Friday, December 23, 2011
Songs That Feel Like Home
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Book Review: The Sisters Brothers
I just finished The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt and was very pleased with the overall experience of it. Set in 1851's American West, it tells the story of Eli and Charlie Sisters, two fiercely loyal and flinty brothers, whose affinity for killing has garnered them, not only a notable reputation, but a permanent position as assassins for the local bigwig. The book starts out with the brothers setting off to kill a man named "Warm" who has unluckily somehow offended their well paying employer, "the Commodore." Eli is the narrator and supposedly "softer" of the two brothers in manners and temperament and I found myself trusting in his rustic charm and sometimes poetic judgement. However, it soon becomes apparent, as the brother experience varying challenges and memorable characters along the way, that Eli, too, is not to be trifled with. The casual manner of the brothers' violence is juxtaposed with their filial love and allegiance for each other while their dark humor reflects the case hardened reality of their existence. I found myself laughing along with them one moment and being disgusted with them the next.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Merry Craftmas
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The weather outside is frightful...
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Soap Box
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Now That's Love
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Book Banning
Book Burning “Friends”
Remember that cute story in the Friend about the eight-year-old who read some bad words in a children’s book she checked out from the school library? She went home and talked to her parents about it. They explained what the words meant and why they chose not to use such language. They also talked about why the characters in the book used such words. Maybe the characters were struggling to choose the right. On the other hand, maybe they came from a different background where such words weren’t taboo. They talked about how they could maintain their own language standards while showing tolerance and respect for people with different standards. They used the book as a tool to reinforce their family’s values while gaining new insights and appreciation for the perspectives of others.
You don’t remember the story? That is because I am telling it wrong. In the actual story, the girl got the book banned from her school...
I think we need to be very careful when it comes to supporting censorship - book banning in particular. Instead of dealing with/talking about any particular issues addressed in controversial books, many think simply banning the book will make those problems just go away. I'm not saying we shouldn't protect our children from material that is not suited to their ages and moral principles but banning the book completely is not the answer; education and tolerance is.
What do you think?
-J