Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing Of The Dog!) by Jerome K. Jerome [Book Review]
Summary “Three Men in a Boat, published in 1889, became an instant success and has never been out of print. In […]
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Banned Books Week 2022 [#FREETHEBOOK]
Like always, I’m a little bit late to the party (I’ll blame life and totally not being on-top of it) but this week, 18-24 September, is Banned Book Week.
This week is so incredibly important, although fighting and acknowledging banned books is a constant thing. Especially now.
PEN America, “a nonprofit organization that works to defend and celebrate free expression in the United States and worldwide through the advancement of literature and human rights” [Wikipedia], has recently done some amazing research on what is currently going on.
According to their research:
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From July 2021 to June 2022, PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans lists 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles.
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The 1,648 titles are by 1,261 different authors, 290 illustrators, and 18 translators, impacting the literary, scholarly, and creative work of 1,553 people altogether.
The predominant reasons for them being banned are topics to do with LGBTQ+ and protagonists of color – not entirely shocking.
Fiction is primarily targeted as well with YA reads being the main focus.
I highly recommend checking out the really well written report from PEN America to learn a little more, by the numbers, about what is going on!
You can find some great things that YOU are able to do to fight against this. Every small action does matter, so please help in any way that you can.
Reading is so important and, since you are here, I would assume reading is important to you.
While book banning is a huge issue in the USA currently, it is something that happens worldwide and impacts people from all nations. So even if you are not US based, find what is happening locally and help out too!
To learn a little bit more about Book Banning, check out this great FAQ from PEN America!
The Alienist by Caleb Carr [Book Review]
This post contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure here.
Summary
“The year is 1896. The city is New York. Newspaper reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler—a psychologist, or “alienist”—to view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy abandoned on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge. From there the two embark on a revolutionary effort in criminology: creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill again before their hunt is over.
Fast-paced and riveting, infused with historical detail, The Alienist conjures up Gilded Age New York, with its tenements and mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. It is an age in which questioning society’s belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and fatal consequences.”
-From Amazon.com
Review
This was such an absolutely phenomenal read and I honestly fell in love with it within the first few pages. If you have a stronger stomach and don’t mind some graphic gore (and if you do mind it, honestly, you know it’s coming and can skim over it without losing much of the story), this is absolutely, absolutely worth the read!
Like Sherlock Holmes on Steroids
From the moment you start this book, you feel transported into this Sherlock Holmes type world. Based around 1896, you really feel as if you’re in New York City that is developing, still full of immigrants who are arriving by the day, stories of Indians and the Frontier, and just the general feelings and struggles that people faced. This was a traditional style murder mystery book but with just so much more. Carr is a master at weaving bits of history together into a story that really helps you feel as if you are joining the main characters on this journey to solve the gruesome murder of a young boy prostitute.
The world that Carr was able to weave with both the creation of the city, the language used by characters and the general scene setting really makes you feel as if you are there! The group doing the investigating had a main two – Moore and Kreizler – who definitely gave a Sherlock and Watson kind of vibe. 
Graphic & Gore
Now this book, I would say, isn’t for the faint of stomach per se. The book is incredibly violent – about the murder of a young boy prostitute and is filled with detailed accounts of the state of various bodies and mutilation’s, as well as talks of gay child prostitution. There’s lots of topics and aspects of the book that are scandalous and taboo on so many levels and can make you feel a little sick to your stomach.
But, depending on your constitution and how you can handle these things and your willingness for an experience, you will have just that – an experience. You get to have similar feelings to the characters when they come across various bodies and situations – feelings of repulsion, disgust and horror. To me, this added a lot to the book and the whole experience. But to be honest, I did have moments where I had to take a breath, re-center and then push on as it was just so realistic. Think if Criminal Minds had a lovechild with Bones, Saw and Sherlock Holmes. You will kind of end up with The Alienist!
Investigation Methods & Madness Galore
You really got to see how investigations took place during the turn of the 20th century with there still being so much corruption, a lack of established methodology. You got to read about the suggestion of using fingerprinting – which was not an established method yet – and how useful it was to seeing the treatment of Alienists, also known as a psychiatrist, and how distrusted they were. It’s was a very interesting contract to modern day how it is all accepted, and seeing the struggle that Dr. Kreizler went through in his profession and throughout the investigation.
A Wild and Wonderfully Murderous Ride
This book was beyond incredible and I loved every single moment of it. I haven’t read a book this fast (within less than a week) in a very long time. I made time to read this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next and what new turn was going to happen. There were some really amazing quotes, scenes and revelation in the book, one of my favorite being the following:
“Mrs. Piedmont unlocked the room and then we entered. The first thing that struck me was that the cats didn’t follow us in. As soon as the door opened their mewing stopped, and then they sat at the threshold, looking momentarily concerned before they shot off down the stairs. With their departure I turned to survey the chamber, and quickly caught a track of something in the air: the smell of decay.”
I am absolutely going to be checking out the TV show and if I find the time, other books be Carr as both the story and writing were superb!
Have you read The Alienist? What were your thoughts?
Happy Reading!
MyLibraryCardWoreOut is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way affects my opinion of the book(s) included in this post.
Right-Wing Book Extremism: Idaho Librarian Resigns
Who would have thought that we would be in the 21st century and librarians are resigning due to fear for their physical safety.
Well, this is exactly what happened in Boundary County, Idaho where a librarian resigned due to threats from right-wing extremists due to pressure to ban LGBTQ+ books.
I’m sorry, but what exactly is the concern with these books? The themes? Last I checked, reading a book doesn’t make you a certain way. If that was the case, then I’d be a princess with a dragon as my best friend.
Reading violent books will not make you violent. Reading books with sex will not make you a whore. Reading books with gay characters will not make you gay. Reading a book with straight characters will not make you straight.
Kimber Glidden, the librarian, wrote in her resignation, “Nothing in my background could have prepared me for the political atmosphere of extremism, militant Christian fundamentalism, intimidation tactics and threatening behavior currently being employed in the community…”
Too many professions now are facing things that they should not have to face.
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Teachers shouldn’t need a gun to protect their students.
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Restaurant workers shouldn’t need to fight shoppers who are combative.
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Librarians shouldn’t be scared for the life because of the printed word.
Librarians across the country have been facing difficult times due to books that are perceived to be dangerous. Even when the numbers of people actually opposing these books are small. Minority groups who are loud are making the choices. Which seems to be a theme in America. A democracy – which is what this place is supposed to be – is not decided by who is the loudest. It is decided by the majority. Yet we live in a time when the loudest and most violent make the decision. I mean what the hell?
The group involved in this – the Boundary County Library Board Recall, whose want to to “protect children from explicit materials and grooming” – are crossing so many lines here.
Books in schools are age appropriate. They will not be reading Mills and Boone books with raunchy sex when they’re in second grade. Any books that have gay characters will not be depicting explicit sex. But allowing children to explore who they are, learn that being in a box is not expected and not the norm, and expose them to life.
Life is not square. Life is not black and white.
The damage that removing books from children will do will be endless.
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They will have no desire to read.
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They will not question.
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They will be narrow minded – learn what they are taught and accept that for what it is.
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They will have no imagination.
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They are are not “status quo” as their parents seem to expect, they will be loss.
Progress over generations is being undone by small groups of scared people. And that is what they are – scared. They don’t want their children to be exposed to other ideas and perspectives. They don’t want their children to question anything. They want their children to be like their parents, have the same view, and not be open to other perspectives. Which is such a dangerous path.
And when you start imposing your will on others, you get into even more dangerous territory. This goes beyond politics and political opinions (although that is certainly part of it). This has to do with the future, our future, the future of children and the world.
Happy Reading!
Is The Threat To Books Really That Big? Florida Opt Out Has Low Numbers 1
With all the news recently that schools are creating programs to allow parents to opt out of their children reading certain books and even removing books all together, it seems like it’s huge deal. Every news article covering it seems to present it like all the parents in various states are choosing to opt out and supporting this new push.
But is that actually true? How many parents are actually choosing to do this?
According to a recent article by BookRiot, the numbers are far lower than the media is making it out to be (shocker there!). In Flagler County, one of the battle ground areas for the book issue, the numbers are as low as .15% of parents choosing to opt out of books. In Osceola County, the number is .46% opt out. In Polk County, it is .14%. Those numbers are pretty darn low!
This is less than 1% of students.
In other areas, schools are requiring parents to sign documents to allow their children the right to borrow books. Oh great, another form for these very busy parents to remember to sign. In one instance, only 23% of parents have signed so far. But does this mean the other 77% of parents don’t want their children to read? Or do they not know they need to sign? Or maybe they just forgot!
So what does this actually mean then?
🚫Book Censors/”Parents Rights” Groups, and others, DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY!🚫
These numbers, while they are only in a few counties and only focusing in one state, so far are a decent thing to work with to counter the current narrative. These numbers do not display that the majority, by any meaning of that word, is supporting or enrolling in these bans or restrictions. While in some other states, the numbers may be different and they certainly may change as we get into the school year, as of now there is still hope!
Unfortunately, like in many other cases, the media is talking a lot about what one controversial group is saying but not necessarily looking at, or even gathering, what the real numbers are and what other people are saying.
The loudest person speaking is not necessarily right. Nor do they speak for the people.
The people, in some districts of Florida, have clearly spoken and this is visible in the numbers. Not many parents are engaging in this. Which is fantastic!
Photo by Sam McGhee on Unsplash
So do the bans matter then?
Of course they do. There are still going to be children who are missing out on books. There will be children possibly lost when people mention these books. There may be arguments in the home with children not understanding what is going on. They may be bullied. The possibilities are absolutely endless with.
We live in the 21st century, at a time with access to more knowledge than ever – albeit there is also a lot of mis- and disinformation but there is a lot of amazing things out there.
With such a small percentage, actually not even a percent, being restricted from getting books, they will still hear about the books from others. They may get curious and research it. Who knows. Tell a kid not to do something, they darn well are going to.
But at the heart of this so far as the new school year begins, there are not many parents agreeing with, or to, these restrictions which is a good thing. A very good thing indeed.
So when you talk about this topic, or it comes up and people talk about how the country is falling apart (which isn’t entire wrong but at least not with this topic so far), make sure to note how low the numbers are actually. <1%!
Happy Reading! And fight on! 💪
I’m Back and Ready To Combat Book Bans
I’m back!!
Hello to those of you who stuck around after my near 2 year hiatus and various dips of attendance. The last few years have been tumultuous for so many reasons. I am sure you all have been experiencing some of it in your own way as well! So what have I been up to these last few years?
- I finished my undergraduate degree.
- I started my Masters.
- I finished my Masters.
- I did multiple internships.
- I started a new job.
- I moved!!!
But most importantly, with school done, I have gained a great work/life balance and, being an adult, means I have adult money to spend on whatever I want……BOOKS!
I’m reading a heck of a lot more than I have been for a bit (reading thousands of pages for school kind of kills the joy of reading for fun) and some of the news recently has given me a new push and a revived purpose for this blog.
Book Bans??? Are we living in Fahrenheit 415 or 1984?
I’m sure that you have seen a lot of the news recently about book bans happening in various states around the U.S. which is absolutely mind-boggling! The reasoning for this is to keep the kids safe – they don’t want them to read “sexually explicit material” or be brainwashed to believe various things about history, racism and the way life should be.
Failing to learn from history will doom us to repeat it. And the easiest way to keep people quiet and complacent is to make them not question the current status quo.
How is this done? Remove information.
However, unlike some other countries out there, the U.S. still has a vast internet with access to tons of amazing information and resources. And if I know anything about children and younger people, if you tell them not to look at something, they will.
What Does This Have To Do With MLCWO???
OOOO, baby. I’m gonna tell you. I love stirring the pot, I love making sure truth is stated, I love standing up to people, I love arming people with knowledge! I also happen to be a massive book reader and advocate for reading. You mess with my books – then you mess with me (and the army of book readers out there)! So that is just what I am going to do.
I’m going to inform. While I will of course continue my book reviews of normal books that I want to read, I will also revisit some controversial ones, check out the controversial ones and talk about them. I’ll review them as I used to but will pull out what the issues are, provide sources and information, and give people a rounded understanding of the book. If kids aren’t allowed to read the books, they sure as heck will be able to understand why these books aren’t allowed. Maybe I’ll inspire some to check out the books and want to learn more. Maybe it will get people talking.
Even if one person is inspired, that is better than no one.
I’ll also be discussing and sharing articles regarding this situation and others as they develop to make sure people understand what is happening, why it is happening, what the concerns are, the bigger picture and the way forward.
As a reader I cannot stay quiet. As a reader I cannot let beautiful pieces of literature be removed and destroyed because of “fear”.
I’ll be diving more into this topic in future posts, so never fear. If you’re asking, why should I be worried and what’s the big deal, I’ll get to those questions soon!
If you have a book that you want me to check out, or discuss, send me an email or DM on Insta!
