Genre Challenge

2010 has been a wonderful year! The 25-book challenge wasn’t much of a challenge for most of you but we had so much fun! So many good books, great discussions and enough recommendations to keep me busy for years to come. I’m not kidding! My TBR list is out of control! Thanks ARU fans! :o)

A special thanks to the authors who joined us to discuss their book: Jamie Ford, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Jean Kwok and Kathleen Grissom. We look forward to your future work and hope you will stop by again soon.

Don’t forget our December book selection is ‘The Wrong Bus: An Urban Christmas Story’ by John Noel Hampton. Recommended by an ARU fan (Thanks, Susie!) and well worth the read. Looking forward to discussing it. Still haven’t chosen a January selection yet. I was hoping to get more recommendations. ARU fans, where are you?!

28 more days until 2011! We’re kicking this year off with a new challenge. Since starting ARU, I’ve learned how important it is to try books outside of your normal genre. Can you believe I’ve changed my favorite genre this year? Now, I’m completely addicted to Historical Fiction. Many of the books I’ve read, I’m certain I wouldn’t have chosen on my own. Thanks again, ARU fans! So there you have it. I’m challenging you to read a different genre each month. Pick any book from the genre of the month, post the title on the fan page wall and let us know what you thought of it. Easy, right? Here’s our list of genres:

Science Fiction
Romance
General Fiction
Fantasy
Mystery/Crime
Historical Fiction
Non- Fiction
Young Adult
Horror
Thriller
Christian Fiction
Action/Adventure

January is Science Fiction month! Who’s up for the challenge?

ARU Updates

Wow!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted here. We have a lot of catching up to do. Let’s see, for those of you not following me on the Avid Readers Unite fan page on Facebook, I purchased a Nook last month. After months of going back and forth between the Nook and Kindle, I finally chose the Nook because of its lending feature…I’m loving it! I recently borrowed ‘Firefly Lane’ by Kristin Hannah from a fellow Nooker and it was so good! Hannah has become one of my favorite authors and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. I also read Jodi Piccoult’s ‘Magic Hour’, ‘Look Again’ by Lisa Scottoline (ARU book club pick), ‘Glorious’ by Bernice McFadden and Michelle Moran’s ‘Heretic Queen’. And, I just received the copy of ‘Mockingjay’ I pre-ordered way back in February! If you haven’t started the ‘Hunger Games’ series, I envy you. Wish I could read them for the first time all over again. Additionally, I’ve added at least 4 more books to my tbr list. Thanks, ARU fans! Keep’em coming!

This month’s book club pick is ‘Do They Hear You When You Cry’ by Fauziya Kassindja. So far I’m getting mixed reviews. Most say it’s a difficult read, but really appreciate the message when it ends. I’m still reading it. Due to a recent family tragedy, I probably will not finish in time for the discussion tomorrow night. I’ll still initiate a post and will jump in where I can. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

I’ve chosen Jean Kwok’s ‘Girl in Translation’ for September’s selection. I’m really excited about this one. Great news! The author has agreed to join in on the discussion. Yayyy!! She’ll be on our fan page Sept. 30th @ 1:30 pm EST. This is her debut novel and the reviews are very impressive. You don’t want to miss this discussion.

Upcoming events: Sept. 25th – Oct 2nd is Banned Books Week. I hope everyone is planning to participate. Take a stand against the banning of books! Visit our facebook fan page for periodic updates.

Oct 9th begins Dewey’s 24 hr read-a-thon. Mark your calendars! 24 hrs of reading, posts and fun! I’ll be checking in periodically on this blog and the ARU fan page. If you are unable to participate the full 24 hrs, drop by when you can. I, for one, will certainly get a few hours of sleep in at some point. Oh, and don’t forget to visit other blogs. Blog hopping is what makes it so much fun! What a great way to bring the reading community together. More information to come as the date gets nearer.

August has been a slow month for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure fundraiser, but we have lots of events planned for Sept. Look out for the breast cancer warmer that will be available on Sept. 1st on my Scentsy website. Also, stay tuned for information on our Tupperware fundraiser; 40% of sales will go towards the cause. Once again, thanks to all who have donated and are supporting us by using the ARU Bookstore for Amazon purchases. Happy Reading, Everyone!!

Uniting for the Cure

I hope to live long enough to witness the cure for breast cancer. In memory of those who’ve lost the battle, for those who are still fighting and for every woman I know, I have committed myself to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk for the cure. For those of you not familiar with this event, participants will walk 60 miles over 3 days to raise money for breast cancer research and support programs. That’s right, 60 miles, 3 days…I can do this!

The statistics are frightening:

· 1 out of every 8 American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life
· Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer death among women ages 35-50
· 250,000 US women living with the disease are under the age of 40
· 8 out of 9 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease
· 70% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors

Finding a cure is imperative! More than likely, you have been affected in some way by this disease. Here’s your chance to make a difference. I have until 22 Oct to raise $2,300 to qualify for the walk. I am determined to reach this goal! Let me tell you how you can help. I have set up a widget on this blog that will link you to Amazon. Many of you already frequent this site. If you simply shop Amazon through Avid Readers Unite, 100% of the referral fee will go towards the cause. I just purchased our July selection, ‘Look Again’ by Lisa Scottoline! Another option is the fundraiser through Scentsy Wickless Candles. Buy from the Breast Cancer 3-Day party and 25% of your purchase will be donated. Lastly, you can simply make a donation—no amount is too small. Any help you can provide will get me that much closer to reaching my goal and a little closer to finding a cure for this awful disease. On your mark! Get set! Go!

Stay tuned for updates on my progress! So much work to do! =D

*If you’ve lost a loved one to breast cancer and are interested in adding them to the memorial slideshow I’m creating, please forward their name and a photo (if available) to www.avidreadersunite@live.com.

Inspiration

Once again, I stepped out of my comfort zone and found a book I thoroughly enjoyed. ‘I Am Hutterite’, a true story that reads like fiction, details both the joys and trials of living in a Hutterite community. I have to be honest, I had never heard of Hutterites before reading this book. I guess that’s why I found it so intriguing. Learning about different religions and cultures is one of the reasons I love reading so much. Usually it’s in the form of historical fiction, but every now and again I find a book like this one that really fascinates me.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Anne-Marie Dornn (now Mary-Ann Kirby) who grew up in the Hutterite colony until her parents decides to leave in search of a new life, with seven children in tow. Amazingly, despite the constant struggles of her family and others within the community, Anne-Marie’s view of the colony is always positive. The love and respect Kirby has for her culture and background is apparent through her writing. After leaving the colony, she has difficulty adjusting to modern life and misses the day-to-day routine and communal closeness she felt within the colony. Nonetheless, the Dornn family manages to overcome many obstacles while trying to adapt to a culture that is completely foreign to them. I love how Kirby displays the powerful bond within this family.

I highly recommend this book. If you want to know more about this culture, visit here.

Reading Sanctuary

The words Reading Sanctuary more than likely, does not sound foreign to fans of Avid Readers Unite. Many of you have already established that quiet personal space where you go to relax and dive into a good book without being disturbed. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, coffee, tea or wine….there’s nothing like escaping the hustle and bustle of your day by creating a cozy ambiance with a can’t-put-it-down book in hand. How do you set the mood for peaceful reading? I’ve tried the library, coffee shops, parks, etc. None of these work for me. Somebody, somehow, in some way will disturb me, causing that start, stop, start again type of reading that I hate. No doubt, my home is the best place to create that much needed relaxing atmosphere. That is, when my 3 year old has gone to bed and hubby’s in another room, doing homework or watching TV. Then, I pull out my wickless candles from Scentsy, choose a relaxing aroma and plug it in. Now, I curl up on my sofa with green tea or a glass of wine and I lose myself for a couple of hours in a book. Tonight will be no different. I just borrowed ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ from my brother and I’m so looking forward to reading it.

www.arucandles.scentsy.us

National Poetry Month

Today marks the end of National Reading Month but tomorrow, we celebrate Poetry. Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now celebrated every April of every year. Let's spread the word, celebrate and show our appreciation for the richness and creativeness of poetry. Here's a great way to start. Sign up to receive one poem a day via e-mail throughout the month by visiting http://www.poets.org. Happy Reading!!


Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

~Maya Angelou

What diffference do it make?

It's not often you read a book that leaves you thinking of its' message for months after you've read it. In fact, the inspiration I got from 'Same Kind of Different As Me' and 'What difference do it make?' will last a lifetime. That's why, in celebration of National Reading Month, I've passed these books on to my friends, hoping (knowing) they will gain the same positive experience. Trust me; these books will forever change you.

Like 'Same Kind of Different As Me', this book is full of determination, hope and inspiration; you will never feel the same about homelessness. Ron Hall and Denver Moore continue their quest to truly make a difference and help people in need. They give the reader updates on their lives and tell more stories about their past. It was particularly enjoyable to hear more about Ron Hall's life outside of his marriage to Deborah; specifically, his relationship with his alcoholic father. What a powerful lesson on forgiveness and acceptance!

And how brilliant was it to add testimonies from readers who were inspired by the first book? Hearing their stories made you realize how much your actions can impact other people's lives. Generally, that's not something we really think about. Sometimes the simplest things can change a person's whole outlook on life. Denver makes you see just how important your actions are. His words will literally make your heart heavy. You'll ask yourself like I did, "Am I doing everything I can to make a difference?"

Others say you don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one. That may be true, but I highly recommend you read 'Same Kind of Different As Me' first. By then, you'll have so much love and admiration for the characters, the sequel will be that much better. If you haven't read them, you must. I promise, you'll walk away inspired. If you have, pass them on to your friends. I've already convinced two of my friends who are not readers to read 'Same Kind of Different As Me'. Stay tuned for comments on the Avid Readers Unite fan page. Remember, this month is National Reading Month. Share your love for reading!

Favorite quote: "Mr. Mike, everybody's lookin for God everywhere on the outside. He ain't in no book, and He ain't in no preacher and He ain't in nothin or no one on the outside. You got to go inside 'cause that's where God is--in the deepest place inside you". ~ Denver Moore

National Reading Month

Did you know that March is National Reading Month? What a great time to share your love and passion for reading! Hope everyone had the opportunity to celebrate 'Read Across America Day' on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Let's keep this going! Read new books this month or go back to old ones you love, but haven't read in a while. Read to your children everyday and share a good book with a friend.

Here's another challenge! We all have friends who, for whatever reason, do not read. Introduce them to the wonderful world of books!! I challenge you to entice at least one of these friends to read a book you've selected and post a comment on the Avid Readers Unite fan page, letting us know what they thought of it. Let's go, Avid Readers! WE LOVE BOOKS!!

Blog Update

It's been a while since I've actually posted to this blog. Hopefully, all of my blog followers have joined the Avid Readers unite fan page on facebook. If not, you're missing out on some really good recommendations. I've been having a blast this year reading some unforgettable books. We have alot going on this year. First, the 25 book a year challenge. Some of our readers are already very close to meeting this goal with only 2 months into the new year. Wow!! If you read at a slower pace,don't let that intimidate you. Set your own goal and post the title after each read. We just love to talk about books!

Second, we choose a book each month for discussion. This month is 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' by Jamie Ford. Last month was 'Water for Elephants'. If you've read it, stop by the page and let us know your thoughts. Books are chosen by suggestions from fans. Have your say and post a book from your tbr list. Any book! One of my goals is to expose our readers to books outside of their normal genre. You'll be surprised of the outcome.

Third, I've set a personal goal to read at least one classic each month. I started with 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger. Ok read, but I'm sure I would've enjoyed it more as a teenager. Then there was 'Jane Eyre' and 'Lolita'. Both were good books but I can hardly call them one of my favorites. This month I'm reading 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Looking for something like, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' and 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'. Is 'The Color Purple' a classic? That leads me to this question, "What do you consider a classic book?" How old does a book have to be to meet the criteria?

Also, stay tuned for more information on Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon scheduled for April 10, 2010. We're going to have so much fun! To find out more, visit http://24hourreadathon.com/. I'll keep you posted on what ARU has planned for this event.

Lastly, each year I celebrate Banned Books Week during the last week of September. It's the only national celebration of the freedom to read. More than a thousand books have been added since 1982 and more are added each year. You'll be amazed at what titles you'll find on that list! Hope you'll join me.

See you on the fan page!

'So Many Books, Not Enough Time!'

‘So many books, not enough time!’ I’m sure I share this feeling with thousands of avid readers out there. Just as fast as I remove a book from my ‘to read’ list, three books are added. Reluctantly, I’ve accepted the fact that I will never reach the end of my list. And with the hundreds of thousands of books published each year, there is absolutely no way possible I can read all of them. With this acceptance comes my ability to slow down, relax and completely enjoy the experience of every book I read.

Reading is my passion, which is why I stay up late at night, and why I carry a book everywhere I go, hoping for a quiet moment to open it. Most importantly, it is why I started this blog. Lately, I’ve read some amazing books, many thanks to the followers and fans of ‘Avid Readers Unite’. Connecting with people, who share your passion, truly intensifies your experience.

I’ve decided to share a fraction of my ‘to read’ list with you and invite you to share a fraction of yours. Here goes:

The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Shack by William Young
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
Ahab’s Wife by Sena Naslund
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Sold by Patricia McCormick
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris
The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

As a reminder, Eat, Pray, Love’ by Elizabeth Gilbert will be discussed this month on our Facebook fan page. And, the Nov. book selection has not yet been chosen; I want to hear from you! Happy Reading!!

Time is running out!

Only 5 more days til the beginning of Banned Books Week. By now, you should have chosen your banned or challenged book in hopes of completing it by 3 Oct. This awareness campaign celebrates the freedom of choice and focuses on the need to make every book publicly available so that we can develop our own opinions. It has been a tradition since 1982! Let's continue to support it and bring awareness to the power of literature. I am finishing up 'Blood Done Sign My Name' and will probably only have time for one more before the celebration ends; I've decided to read 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Let us know what you've chosen.

Happy Reading...

Only 13 More Days Left..

13 more days til Banned Books Week! Whose taking the banned books challenge! In recognition of this celebration, thus far I've read 'The Kite Runner', 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'Push'. The next banned book on my list is 'Blood Done Sign My Name' by Timothy Tyson. Other banned book choices include: 'The Color Purple', Native Son, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 'Harry Potter' (the entire series), 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret', and 'Of Mice and Men'. What banned book are you reading?

'Push'

'Push' by Sapphire had to be one of the most challenging books I've ever read. I have to warn you, this book is not for everyone. Narrated by Precious, a young girl who is sexally abused by her mother and father, the book's descriptions and language are so raw and vivid, I could hardly get through it.

By the age of twelve, Precious has her first baby by her father. This baby, a daughter, is born with Down Syndrome and is immediately given to her grandmother. Although it is no secret that Precious is being molested, the abuse continues and by the age of sixteen, Precious is pregnant again. Unable to read or write, despite making passing grades at school, she is determined more than ever to make changes in her life and be a good mother. Unfortunately, Precious is expelled from school when it becomes apparent that she is pregnant. When the opportunity arises for her to attend an alternative school and work towards a GED, she jump at the chance. It is there she meets Mrs. Rain who teaches her to read and write and guides her in the direction of a new life.

Precious eventally gives birth to a baby boy whom she names Abdul. Torn between taking care of Abdul and continuing her education at the alternative school, she is forced out of her mother's home when her mother finds out she is unable to get welfare due to Precious' confessions to a social worker. She spends the night in a shelter but subsequently gets help from Mrs Rain who gets her a room at a center for new and unwed mothers. Precious begins to see some improvement in her life but escaping her past proves to be impossible when she is tested for HIV after finding out from her mother that her father has died; she is positive but her children are not. With the help of Mrs Rain and friends she met at the alternative school, Precious continues to strive for a better life despite many obstacles in her way.

I cannot honestly say I truly enjoyed the book because it was just so disturbing. Throughout the story, you want so much for Precious to get a break and then the book ends with you really not knowing for certain if Precious eventually gets her GED, a job or her own place, although you want it for her so badly. I was also curious about whether or not her mother was HIV positive. Would love to get other reader's opinion on this book. Let me know what you thought of it.

Highly Recommended

If you have not read ‘A Virtuous Women’ by Kaye Gibbons, you are missing out on a great love story. I first read this book in 1998 and it is by far one of my favorites. It is not on the banned books list, but I highly recommend it.

Beautifully written, ‘A Virtuous Women’, is the quiet love story of Ruby Pitt Woodrow, daughter of a rich farmer, and Jack Stokes, a tenant farmer. At first they seem an unlikely match, Ruby, although 20 years younger than Jack, is already widowed. Jack, unattractive and unsuccessful, has never been married; both have had tough lives. Ruby is alienated from her parents due to her brief marriage prior to Jack, which was a disaster. She is working as a maid when she meets Jack. Together they find, if not what they were looking for, a sense of completeness. Early in the book, we know that Ruby dies from lung cancer and Jack is completely lost without her. Short and powerful read; an avid reader could finish it in one sitting. Be sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby, it will definitely move you to tears.

Although I haven’t yet read it, Kaye Gibbons is the author of another book with great reviews and it’s also on my list of books to read—‘Charms for the Easy Life’. Yes, I’m trying to make your ‘to read’ list as long as mine. :~)

The observance of Banned Books Week is a good excuse to pick up the highly acclaimed autobiography of Maya Angelou, ‘I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing’. Not that you need an excuse, this is definitely a must read.

At age three, Maya and her brother are sent to Stamps, AR to live with her grandmother after her parents are divorced. It is there that she experiences the horrors of racism and begins to lose her self-confidence. At age eight, she reunites with her mother in St. Louis but is sexually abused by her mother’s live-in boyfriend. At one point, she runs away and lives on the street and sleeps in cars. Finally, following a pregnancy at seventeen, she began to find her voice and is determined to become a strong woman and mother to her child. This is truly a rag to riches story that will keep you on edge ‘til the end.

Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange

“Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange” by Amanda Smith. Yet another book you will not be able to put down! This one is uniquely based in Trinidad and tells the story of 16 y/o Celia who lives with her aunt in Tobago; she grew up with her aunt because her father ran off to England after her mother died from childbirth. Celia always felt like she didn’t belong and to make matters worse, she has to deal with her “fresh” step-uncle, Roman, who “could crawl under a snakes belly on stilts”. Roman eventually rapes her and Celia runs away toward another aunt who lives in Paris of Spain. On her journey, she gets sidetracked by an illness that leads her to working as a nanny for a rich family. There, her life is soon complicated by strong sexual tension with her employer. Poor Celia just cannot seem to get a break. Because of her past abuse, she cannot make the right decisions and the move she made that started off uplifting, quickly turns ugly. A lot of twist and turns throughout the book and a very shocking ending.

‘Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange’ is currently not on the list of banned or challenged books, but be on the lookout for the published 2009 list, it’s bound to be on it.

Since I’ve already read ‘The Kite Runner’, I’m starting off my banned books challenge with ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. I realize that this is an old classic that many of you have already read. If so, feel free to discuss. Somehow, I missed it but I’m looking forward to catching up. Other must read classics on the list include “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Both are great books. Even if you’ve seen the movies, you will not be disappointed.

Only 41 days til Banned Books Week!!

A National Celebration!!

Perfect timing for our banned book challenge. September 26-October 3 is 'Banned Books Week'! This event takes place every year during the last week of September and celebrates our freedom to read. Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982. The challenges have occurred in every state and in hundreds of communities. People challenge books that they say are too sexual or too violent. They object to profanity and slang, and protest against offensive portrayals of racial or religious groups--or positive portrayals of homosexuals.

I've already posted five banned or challenged books on a previous post. Exercise your First Amendment rights--join us in reading as many banned books as possible by the end of Banned Books Week! I will post more titles periodically. If you find a banned book you're interested in reading that has not yet been posted, please share it with us. Also, let us know if you are having problems locating any of these books.

45 more days until Banned Books Week! Let's get started!!

Whose up for the Book Ban Challenge?

While scanning through the list of banned books, I realized that many of my personal favorites have been challenged. If you're up for the challenge, join 'Avid Readers Unite' in reading some of these books. There are so many on the list, it would take forever to read them all. But, I chose a few to get us started:

'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini
'The Catcher in the Rye' by JD Salinger
'The Chocolate War' by Robert Cormier
'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov
'Black Boy' by Richard Wright

As a reminder, although not on the book ban list, our book selection for the month of August is 'The Note' by Angela Hunt.

Here's an interesting fact:

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level, "Animals should not use human language."

Happy Reading Avid Readers!

Should certain books be banned?

Check out this recent article from 'The Huffington Post' and let me know what you think:


NEW YORK — Not everybody loves "The Kite Runner."
Khaled Hosseini's million-selling novel about friendship and betrayal between two Afghan boys, a book club favorite that became a feature film, was among the releases mostly likely to inspire complaints last year from parents, educators and others, the American Library Association announced Thursday.

"The Kite Runner," which includes a rape scene, has been criticized for offensive language and sexual content. A parent in Champaign, Ill., and a school board official in Morganton, N.C., were among those who challenged "The Kite Runner" last year.

The ALA listed 513 challenges last year, an increase of 93 from 2007, but well below the levels of 700 and higher in the 1990s. The ALA defines a challenge as a "formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness."

For every challenge tallied, about four or five end up unreported, according to the ALA.
For the third year in a row, the most challenged book was "And Tango Makes Three," Justin Richardson's and Peter Parnell's award-winning picture story about two male penguins who become parents. "Tango" was cited for being anti-family, pro-gay and anti-religion.
Also high on the list were Philip Pullman's "Dark Materials" trilogy (complaints for being violent and anti-religious), Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girls" series (language, sexually explicit), Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories" (violence, occultism) and Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (drugs, suicide, nudity, language).

ALA spokeswoman Macey Morales said that books were actually pulled at least 74 times last year. Those removed included Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (refers to masturbation), Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" (sexually explicit) and Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down" (profanity).

In the fall, the library association will co-sponsor the 28th annual "Banned Books Week," a nationwide program founded in 1982 that highlights banned and challenged books. Thursday's list was released just days after "Banned Book Weeks" founder Judith Krug died of cancer at age 69.

'The Kite Runner'

Just finished reading ‘The Kite Runner’. By the time I got to the end of the book, I was so connected and concerned about the characters, I wanted the story to go on and on. A tale of friendship, family, betrayal and redemption set in the midst of the invasion of Afghanistan. The author is really raw and vivid in his descriptions of the Afghan struggles---it will bring the strongest to tears. Can’t stop talking about this book. I wish all of my friends would read it.

What are you reading now?

Most of my books are chosen from recommendations of friends. Avid Readers would like to know what you are currently reading.