50 banned books that everyone should read

Found this list recently, which gives a brief description of why each book has made the banned list (including categories such as religion and politics, race and sex, and more). I have read nine books on this list (see below) but would like to incorporate more of these into my reading. I think that having a well-rounded list of books is the key to my learning.

I hate that books are banned. It should always be up to an individual what he or she choose to read, but to not have the opportunity to read something because of an issue seems to be counterproductive. Isn't the point of education to discuss these issues? I don't get it.

Here are the one's I've read:

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Tom Sawyer
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Awakening by Kate Chopin
• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (my all-time favorite book)
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Beloved by Toni Morrison

Which ones have you read?

The Sunday Salon - Memorial Day Weekend Edition

11:15 AM - Sunday May 24

Is anybody out there?

[crickets]

I haven't played along with the Sunday Salon in weeks, I'm long overdue for a catch-up post. Life has kept me very busy, between work, traveling to Michigan for my best friend's wedding, after-hours events, women's soccer, cleaning up and working around the house, and everything else that always comes up. I've finished Jodi Picoult's The Pact and The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey in the past month, and have started a great book, Carrie Adams' The Godmother.

I've yet to write about The Pact because I can't seem to work my opinion into words. Truthfully, I was a bit disappointed, which I rarely am in a Picoult novel. I had very high expectations because of some recommendations from friends, but it wasn't up to par. Or maybe it's that I've read some of her best works that I couldn't quite like this one after the others. Regardless, I've finished it, and I'm glad I read it. It was quite heavy though, and at some parts I really was surprised I wasn't crying. A suicide pact between teenagers doesn't seem to happen that often (or maybe it's just that it's not reported), but there does seem to be such an incredible rate of suicide in general these days. (Obviously I think the economy brings out the desperation and people don't think there's a better way out.) I have to hand it to Picoult though, for tackling yet another controversial and dramatic topic. She has a great way of shedding light on hot-button issues. I'm hoping some of you readers (if there are any left out there) will tell me what you thought of this book...

On this long weekend I have been catching up with things around the house, since we were out of town last weekend. Five loads of laundry are done, the house has been swept and mopped, the grass has been cut (thank God, after 22+ inches of rain this week, it was looking very shabby), and all of our produce for the week is in the fridge after a successful trip to the farmer's market. We also watched Seven Pounds the other night. Incredible movie, although I still don't understand the title. Anyone?

Today we are headed to our favorite restaurant on the beach to watch the waves and enjoy some burgers and drinks with friends. Hope you all have a great Memorial Day tomorrow, and remember your veterans!

101 Books Update

Well, here we are in May and I've yet to do an "update" post this year.

A long long time ago (not really) I announced my goal of reading 101 books in 1,001 days. My end date is September 30, 2010. I'm over half-way there already, and I still have more than a year to complete it. Think it's not really challenging enough anymore? Yeah, me either. I'm going to add to it and make it 150 books eventually, so stay tuned.

Books read so far - 60

Books to go to finish the challenge - 41

How are you doing on your challenges?

Rattled! - Christine Coppa

I devoured this book in 2 days; I started in on my 4.5 hour flight to Las Vegas and finished it poolside the next day.

(image from Barnes & Noble)

I loved this memoir. I have been reading Chrissy's blog ... since she started it while pregnant with her now-fifteen-month-old son, Jack Domenic. She has always been the epitome of a warrior single-mom, in my eyes at least, and I can't imagine doing what she did. As said on the cover, "Christine Coppa was 26 and living the life of a typical upstart urbanite - a great job at a women's magazine; a cramped apartment with two Craigslist roommates; sushi nights with the girls, must-have handbags and overpriced cocktails; $271 in the bank - and then her life was Rattled!"

Chrissy's life was literally uprooted and her surprise pregnancy brought a range of emotions to her, all of which come to play throughout her pregnancy and then her son's birth. After she overcame the shock and the unfortunate exit of her son's "father," she went into extreme mature mode. I was in complete awe of how quickly she got everything together - extra freelance gigs, new job, health insurance, cribs, a major (and to her, devastating) move from NYC to New Jersey and a new apartment for her and her baby. She also took a "babymoon" to Palm Springs - a completely solo trip! I was in shock as I read about her flying across the country and staying in a resort, dipping her toes in the pool and ordering room service ALL.BY.HERSELF. This woman is amazing!

Chrissy writes very well, including all the emotions she was feeling, and how she looked forward to her new life with her newborn. It was like she made the decision to go forward as a single parent and never looked back. I really applaud her decision, and I highly recommend this book for everyone, especially single mothers.