Celebrating Banned Books Week

It's that time again! Time to celebrate Banned Book Week (Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012). You can check out my previous BBW posts here. I do not believe in censoring or banning books in any way, shape, or form. This year, I am celebrating by posting books that were challenged in 2011 that I have read or are on my TBR list. You can show your support by getting your BBW badges and checking out the annual challenged book lists here. For more information, check out ALA.org.

Read:

Challenged in the Republic, Mo. schools (2010) because it is “soft-pornography” and “glorifies drinking, cursing, and premarital sex.”

Challenged, but retained, at the Clarkstown, N.Y. North High School (2011) despite a parent’s
complaint about the teen coming-of-age novel, which deals graphically with teenage sex,
homosexuality, and bestiality.

Removed from a spring break elective course at the Bedford, N.H. School District (2010) after a parent complained about the novel’s sexual content.

Challenged, but retained, in the Martin County, Fla. School District (2010) despite a parent’s concern about inappropriate language.

Challenged and presented to the Goffstown, N.H. school board (2010) by a parent claiming that it gave her eleven-year-old nightmares and could numb other students to the effects of violence.

Challenged in the Republic, Mo. schools (2010) because it is “soft-pornography” and “glorifies drinking, cursing, and premarital sex.”

 

 TBR:

Challenged in the Republic, Mo. schools (2010)
because it is “soft-pornography” and “glorifies
drinking, cursing, and premarital sex.”

Challenged at North County High School in
Glen Burnie, Md. (2010) by a small group of
parents who circulated a petition to have the book removed from use by county schools over concerns about explicit sexual content.

Challenged in the Richland, Wash. School District (2010). Used in a tenth-grade honors language arts class at Hanford High, the book tells the story of Oskar Schell, a young boy whose father died in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. The book contains profanity, sex, and descriptions of violence.

 

What books have you read or are you planning on reading to support Banned Books Week?

Reading Reflections: September 2012

Books Read:
Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake
Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2) by Tera Lynn Childs
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Every Day by David Levithan
Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 6

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 45

Most Anticipated: 
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Biggest Let Down: None!

Favorite Read:
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 4.5

Overall Reflection:
What a fantastic month of reading! The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater was by far my favorite read. However, I immensely enjoyed all the books I read this month! Hopefully next month will just as successful! :)

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana’s body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But Liyana’s goddess never comes. Abandoned by her angry tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her.

     Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. For the desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god’s help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god’s tale.

     The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice: She must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate—or a human girl can muster some magic of her own.

Book Review:
Sarah Beth Durst has been one of my go-to authors ever since I read Enchanted Ivy. Drink, Slay, Love was even better! When Durst announced the upcoming release of her novel Vessel, I knew I had to get a copy. Durst has written an original story which includes love, mystery, mythology, and adventure. From page one, I was completely hooked. This character driven novel does not disappoint. Liyana finds her strength as she seeks out the goddess who is to inhibit her body. Korbyn is a fantastic counterpart. Their chemistry alone makes this book worth reading. I enjoyed learning more about the dessert people and their way of life and mythology as the story went along. I loved meeting each vessel and learning about their tribe. Seriously, I can not say enough awesome-tastic things about this book. I highly encourage you to read it!

Favorite Quote:
"On the day she was to die, Liyana walked out of her family's tent to see the dawn. She burried her toes in the sand, cold from the night, and she wrapped her father's goatskin cloak tight around her shoulders. She had only moments before everyone would wake."

Cover Art Commentary: 
I looooove the cover of this book! The colors are rich and gorgeous! I love the  dessert setting and the full moon in the background, it really speaks to the story.

Rating:

Top Ten Tuesday: Just can't finish what I started

A feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This weeks topic: Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished:

 

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: I read the first few books in the series, but they couldn't hold my interest. Honestly, they aren't as well written as the TV series. I ended up selling back all the books in the series. From now on, I just plan on sticking to the TV series.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan: I've read the first 2 books in this trilogy. While they are solidly good zombie reads, they are very dark. I have to be in the right mood to read them. This book has been on my TBR pile since its release.

Underworld by Meg Cabot: I read the initial book in this series, Abandon. It was a great book, but Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series has the same concept, but is executed a little better...This takes away some of my interest in Cabot's Underworld series. I still plan on reading this book, however. 

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink: I read the first book in this trilogy and purchased the other 2, but have not read them yet. While I enjoyed the book, it had a rather slow reading pace. I still plan on finishing this series, but have to be in the mood for a good Gothic novel.

 

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris: I read the first 2 books of this series after polishing off Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series (at least what was available at the time). This series just doesn't hold my interest as well. I ended up selling back the books I had bought in this series. Honestly, I believe that Harris should have ended the Sookie series with book #9 Dead and Gone. I read #10 Dead in the Family and there's not much left to the overall story arc. I haven't read any good reviews of the subsequent books in the series, and haven't had any desire to pick them up either.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire: I remember reading the first book in this series, Hourglass. I devoured it. However, I remember the story taking a kind of weird turn towards the end. I still plan on reading this one, but it isn't on the top of my TBR pile.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison: So I've only read the first book in this series. Again, I remember devouring it, but the story took an odd turn towards the end. Reviews of the subsequent books in the series weren't stellar. I tried reading the second book, but couldn't get into it. 

Birhtmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien: I read the first book in this series. I liked it, though I remember pacing being a bit slow. I still plan on reading the remainder of this series.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini: So I remember reading the first book in this series, Starcrossed. I remember enjoying it quite a bit. The mythology and world-building were superb. What tripped me up was the romance...it was so over the top. I still plan on reading this book, but am waiting for the right mood to hit.

Matched by Ally Condie: I remember devouring this book. Again, what tripped me up what the over the top romance. I also think I read some less than savory reviews of the sequel Crossed. However, I still plan on finishing this series. I am curious to see what happens!

What series have you started, but haven't finished?

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Book Review:
I have been meaning to read Diana Peterfreund's books for a while now. Specifically her Killer Unicorn series. When I heard this book was based off of Jane Austin's Persuasion, I wasn't sure if it was the right book for me. I will openly admit that I have not read any of Austin's books. However, after reading several rave reviews, I thought I would give Peterfreund's book I try. I'm glad I did. While I can't compare it to Austin's writing, it did have some Hawthorne undertones which I appreciated. I was hooked instantly. In fact, I lost several hours of sleep reading this beauty. I loved the overall character-driven story arc. The contrast between Elliot and her family is profound. Elliot sacrificed a lot for the good of the people who worked on her farm. I experienced Elliot's triumphs as well as her downfalls right along-side her. Her pending romance with Kai was EPIC, it made me ache. The dystopian setting was fantastic. It made me think about the type of genetic research that goes on today...what will the human race be like in 100 years? There are many ethical and moral dilemmas which led me to ponder what I would do were I in Elliot's shoes. What I didn't like about this book was the ending. It felt a bit rushed and a wee bit anti-climatic. There is such a build-up over the first 350 pages, it made the ending feel abrupt. Peterfreund could have easily added another 50-75 pages to smooth and flesh out the ending, which would have left me feeling more satisfied. All in all, a fantastic read, abrupt ending and all. I will definitely be diving into her Killer Unicorn series soon!

Favorite Quote:
“Envy hurt exponentially more than heartbreak because your soul was torn in two, half soaring with happiness for another person, half mired in a well of self-pity and pain.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This is one gorgeous cover! I love the backdrop of stars against the dark blue background.

Rating: