Banned Books

This week I learned that Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is going to be edited to remove a derogatory racial term. Here is one article on the issue. Obviously, I am not a proponent of using this, or any related term. But, I can't help but be upset by this. To me, shielding people (children included) from these works in their original form is doing them more harm than good. I am firmly in the camp that believes that this, and other so-called banned books, can be a very useful teaching method if you just take the time to have a discussion about them. Maybe it's the book nerd in me, but this makes me sad.

In light of the discussions I have been reading about this issue, I have found a list by the American Library Association of the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books from 2000-2009 and the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books from 1990-1999. The lists are below. I am compelled to read them all, just to see what is so controversial about them. I also would love to argue why they should not be banned, but that is the contrarian in me. I have bolded the books I have read. How many have you read? Do you think they should be banned? Why or why not?

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009
1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16. Forever, by Judy Blume
17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King, by Linda de Haan
21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
26. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson (I'm reading this one now, actually)
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God?  It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank

100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999
1. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate, by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
7. Forever, by Judy Blume
8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
9. Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman
10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
11. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
12. My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
14. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
15. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
16. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Sex, by Madonna
19. Earth’s Children (series), by Jean M. Auel
20. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
21. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
22. The Witches, by Roald Dahl
23. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
24. The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein
25. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
26. The Goats, by Brock Cole
27. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
28. Anastasia Krupnik (series), by Lois Lowry
29. Final Exit, by Derek Humphry
30. Blubber, by Judy Blume
31. Halloween ABC, by Eve Merriam
32. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
33. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
34. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
35. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras
36. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
37. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
38. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
39. The Pigman, by Paul Zindel
40. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
41. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
42. Deenie, by Judy Blume
43. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
44. Annie on My Mind, by Nancy Garden
45. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
46. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
47. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, by Alvin Schwartz
48. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
49. Cujo, by Stephen King
50. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
51. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
52. Ordinary People, by Judith Guest
53. American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
54. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
55. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
56. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
57. Asking About Sex and Growing Up, by Joanna Cole
58. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons, by Lynda Madaras
59. The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell
60. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
61. Boys and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
62. Crazy Lady, by Jane Conly
63. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
64. Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
65. Fade, by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What?, by Mem Fox
67. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
68. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
69. Native Son, by Richard Wright
70. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies, by Nancy Friday
71. Curses, Hexes and Spells, by Daniel Cohen
72. On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer
73. The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
74. Jack, by A.M. Homes
75. Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge
76. Family Secrets, by Norma Klein
77. Mommy Laid an Egg, by Babette Cole
78. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya
79. Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle
80. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
81. Carrie, by Stephen King
82. The Dead Zone, by Stephen King
83. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
84. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
85. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
86. Private Parts, by Howard Stern
87. Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
88. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
89. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
90. Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education, by Jenny Davis
94. Jumper, by Steven Gould
95. Christine, by Stephen King
96. The Drowning of Stephen Jones, by Bette Greene
97. That Was Then, This is Now, by S.E. Hinton
98. Girls and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
99. The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain
100. Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

2011 Goals

This time of year many people are thinking about resolutions for 2011. The idea behind the traditional idea of making new year's resolutions is good, but I never make them. Mostly because I do not like the word resolution. While the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of resolution - a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent ... - is not particularly bothersome, I still associate the word with all the resolutions made year in and year out that are forgotten after a few months. In other words, I associate new year's resolutions with failure which is not something I typically seek out. Instead of resolutions I like to set goals. I like goals because I focus more on the work that goes into achieving them than the actual end result. A much more positive idea, I think.For 2011, I have set a few goals for myself. Things I want to accomplish, experience, or work during the year. I plan to update the blog with my progress, so stick with me to see how I do.

One Human's 2011 Goals

Read 50 Books for Leisure

Finish Graduate School

Take a Vacation

Participate in a Charity Run

Volunteer

Watch Less TV

Spend Less Time on the Computer (outside of work)

Spoiled

I'll admit it. I'm spoiled. Not only do I have everything I need and most things I want, but just thinking about all the wonderful gifts I received for Christmas this year confirms it. I have a very generous family and husband. Among my favorite gifts were the adapter to connect our blu-ray player to the wireless network (yay streaming Netflix!), the Garmin Forerunner, the cute bucket hat, the books, and the Eclipse blu-ray. Of course, the gift cards and cash weren't so bad either. Yep, I think that shows how spoiled I am.

Our Christmas was wonderful (minus the cold that came on Friday) and snowy. We were able to spend a good amount of time with our families and enjoyed visiting and, of course, eating with them. I am returning to work tomorrow for two days before a holiday on Friday for New Year's day. We are now looking forward to ringing in 2011 with friends with a game night on Friday evening. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

Me and the Mr. on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It snowed a bit over night and started back up again this morning with big, fluffy flakes. It is still snowing, but smaller flakes. I'm wishing for a majorly white Christmas, so I hope it keeps coming down!

When I got back from the gym this morning I decided to shovel the couple inches off the driveway. I also decided to play a bit.

 Merry Christmas Eve!

The Hour that Lasted Two

It has been 9:30 for two hours. Not really, buy it sure has felt like it! The office is very quiet today. You see, our agency's president generally closes the office at noon the day before a holiday and since tomorrow is our Christmas holiday, today is a short work day. The short work day, coupled with the Christmas season makes our relatively small staff even smaller. There are only about 20% of the normal staff here. While it's nice to have the office quiet when finishing up year end reports and other tasks, it also makes the day dddddrrrrrraaaaaagggggg. Hence, why it has been 9:30 (well, 9:45 now) for two hours.

I completed the things I needed to finish first thing this morning and even though I have other projects I could be working on, it is hard to start something when I know I will be out of the office of the next five days. So here I sit, blogging and thinking about our Christmas plans. I am looking forward to Christmas, although not as much as usual. I have no particular reason to be in this funk, so I need to drag myself out of it. I am hoping that some exercise this afternoon and a big gooey horseshoe for dinner will do the trick. If that doesn't work, I might just have to uncap some of the booze my boss just dropped off at my desk for Christmas. Later tonight, or course *wink wink*.

Hey, look at that, it's 9:50 now. So, time is still moving.

One Hippo?

Two Humans, One Hippo is a new blog. It is not my first adventure in blogging, however. I have tested the blogging waters in the past, but have only gotten my feet wet. With Two Humans, One Hippo I am hoping to jump all the way in. I'll admit that most posts will be mundane, but I hope that not only will someone find this blog interesting (and if you do, leave me comments because they make me happy!), but that I will also enjoy writing it and, most importantly, keep it running.

Two Humans, One Hippo will mostly chronicle the happenings in my own life and household, which is inhabited by (you guessed it!) two humans and one super fantastic hippopotamus. Confused? How about you sit back, relax, and read a short story about how the two humans and one super fantastic hippopotamus can to be a family.

Six years ago two humans met at work (yes, that's me and the Mr.) and became work buddies. Both were dating other people at the time, but as time went on those relationships fizzled and the two humans began dating. A year later the Christmas season came around again and I was often heard singing the tune "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". The Mr. did not realize that I was simply singing a well known Christmas song and, while he thought my desire was a bit odd, he decided he would find me my very own hippo since I seemed to want one so badly. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I opened the box and found my very own hippo. That was truly the best Christmas present ever and cannot be topped. Since that first Christmas together, the Mr. and I have gotten married, bought a house, and have enjoyed life and the hippo has provided warm cuddles, comic relief, and the inspiration for this blog's title.