Category: Ruminations

Blog Hop: Banned Books

On By cherylmahoneyIn Blog Hop, Ruminations20 Comments

As regular readers know, I tend to bounce between different features on Fridays.  This week, I’m trying something new–the Book Blogger Hop, inviting book bloggers to answer a book-related question each week, and “hop” amongst the other blogs that are participating.  Normally hosted at Crazy for Books, this week it’s traveling to Soon Remembered Tales.  Today’s question is:

Banned Books Week ends on the 6th. How do you feel about books being challenged to be banned from libraries or schools? Have you read any banned books?

I have to admit I have never got all that worked up about banned books.  Of course I’m against censorship, but banning a book just seems pointless–especially now when you can get anything you like on Amazon, and banning a book usually just gives it more publicity.  I’ve never read a banned book because it was banned, although of course I’ve read books that have been banned at one time or another.  The Giver and Huckleberry Finn both come to mind.

My favorite topic in relation to banned books is the silly reasons books get banned.  If someone wanted to ban Huckleberry Finn for language, I wouldn’t approve but at least it would make some kind of sense.  But I’ve actually heard of it being banned for nudity (because one line mentions Huck and Jim aren’t wearing clothes on the raft–because they’re on a raft).  Or I’ve heard of it being banned because Huck rejects God.  Which has to be a complete misread of the beautiful moment when Huck decides he’ll go to Hell if that’s the consequences of rescuing Jim from slavery.

My favorite banned book story…some librarian wanted to ban Tarzan because Tarzan and Jane are living together in the jungle without being married.  And that isn’t even correct!  I’ve no idea what the details are in various adaptations, but in the original Edgar Rice Burroughs book, there’s a wedding on the last two pages–to quote, Jane’s father “was an ordained minister in his younger days.”  I find this all particularly funny because one of the hallmarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs books are completely chaste romances.

I know a lot of people have much stronger feelings about banned books than me.  Thoughts?  Stories?  What’s the stupidest reason you’ve ever heard for a book being banned?

Saturday Snapshot: 221B Baker Street

On By cherylmahoneyIn Saturday Snapshot20 Comments

One of my many literary pilgrimages while I was in London and Paris included a trip to a very famous address–221B Baker Street, the home of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.  I had heard it was a tourist trap and was pleasantly surprised that it was better than reported.  I wrote more about it as part of a book review earlier this week, so today–pictures!

The outside of the building…
The parlor–and by far the best room. Sorry it’s a bit dark!

 

Holmes’ desk, and Stradivarius violin
Irene Adler?
Sitting by the fire…

It all rather makes me want to read another Holmes book.

Check out At Home with Books for more Saturday Snapshots!

2012 Reading Challenges – Three-Quarters

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations3 Comments

Is it really another three months through the year?  The end of September has snuck up on me this time!  But, apparently it’s time for a new update on the reading challenges.

As usual, linked titles go to my reviews, starred titles have reviews coming, and feel free to ask if you want to know more about anything!

Continue reading “2012 Reading Challenges – Three-Quarters” →

Saturday Snapshot: Travel Books

On By cherylmahoneyIn Saturday Snapshot15 Comments

I got back last week from my trip to London and Paris 🙂 and still need to do a lot of sorting through my nearly 800 photos!  So rest assured, you’ll be seeing many travel photos in weeks to come…

This week, because I haven’t figured out yet which shot of Admiral Nelson or which angle of the Peter Pan Statue is best, I have something travel-related but different.  I asked blog readers for advice on books for while I traveled, so I thought I ought to share what I ended up reading!

It is SO much fun to sit in Kensington Gardens reading the last chapter of J. M. Barrie’s The Little White Bird or Adventures in Kensington Gardens, or to sit in the lower level of the Paris Opera House reading Susan Kay’s Phantom (while waiting for a tour, I wasn’t just prowling…)

I always try to bring books that will connect me to the cities I’m visiting.  My trips tend to turn into literary pilgrimages to places I’ve read about, so it makes sense to read about the places while I’m there.  Not everything in the stack is set in London or Paris, but Susan Kay’s Phantom was brilliant for setting me in Paris, and all the others are at least British–except The Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery which has nothing to do with anything.  But L. M. Montgomery falls into the “don’t leave home without it” category.

And I had a nice time reading Montgomery’s nature poetry while on a boat on the Thames.  So it all worked out.

And these were all good books, most of which I plan to review.  Besides sorting photos, I have lots of book reviews to write…

Come back soon for book reviews and more photos!  In the meantime, check out At Home with Books for more Saturday Snapshots.

How to Set Up Writing as a Productive Process

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations1 Comment

Today we have a guest post from Larry Heart.  He’s sharing top tips on how to effectively manage freelance writing work, with advice for writers with broader interests too!

Writing is a rewarding experience for those who enjoy working for themselves. If you want to take up writing as a career it has many benefits. It is creative, you have the opportunity to work from home, and it is financially rewarding. However many people who take up writing do not always realize it is also a difficult occupation which needs to be properly structured if it is to be successful. We at our writing jobs site have made a little survey, where we asked our writers to share their experience. We’ve converted the most popular opinions into tips for you:

1. Organize your time: Writing takes discipline and it requires definite time frameworks. Apart from the research and the preparation of the work, you can only write so many words per minute. Then you need to proofread and edit your work. To ensure you are able to keep to the deadlines, you need to plan your time properly.

2. Organize your space: You need to have a dedicated space where you work. It does not have to be large, but it needs to be yours. You cannot write properly if you are surrounded by people and noise. You need a space that is quiet and private, where you can set up your computer and focus on your work without interruptions. It can be a dedicated room, or even a corner in your bedroom, where you can shut the door and be alone.

3. Organize your equipment: You need a computer, Microsoft Word, a desk where you can work and a chair that is comfortable. As you will spend considerable time sitting in the chair, ensure you get one that is suitable. You cannot write properly if your back aches.

4. Write what motivates you: Be reasonably selective in the tasks you accept. Try to stay within your range of interest. It is very difficult to write on a subject on which you have no knowledge. If you write within your field then you will already have a basic background of the task at hand and your research will be directed to enlighten specific points.

5. Do only one task at a time: Resist the temptation to try to write two or more tasks at the same time. This will lead to confusion. Take a task then complete it before starting on the next one.

6. Concentrate on the topic at hand: When you are busy with a task ensure you focus on it. When you are researching do not start making notes about the next task you have to write. Simply work on the one at hand as if it is the only one you have to do.

If you learn to organize and to balance your time, create a space and set a pace for your work, then you will find writing rewarding as a career and financially.