what I read in September

I had an interesting month of reading, and have almost kept myself on track to reach my goal of 50 books this year.

I read 2 Early Reviewers this month, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and Andrew's Brain: A Novel by E.L. Doctorow. Both were good. Reviews to come.

My favorite this month was Blaze by Richard Bachman (Stephen King). This book solidified Stephen King as a favorite author. It's suspenseful but not scary.

I also loved Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I like reading about other people's adventures that I'm too scared/practical to go on.

I'm still reading Beloved by Toni Morrison. This is the second book I've read by her. I like it but it may be the last. I always feel like I have to read each of her sentences twice.

What did you read this month?

P.S. September came from Stephan Britt.

quote of the week

This quote comes from last week actually. We were learning about corn. My little sassy girl raised her hand.

"Guess which vegetable I barf on?"

Before I could decide whether to guess or change the subject she blurted out,

"Broccoli!!!"

I proceeded to read the kids a story about vegetables that animals like, and when we got to the page with animals enjoying broccoli, I heard her mumble,

"I don't care. I don't like broccoli."

P.S. Eat Your Vegetables is by Sebastien Millon.

Happy Banned Books Week!

This is my 5th year celebrating Banned Books Week. Currently I'm reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, which has not been banned...yet! Did anyone else hear the interview with Krakauer on NPR recently? He thinks he figured out how Alex Supertramp actually died. It inspired me to dig Into the Wild out of my tbr pile and get going. Great book so far. I've loved everything I've read by Krakauer.

Back to the trash I intend to fill my head with...This year I'm planning to read Beloved by Toni Morrison, which was banned in the USA for moral reasons. I morally object to slavery too, but I still think we should be able to read books about it! (I'm kidding. I know it wasn't banned because people are opposed to slavery.)

What are you going to read for Banned Books Week? In case you need inspiration, here is a list of books I've read in the past.

Happy 1st Day of Fall!

And we even have a chance of rain today! Better get the Pet-Ease ready for Caprica, who is convinced thunder kills.

P.S. I found this picture at theSteward.

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Ahoy me hearties! May yer day be filled with piles o' booty!

P.S. Arr, I don't recall where I pillaged me picture from.

Pussy Riot!: A Punk Prayer For Freedom

After following the Pussy Riot saga on Twitter for about a year, I was very excited when I saw Pussy Riot!: A Punk Prayer For Freedom on the shelf at my locally owned bookstore. I wanted to read more about the ladies who performed one of my favorite sounding crimes, "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred," a felony in Russia. Translation: they sang a song for 40 seconds on a special altar in the Russian Orthodox Church, in brightly colored clothes and dresses that don't have sleeves!!!

Even though two of the Pussy Rioters are sitting in jail as I type this, found guilty of this crime, they actually don't have any hatred of religion. Their problem is president Putin and his overreaching connection to the Russian Orthodox Church (the church told their parishioners to vote for Putin).

Reading about how they were not allowed time with their lawyers before the trial on top of the fact that they didn't break any laws, only church traditions, shows me how they must have hit the mark. If Putin didn't do anything wrong, their silly antics would have been dealt with a slap on the wrist.

It's funny to me how Pussy Riot has brought Putin to my attention. I didn't know much about him before their punk prayer, but now my ears perk up when I hear his name. War on homosexuality? Ties with Syria? Wow! I'm pretty sure this guy is a jerk!

America may not be perfect but we at least have some freedom, and the right to speak up when we don't.

FREE PUSSY RIOT!