called Winter Falls. Eep! I am so not ready for cold and snow! 🙂

I am super giddy excited about today because it is the official kick off to Banned Books Week which you know I LOVE and take a huge part in every year. I will have guest posts going on here, linking up other Banned Book Week posts each day, writing about banned books and banned book reviews as well as the occasional giveaway. YOU will not want to miss out on a post – this is going to be FUN.

AND It is not too late for you to check out about this fun week and join in!

Each year during this week I only read banned books. So much fun and I read such great books – classics, and more. I think this week is so important to be educated on what constitutes a banned/challenged book that I have also decided to make it a tab at the top of Book Journey so you can read all my banned book reviews through the years! I think you may be surprised by what books are considered banned. In fact, this morning you can read about a personal banned book experience that happened right here in my home town this year over at the amazing Krystal’s Books Are My Thing. She as well will be having a lot of fun things happening for banned books week so please stop over and see what she is doing as well.

It drives me absolutely batty that I can not find an all-inclusive banned books list that I can link too, but here is one and perhaps one of these days I will start my own banned books list as I run across them.

I hope you plan to read a banned book this week (at least one!) in honor of banned books week! They are not hard to find and they do not have to be long (Charlotte’s Web, Little Red Riding Hood, The Giving Tree, Winnie The Pooh, Harriet The Spy, Alice In Wonderland, Where The Wild Things Are, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, The Wizard Of Oz…)

All comments this week will go on banned books posts (including this one) will go into a drawing at the end of the week for you choice of:

$10.00 towards a Banned book of your choice.

So what are you waiting for? Jump in and join the banned!

Early Decision by Lacy Crawford

Published on September 17, 2014September 17, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Anne is an admissions coach for students preparing to start the process of getting into the college of their choice. Or, in some cases I should say their parents choice… This book is a fictional telling on the authors non fictional 15 years of being a college admissions coach, helping students (and parents) come to terms with that next step.

In Early Decision, Anne is starting another season of coaching as her students she has accepted line up from all walks, parents for the most part, eager to make sure their child has the best possible chance to get in the ever narrowing gates of admission to the big name colleges.

Hunter, a kind boy trying hard to reach his parents level of expectations for him, but really has his own dream of his future. Sadie, the daughter of wealthy well-known parents who feels her future is all cut out for her no matter what she does. William, a brilliant young man who is constantly dodging his father’s anger. Alexis the overachiever from Minnesota (Minnesota!), and Christina who has everything it takes to succeed.. just not the means to do it.

As Anne works with each of these students as they write their first drafts of their college essays, she helps them realize who they really are and what they really want to say – not always to the parents approval. Anne meets with the students and talks them through the possibilities as they continue to work on the application essay that will hopefully set them apart and provide that acceptance letter into the college of their choice; but not always.

As Anne works with this latest group of students she finds herself contemplating her own life. Is this where she thought she would wind up? Was this her big plan for after college… thirty is just around the corner for her and some how she feels like she has never taken the steps she is coaching the students to take, herself.

Early Decision is a look into the world of college acceptance and the students applying as well as the parents prodding anxiously behind them, in many cases as though the decision of acceptance defines them as parents as well. Anne’s job comes with high expectations on her from all of the above.

I found Early Decision to be very interesting. I, myself did not take the college route, and sometimes really wish I would have. At the time of my own graduation, my mom had been raising me alone for years after my father’s early death due to an accidental fire, and my goal was to make my transition from High School to the real world, as easy on her as possible. Now reading about how intense parents can be about the process was fascinating and a little scary all rolled into one. In this book, you get a real taste of where the parents are with their dreams for their children – but you also get a real look at what the children want for themselves.

What is interesting is that author Lacy Crawford wrote this book based on her real life experience as a college admissions councilor. While this book does not point out actual people – the results of this book is a combination of her years in this position and the tiger moms and the helicopter parents are all too real.

I enjoyed looking into this world of intense college application prep; a world I knew little about. I felt for the students being pushed and prodded. In some cases I felt for the parents as they wanted what was best for their child…. but mostly I felt for Anne, who had her work cut out for her between working with the students and battling the parents who were either too pushy, or too needy…

A wild look into the college side that I feel would be a great read for parents and students alike as they approach that time of college decision. In fact, I think both the parents and the students should read this book before they start the process – hopefully giving each an insight into the other side and therefore taking on this step with a little more empathy for each other – and a little more understanding.

A fun and thought-provoking read.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (August 26, 2014)

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to tag along this road to College applications and acceptance. It was truly an interesting adventure in reading!

Invisible by James Patterson and David Ellis

Published on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Emmy Dockery knows there is something more to the rash of fires across the states what all have a similar feel to them:

1. They are always in the bedroom

2. They always result in a death

The problem is, no one else believes that they are anything more than unfortunate accidents and carelessness on the home owners part. As more and more fires happen Emmy picks up on a pattern but she is more or less on her own. Even her ex-fiance field agent Harrison “Books” Bookman who would love to be on her side on this, just does not see it.

Emmy is starting to wonder if maybe she is pushing something to far… perhaps they are just off coincidences and maybe because one of these fires hit too close to her personally she just wants it to be something other than an accident…

but

what if there really is a crazy killer out there?

I absolutely adore Patterson’s books on audio. Honestly, I believe his books were my first real dabble into audio and I was wowed on what audio could be. They are of superb quality. If you are an audio listener, or would like to try – I highly recommend picking up one of his books on audio.
When I seen a chance to review Patterson and Ellis’ new book, Invisible on audio I did not hesitate to say yes. It has been a while since I have listened to any of his work and I was curious if he had maintained what I loved about his books on audio.

He had.

Invisible was set at a perfectly creepy level without ever becoming gory. Told in alternating viewpoints from Emmy, and then from our killer as he records himself in what he calls “Graham sessions”, a recording for the police or FBI to get a sample of who he is and what he does.

I personally found this book on audio to be superb listening. I have said it before, Patterson audio is high quality, this one added a lot of background tot he audio that took it to the next level. This book has not been receiving the best ratings (I just seen this today), and I am wondering if it would have come across as well in book format as the audio.

I recommend the audio version of Invisible for a great chilling read that kept my guessing and even as I finished this one and it all started to rapidly come together I was chilled to discover what was fully going on.

Morning Meanderings… Library Friends Networking

Published on September 16, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning! Happy Tuesday! Yesterday morning I made apple butter with our apples from our trees and my home this morning still smells like cinnamon and apples….

mmmmmm.

Yesterday afternoon I went to a workshop in Roseville Minnesota to network with other Friends Of The Library. It was pretty fun and they used our Friends group in Brainerd for many examples – website description of what friends of the library do, our Wine and Words event, summer brown bag author events… it was cool to know that we were on the right track in many ways.

I enjoyed listening to the other things that friends are doing in other areas – 5k walks and runs, bowling for books, and my personal favorite (wish I would have thought of it!) The Great Gatsby Gala that they had planned to make $20,000 and they raised $47,000! Holy smokes!!!! Granted it was in the bigger Minnesota cities so more people and more money… but still…. WOW. I hope to attend this one next year so I can see what they are doing up close.

I think the saddest thing at this workshop was the Itaska Friends group. Their library is open one day a week; Wednesdays from noon to 4 pm. That is heart breaking, yet this group raises money and awareness for their library through book sales, and being in the Fourth Of July parade.

One emphasis they put out there was being POSITIVE. I could not agree more. Having negative people on your teams sucks the life and energy out of the team…. in any circumstance. You need to stay positive and work to make events fun!

Anyhoo… it was a good time, it was fun meeting others in Minnesota in Friends groups. I did not arrive back home until 11 pm last night, but was able to listen to audio for my 2+ hour drive each way so that made it awesome 🙂

Does Your Library Have A Friends Group? Are you a part of it? What does your group do?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on September 14, 2014September 14, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Hey there! Welcome to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. Fair warning… this meme tends to add to your reading list! 😉

It has been a good week and weekend, we went to a wedding, we celebrated my hubby’s birthday, we hung out with friends, I was stung by bees…..

And here is what I posted:

I cut my hair. A LOT.

Banned book Week Is Coming! Join me for giveaways and fun!

Provence 1970 by Luke Barr

Win a This Is Where I Leave You Movie Package! Sign up now!!!

Bookies thoughts on That Night by Chevy Stevens

Diary Of A Mad Woman by Joan Rivers

This Is Where I Leave You by Johnathan Tropper (read it before the movie comes out!)

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan (books about books!)

Not a bad posting week! I had audio and book time… AWESOME! And now for this week I am planning:

For My Ears

Australian triplets Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle are about to turn thirty-three and one is pregnant, one has just had her life turned upside down, and one is only just keeping hers from skidding off the fast lane. Meanwhile, their divorced parents have been behaving very oddly indeed.

In this family comedy by Liane Moriarty, we follow the three Kettle sisters through their tumultuous thirty-third year — as they deal with sibling rivalry and secrets, revelations and relationships, unfaithful husbands and unthinkable decisions, and the fabulous, frustrating life of forever being part of a trio.

It’s Moriarty!

Liz Daniels has every reason to be happy about setting off on a rare family vacation, leaving behind her remote home in the Adirondack Mountains for a while. Instead, she feels uneasy. Her children, eight-year-old Reid and six-year-old Ally, have met their paternal grandparents only a handful of times. But Liz’s husband, Paul, has decided that, despite a strained relationship with his mother and father, they should visit the farm in western New York where he spent his childhood.

On their way to the farm, the family stops at a hotel for the night. In the morning, when Liz goes to check on her sleeping children, all her anxiety comes roaring back: Ally and Reed are nowhere to be found. Blind panic slides into ice-cold terror as the hours tick by without anyone finding a trace of the kids. Soon, Paul and Liz are being interviewed by police, an Amber Alert is issued, and detectives are called in.

Frantic worry and helplessness threaten to overtake Liz’s mind—but in a sudden, gut-wrenching instant she realizes that it was no stranger who slipped into the hotel room that night. Someone she trusted completely has betrayed her. Though she knows that Ally and Reid are safe, Liz will stop at nothing to find them and get them back. From her guarded in-laws’ unwelcoming farmhouse to the deep woods of her own hometown, Liz follows the threads of a terrible secret to uncover a hidden world created from dreams and haunted by nightmares.

For My Eyes

Honestly… not sure.

That is my plan – what is yours? Add your It’s Monday What Are You Reading post link below where it says click here. I would love to pop over and see what you are up to!

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For those of you who read mainly children and middle grade books, please also feel free to add your link here:

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan

Published on September 14, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Clay Jannon, a San-Francisco web designer, finds work during a rocky economy as the 10 pm – 6 am clerk at a 24-hour book store. While there is not a lot of action during these strange nighttime open hours; the few people who do come in are not purchasing books, but checking out large strange volumes from the far corners of the store as allowed by the store’s owner, Mr. Penumbra.

Clay suspects that store must be somehow doing something illegal through these so-called “customers” and lending of books…but in his searching, Clay discovers something much bigger than the volumes that occupy the store….

What is it about books about books? I mean really… how dorky can I get? Yet, when a title mentions a book store, or a book club… I want to know more.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan is a fun read, or in my case listen. The narration of Ari Flaikos (new narrator to me) was fun and perfect for this read. Ari gave me flashbacks of the amazing narration of Will Wheaton, and those are words of praise coming from me.

In this book, push sensible realities aside and just dream for a bit of a secret group that is centered around a book store… and not giving too much away…. perhaps…. many book stores. But how does one get to be part of the elite group? And what happens when things are not going as they should be? You are going to have to find yourself a copy of this book or grab it on audio to find out!

I enjoyed this listen and think others who like to read about book stores and bookish themes will as well.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 7 hours and 41 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Audible.com Release Date: October 2, 2012

Morning Meanderings… The Gone Girl Debate Continues

Published on September 14, 2014September 14, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Sunday already! I have been mowing my lawn yesterday and picking apples today… listening to Liane Moriarty’s Three Wishes on audio. It feels like fall here in Minnesota… walking the dogs this morning it is a nippy 43 degrees. Brisk!

Books that came in the mail this week:

The Counterfeit Lady by Kate Parker (a win!)

Driving Lessons by Zoe Fishman

The Scrivener’s Tale by Fiona McIntosh

The Case Against The Supreme Court by Erwin Chemerinsky

Yup.. no audio. Is that weird? LOL… pretty sure there will be some this week 🙂

As for the Gone Girl topic… did you read the book? Are you planning on seeing the movie? In July of 2012 I read the book and it moved me to write a spoiler page for it so I could talk more about my thoughts on it. Since the rumors of the movie began, that Spoiler Page post receives hundreds of hits a day and people still are giving there opinions on the book, the ending, etc… I love seeing a book fuel that much discussion. 🙂 In fact that page is probably the first time in recent days, that I had to tell a commenter to clean up their act – and I think that is the first time I have even done that on any post I have written. The controversy continues….

I for one, am curious about the movie as I usually am when books I have read become movies. I may not always love the movie version, but I like the contrast and seeing what vision they come up with.. good, bad, or ugly. 🙂

Share with me your thoughts on Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn! Would love to talk Gone Girl!

This Is Where I Leave You by Johnathon Trapper

Published on September 13, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

I was recently asked, “How do you read all the books you receive for review?” And, if I am honest, I admit I can not read them all. When I accept the book for review I have the best intentions to read and review the book… but life does happen – jobs, family, friends, commitments, homes, and so unfortunately – some books are missed and unfortunately – as in the case of this one, that is a sad mistake that I am so glad I had an opportunity to correct. ~Sheila

Synopsis – Judd has just walked in on his wife having sex with someone. Someone who is not him. Someone – who is in fact, Judd’s boss. And Judd’s life just fell apart.

Soon after, Judd receives a phone call from his sister that his father who has been ill for some time, has died and the family; Judd, his sister Wendy, and brothers Paul and Phillip are to gather at the family home with their mother for this final good-bye.

Judd’s mother says that in his fathers final wish he wanted the family to sit Shiva; a Jewish tradition where the family remains together int he home for seven days mourning the loss of their loved ones while friends and family come and pay their respects. Judd’s family is not the type that can spend more than a few hours together without wanting to kill each other so this should be interesting.

Wendy, the only daughter, comes in tow with her three children and her business husband who can not stay off his phone long enough to mourn anything… except maybe the possible loss of a few dollars.

Paul, the oldest son comes with his wife Alice who is desperate to be pregnant but so far no matter what doctors she see’s and what pills she takes, nothing has happened for the couple.

Phillip, the youngest of the brothers and by far the most free-spirited comes with a much older woman who he is hoping will help him settle his wild ways and lack of interest in any kind of responsibility.

And then there is Judd, broken marriage, no job, living in a smelly basement apartment wishing hateful things on his boss and mourning the loss of the woman he loved….

Really…

what could possibly go wrong?

The internet is a buzz with the upcoming movie for this book, This Is Where I Leave You. The casting looks wonderful and with it opening next week I had a vague recollection that I may have this book on my shelves. I did… and I started reading it right away.

This Is Where I Leave You is that book that you will not want to put down. It opens with a funny conversation between Judd and his sister Wendy… and it keep rolling from there. The family is dysfunctional, and funny, and keeps you on your toes… if it could happen… it will happen. I flew through these pages finding a real enjoyment in Johnathan Tropper’s words and the whole time wondering, “what else have I missed from this witty author?”

Do not hesitate on picking up this book that is a quick enjoyable read of a family that really… could be anyone’s family. And then… do not miss out on the giveaway I posted earlier this week for a chance to win a movie package.

Seriously…

why are you still here?

Go! Get this book!

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (July 6, 2010)
Language: English

Saturday Snapshot: My Summer Report by Sheila

Published on September 13, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Good morning. Saturday is here and it looks like it is going to be a nice one. Which is good as the two big projects from yesterday – the picking of the apples and the mowing of the lawn did not happen. And I have since found out that we have a wedding to attend this afternoon….

Life – never dull.

I was looking at old posts and I saw that last year at the end of summer I posted pics for Saturday Snapshot of what I did with my summer. I do not even recall doing that….lol. I thought today for Saturday Snapshot I would do that again. It has been an odd summer full of huge life changes both scary and exciting and I think a walk through what was fun will do me good:

DeChantal, Justin, Book JOurney — Our youngest son graduated from College.

Adriana Trigiani, Stephanie Evanovich, Dorthy Benton Frank, Book Expo 2014, Harper Collins — At The Book Expo in New York and had a chance to hang out with Dorthy Benton Frank, Adriana Trigiani, and Stephanie Evanovich. Bliss!!!

Bookies Book Club, Sheila DeChantal — A few of the Bookies Book Club dress up for our annual Queen Event

Bucks Busy Bees, SHeila DeChantak, Book JOurney — Helping out in the bee hives.

ST Joseph, Minnesota, Tour Of Saints, Sheila DeChantal, Amy Price — Tour Of Saints 50 mile bike ride in ST Joseph Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls, Sheila DeChantal — Gooseberry Falls, Cabin trip with my cousin Cheryl

Muckfest, Wisconscin, Sheila DeChantal, Book Journey — Wisconsin Mud Run for MS – Me, Amy, Jody, Jenny

AMy Price, Sheila DeChantal, Bookjourney, Muckfest — Ready for the Muckfest in Wisconsin!

Book JOurney, Sheila DeChantal — The giant rabbit in my yard.

Barbara Claypole White, Randy Susan Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Catherine McKenzie, and Benjamin Percy, Wine and Words, Brainerd Minnesota, Sheila DeChantal — Hanging with Wine and Words authors – Barbara Claypole White, Randy Susan Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Catherine McKenzie, and Benjamin Percy

Wine and Words Brainerd Minnesota — Part of the 210 in attendance at Wine and Words 2014

ST Paul Classic, 2014, Amy Price, Sheila DeChantal, Book JOurney — St Paul Classic Bike Ride – Amy and I

Bucks Busy Bees, Book JOurney, SHeila DeChantal — Learning to extract honey

Those are the highlights… bike rides and mud runs, playing with the bees, author events, sunny days… friends. 🙂 Stop over at Saturday Snapshot to see what others are taking pictures of this week 🙂