BookExpo America 09

A summary of my BEA experience, in the form of a list of galleys I got and can't wait to read (in no particular order):

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (already finished it, AMAZING)
War Dances by Sherman Alexie (excerpt)
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Spooner by Pete Dexter
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Lips Touch by Laini Taylor
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Tropper
Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman (already out, but I didn't own it)
Elephants on the Edge by GA Bradshaw
The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson (she wrote Bridge to Terebithia)
Between Us Baxters by Bethany Hegedus

Recognizing a Right

Protests Precede Obama at Notre Dame
I think it's fantastic that students at Notre Dame were able to protest the President's speech. Speaking as someone who tends to shy away from organized demonstrations of any kind, it strikes me as a brave thing to do.

It reminds me of Voltaires's (or Evelyn Beatrice Hall's, depending on your research) thoughts on the freedom to speak and write. Regardless of whether or not I agree with the students, I fully support their ability to protest the President (and the government) without fear.

Long live the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie's YA novel goes on my "checked it out from the library and loved it so much that I will be purchasing my own copy of it" list. It's a long list.

You know what I don't like?

Axe commercials.

First off, this is just gross. Is that supposed to be sweat shooting out, fire-hose like, into people's faces? Blech.

Second off...no, I'm still twitching from the first off...move along...

Hey, Sarah Haskins, can you take Axe on next?

Headlines that make me happy

I like it when people pound the Taliban.

Banning all books

I tried to post a comment to this story, which is about the dismissal of 4 librarians in Wisconsin due to their refusal to remove material from the library that some found objectionable. One line in particular caught my eye:

[two] patrons...demanded that the library add books “affirming traditional heterosexual perspectives.”

Wouldn't this apply to any book that includes a male and female involved in a romance? Which would include about 95% percent of fiction. Libraries don't need to add books affirming traditional perspectives -- those dominate.

Here's a question: are they going to ban books that include divorces? Or that showcase dysfunctional heterosexual relationships? How about books where couples fight and then break up? Or have premarital sex? Because there goes all the Gossip Girl books.

Libraries exist for the public, which includes all sexualities. Boards should not have the right to tell people what they can and cannot check out of the public library, which is funded with public tax money. Responsibility for deciding what underage readers can and cannot read belongs solely to that child's parent or guardian.

Just because you don't agree with a book doesn't mean I can't read it or give it to my child to read.

Backpack

The new backpack arrived today. I went with the Hermit, and the accent color is actually white, not pink or purple. So far, it's awesome.

I lead a very exciting life, I know.

More apartment pix to come now that we have all our shelves up and the desk assembled. ETA: next week sometime, b/c I will be out of town all weekend.