Thanks for being a part of such a fantastic book hop! Wonderful to see how many people out there are passionate about banned books (or, just really want free stuff...) - I hope you all continue to support the idea of allowing all books a rightful home on the shelves and leaving the decision to choose up to everyone!
Random.org has selected my three winners and they are:
1st Place: Yen Prize: Yen gets to pick from either $20 in banned / challenged books from The Book Deposity prize or the $15 Amazon gift certificate.
2nd Place: Donna Smith (The Happy Booker) Prize: Doninique will choose second, after Yen.
3rd Place: Antane Armstrong Prize: Will receive whichever prize remains, after the first two have selected.
Please email me at elschneider@hotmail.com on which prize you've selected. As well, if you've selected to receive the $20 in banned / challenged books from The Book Depository, please send along your top 5 book choices (just in case a title isn't available), your full name and mailing address.
Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to support such a great cause!
As posted on the American Library Associations website, Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, and the importance of the First Amendment - something that is all too near and dear to my heart.
The list of banned books is long - and grows longer every year. And we all know some of the classics on it:
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK by Anne Frank: Challenged in the Culpeper County, VA. public schools because it was believed to include sexual material and homosexual themes.
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger: Challenged (but retained) in the Martin County, Florida school district because of a parent's concern over inappropriate language.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut: Challenged in Republic, MO. schools because it was considered "soft-pornography" and contained "glorified drinking, cursing, and premarital sex."
But in recent years, several new books (and many of my favorites!) have been challenged:
THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins: The Goffstown, N.H. school board challenged this title last year, because a parent claimed it gave her eleven-year-old nightmares and could numb other students to the effects of violence.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler: Challenged in the Republic, MO. school district for the exact same reasons they challenged SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE.
THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie: National Book Award Winnter, banned in Stockton, MO. school district last year because of violence, language, and some sexual content.
In an effort to recognize Banned Books week, the lovely ladies over at I Read Banned Books and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer are hosting a Banned Books Giveaway Hop, which I've decided to particpate in this year!
The giveaway will run from Saturday, September 24th - Saturday, October 1st and I'll be announcing my winners on Sunday, October 2nd.
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And what's up for grabs? I'll be giving away 3 prizes!
#1 and #2: TWO lucky winners will receive:
$20 in banned or challenged books from The Book Depository. Each of the two winners will select $20 worth of books off the banned or challenged lists - you can find some of the titles here, here, here, and here.
#3: One lucky winner will receive:
A $15 Amazon.com gift card to use towards a banned or challenged book.
A few housekeeping rules:
PLEASE be honest with the boxes you're checking! Don't check BOTH the old and new follower boxes - you're either one or the other! And if you check that you've left a comment - then do so! You won't get extra points by checking boxes that aren't accurate!
Giveaway is International. Note: Giveaway is open to anywhere the Book Depository or Amazon ships to. It is your responsibility to make sure the Book Depository or Amazon ships to your country.
Winners must be 13 years or older (sorry, can't be getting into trouble with any parents!).
You need to be a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect to enter this contest.
Only ONE entry per person (please don't use alternative email addresses to enter!).
Fill out the form to be officially entered!
Winners will be chosen via Random.org on Sunday, October 2, 2011 and announced here on my blog.
For old followers, max number of entries is 10 (that means you follow me on Twitter, too!). For new followers (welcome!), max number of entries is 8.
Winners will be ranked in first, second, and third place - first place winner will have their choice of which prize they want, then second place, then third will get whichever prize is left.
As posted on the American Library Associations website, Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, and the importance of the First Amendment - and this year, will take place from September 24th to October 1st.
Personally, I can't even believe in this day and age, that the censorship and banning of books, still even occurs. As a writer myself, I feel everyone should have the right to read, no matter what the content. Sure not everyone is going to agree. Of course subject matters are going to run the gamut of topics, some of which are purely out there for shock value. But if anyone finds a book in the least bit offensive, there's one very simple thing they can do:
Don't. Read. It.
But dare you tell me I can't read it. Because as soon as you try, you can rest assured - I'll do whatever I can, to make sure I do.
I know this can be a very touchy subject, one that not everyone is going to agree with me on. But it's classic physchology folks! Tell someone they can't do something and they most certainly will. But give them the choice, give them the educated reasons behind your thoughts, and you may end up with a completely different outcome. And in the end, that's really what it comes down to - the freedom to choose!
So to honor Banned Books Week this year, I'll be participating in I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop. You'll have to check back on 9/24 to find out all the specifics - but it'll be a pretty basic point tally system, like you need to be a follower of my website (HINT: higher point value will be given to those who followed my blog prior to 9/24).
And what's up for grabs you might ask? Tsk, tsk, come back on 9/24 to find out! But I will say, there will be several books which have made their way onto the banned list - all of which I've read, and personally believe, have made me the better because of it!
Soooo, won't you come back on 9/24 and check out what's up for grabs? I hope to see you here!
With that, I'll leave you to answer one of these questions:
Do you believe censorship should / shouldn't be allowed? If so, why / why not?
Do you have a favorite book that's on THE LIST? Oh do please share!
Yea!!! Each of you have won a $15 Barnes & Noble e-gift card!
Kathryn - please reach out to me with a valid email address on where you'd like your e-gift card sent - you can leave a comment here or email me directly. My email address is elschneider@hotmail.com
And Jess, let me know if you just want me to use the email I already have for you?
Congratulations, Ladies - and thanks so much for joining me in my new home!
To officially celebrate my new website getting up and running, I'm giving away TWO Barnes & Noble e-gift cards - each worth $15 USD!
With everyone moving towards digital e-readers, I thought instead of giving away a hard copy book, contestants should have the option on which format they'd prefer! And well, $15 can buy two eBooks - or one hard / soft copy, if you're still into the "old school" way of reading like me!
Easy-peasy Contest Rules:
1. You need to be a follower of my new website (via the Google Friend Connect option on the left side of my page...yep, it's right over there! <-------). +1 entry for new folks, +2 for those that have been around. 2. Follow me on Twitter (@elschneid)? +1 entry for newbies, +2 for existing tweeps! 3. Tweet about the giveaway? +2 entries (you'll need to submit your twitter handle in the comments section, so I can take a look!). 4. Please leave a comment below with your name and total number of entries. 5. Winners will be selected on Wednesday, April 20th.
I just sent you an email (you may want to check your junk folder) to get all your information - let me know if you didn't receive it? It's coming from my elschneider@hotmail.com address.
Congratulations, Ebyss! I hope you enjoy the book (and you'll have to let me know what you think, since I haven't read it yet!).
Thanks everyone, for another great contest!
Stay tuned...I'm about to move over to my new website and blog in the next few weeks - you never know what I'll be giving away next!
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Happy New Year, everyone!
If you're like me, then you too can't believe it's already 2011! Yikes...where has the time gone?
But what better way to start off the new year, then with a new book?
And the new book in question?
AWAKENED, by P.C. Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast.
I've rather enjoyed the House of Night series - and their eighth installment in the series, AWAKENED, comes out on Tuesday, January 4th. I'm looking forward to reading this one!
Sooooo, to help welcome the new year and get everyone started on the right foot - I'm giving away a copy of AWAKENED to one of my lucky followers!
The Rules:
Sorry folks, this one is only open to my U.S. and Canadian followers.
How Can I Win?
Enter HERE, and fill out the form to win! But please leave a comment below, telling me you've entered!
Contest Timeline:
Contest is open from today, 1.2.11 to next Friday, 1.14.11 - and a winner will be selected on 1.15.11. All entries (aka comments) for this contest need to be received before11:59pm PST on Friday, 1.14.11to be eligible. The winner will be drawn via Random.org on 1.15.11 and announced on my blog.
Description of AWAKENED, from The House Of Night website:
Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over her immortal consort Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…
And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae (since she saved his life), but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?
In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?
Thanks for being a part of such a fantastic book hop! Wonderful to see how many people out there are passionate about banned books (or, just really want free stuff...) - I hope you all continue to support the idea of allowing all books a rightful home on the shelves and leaving the decision to choose up to everyone!
