Banned Books Week 9/22 - 9/28

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Here are the top 10 most frequently challenged books from 2012.

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Ash
4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison

How many of these have you read?   Check out our display of banned and challenged books at the Library.

10 authors I'd like to have coffee with

1. L. Frank Baum.  Yes, the Wizard of Oz is a great movie, but the book is better!  And he wrote at least 14 books about the Land of  Oz series.  I'll bring the green eyeglasses!
2. Jo Nesbo.  He's Norwegian like me; he's a rock star; and I like Inspector Harry Hole.
3. A.A. Milne.  I would like to thank him for the stories and poems of my childhood.  You should hear Gene Kelly sing some of the poems from "When We Were Very Young."   Just wonderful!
4. Mary Doria Russell.  She writes science fiction so I can read it.  And I fell in love with Doc Holliday. 
5. Robert B. Parker.  I would like to find out how much of Spenser's character is made up and how much is Mr. Parker.
6. Jodi Picoult.  Who wouldn't want to have coffee with her?  She's interested in so many different topics!
7. Sophie Littlefield.  It would never be a "Bad Day" for coffee with her.
8. Shel Silverstein.  Creative genius who wrote the song, "A Boy Named Sue."
9. Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  She had a fascinating life and I would love to talk to her about it.
10. Frances Mayes.  I would be happy to meet her in Italy for some espresso! 

What authors would you like to have a cup of coffee with?

Jane