The Book Stacks

This prompt is courtesy of Booking Through Thursday.

Do your reading habits change in the Spring? Do you read gardening books? Even if you don’t have a garden? More light fiction than during the Winter? Less? Travel books? Light paperbacks you can stick in a knapsack?

Or do you pretty much read the same kinds of things in the Spring as you do the rest of the year?

When I first read this question, my immediate response was no, I don’t change my reading habits in spring. Who has seasonal reading habits? However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I actually do.

When spring comes around, I do start reading ‘lighter’ material like women’s fiction (not that all women’s fiction is ‘lighter reading’ – it just tends to be), shorter books in general (under or around two hundred pages), and books that are easy to put down and pick up again later. That sounds bad, but in the spring, I like my books to travel with me. Big novels with hard covers don’t exactly make easy travel material.

Spring is, after all, the time when I want to get out and about after spending my time primarily indoors tucked up in the warmth with my big, in depth novels. That is, until I realize once again that I am introverted and start reading in the house more often again. Hehe.

That’s not to say, however, that I won’t read big fat novels or murder mysteries in the spring. I just usually have a transition period of reading the light, easily transported novel.

How about you? What are your seasonal reading habits?

Did you know:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level.

Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl because it is a “real downer.”

Gulliver’s Travels was denounced as wicked and obscene in Ireland (1726).

James and the Giant Peach has been challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wis. (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School library in Brooksville, Fla. (1992) because the book contains the word “ass” and “promotes” the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey.

Le Morte D’Arthur was challenged as required reading at the Pulaski County High School in Somerset, Ky. (1997) because it is “junk.”

The Lorax was challenged in the Laytonville, Calif. Unified School District (1989) because it “criminalizes the foresting industry.”

Where the Sidewalk Ends was challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book “suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents.”

Where’s Waldo? was removed from the Springs Public School library in East Hampton, N.Y. (1993) because there is a tiny drawing of a woman lying on the beach wearing a bikini bottom but no top.

Harry Potter tops the list of the most challenged books of the 21st century.

Celebrate your freedom, and remember to join me tomorrow to talk about your favorite banned books.

Information sources: The Forbidden Library & ALA

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Gulliver’s Travels, James and the Giant Peach, Le Morte D’Arthur, The Lorax, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where’s Waldo?, Harry Potter

Last Sunday night (or Monday morning depending upon your point of view) mere hours after I had treated myself to a massage, I fell on the stairs in my apartment. Apparently, carpeted stairs and stockinged feet do not mix well. Who knew? I have been walking around like a little old lady all week. I’m still alive. Nothing is broken. But I’ve been in a bit of a bad mood ever since.

Then…

I got home from work yesterday to discover a package from a Mysterious Benefactor. *dramatic music* The note wasn’t signed or anything. Some of you may know that I love Silent Film. They’re films that you have to read! Well, this mysterious package contained a t-shirt with the image on the top left of this post.

My reaction went a little something like this: *cranky, creaky* Oh the Pain! *whine* My Back! Wait! Hey, cool shirt. Shiny! *is in a better mood*

Thus proving once again that I am such a girl sometimes. Many thank yous to the Mysterious Sender of The Cool Shirt. It made my day.

Speaking of cool t-shirts, and because my birthday is coming up, I’ve been doing a bit of online shopping. (Yes, I know. My Mother asked me for a Birthday List.) I thought you might enjoy some of my latest reading-related finds. Ready?

I work for books (twice, actually), so the Will Work For Books t-shirt is very tempting. Talk about truth in advertising.

Bob suddenly realized that the Librarian was checking him out…the tote bag. *giggle*

I still want the Library Raid Jacket. It makes me feel like telling folks “Bring that book back on time…or we’ll come get it.”

The Signals catalog has some of the best stuff in it. For example, the Don’t Make Me Use My Librarian Voice t-shirt, the Snoopy Books Ahhh Books shirt, and the Great Books bracelet.

Banned Books week is coming up at the end of September. Why not celebrate with a Ban Ignorance Not Books shirt? Because really…finding out that a book has been challenged just makes me want to read it more.

What is better with a good book than a nice cup of tea? If you agree with this sentiment, you may enjoy the Earl Grey t-shirt.

And finally, for those of you with some money to spare, and a love of reading in bed, Levenger has a whole panoply of items just for you.

Do you have a favorite reading-related item? Please tell me about it. My birthday list is a little short this year, you see.

With apologies to e e cummings for taking a bit of his poetry in vain, I’ve been thinking today about things I have not done. More specifically about famous books that I have not read. Let me begin by saying that I am infamous among my friends for not having seen certain films. Folks always give me a shocked look when I say things like, “No, I’ve never seen The Sound of Music.” (My closest friends have reached the point of being surprised when I *have* seen a film.) Anyway, I was tidying up the Books on Tape section at work, and it struck me again that there are all of these books out there that it seems everyone else has read. The kind of books that you try to steer conversations away from rather than admit you have no idea what the other person is talking about. Do you know what all of this pondering has lead me to? I have decided to post a list of five things (series, books, etc.) that I have never read. You may then try to convince me to read any of the items on the list (good luck with that) and comment with a title or five that you admit to never having read. Perhaps we will unmask some classics as being deadly dull, or maybe I will actually read something from my list. Either way, I think it will be fun. Lets get started!

I hereby swear that I have never read:

1. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (It’s book 2…and I can’t talk myself into reading book 1.)
2. Anything by Jane Austen (Nope, I’ve never seen any of the films either.)
3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Although, I have a friend who tossed his copy into a swimming pool when he finished it.)
4. Anything by Louis L’Amour (And this makes my mother sad.)
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (I never finished Little Women, either.)

So, there you are. My secret is out. I’ve got bunches of other books that I could add to this list, but now it’s your turn. Spill! What books are there that you feel like everyone out there has read except you?

e e cummings, The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown, Jane Austen, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Louis L’Amour, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, Little Women