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Welcome to my weekly update for October 3, 2021!
Last week was Banned Books Week so I posted a review of a different banned/challenged book every day. I feel that it’s terribly important to bring awareness to this issue. Monitor what your kids and you yourself read, by all means. But no one has the right to remove a book from the community at large. Some of the books I reviewed last week are books I probably wouldn’t have found on my own, but they cover topics that are so relevant today.
I posted last week that I’ve been chosen as a round one panelist in the high school nonfiction category of the Cybils awards. I’m so excited! Public nominations opened on Friday. Please, please take a moment to nominate outstanding children’s, middle grade, or young adult books that were published between October 16, 2020 and October 15, 2021. Full details and the nomination form are on the Cybils website.
Last week, we flew home to North Carolina after spending three months in Anchorage, Alaska with my husband’s job. It snowed just a bit on Friday but I was shocked to hear that the school system closed for the day. I didn’t think Alaskan schools would ever close for snow! The rest of the weekend, we had crystal clear air, gorgeous blue skies, and unbelievable views of the mountains. Alaska really showed off for our last weekend!
Slideshow:
All images copyright © Jennifer G. at Introverted Reader 2021
- Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the busiest seaplane base in the world, with the Chugach Mountains in the background
- Anchorage as seen from my airplane, just before dawn
Posted:
My thoughts on Banned Books Week 2021
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, translated by Magda Bogin–3 Stars
Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2020
Drama by Raina Telgemeier–4 Stars
The Giver by Lois Lowry–4 Stars
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger–4 Stars
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely–5 Stars
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck–4 Stars
Read:
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog (Amelia Peabody #7) by Elizabeth Peters, read by Barbara Rosenblat
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
Currently Reading:
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara, read by Gabra Zackman
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet
Up Next:
I have a busy week ahead so I don’t think I’ll be finishing these anytime soon.
What did your week look like?
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
17 Comments
Welcome back to NC! I look forward to hear about what is next for you.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
You will miss (and we will too) Alaska. Such an amazing place. I did read The Giver, certainly different. Good to see you found something in The Catcher in the Rye, I haven’t read that but always see it mentioned. Maybe one day.
I’m also kind of shocked that Anchorage schools closed for snow! I spend far too much time watching LIFE BELOW ZERO and Alaskans are hearty people!
Great post! I’m a public librarian, so of course, I’m against banning books too. Although it does make them much more appealing to junior high and high school students! I keep forgetting about the Elizabeth Peters series. I listened to the first one or maybe two back when they were on cassettes or CDs and they were a little hard to find through the library. It’s probably easier now with digital downloads, so I should take a look.
Three months in Alaska seems to have gone by quickly, but you packed a lot into your time there!
Last week was a full week! 100% agree with you on the issue of banning books. Happy reading!
Great looking assortment of books. Also great photos from Alaska. Do you know where you are going next? Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Great photos! I have enjoyed participating in Banned Books Week, but missed last year and this one.
Enjoy your week, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
I completely agree that no one has the remove a book from the community…or anyone’s voice, for that matter. I love America for her freedom of speech, which ought not to be tampered with on any platform.
Love House of Spirits and Catcher In the Rye! I’ve read them both multiple times, and I could do so now again. I think it was Allende’s book which first introduced me to magical realism…
Have a lovely week!
Beautiful photos from Alaska. Would love to make it up there someday.
Congrats on your Cybils judgeship! How exciting.
I feel the same as you on books. If you don’t like a book then write a book/essay, etc on why and what you recommend!
I read House of Spirits a few years ago but was really confused by it. But I really enjoyed how she wove her characters around their history. Really interesting.
I hope you enjoy I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. I’m so glad they caught the killer and the HBO documentary on her and her book is also a must-see if you haven’t already.
Wow that first pic is beautiful! I’ll bet you guys will miss Alaska… it looks and sounds so amazing there. Hope your next destination is amazing too!
You’ve left Alaska!!! Of course, having never been to North Carolina except to change planes to continue to Little Rock, NC sounds just as exciting and wondrous to me as Alaska. Was the plane you were on one of those sea planes? I remember my dad talking about those when he went to Alaska for work. I’m terrified of flying but would hop in one of those if given the chance Sounds fun! Great pictures by the way.
Ughhh what is the pigs book about????? Clicks link. Oh, ok, sounds like I’ll have to read parts of it with one eye closed but the rest of it sounds really good. Adding to my list. I see it’s Book #1 in a series.
I forget about Banned Book Week because it doesn’t happen here in schools like it does in the US.
Im sure you’ll miss the spectacular scenery of Alaska!
Wishing you a great reading week
Welcome home! Will you get to stick around for a little while or will you be off soon to the next assignment? I’ve enjoyed hearing about and seeing photos from your Alaskan adventure. You read some excellent books, too. I completely missed Banned Books Week this year, but have already started a list for next time. Have a good week.
I love how you approached banned books week, such a great idea!
Here is my link:https://twogirlsandtheirbookishlife.blogspot.com/2021/10/sunday-salon-sukkot-and-art-deco.html
Oh, you’ve left Alaska! I do look forward to hearing where you’ll be next as I enjoy hearing about your adventures and seeing the photos. Have a great week!
Several of my students are currently reading Drama and they LOVE IT!
I agree with you completely about Banned Books, Jen. If a person doesn’t like a book, I think it’s perfectly fine to share your opinions with friends, relatives, even strangers, but it’s not up to others to decide what books are right for everyone.
You will be a great judge for the Cybils. I hope we get some fabulous nominations this year.
I bet you are excited to be back in North Carolina. Your time in Alaska was certainly memorable.