Guest Blogger Beth Whitney-Lanier: "Birthday Books!"

I'd like to thank my sister once again for doing a great guest blog today!  This is her third one, and they have all been great.  If you missed her first two check them out in the blog archive.  Enjoy!!!

BethWhitney-Lanier
Source:  My Photo

On July 20th, 2011 I turned 29 years old.  It's hard to believe I'm almost 30, but that's beside the point.  They say the older you get the wiser you become.  I hope that's true in my case.

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."    -Socrates 

Anyway, I had a great birthday and received some cool gifts from different members of my family.  Since this blog is about books, I will tell you about the birthday gifts I got from my sister, Amy.  I received two books from Amy,  The first one I read was The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which is also currently being played in movie theaters.  This book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the year 1962.   It takes you into the lives of black maids and what they had to endure at the hands of their white bosses, especially the white women they work for.

source:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help

There are actually some funny parts in this book, but mostly you see how horribly these maids where treated.  It is a shame how human beings can treat each other.  I read The Help in about a week and a half.  It was a fast read as well as an interesting, eye opening story.  Any of you who might be participating in the The Southern Belle Challenge this month along with my sis, Amy, should consider reading The Help.  I really enjoyed reading this book.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the other book Amy gave me for my 29th birthday.  Ironically, this book is also in the process of being made into a motion picture.  Now, if you check books out at the library this one will be in the Juvenile Fiction section.  In my opinion, however, this book is anything but juvenile.

source:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games

I have not read a book like The Hunger Games  in a very long time.  At first I wondered how I would like the book and if I would even enjoy it.  However, this futuristic thriller totally surprised me!   It takes place in what used to be the United States of America and things are nothing like what we know now.  The US has been taken over and shaped into 12 Districts and ran by the Capitol.  Once a year they hold The Hunger Games.  The surprising part is who they choose to compete in these games and the violence it ensues!

This book is filled with tons of heart pounding action and suspense.  It is definitely a page turner and constantly keeps you guessing about what in the world can happen next.  It was quite a read and I enjoyed the change in style and genre.  I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  

In closing, I just want to say that I loved my two "Birthday Books".  Reading books and talking about them always gets me excited.  To be given a book as a gift is an awesome thing for me.  When you receive a book from someone you might get a wonderful book that you wouldn't ordinarily read.  Actually, I don't think I have ever gotten a book as a gift from anyone but Amy.  She never fails in getting me a book I like or might even come to love.  Three book that are in my Top 10 Favorite Books of All-Time were gifts from Amy and her family.  I received Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys as a Christmas gift about 2 years ago.

Thanks for the books, Amy!

Let's Talk About "A Wrinkle In Time" by Madeleine L'Engle



Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159069.A_Wrinkle_in_Time



Meg and Charles Wallace are different but gifted.  They live with their scientist mother and "normal" twin brothers.  Their father has disappeared while working for the government.  He's been gone five years.

Out for a walk one night they meet Calvin O'Keefe as well as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which who send them on an adventure across the universe to rescue their father from the clutches of IT on the planet Camezotz.  In doing so they put their own lives at risk.

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In doing research about this book I learned it has been challenged many times.  According to the American Library Association, "A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.  A banning is the removal of those materials."

I do not agree with banning books.  I feel like it's my decision what I read and what my daughter reads.  It's called freedom.  Notice I said it's MY decision what my daughter reads.  I do believe in parental guidance and in monitoring what my daughter reads.  If I don't approve it, she does not read it!  Most of the time it's common sense what's appropriate and what's not.  If I can't read the book before she does or with her, I am constantly asking her questions about it...what's going on in the book, how does it make her feel, what are the characters like, is there anything in the book that she feels is wrong or makes her uncomfortable.  It's all part of our book discussion.  Plus you can always get online and do some research.  If you'd like help monitoring what your child reads, Focus on the Family has a website that has book reviews for parents.  It breaks down the books in terms of it's content and themes, so you can make your own decision.  You can visit their site by clicking HERE.

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, published in 1962 is the first book in the classic Time Quintet.  The other books are as follows.

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

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Madeleine L'Engle
11/29/1918-9/6/2007
Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/106.Madeleine_L_Engle