Monthly Archives: September 2010


Let’s Try Something A Little Different

In case you haven’t heard it is Banned Books Week.

You may wonder, what exactly is this? Well, it celebrates the freedom to read whatever you want. It reminds us about the importance of freedom of information. And reminds us about censorship. That is when you can’t get the information, the ideas. Controlling ideas and information is dangerous.

So, in honor of this week we are going to try something a little different. How many books that were Banned or Challenged have you read? You might be surprised once you take a look at the list.

Here is my list:


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne (REALLY??!!)
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer

I’ll be adding to the list as I discover more ~ so in honor of this week why not read something that someone somewhere wants removed from the library shelves and think what you would miss if you couldn’t read it.


Why You Should Go Barefoot Today

Do you know what today is?

No, we didn’t either.

September is a month that is not really remarkable with events (if you exclude back to school, Labor day and several religious events). But hidden inside this month is quite a special day ~ September 22.

It’s Hobbit Day!
September 22 is the birthday of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” the much loved, read and cherished tales…..well epics really. While this event is not so widely known to Tolkien fans it is important. In fact the American Tolkien Society has honored it with a full week. And with the huge success of the film adaptation of the books there are no doubt many more unsuspecting fans who want to observe this special day.

Which leaves us asking ~ How to celebrate? Well, in true Hobbit tradition there should be a party with friends, lots and lots of friends. And food, lots of food, in fact it would quite correct to have up to 6 meals today. And all sorts of merrymaking. But the simplest way is to be like a Hobbit and go barefoot. So, today you can go without shoes. If your teacher, boss, friends or family look at you as if you have lost your mind you can quite simply tell them you are celebrating Hobbit Day. Say no more.