Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Color Purple


Penned By: Alice Walker

Banned: From day one that this book was published, unsurprisingly it has been challenged. It honestly and unapologetically describes controversial issues such as homosexuality, rape, and racism. Since the argument can be made that these are valid issues to consider in literature and discussion, among other things, people have protested against the book for offensive language, sexual explicitness, violence, man's relationship to God, and it's description of African (the continent) history.
Sources:
Banned Book Awareness: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course
The Color Purple and Its Controversy

The Color Purple is a tale of enduring love, faith, and spirit. In a series of letters the tale of two sisters separated as teenagers is told. The women lead very different lives, one as a much abused housewife and the other a missionary in Africa. Celie, the main character is the "housewife", and so much more. The novel delves into the darker depths of Africa and African-American history, more so it delves into the dark depths of the human psyche and the secrets we keep. This novel is excellent for teaching anyone that has endured hardship and wrongdoing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Quote: "And not being tied to what God looks like, frees us."

Genus: Literary Minded

Era: Older is Better

Difficulty:  3

Determination: Must read

Series: No

Film: Yes

Your type of tale? Try these: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, and Songs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris

Cool Stuff: Official Website      The Musical        A Fanpage

Other Books for Banned Book Week 2011:
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Monday, September 26, 2011

Twilight


Penned By: Stephenie Meyer

Banned: The extremely popular Twilight book, it's 3 sequels and companion book have been challenged severely over the last few years. The reasons? Sexual explicitness, offensive language, religious viewpoint, and violence to name a few. I must say people are reaching a bit except for maybe on the violence. Wouldn't it make more sense just to express anti-vampirism sentiments?
Sources:
Twilight: America's Fifth Most-Dangerous Book
ALA Kicks Off Banned Book Week
Twilight Series Debuts on Library Book Ban List

Twilight is the tale of an awkward girl who moves to a more than small, rainy town. There, she quickly finds more than she bargained for as she's thrust into the world of the paranormal and first true love. This unique tale of romance, adventure, and fantasy is a fun, can't put down read. If you have ever felt like an alien or out of time you will sympathize with the main character Bella.

If you have not read Midnight Sun, the first part of Twilight from Edward's viewpoint, I recommend it.
Quote: "Everything was green: the trees, their trunks covered with moss, their branches hanging with a canopy of it, the ground covered with ferns. Even the air filtered down through the leaves. It was too green -- an alien planet."

Genus: Fantasy Minded

Era: Everyone
Difficulty: 2
Determination: For the genus lover

Series:  Yes: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, Midnight Sun, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Your type of tale? Try these: Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber, Wings by Aprilynne Pike, and The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Other Books for Banned Book Week 2011:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

Penned By: Rick Riordan

Happy Birthday Percy Jackson!

The second book in the series opens with a fiery bang and with breakneck hilarity readers are taken on another adventure with the young demigod. As if last summers discoveries weren't enough for a lifetime, Percy will find that being a member of the Olympic family means there's always at least one more skeleton in the closet. Besides a refresher in Greek mythology and humorous adventures, The Sea of Monsters will present readers with the opportunity to contemplate what's really important in life.

Quote: "Mythologically speaking, if there's anything I hate worse than trios of old ladies, it's bulls."

Genus: Fantastical Worlds

Era: Young at Heart

Difficulty: 1

Determination: For the genus lover

Series: Yes, the 2nd of 5 - Read 1st book review: The Lightning Thief

Film: No

Cool Stuff: Olympian Week    Book Page    Percy Jackson Birthday Celebration Kit  

Your type of tale? Try these: Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen, The Alchemyst by Michael Scott, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

Ready to buy it?




Monday, August 1, 2011

Deathly Hallows Winner Announced

And now for the final and absolutely fabulous winner...

Mark 

Congratulations!

 Thank you all for playing, commenting, reading, and laughing at pugs! I hope to see you more!
If you would like to see the answer's to the Deathly Hallows questions please keep reading!

Chapter's 1-4 Answers
# 1: Player's contemplated the lives of the Dursley's after leaving Number Four Privet Drive.

# 2: Dudley doesn't believe Harry is a waste of space and acknowledges that Harry saved his life.

# 3: Albus Dumbledore had two sibling's named Aberforth and Ariana.

Chapter's 5-8 Answers
# 1: Lupin believes that Expelliarmus gave Harry away, that it was his "signature" move and note what spell finishes Voldemort in the end. (Page 743)

# 2: The Weasley's family ghoul is going to pretend to be Ron with spattergoit.

# 3: Luna immediately recognizes Harry at the wedding, even though he's disguised with polyjuice potion.

Chapter's 9-12 Answers
# 1: Harry finds a letter from his mother in Sirius' old room.

# 2: Both Sirius and Voldemort paid for the way they treated house-elves.

# 3: Remus Lupin shows up at Grimmauld place offering his help.

Chapter's 13-16 Answers
# 1: Harry retrieves Alastor Moody's eye from Umbridge's office.

# 2: The people that Harry, Ron, and Hermione came across in the woods were Griphook, Gornuk, Ted Tonks, Dean Thomas, and Dirk Cresswell.

# 3: The war memorial in Godric's Hollow changes into a statue of Harry and his family when Harry was a baby.

Chapter's 17-20 Answers
# 1: Written all around the sign on the outside of Harry's parent's house are support statements for Harry.

# 2: "Two objects that resembled golden ear trumpets curved out from the sides. A tiny pair of glittering blue wings was stuck to a leather strap that ran over the top of her head, while one of the orange radishes had been stuck to a second strap around her forehead."

# 3: Harry love's Hermione like a sister.

Chapter's 21-24 Answers
# 1: Luna decorate her bedroom ceiling with the five faces of her friends; Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Neville. Surrounding them is the word friends in gold ink chained together.

# 2: Player's were able to choose their own Potterwatch codename; Shojo and Markieboo will be guests next week! LOL.

# 3: Peter Pettigrew's own magical silver hand strangles him to death. I guess that's what you get for trying to kill someone who you are indebted to for your life.

Extra Credit: Gellart Grindlewald refuses to tell Voldemort where the Elder Wand is, Voldemort kills him for it.

Chapter's 25-28 Answers
# 1: Lupin asks Harry to be godfather to his and Tonks son, Teddy.

# 2: A Death Eater using the spell, Accio, was unable to summon Harry's invisibility cloak.

# 3 : There was a massive duel between brother's Aberforth and Albus, and Gellert Grindlewald. Ariana was struck with a killing curse.

Chapter's 29-32 Answers
# 1: Harry uses the Cruciatus curse on Amycus Carrow for spitting in Professor McGonagall's face.

# 2: Neville's grandmother was a bit more than the Death Eater's could handle and she hospitalized Dawlish.

# 3: Professor Trelawney knocks out Fenrir Greyback with a crystal ball.

Chapter's 33-36 Answers
# 1: Severus and Lily found the letter that Dumbledore wrote to Petunia explaining why she could not come to Hogwarts.

# 2: Snape was aiming for a Death Eater's wand hand that was pointed at Lupin's back when his Sectumsempra spell went awry and struck George instead.

# 3: In the end, Harry uses Voldemort's real name, Riddle.

Extra Credit: The last act of the Elder Wand was to repair Harry's phoenix feather wand.


And that's it! Of course until pottermore.com opens in a few months. You can find me there as RoseUnicorn152. :)

Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Deathly Hallows Chapter's 33-36 Questions: Pug's Harry Potter Reading Challenge 2011

~These questions are now closed~

 ~ The Prince's Tale ~ The Forest Again ~ King's Cross ~ The Flaw in the Plan ~ EPILOGUE ~

Question # 1: What did Severus and Lily find of Petunia's?
Question # 2: Where was Snape aiming when his Sectumsempra Spell hit George?
Question # 3: In the end what does Harry call Voldemort?

And for three extra credit slips!
What was the last act of the Elder Wand?


And that's it folks! The Deathly Hallows Questions close at 10 pm on 8/1. I will announce the winner soon after!
Happy Birthday to Harry Potter and Jo Rowling!
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 29-32 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 25-28 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 21-24 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 17-20 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 13-16 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 9-12 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 5-8 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 1-4 Questions
See the Official Rules and Events Page

Looking for: Guest Bloggers for Book Reviews!

I am extending the offer to anyone who finds this post to be a guest blogger here on LitPool! What you would do is a book review in the LitPool style. The post would also include your name, a short 2-3 sentence bio of who you are, and links to your blog, website, and/or Twitter/Facebook.

If you are interested please take a look at my LitPool Cypher page and a few book review posts. I suggest:

 Wings
 Bones of Faerie
 Dead Until Dark

If you have any questions or are ready to do it, email me!

The Deathly Hallows Chapter's 29-32 Questions: Pug's Harry Potter Reading Challenge 2011

~These questions are now closed~

~ The Lost Diadem ~ The Sacking of Severus Snape ~ The Battle of Hogwarts ~ The Elder Wand ~

Question # 1: Who does Harry use the cruciatus curse on when they spat in Professor McGonagall's face?
Question # 2: What happened when "they" went after Neville's grandmother?
Question # 3: Who knocks out Fenrir Greyback?

Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 25-28 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 21-24 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 17-20 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 13-16 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 9-12 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 5-8 Questions
Answer Deathly Hallows Chapter's 1-4 Questions
See the Official Rules and Events Page