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2016

Abstract

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    </figure></iframe></div></div></figure><p id="d613">Lauren Groff is one of my favorite authors. That she lives in our city is a plus. I met her at Wild Iris while volunteering at a writers’ book signing event. She signed my copy of <i>Fates and Furies</i>, President Obama’s favorite book in 2015 and a favorite of mine.</p><p id="8122">In case you aren’t aware, the governor of Florida and many other state governors are waging war on books. Banning books has become their raison d’etre. New laws allow anybody — not just teachers or parents — to challenge any book in a school or public library. The book is then removed from the library and piled with dozens of other books to be <i>reviewed. </i>Most of the reviews never happen. Teachers and librarians don’t have the time. Who is going to review all those books? It’s easier to remove them permanently or burn them. Yes, books are being burned in the USA in 2024. What’s next? Burning witches? We have regressed to the Middle Ages.</p><blockquote id="2a6e"><p>PEN America counted school book bans in the 2022–2023 school year, and found 3,362 book bans affecting 1,557 unique titles, with more than 40% of the bans occurring in Florida. ~ <a href="https://pen.org/banned-book-list-2023/#:~:text=PEN%20America%20counted%20school%20book,Index%20of%20School%20Book%20Bans.">PEN America</a></p></blockquote><p id="1565" type="7"

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Escambia County, Florida has banned more than 1,600 books from school libraries.In an Alabama public library, the book, Read Me a Story, Stella, was flagged for review for no other reason than the author’s last name is Gay — Marie-Louise Gay.Even classics like Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison were banned from school libraries. These are books that I studied in high school. It’s unthinkable that books that were part of my school curriculum are now forbidden.Also, Harry Potter books were removed from dozens of U.S. libraries. Pastor Greg Locke led a book burning in Tennessee that included all the Harry Potter books and others. The pro-Trump conspiracy theorist wrote:<blockquote id="9bc6">“We are well aware what we are stepping into. Bring it all. Stop allowing demonic influences into your home.”</blockquote><blockquote id="3491">“We will be in our continued series on Deliverance from Demons. We have stuff coming in from all over that we will be burning. We’re not playing games. Witchcraft and accursed things must go.</blockquote>This is insanity!I am so excited that Lauren Groff is taking on the noble cause of celebrating all the banned books in Florida. I’m also excited that she plans for The Lynx to be LBGTQ+ friendly and a gathering place for music, poetry readings, and other events that acknowledge and promote local talent. Just like Wild Iris used to.Rarely is there good news in the business or political arenas, but The Lynx Bookstore is exceptionally good news. Of course, I plan to be a customer, but I also hope to volunteer if Lauren will have me.And that is something to be excited about!!© <a href="undefined">Dennett</a> 2024</article></body>

W&W February Prompt: What Are You Excited About?

Fighting The Book Banners

Something good is coming

December 23, 2017 — the date that one of my favorite places in our city closed.

A bookstore. But more than a bookstore. A safe haven for LGBTQ+ people. A stage for poets and musicians. A gathering spot for knitters and writers.

Wild Iris was a one-of-a-kind bookstore. I volunteered there and was on the store’s Board of Directors. Ben and I often ate at the indy restaurant in the back of the shop. It was our home away from home.

When Wild Iris closed its doors, I cried and wrote this poem:

Gone

The Closing of the Cultural Heart of Our Town — Wild Iris Bookstore

medium.com

We have other bookstores in our city, but far fewer than we used to have. At least three are owned and run by corporations. A few are independent, but none are like Wild Iris.

I am excited to announce that a new bookstore will open in April — a bookstore that has the Wild Iris vibe.

Here is the YouTube announcement about The Lynx Bookstore:

Lauren Groff is one of my favorite authors. That she lives in our city is a plus. I met her at Wild Iris while volunteering at a writers’ book signing event. She signed my copy of Fates and Furies, President Obama’s favorite book in 2015 and a favorite of mine.

In case you aren’t aware, the governor of Florida and many other state governors are waging war on books. Banning books has become their raison d’etre. New laws allow anybody — not just teachers or parents — to challenge any book in a school or public library. The book is then removed from the library and piled with dozens of other books to be reviewed. Most of the reviews never happen. Teachers and librarians don’t have the time. Who is going to review all those books? It’s easier to remove them permanently or burn them. Yes, books are being burned in the USA in 2024. What’s next? Burning witches? We have regressed to the Middle Ages.

PEN America counted school book bans in the 2022–2023 school year, and found 3,362 book bans affecting 1,557 unique titles, with more than 40% of the bans occurring in Florida. ~ PEN America

Escambia County, Florida has banned more than 1,600 books from school libraries.

In an Alabama public library, the book, Read Me a Story, Stella, was flagged for review for no other reason than the author’s last name is Gay — Marie-Louise Gay.

Even classics like Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison were banned from school libraries. These are books that I studied in high school. It’s unthinkable that books that were part of my school curriculum are now forbidden.

Also, Harry Potter books were removed from dozens of U.S. libraries. Pastor Greg Locke led a book burning in Tennessee that included all the Harry Potter books and others. The pro-Trump conspiracy theorist wrote:

“We are well aware what we are stepping into. Bring it all. Stop allowing demonic influences into your home.”

“We will be in our continued series on Deliverance from Demons. We have stuff coming in from all over that we will be burning. We’re not playing games. Witchcraft and accursed things must go.

This is insanity!

I am so excited that Lauren Groff is taking on the noble cause of celebrating all the banned books in Florida. I’m also excited that she plans for The Lynx to be LBGTQ+ friendly and a gathering place for music, poetry readings, and other events that acknowledge and promote local talent. Just like Wild Iris used to.

Rarely is there good news in the business or political arenas, but The Lynx Bookstore is exceptionally good news. Of course, I plan to be a customer, but I also hope to volunteer if Lauren will have me.

And that is something to be excited about!!