Banned Books?

I could not believe my ears as I sat in the Banned Books Week celebration at our campus library a few years ago.

Lord of the Rings...

A Wrinkle in Time...
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn...

Books that I considered classics, books I had read as an innocent child (okay, innocent-ish. I was pretty warped, even as a youngling), had been BANNED?  I was shocked and, well, a little intrigued! What other books had been banned? Why were they banned?! 

As is my custom, however, I was quickly distracted by something shiny... until a few weeks ago, when Banned Book Week came around again.  I found this link, and decided I really need to catch up on some of these!  And just when I thought things could not get any better, I found this link, which has a list of banned books that actually helped shape American history! 

That was it, I had a new project.  I am now working on making my way through as many of these as I can! What am I starting with? Well, since they are on my bookshelf... I am starting with To Kill a Mockingbird, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, or 1984.  (But probably not 1984. I brought it to a friend's house to read, and... well... not sure what house it is living at anymore.) 

Anyone else intrigued by the concept of reading banned books?  What is your favorite banned book? (Myself, I am partial to A Wrinkle in Time!)  And if you are wondering what others may be reading - check out Friday Finds, a weekly book meme! 

Yes!

I was reading a wonderful book this week, I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a Girl, when I came upon an interesting passage. 

The author, Kelle, was offered a job.  She didn't know what she would be doing. She didn't know if she was qualified to do the job.

She said yes. 

I wish I had the book with me (I had to take it back to the library) to read it to you word for word. It is a really amazing book.  Regardless, I was so inspired as I read this.  I am the queen of self-doubt. I do not take a job until I have double or triple-checked that I can do the job.  I probably pass up jobs and opportunities that I would excel at, just because I am afraid to risk failure. 

What would my life be like if I just said "yes"? Where could my journey go if I just stepped out by faith, and worried about the consequences when they came? How much more could I grow? Who could I become? 

What would YOUR life be like if you just said "yes"?

Reading?

Finally, after many months of having no desire to read anything of substance, I finally have my reading mojo back!!! What am I reading?

Traveling Mercies : Some Thoughts on Faith - Anne Lamott (recommended by Tammy V!)
From Pocahontas to Power Suits: Everything You Need to Know about Women's History in America - Kay Mills

I'm also reading another book about the history of feminism, and books on plumbing.

What about you all? Reading anything good? I'd love to hear about it!!!

Randomness

I have absolutely nothing deep or soul-searching to say today, so I thought I'd just tell you what's going on in my little world here:

-Tonight I'm going to my friend Sherwood's birthday party! She's turning 21... should I bring a mojito? (I'm already bringing deviled eggs.)

-Right now I have "Rock Star" by Nickleback stuck in my head... every time I flipped the radio station on my road trip back from Massachusets, that song was on! It's also the favorite song of M, my unofficially-adopted-daughter. I haven't talked to M in a week or so... I should call her tonight.

-I've been looking for Christian blogs that contain deep thoughts but not annoying preaching... DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THEY ARE TO FIND?! Perhaps the ones who don't preach are like me... just posting about their daily lives, and not joining "Christian" blog rings and things? Probably. I think if I joined any, I'd be kicked out... either for chronicly talking about mojitos, or for my political ideas.

-I'm reading V for Vendetta in novel form, and can't wait to finish it and read the original comic that the novel & movie are based on!

-I have been bloghopping like CRAZY this week, leaving comment love all around, and only ONE person has commented here on my blog! What's up with that? *sad sniffle* Doesn't anyone out there wanna read me?

-I am still hard at work making collaged projects. At the moment, I'm cutting out cool pictures... then I will organize them by color and theme, and then all kinds of crazy cool creating will begin! Wooo hooooo!!!!! I've also joined two swaps... one is a itty-bitty-book swap, and one is a quilt swap. I have GOT to get some more done on those this week.

-Our taxes are done, and waiting to be filed this weekend! Well, James & I's are. My moms? Well, I took one look at her inch-thick folder of papers, and decided I would need a large space and a LOT of time to get her stuff done. Also, I may need a mojito. Or two.

From Us to You!

Seasons Greetings from Jana & Friends:

James says: "BEWARE! Monkeys are taking over the world!"

Mama de James says: "The ninja monkeys are after James! No, seriously, Merry Christmas. He came to die for us!" (I think she was saying that about Jesus BTW, not the ninja monkeys or James. )

Kim says: "I'm not crazy, the voices told me so."

Jana says: Christmas day is finally over. The presents have been unwrapped, the leftovers divided up, and the company has gone home. I have so so so much to tell you all about today. I got to see "my daughter", M, on Christmas Eve, after not seeing her for a year. She adopted James and I a few years ago, and I really do love her (and worry about her) like an adopted child. That was so precious to me. The holiday with James and his family on Christmas Eve was amazing... they were BEYOND sweet to me. I fit right in, being teased by "Uncle Norman" and listening to "the aunts" lecture James about various things. *giggle* I learned that "the aunts" are both amazing artists, and where they take lessons each month, and was invited to their New Years Eve party, where they will be playing EUCHRE!!!!!!! (I love Euchre!) I also got to see MY cousin, who their family adopted because to be honest, our dads both suck. I hadn't chatted with her in AGES and hadn't ever got to talk to her daughter before, who evidently is a mini-me (well, maybe not, since she IS my height already lol) Today we all had a great time too. "Mama de James" and I had fun discussing our favorite series of books (Amelia Peabody mystery series by Elizabeth Peters), Kim and I made strange artistic creations (way fun!), I lost at Phase 10 and Electronic Sorry, but Kim & I won at Taboo... and since Kim has a little boy who is 4, I had an excuse to try out the NEW PLAYDOH SET I bought for "my Thursday-night kids." After the company was gone, we got into jammies (i got new jammies for christmas! yeah!) and watched a movie (Freedomland, which BTW has got to be THE STUPIDEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED!!!!!). Now it's 2:45 AM and I still have a bedroom to clean so that tomorrow can officially be a day of fun for me... the last free day I'll have in quite a while, with tax season approaching. Then it's off to bed... nighty night to me!

Categories: Art, Aunts, Christmas, Family, Friends, James, Reading,

Thoughts, Pics, & Memes

Today is Friday!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out my hair today! I'm impressed with my hairdoing skillz! *giggle*

Last night I had an "Oh" moment... after spending a couple of hours with "my kids," (poor K1 & K2... my first hairdoing victims!!! K1's hair was SOOO hard to do! So silky bobby pins slid right out of it!!!! K2's went a little better, but still not the greatest. Oh well, practice makes perfect!!) I was driving home. It was dark, my mood was dark, and my feelings had been hurt. About to launch into a pathetic (Yes Bri, I tell myself when I'm being pathetic too LOL) pity-party, I decided instead to just spend some time chatting with God. It changed my whole outlook... and reminded me that I have a choice to make when things come that hurt me or bring me down. I can dwell on the bad, and let it destroy my day... or I can just let it go, and keep my mind on the good things. I did that last night, and had a MUCH better evening!!! :o)

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I found this meme at Amy's blog (not to be confused with Cousin Amy) and decided to do it since I always have been and always will be a total bookworm!!!!

How old were you when you learned to read and who taught you? I suppose I learned in school, from Mrs Sowers of Mrs Ratcliff. I don't really remember though.

Did you own any books as a child? What is the first one you remember owning? If not do you remember the first you borrowed from the library?The first books I remember owning were a set of Sesame Street books with all kinds of stuff in them to learn. I also had the books with matching records, handed down from my cousins... and the first book I checked out from the library? The Bobbsey Twins!!!!! I was sick, and mom brought one home for me to read... I LOVED them, and so we went to the library to get more!.

What is the first book you remember buying with your own money? I'm not sure... I didn't buy books much, i just borrowed from the library. (Still do! lol)

Were you a re-reader as a child? If so which did you reread most often? Of course! We lived pretty far from the library. I reread the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden CONSTANTLY... as a matter of fact, I just read a Nancy Drew a couple of days ago when I wasn't feeling good. Nothing to distract you from your sickness like a good mystery!.

What is the first adult book that captured your interest and how old were you when you read it? I remember loving Mary Higgins Clark books from the first time I read one in 8th grade, and Agatha Christie books (Only Miss Marple ones though) when I was a younger teen. As I got into high school, I learned to love medical thrillers (ROBIN COOK!), more adult mysteries, and a little bit of Sci-Fi

Are there any children’s books you passed by as a child and learned to love as an adult? Not really, except maybe Anne of Green Gables. And really, I only like those because Anne acts out The Lady of Shallot, which I love.

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And speaking of The Lady of Shallott... I was re-reading it today, and felt inspired. Here are 4 sketches I drew on post-its today at work: (sorry they are fuzzy... I may scan them when I get home from work) I plan to make some fun designs out of these when I get home.

General layout of Shallott:

The mirror of shadows & the window of hope:

The lady "weaving" colors with an upside-down paintbrush:

The Lady floating:

Categories: Artsy, Books, Reading, Zuma