Light and Darkness

Banned Books Week

Beginning Saturday, 09.27.08 and ending one week later on Saturday, 10.04.08, the American Library Association, First Amendment supporters, and book readers will be recognizing Banned Books Week.

Check out the website, which links you to the Facebook and MySpace pages for the observance. Press kits and BBW kits are available for newspapers, newsletters, schools, etc. It also lists the Top ranking banned (challenged) books and banned authors. Do go there and support the ALA.

And for goodness sakes, pick up a book and read. Use the banned book list as a suggestion. Or the BBC's Big Read of 2003. Like a movie? Bet there was a book at its genesis. Hell, I'll recommend a few for you.

One other thing...spread the word about the Week. Without the wealth of information, knowledge, talent, and emotion offered through books, we would have no growth in our global and local communities, nor in ourselves. And it should always remain in the hands of the individual to decide what is appropriate reading material. 

In the Wild

I released my first BookCrossing titles today at the laundry. Em has registered at BookCrossing as well. Really, this is a fabulous idea. I'm going to have The Pie talk about it at school. I think the kids will have greater fun reading (though most of them are little reading rabbits) if making it a sport. It's a bit of a scavenger hunt. I like this concept of making the world one large library.

BookCrossing

A friend introduced the concept to me a couple of years ago but I never registered at BookCrossing; but now that I have this desparate need to clean my house of superflous items such as outgrown clothing, old toys, and unwanted books ("BLASPHEMY! Oh, villanous blasphemer. How doth thou speak such venomous untruths as 'unwanted book?!" RECANT! RECANT! RECANT! Or curses upon your household!").

The idea is simple: Read (or don't) books. Register said books at BookCrossing and mark them with a unique number. Release the little literary fiends into the wild so they can be caught and entertain others like the organ grinder's monkey. It's similar to the Where's George on the dollars in your pocket....iffin (that's right! I used 'iffin') you have 'em.

Would love for you to particpate in it. You'll find that a few of my Storytellers are already supporters of the concept....don't know why I didn't do it earlier (All the cool kids are doing it!). Actually, I do. I love books and have a difficult, asthma inducing, epileptic, conniption fit with the mere thought of losing a book....but it's time to get rid of things I don't want anymore.

Incidentally, I'm registered as VagabondSpirit (what else). Don't judge me by some of the titles on my list. I'm getting rid of some of these for a reason. I become the book bin for anyone who knows me. I mention I read and there you go. You won't believe how many Reader's Digest I have that I get because I just can't say no to an elderly neighbor that just wants to be kind and give me a book. (sigh) Others I just don't want to have in my own library.

(by the way, what is up with all the parenthesis today?)

An Evening with Mr. Jones

I got to shake hands with the ever so talented Terry Jones. AHA!!!! AHA HA HA!!!! I am still geeking over the entire incident. It was an absolutely brilliant night. It could have been more spectacular..say...had he noticed how amazing a talent I am in my own right and hooked me up with the fantastic people who publish and establish creative ones. ok ok ok. I'm dreaming. But hey, I'm allowed to fantasize a bit.

Honestly, it was wonderful to meet someone of your hallowed halls of idoltry. Discovering Python in my youth was a godsend. Python to an insomniac, at least this one, was a pill for staying on the road to sanity. So, meeting one of those Python boys....BRILLIANT! ABSOLUTELY FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!!

Mr. Jones can pass well as a professor. His energy kept my attention as well as his way of setting up the atmosphere of Chaucer's period. His wit was evident in everything from his voice to the start of his Power Point presentation....and can I say that there is something surreal in sitting in a room watching Terry Jones present a Power Point slideshow.

And my god....was he just the friendliest man. He signed anything that was put in front of him. Graciously stood with his arms around fans for hundreds of pictures. Smiled ear to ear with such earnest. Such a lovely person. Fantastically warm and strong handshake. AND can I say that Terry Jones looks so sexy!

I will not embarrass myself with what an idiot I was that night. Let's just say that things went the traditional Naomi way. Forgot my wallet so I couldn't purchase his book. Didn't have my camera for a picture. Opened my gushing mouth and spilled out a goofy mess about Emma and Rowan Atkinson. Geesh! I was a complete and total twit, and only a minute before I was having a genius IQ conversation about Shakespeare, Chaucer, the Catholic Church, modern references to classic literature and art with the woman behind me in line. Good God, I'm a dork!

AAAANYWAY! Mr. Jones is touring American universities with this lecture. If you get a chance to attend, I highly recommend. It was thoroughly enjoyable. It's evident he enjoys his work. He gives a great lecture.

Chaucer and a Python

  Terry Jones is speaking at the University of West Florida tonight on his book, Who Murdered Chaucer, co-authored by UWF prof Robert Yeager. Planning on going. Yippee! Can't miss an opportunity to meet a Python or discuss a book. Unfortunately, I haven't read it yet and I can't find a damn copy in this freakin town as of yet. Everything is on back order. Library doesn't have it either. Soooo, no intelligent conversation from me. I'll have to be a listener rather than one of those annoying ones with an actual question or bit to pipe in with something to say. Damn! But honestly, that hasn't stopped me in the past at times.

"We are two abysses - a well staring at the sky."

I've mentioned a book I'm reading, Fernando Pessoa's The Book of Disquiet (Richard Zenith translation). It has me wrapped tightly in its pages. I generally have no problem going through a book in a sitting but there is something about Pessoa. A man that died nearly 40 years before my birth has somehow managed to capture thoughts in ink I assumed were only mine. I'm going through this book laboriously slow with pen in hand, marking passages with astonishment. His words at times give my emotions a clear and resonating sound.

The image of myself I saw in mirrors is the same one I hold against the bosom of my soul. I could never be anything but frail and hunched over, even in my thoughts. (p 27)

Because I'm the size of what I see and not the size of my stature. (p 46, incidentally this is written by one of his heteronyms Caeiro)

Perfection never materializes. The saint weeps, and is human. God is silent. That is why we can love the saint but cannot love God. (p 65)

The book itself was created out of papers in a trunk found after his death. There was no rhyme or reason to the writings. There are several translations because of language and how do you piece together a book that really isn't a book.

He was quite prolific and his work was found on anything from an envelope to the margins of his previous writings. He wrote in English, French and Portugese. He wrote under several names...but didn't just pen these names. He created entire lives including births and deaths for his authors. He was a quiet, creative, introverted genius who wrote because he had no choice.

Pessoa's Trunk has an interesting feature that allows you to see side by side translations of Pessoa's poem Autopsicografia.

A very special gift

I want to thank Tom (a friend from work) for my birthday/Christmas present. I got it today and am absolutely stunned. He bought me a book. And not just any book. He bought me Douglas Adams' The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide. I'm stunned because it's a gift I truly want. I was going to buy it for myself...one day. I read the series years ago and enjoyed them. And when Tom mentioned there was a collection in hardback...I wanted it. I NEVER expected nor wanted anyone to buy it for me. But Tom did.

What's more important than the actual book itself is the thought behind the gift. Gifts given from listening to a person's likes or personality....those are awesome gifts. So...thank you, Tom. Yes, I've said it a 1000 times today. It may not be a big thing to you, but it is to me.