A little tease from what I've been reading lately:It took Jaywalker fifteen minutes just to get a cab to stop for him. Several empty ones slowed down before speeding up and passing him by. You could get away with almost anything in the city, but wearing a blanket for an outer garment was presumptive evidence that you were either broke or dangerous.
--excerpt from The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller* * *
I found myself awash in the old images, Paolo and Massimo and the spot under the Ponte Vecchio where we had often huddled together for warmth in the winter, games of chance and skill and begging for coins for a meal and going to the market with an empty belly . . .
--page 121 from Immortal by Traci L. Slatton* * *
I'd ended up doubting my sanity more often than not. At fifteen, that isn't a good doubt to have.
--excerpt from Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland
For this week's Tuesday Thingers, Marie copied the list of the most-challenged books of the 1990s straight from the ALA website. Instructions: Bold what you've read, and italicize what you have in your LT library.
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Your post made me look this up on ALA's website. I didn't know the difference between a "challenged" and a "banned" book. I think both classifications are ridiculous, but why in the heck is "Where's Waldo" on this list, lol?? I actually searched the book and author just to make sure that there wasn't a novel out with the same title but not the same cartoon main character. From ALA's website: "Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information." How does Waldo fit into this? Maybe the thought of being in such crowds is disturbing to children, heheh.
ReplyDeleteThe Tenth Case looks rather interesting.
ReplyDeleteOMG,this seems soooooooo ridiculous, I can't believe this, who choses when a book is to be banned??? If you do not agree, just do not read it, do not "dictate other people's taste!
ReplyDeleteThis has a BIG BROTHER approach... not good. Thank-you for the list Wendy. I am going to check if there is such a thing in my country of France, will get back to you.
For Trisha about why they banned Waldo......ha ha ha
ReplyDelete"Where's Waldo? Martin Handford. Little. Challenged at the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Mich. (1989), 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. Yes, but did they find Waldo?"
This is truly unbelievable!!!!
I've read 21 from the list... Not bad but I think I definitely should read more of those and see what's so "shocking" :)
ReplyDeleteI have to go through my list for Tuesday Thingers so I can post it on Friday. I'm glad you have joined me in NOT doing memes on their appointed day :-)!
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic: I saw "9 to 5: The Musical" last night, and it was SUCH a good time! I think the actress who played Doralee played Glinda when I saw Wicked, and she definitely has her Dolly Parton thing down! And I like Allison Janney in almost anything. I hope it's a hit when it goes to Broadway next spring!
Yep that blanket thing is a sure way not to get a cab to stop for you! Lol, great teasers.
ReplyDeleteI did both of these lists!
How are you liking Any Given Doomsday? I've heard mixed things about it. I have it here to read and review yet too. It sounds good.
ReplyDeleteAll those challenged and banned books slay me. Granted, I wouldn't read half of them on a bet but why would I care if anyone else read them? Or my children? (If I had any.) If they could be swayed by a novel, there's not much thre.
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy while I've been touring CA! Practical Magic is one of my faves. The movie was so-so to it, but aren't they usually? And I've got to stop reading your lists/reviews, they just make me add to my overwhelming shelves. OTOH......someday.......
Parker. Silly kitty. Do not wake your mummy up to go outside when you know perfectly well you cannot. Hope srpings eternal, etc.
I love that first quote.
ReplyDeleteI've read the banned books list on several other blogs but just noticed Pillars of the Earth is on it. Why!?!?!
LOVE that book! Of course, I could say that about many of the books on the list.
Love the teasers, Wendy! I've read a few of the books on the banned list and a few in the TBR.
ReplyDeleteTrisha - It does seem ridiculous. I understand a parent deciding what is in the best interest of their child to read, but to take a stance like that for everyone in the community? It's just not right. I was curious about "Where's Waldo" too.
ReplyDeleteBluestocking - I finished reading The Tenth Case this morning. I enjoyed it. It had it's slow moments, but overall I liked how the author told the story.
Sylvie - You wrote: "If you do not agree, just do not read it . . ." And I say, exactly! It really is that simple. Unfortunately there are some people out there who insist on trying to dictate what each of us reads.
Thank you for sharing the information about "Where's Waldo?"
Iliana - Oh, yes! I agree! I have a tendency to want to read books that are challenged or banned just to see what the fuss is about. After all, I can't make an informed decision for myself without actually reading the book, right? Not that I would recommend banning any.
Florinda - It is good to be different now and then. :-)
I am glad you enjoyed "9 to 5" too! It was so much fun. I hope it does well too!
Jen - LOL No, it probably would scare a few cabby's away.
April - I noticed there were mixed reviews about it too. I've been trying not to read them. I am not too far into it yet--I got engrossed in one of my other books and that's taken all of my attention. It does sound good, so I'm hoping I will like it. :-)
Carrie K - Haha! Yes, some of the titles really don't interest me either.
I like to think Parker is at the door when I come home from work each day to greet me, but I think he really is just hoping to sneak out one of these days. Ho hum.
Shana - I thought it was a good one. :-) I really liked Pillars of the Earth too.
Alice - Same here in regards to the banned list. I'm glad you enjoyed the teasers. :-)
Great 3 teaser! Made me want to read the book from the last teaser! :)
ReplyDelete