Books, books and more books

Posted by Pariahjane

I found this list while surfing along the good ol' world wide web. Even though the title of the article claims that these books are a 'must have' for a man's library I think that both genders would benefit from reading these. Well, perhaps not ALL of them but certainly most.

I will be the first to admit that I don't read nearly as much as I should and I definitely plan on bookmarking this article the next time I head over to the local library or bookstore. The guys over at The Art of Manliness did a really good job compiling this list, which ranges from the classics to, well, The Boy Scouts Handbook. Plus, they give a nod to Tom Robbins' Another Roadside Attraction as well as Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged so I trust their taste in books.

Another point of interest for me was their blurb about reading the Bible:

Despite being one of the most religious Industrialized nations,
America’s religious literacy is horrible. If asked to name one of the Ten
Commandments or one of Jesus’ apostles, many Americans wouldn’t be able to do
it. The problem is half the books on these lists make Biblical references that
must be known by the reader for them to understand the message of that book. If
a Western man desires to understand the culture that surrounds him, he needs to
have a thorough understanding of the Book that has shaped that culture.
In addition, the Bible is full of ancient counsel and advice that is applicable to
today’s man, whether you’re a believer in God or not.

They are absolutely correct. It doesn't matter whether you believe the Bible is the word of God or a bunch of bunk it's writings have certainly influenced our culture and, consequently, our literature. Frankly, I have a hunch that if there were more people who actually read the Bible there would be more atheists out there.

I was thinking about making myself a summer reading list and will certainly include some of the books recommended. There is something about a good book that beats any TV program, movie or video game any day. One of the last books I read, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova had me so enthralled I couldn't put it down while driving across Washington state on vacation. (I wasn't the one driving, obviously) I was told I missed some really beautiful views but I just couldn't take my eyes off the page.

There is something about the written word that evokes more emotion in me than watching a storyline unfold on the screen. Perhaps it's because more of my imagination is required when reading - I become part of the book, in a sense.

I miss reading and I know I don't have an excuse not to read; I tend to get my information and entertainment online. I'm not necessarily saying there is a problem with. There are times that I feel I'm not retaining the information. After all; if I need it again I can just look it up with a few keystrokes. Retrieving information from a book is different. At times I find it harder to concentrate on a novel or non-fiction piece and I suspect that it may be because of my heavy Internet usage. The constant surfing and distractions have brought out my inner ADD. That, I suppose, is for an entirely different post.

If anyone has other 'must reads', please let me know. It would be great to pass along that information. Especially if the novels are from lesser known (or unknown) authors. I'm sure there are more than a few gems that have fallen through the cracks.

The Idiocy of Banning Books

Posted by Pariahjane

Books have probably been banned since the first one was written - and it's something that is still done today in some countries. According to this article, Tango Makes Three has once again been awarded the top slot for objectionable books. The story is about a penguin who has two fathers and some parents feel this book might give kids the idea that a homosexual lifestyle is acceptable. Forget about promoting the idea of understanding with children that what makes up a family may be different from what they know. Just ban it because the content conflicts with their beliefs or they are too scared to face their own homophobia, not to mention complete ignorance. On a side note, having two fathers does not necessarily mean the parents are homosexual…but, again, understanding is not at the top of the agenda for these people.

Other books on the ALA's top 10 list include Maya Angelou's memoir "I Know
Why the Caged Bird Sings," in which the author writes of being raped as a young
girl; Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," long attacked for
alleged racism; and Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass," an anti-religious
work in which a former nun says: "The Christian religion is a very powerful and
convincing mistake."

I don't see anything wrong with parents objecting to books but I do think some people go too far when they call for a book to be banned. If you don't feel a book is acceptable to your children that's your opinion and you have a right not to allow your child to read the book. Calling for a ban of the book so no one can read it goes beyond that.

There is nothing wrong with parents monitoring what their OWN children read, in fact, I think it is the responsibility of a parent to be educated and aware of what their child is up to, including which books they are reading. Objecting to books because their content is violent, such as 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' is just plain ridiculous in my opinion. I understand that parents want their children to be protected from darker aspects of life; unfortunately that isn't going to change the fact that violence, such as rape, happens. Use novels like these to teach your children about life. Let them learn from it.

Same goes for 'Huckleberry Finn'. This novel is set in an American era where racism was still rampant. Rather than try to bury a dark part of American history, use this book to explain to your children that at one time racism was acceptable and then show them why that kind of thinking is wrong and leads to ignorance and hatred.

The literature that is chosen for schools is chosen because it provides a learning experience for your kid. Books are a safe way to introduce children to ideas, different cultures, different lifestyles... even different worlds. Schools have more pressing issues to deal with than whether or not the context of a novel is deemed violent of offensive.