Banned Books Week -- Day 7

Today is the sixth day of Banned Books Week.

Celebrate the freedom to read. Book Browse gives recommendations and helps with your personal reading list.

Spread the joy of reading by starting a book club. Book Browse gives advice on starting and running a book discussion club, even offering a way to invite authors to a telephone chat with your club.

Catalog your books online for free by visiting the Library Thing. While you are visiting, share with other readers who like the same books. Visit the gallery to see pictures of the authors. Join a group that focuses on your favorites. Check out a book on your cell phone while standing in line at a bookstore. This is a fun sight.

technorati tags: bannedbooksweek, freedomtoread, censorship, catalogingbooks, bookchats, bookclub

Banned Books Week -- Day 6

FREADOM

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression works to raise awareness of censorship beginning with Dante’s The Divine Comedy, but continuing today with book burning by high school students parents.

The sight highlights new books about free expression, including Potentially Harmful that details art censorship in US over last 30 years. They have products such as t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and bumper stickers with "FREADOM" emblazoned on the front.

technorati tags: Bannedbooksweek, freedomtoread, censorship

Banned Books Week -- Day 5

Amnesty International takes advantage of Banned Books Week to highlight individuals who are persecuted because of the writings that they produce, circulate or read.

This year the list includes people who are journalists, publishers and poets, both male and female, from countries such as Russia, Ethiopia, China and Tunisia. Some are prisoners of conscience, on trial or already sentenced, detained or on probation. Their crimes include writing articles against torture, calling for peace, or simply sending e-mails.

For details about their cases or possible action on their behalf, visit Amnesty International. They offer two posters for downloading, including the one above, created by student Camden Forgia from Arizona State University.

Be sure to exercise your freedom by reading about censorship or writing about a subject important to you. And while you’re at it, take a chance and send an e-mail.

technorati tags: bannedbooksweek, freedomtoread, amnestyinternational

Banned Books Week -- Day 4

Our freedom to read can be celebrated by keeping up with the news. The Book Standard provides insight on the book publishing and book selling industries.

The Radcliffe Publishing Course lists the Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century of 1900 - 2000. The list includes 42 banned books, indicated in bolded type.

Vote here for your favorite challenged books and tell why you like it. You also have the opportunity to tell why you think we should celebrate our freedom to read. I chose Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein, a book I gave as a gift to my young nephew as well as a few friends and one of two Silverstein collections in my own library, because the poetry is refreshing and fun.

Voting results will be announced October 2.

technorati tags: Bannedbooksweek, freedomtoread, bannedbooks, challengedbooks, bookpublishing, bookselling

Family Day

Today is Family Day with a goal of starting family dinner at the table. Some people don't have time, some families just fuss or eat different types of foods, so there is always an excuse.

It is generally accepted that families who spend time together over a meal stay connected. See how your family compares to other American families by taking the Family Table Challenge. If the table is too quiet, try these Conversation Starters. Give it a try. It's a good habit to start.

technorati tags: familyday, familytable, conversationtips

Banned Books Week -- Day 3

The American Library Association (ALA) promotes intellectual freedom free of censorship, especially during Banned Books Week.

Read about the importance of the freedom to read and the role of censorship in this free society. The Supreme Court says there are some types of expression that really should be censored. Find the details here. And what about the children -- how can they be protected? Read what the ALA has to say here. What kinds of materials are censored most often? Find out here.

I am not going to try to stop you from reading. Learn which books are most frequently challenged and banned, and why. Read through the site and decide for yourself.

technorati tags: Bannedbooksweek, , freedomtoread, censorship

Banned Books Week -- Day 2

Today is the second day of Banned Books Week.

Remember Ray Bradbury's cautionary tale where all books are banned and firemen burn them? François Truffaut made the film – his only one in English. It really left an impression on me. Frightening concept.
the book and the audio book

technorati tags: Bannedbooksweek, fahrenheit451, freedomtoread, raybradbury, francoisetruffaut

The First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Today begins the twenty-fifth anniversary of Banned Books Week celebrating the freedom to read. We celebrate the right to express our opinions and the right to read them. Want to know more? Read FAQs about Banned Books Week.

For more information about the First Amendment, visit the First Amendment Center.

technorati tags: bannedbooksweek, firstamendment, freedomofspeech