Cynthia Varady's Blog, page 3

Book Launch Update!

Hello lovely readers! Here’s a quick book launch update.

The results are in for the book cover contest!

It was a close race with three covers leading. The fourth, well, I won’t single out the loser here. That would be unkind. Let’s just say that everyone did a great job, and of the three leaders, one stood out as the clear winner.

While none of the covers were perfect, we took all criticism seriously and reworked the winning cover to have better overall readability as a thumbnail, as this will be the way most readers happen across the book.

Without further ado…

Drum roll…

Bam! Here it is. The future cover for The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost!

If you’d like to check out the covers that almost made it, you can follow the link to the original contest.

To learn more about The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost, head to the book info page here.

Here you’ll find links to purchase a pre-order.

If you’d like to receive updates, subscribe to the blog or sign up for my mailing list.

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Strange Sayings and Their Meanings

American culture is dynamic and, at times, hard to define. It’s a quintessential “melting pot” where peoples of varying nationalities and ethnicities blend together, for the most part (no matter how melted the pot, there will always be lumps in need of sieving). Much like American culture, the English we speak is cobbled together from no less than six languages.

Beginning with Germanic roots brought when invading tribes (the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes) turned up on the shores of Britain in the fifth century from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany, English went on to borrow from Latin, Ancient Greek, French (brought over by William the Conqueror which became the language of the Royal court), and later more German and then Spanish with the expansion into the western states that were once part of Mexico (What is English?, n.d.). This amalgamate naturally lends itself to some very colorful idiomatic expressions and slang.

We all use idiomatic expressions, and while we loosely understand their meaning, their origins usually aren’t discernable at face value. Here are a few expressions I have been particularly curious about.

All hat and no cattle

Meaning: A boastful or pretentious person. Someone who talks big, but can’t deliver.

Use: Mr. Gent’s boastful manner left me wondering if he was all hat and no cattle.

Origin: The saying was first found in print in the March 1944 edition of Agricultural Leaders’ Digest where an Indigenous dude ranch worker refers to city slicker as, “Big hat, no cattle” (American Agricultural Services, p. xiii; Popik, 2006). Historians attribute the saying to the state of Texas.

This colorful expression has got to be one of my favorites. It’s right up there with, “I remember when you were knee-high to a grasshopper!” Which translates to, “I’ve known you since you were just a baby.” Man, I love English!

Get your goat

Meaning: to allow someone to irritate you.

Use: Sally knew she shouldn’t let Bill get to her, but every time he came around, his teasing ended up getting her goat.

Origin: According to The Phrase Finder, the saying first appears in print in the U.S. book Life in Sing Sing (1904) where the word goat has the slang meaning for anger. Sure, goats are precocious and stubborn, but angry? Not really. The common consensus is that historically, horse trainers used goats to calm other animals, particularly racehorses. While no one can confirm this assertion, trainers still use goats today to calm high-strung thoroughbreds before a race (Winters, 1996). The idea is a nefarious person would remove the beloved goat from the horse’s paddock, causing the racer such strain they would underperform, losing the race.

This is another expression close to my heart. I love the idea of someone dressed like Carman San Diego sneaking into a paddock to steal people’s metaphorical PTSD service pets.

Off the cuff

Meaning: To give a speech without practicing. Off the top of one’s head.

Use: There he goes again, completely unprepared and off the cuff.

Origin: According to the Language Log entry filed by Marc Liberman, historians traced the expression to the use of disposable, paper cuffs worn by men in the 1870s. These men then wrote notes on them for use in public talks. However, the use of such paper cuffs was long out of style by the time the OED first cited the saying from the New York Panorama in 1938. To Liberman, the gap in dates has four possible explanations: first, the use of paper cuffs didn’t completely die out in the 1900s, but continued much later among a select few. Second, certain professionals continued jotting notes on their cuffs long after they were no longer disposable. Third, the saying, born in the 1870s, stayed out of print until the 1930s. And fourth, the saying was created long after the practice died out. Whatever the reason, the language nerd in me loves this!

I didn’t think much of this expression before I started reading up on it, but now I think it’s amazing. I just love how knowledge provides a greater appreciation for the little things.

Living the Life of Riley

Meaning: An easy and contented life.

Use: He was a privileged lad, living the life of Riley.

Origin: This phrase has its roots in Irish-American communities before the First World War. While historians don’t think Riley was a living person (there is no documentation leading us to anyone in particular), they believe Riley became a generic term referring to the Irish. But that doesn’t explain why Riley got the gig (Martin, n.d.). However, there are two possible explanations for the name choice.

In the early 1880s, two songs became popular, each depicting a rich man named Mr. Reilly living the good life. The first is the incredibly racist, Is That Mr. Reilly? which the Irish-American singer, Patrick Rooney popularized (Martin, n.d.; Mooney, 2015). The second title, The Best in the House Is None Too Good for Mr. Reilly details the extravagant life of the wealthy Reilly (Martin, n.d.).

Considering how long this expression has been around, I had managed to avoid hearing it until recently. From the context of the conversation, I could deduce what it meant, but I asked for clarification just to make sure. It’s easy to imagine why I was curious as to the origins of this saying. Who is Riley, and why is he so damned lucky?

Fronting or to front

Meaning: To confront aggressively, to lie.

Use: Why you frotin’?

Origin: This gem has its roots in the 1800s when pickpockets would use a front to distract the mark while the cutpurse lifted said victim’s wallet or other items of value. Later, the term morphed into any illegal activity until the 1960s when it shifted again, this time for much more hardened crimes, usually of the organized variety. Later still, a front became associated with cons, such as street cons like the shell game (A Way With Words, 2010).

Then, enter the hip-hop scene of the 1980s. Now the criminal element begins to fall away and to front means to posture or to put on a show. Similarly, someone who is all hat and no cattle would be fronting. Usually reserved for circles of young men where genuine emotions are a virtue (A Way With Words).

Fast forward to the 2000s, and to front simply means to lie (A Way With Words).
Talk about the beauty of the evolution of language. I love it! It reminds me a little of how those summertime shoes with the cord that fits between your first and second toes were once called thongs. Ask your parents. They’ll know.

So there you go. Five idiomatic expressions and their origins. If you enjoyed this post, or have a word or saying you would like to know more about, and would rather someone else do the legwork, leave a comment below. I enjoyed researching this post so much, I would love to do more in the future.

References

A Way With Words (2010). Slang Term “Fronting”. http://www.waywordradio.org/slang-term-fronting/

American Agricultural Services (1944). Agricultural Leaders’ Digest; (v. 24-25, 1944), p. xiii. http://tinyurl.com/zrvrqnr

Liberman, Marc (2012). Off the Cuff. Language Log. http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4130

Martin, Gary (n.d.). Living the Living of Rielly. Phrase Finder. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-life-of-riley.html

Mooney, Jennifer (2015). Irish Stereotypes in Vaudeville 1865-1905. Palgrave Macmillan. From Google Books: http://tinyurl.com/gobxw9n

The Phrase Finder. The meaning and origin of the expression: Get your goat. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/get-your-goat.html

Popik, Barry, (2006). “All hat and no cattle.” http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/big_hat_no_cattle/

What is English? History of the English Language. https://www.englishclub.com/english-language-history.htm

Winter, Christine (1996). Stable Goats Help Calm Skittish Thoroughbreds. Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-08-01/news/9608010109_1_goat-horse-high-strung-thoroughbreds

Images

All Hat and No Cattle by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Got your Goat by SF from Pixabay

Off the Cuff by Irina L from Pixabay

Living the Life of Riley itay verchik from Pixabay

Fronting by jorgophotography from Pixabay

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Our Remarkable Journey with Coyote Sunrise

A Great Year for Books

2023 has been filled with great books. Most nights I read aloud to my ten-year-old son. Sometimes I use that precious reading/bonding time to dive into books I missed reading as a kid. This year we tackled Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and A Christmas Caroll by Charles Dickins. The latter tripped us up with language and old-timey references. However, Stevenson’s narrative of young Jim Hawkins searching for buried pirate treasure surprised me. Despite having written the story in 1883, Stevenson’s story is remarkably fresh and modern. Stevenson wrote the novel for his stepson, and his understanding of children is apparent. My son listened with rapt attention to a story written over a hundred years ago, asking questions as pivotal points, and worrying over Jim after he shoots a pirate.

Coyote Sunrise and Pax, Journey Home

Most recently we finished reading The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart which came hot off the heels of Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker. We’ve been doing a lot of reading with the Portland Public School teacher strike. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have picked such sad and emotion-filled books to read in a row. Coyote Sunrise gave me the feels something harsh. Reading aloud with tears in your voice is not easy. At points, my son resorted to fanning my face so I could carry on. However, it did lead to powerful discussions as to how people process life-changing grief differently.

Grief, Loss, and Families as Themes

For instance, in Pax, Peter pushes everyone away, terrified that harm might come to them, or to himself, which will cause more suffering. Peter thinks that if he goes through life alone, he can avoid getting hurt again; if he doesn’t love anyone, his heart won’t get broken again. Yet, Peter misses the fact that by running from love, he is keeping his wounded soul from healing. Peter is angry and unable to process his feelings. He’s stuck in a pattern of mentally abusing himself as a means of paying penance for what he did to Pax. It isn’t until he’s faced with a choice that sets him apart from the men in his life that Peter has a revelation; family can be chosen and is necessary love.

On the other hand, in Coyote Sunrise, Rodeo is running from his past, in a literal fashion. Instead of going back to the scene of the crime, so to speak, as Peter does in Pax, Rodeo and Cyotee reinvent themselves and live a nomadic life. They change their names and change their relationship to one another. Rodeo no longer identifies as Coyote’s father but as her partner in crime. They live out of a converted school bus. No friends or family. No constraints or worries. Total freedom. At least that’s what Rodeo keeps telling himself, but Coyote knows the truth. She’s lonely and wants roots, but she can’t mention that to Rodeo. He’s broken, and she knows it. If she broaches any ‘no-go’ subjects, the facade of their happy life will shatter, and Rodeo along with them.

Only after Coyotee smuggles Ivan onboard Yeger (their intrepid bus) does she realize what’s been missing in her life. Sure, she has Rodoe, but in gaining Rodoe and their life on the road, she has lost something key to a happy childhood; friendship. She has family, in a manner of speaking. She has her grandmother whom she speaks to weekly over the phone, and Rodeo, who is technically her dad but operates more like a comrade than a parent. Coyote, like Peter, learns that we gather family as we live. Family isn’t just what we’re born into, it’s who we choose to keep around.

An Ode to Coyote

My son and I were so taken with the Coyote’s remarkable journey, that we went through the study questions in the back, diving deeper into what the book meant to us. Coyote’s story inspired my son to draw some of the characters. He claimed to have trouble with Salvador because he has short hair, and that’s harder to draw than long hair. He’s an artist, so I will defer to his expertise. I am particularly proud of his interpretation of Coyote, Ivan, and Gladys, but all of them are fantastic in my humble opinion

Coyote SunriseThe One and Only IvanRodeoLesterEsperanza VegaValGladys

While my son loves art, he hasn’t been into drawing lately. He’s always happiest when he’s creating, but getting him inspired can be challenging. It’s that ADHD brain, always chasing dopamine.

With the teacher strike still in full swing, we’ve been limiting his screen time, which has immensely improved his impulsive behaviors. I will happily read aloud until my throat bleeds as long as it inspires my son to create and the books are as good as Coyote Sunrise.

Out Next Reading Trek

In homage to Coyote, our next book is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, which just happens to be sitting on our shelf waiting. It’s Coyote’s favorite book and the namesake of her beloved blue-eyed cat Ivan. It’s a story about a gorilla, Ivan, who lives in a mall-turned-circus with Stella the elephant, a dog, and various parrots and birds. It also happens to be a true story. I’m sure The One and Only Ivan brings a lighthearted, and romp-filled spin to the story (insert dripping sarcasm here). Nothing like a guy who collected wild animals ripped from their family units to get a laugh. I have a feeling any book about large, wild, majestic animals kept in a mall is anything but rompy.

Stay in Tune with Your Kids Through Books

If you haven’t read to your child recently, consider picking up the habit again. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to spend time with your kid. if they feel too old for a read-aloud, ask them if you can read a book together, and let them choose the book. And accept their choice with enthusiasm and gusto, even if you have to fake it.

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What Not to Say to a Parent of a Child With a Speech Delay

Being a parent is filled with anticipation–anticipation for your child to stand on their own, take their first steps, and utter their first words. Yet, for about one-quarter of all children, those first words fail to come, or worse, they come and then quickly disappear.

Lack of speech development in a child is frustrating for both parents and children. Having thoughts and desires that can’t be expressed can lead to temper tantrums, violence in the form of hitting and biting, and self-harm. It’s not pretty. So, when someone from the outside tries to give struggling parents reasons for their child’s speech delay, it can feel like the blame is being laid on the parents or the child, which is insensitive and wrong.

Here is a short list of things to never say to a parent of a child with a speech delay. Talk to your child more.

How did you know I stuff my child in the closet with earmuffs on when no one’s around? That must be why he’s not speaking yet. Why didn’t I think of that? To assume a parent doesn’t speak to their child is horrible, and they’re terrible people for even thinking such a thing.

You need to read to them.

I often wonder about this comment. Millions of people can’t read and write, and they speak just fine. The bigger point, so do their kids. I get that pointing out objects and relaying their names to one’s child helps build vocabulary, but to tell a parent that reading more to their child will fix their little one’s speech delay is maddening and incorrect. My child has a bigger library than I do, and I’m a librarian.

Anything anecdotal.

“My friend taught her son/daughter to sign, and they didn’t talk until they were three,” said an unhelpful parent to me more than once. There is no proof that teaching your child to sign before they possess the ability to speak causes speech delays. There’s more research that states teaching children to sign before they can talk raises their IQ as well as bolsters their cognitive abilities. If you don’t have a peer-reviewed study to back up your claim, please keep it to yourself.

It’s because you and his siblings talk for him, so he never gets to practice.

I love how strangers think they know what goes on in my home. Maybe I should be paranoid about people watching me on my webcam when it’s not switched on. Apparently, they know how I finish all of my child’s sentences for him, so he never gets a chance to speak for himself.

Boys talk later than girls.

Communication for boys may indeed come more slowly than it does for girls. But that doesn’t mean boys wait six months or a year longer to start talking. Boys reach speech milestones at the same time girls do. To say that someone’s toddler isn’t talking yet because they’re a boy can give parents a false sense of security when they should be seeking out speech therapy.

It’s because they’re bilingual.

ENHHH! Wrong again! Thanks for playing. Much like children who are taught to sign, kids who have two or more native languages process speech at the same rate as monolingual children. Much like teaching your child to sign, bilingualism can make children better learners later in life.

Instead of spouting off some misconception you heard at your gym about speech delays when hanging out with a parent of a speech-delayed child, try to be empathetic towards their situation. How would you feel if your child was unable to process language the way it seems to come naturally to other kids? Be understanding and patient if your child lashes out at a playdate because they can’t make themselves understood. If you spend regular amounts of time with a speech-delayed child who knows sign language as a means of communication, learn a few signs yourself. Trust me, when a parent of a speech-delayed child knows you took the time to try to communicate with their kid, they will know you are a true friend.

Author’s Note

My son didn’t speak until nearly three and a half, and even then, it was like trying to pull a mule up an erupting volcano. For all the “helpful” and “be a better parent” innuendos, it turned out that my son did have a significant speech delay and needed interventions. Part of this delay is attributed to an articulation issue with his tongue. He also has trouble processing verbal directions and it can take him nearly a minute to respond. The articulation issues are linked to his sensory processing disorder which is linked to autism and ADHD, both of which affect him socially.

My kiddo is now ten and has made leaps and bounds toward his communication goals, or rather, our goals. If it takes a village to raise a neurotypical child, it takes a village and then some to have a non-neurotypical child thrive. He still goes to speech therapy twice a week along with social groups to help him regulate his emotions. Communication is hard for the most well-adapted of us. Now try doing that when you don’t get vocal nuisance, turn or phrases, or facial expressions. Life doesn’t need to be that hard.

If you suspect a developmental delay with your child, know that you are not alone. There are millions of families out there in the trenches with you. Please talk to your doctor about your concerns. Hopefully, it will turn out to be nothing, but there is a real reason for concern, it is your job as their parent to advocate for them. There is no shame in having a child who needs help and services.

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Help Me Choose a Book Cover!

Hey all. As I gear up to launch the first book in my Pandimonium Cozy Mystery series, The Girl with the Uninvited Ghost, I need your help. I have four wonderful book covers, but I’m having a hard time choosing one for the launch of the ebook. I want to know what you think.

If you have suggestions/feedback for any of the covers, please leave them in the comments.

Submit a form.

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Uncle Bobby’s Wedding | Banned Book Project

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding Author/Illustrator

Sarah S. Brannen wrote and illustrated the first printing of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding in 2008 by G. P. Puttnam’s Sons

Illustrator

Lucia Soto illustrated the 2020 publication of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Little Bee Books

Synopsis

Chloe’s favorite uncle is getting married, and she’s not happy about it. But after a magical day with Uncle Bobby and his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe realizes she’s not losing an uncle, but gaining one. Selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best picture books of 2020 and by the American Library Association as a 2021 Rainbow Book List title, celebrate family with this gorgeous picture book. — From Simon and Shuster

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding made the ALA’s top 100 most banned book list of 2020 coming in at #99.

Awards2020 – Inclusive Storytime – Best of 2020, Future Classic2020 – Kirkus Review – Best Books of the Year2020 – New England Book Awards Finalist2021 – American Library Association – Rainbow List2021 – Book Trust – 100 best books for children from the past 100 years2021 – Bank Street –  Best Books of the Year listChallenges and Banns

2009 – Castle Rock, Colorado – A patron of the Douglass County Libraries challenged Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, requesting it be removed from circulation or placed in an area or labeled “some material may be inappropriate for younger children.”

2012 – Brentwood, Missouri – Challenged by a patron who objected to the book’s content at the Brentwood Public Library, stating that the book “contained illegal activity,” meaning gay marriage. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding was retained via a unanimous board decision. After the library board’s decision, they invited the complainant to address the decision, which he did:

“This book seeks to influence young children to accept an activity that is illegal (homosexual marriage), and a lifestyle that is well-documented to be harmful to one’s physical and emotional well-being.”

National Coalition Against Censorship, 2023

2021 – Omaha, Nebraska – The taxpayer group at Omaha Public Schools objected to the use of public funds to purchase books they felt were inappropriate for children. The book was picked out for its queer content while other books covering the topics of immigration, gender identity, race, social justice, military deployment, religion, foster care, and a myriad of other topics.

2021 – Victoria, Texas – Patrons of the Victoria County Library filed complaints against 44 LGBTQIA titles, including Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, requesting the removal of these books from library shelves. The group then took their complaints to the County Commissioner who rents the building to the library. The commissioner sided with the aggrieved patrons and set the stipulation that if the city and the patrons didn’t come to an agreement, the library would have to find a new building. Victoria Mayor Jeff Bauknight told TIME Magazine that he ordered the library to create new guidelines for acquiring materials that included no “pornography or obscene materials” for patrons under the age of 17 or the city council would freeze their budget. Mayor Bauknight later walked back his statement, citing that removing books would violate citizens’ First Amendment rights and they didn’t want to target or single out LGBTQIA materials. The 44 titles were kept on library shelves.

2021 – Bucks County, Pennsylvania – Pennridge School District sent out a memo to its schools requesting all books addressing gender identity be removed from the school library shelves. In December a memo sent out by the district told schools that materials would be reviewed for “sensitive topics involving foul language, intense violence, gender identity, and graphic sexual content.”Earlier that year, Pennridge removed its Inclusivity and Diversity Initiatives.

2022 – Centralia, Washington – Patrons at the Centralia Public Library requested four books displayed in the new book section be removed so that no children under the age of 13 could access them. The titles included Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, Jack (Not Jackie), by Erica Silverman; My Awesome Brother, by Lise’ Frances; and Pink is for Boys, by Robb Pearlman.

2022 –  Escambia County School District, Florida – In September, an Escambia County School District teacher filed a complaint against 100 titles in the district’s libraries. The complaint requested that the books be placed in a restricted area where students would first have to gain parental consent before checking them out. The district later voted to remove ten of the titles. Over the preceding year, nearly 200 titles total have been targeted for restriction or removal from the district’s schools. My Uncle Boby’s Wedding was one of the picture books targeted. A lawsuit brought by the author and publishers is ongoing.

2023 – Crawford County, Arkansas – A group calling itself River Valley City Elders complained at a city council meeting about an LGBTQIA display at Crawford County Library System Main Library in Van Bure. Tami Mahby, an outspoken opponent of the books in question won a seat on the library board. Several titles about gender, LGBTQIA, and sex, including Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, were placed in the adult section under age restriction.

2023 – Rockville, Maryland – Protesters for and against a revised Montgomery County Public School gathered outside the MCPS headquarters in Rockville. The revised opt-out rule removes the need for parental consent to read books containing LGBTQIA content:

“MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community. […] Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students…..Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than ‘Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction,’ which is specifically permitted by Maryland law. As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future.”

MPCS Inclusivity Guidance, 2023

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding is one of the books at the center of the debate.

References

Carlisle, Madeleine (2022). “Public Libraries Face Threats to Funding and Collections as Book Bans Surge.” TIME. https://time.com/6211350/public-libraries-book-bans/

Centralia Public Library. “Parents Concerned About Book Choices at Centralia Public Library.” September 2022 News Letter. https://kxeo.com/2022/09/15/parents-concerned-about-book-choices-at-centralia-public-library/

DeLaura, Cat (2021). “Victoria library board to address controversial books at public meeting.” Victoria Avdocate. https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/government/victoria-library-board-to-address-controversial-books-at-public-meeting/article_56af43da-4724-11ec-908a-cfdcf726daa5.html

Espeu, Em (2023). “Protesters converge on MCPS headquarters over LGBTQ+ book opt-out.” MoCo360. https://moco360.media/2023/06/06/protesters-converge-on-mcps-headquarters-over-lgbtq-book-opt-out/

Lenora, Josie, (2023). “Crawford County officials, residents debate LGBTQ books in library children’s section.” Little Rock Public Radio. https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-15/crawford-county-officials-residents-debate-lgbtq-books-in-library-childrens-section

Marshall Libraries. “Banned Books 2013 – ‘Uncle Bobby’s Wedding’.” https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/uncle-bobbys-wedding/

Master, Brian (2021). “Nebraska taxpayer group says new books at OPS are ‘extremely objectionable’.” 6 News, WOWT. https://www.wowt.com/2021/11/01/nebraska-taxpayer-group-says-new-books-ops-are-extremely-objectionable/

O’Connor, Acacia (2012). “UNCLE BOBBY’S WEDDING” WILL STAY IN MISSOURI LIBRARY. National Coalition Against Censorship. https://ncac.org/news/blog/uncle-bobbys-wedding-will-stay-in-missouri-library

Pen America, (2023). Pen America v. Book Bans ‘PEN AMERICA V. ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.’ https://pen.org/pen-america-v-escambia-county/

Rizzo, Emily (2021). “As a Bucks County school district removes LGBTQ books from libraries, families and faculty fear for civil rights.” Keystone Crossroads. https://whyy.org/articles/as-a-bucks-county-school-district-removes-lgbtq-books-from-libraries-families-and-faculty-fear-for-civil-rights/

Seibel, Adam (2022). “Mayor Jeff Bauknight says books in question at Victoria Public Library will not be removed.” 25 News Now. https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/local-news/mayor-jeff-bauknight-says-books-in-question-at-victoria-public-library-will-not-be-removed/article_de06a79a-4ed4-5ddf-a4b2-fd42eab1bec8.html

Simon and Shuster. “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” book page. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Uncle-Bobbys-Wedding/Sarah-S-Brannen/Uncle-Bobby

Stores, Teresa (2009). “‘Uncle Bobby’s Wedding’ by Sarah Brannen.” LAMBDALiterary. https://lambdaliterary.org/2009/06/uncle-bobbys-wedding-sarah-s-brannen/

Williams, Maren (2012). Challenge to “UNCLE BOBBY’S WEDDING Rejected in Missouri.” Comic Book League Defense Fund. https://cbldf.org/2012/11/challenge-to-uncle-bobbys-wedding-rejected-in-missouri/

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The Giftschrank

An illustration for a giftschrank holding pharmaceuticals.

In honor of Banned Book Week, I wanted to take a brief look at a particular type of library censorship, the Giftschrank.

Censorship has been with us as long as there have been people in power who wish to squelch the voice of subversives. From banning dances to limiting what people can wear to eradicating materials and cultures with the burning of books and librarians, censorship takes on many different forms. But what if you wanted to keep visual works, particularly those in the written form, from the general public but still have them available in order to argue against them? What would you do then? Look no further than the Giftschrank.

What is a Giftschrank?

A German compound word stemming from a mixture of ‘poison’ and ‘cabinet’, traditionally Giftschränkeare (the plural of Giftschrank) housed controlled substances in pharmacies and hospitals. Colloquially, libraries, archives, and museums use the term for an area where items of a questionable nature are housed. Usually, a secret reading room is off-limits to the general public, and only those with special, scholarly permission can gain access.

I Read Banned Books Bumper Sticker
by AllThatGlittersIsProse A member of the SA throws confiscated books into the bonfire during the public burning of “un-German” books on the Opernplatz in Berlin.

Shortly after the fall of the Nazi regime in 1945, Mine Kampf (My Struggle) by Adolph Hitler was top on the list of books the Allies didn’t want floating around, but they also didn’t want to destroy copies with a trial by fire as the Third Riche had done. The answer: A Giftschrank.

How the Giftschrank Works

While the internet has made it easier for the public to access works deemed unsuitable by governments, Giftschränkeare are still used in various countries. Although they might not go by the term giftschrank. In most Western countries, we call our book prisons ‘retracted access’, and this censorship usually pertains to underage patrons. While the works kept in these prisons change with society (as we move forward, certain items become less risqué and get removed from behind bars), censorship, in one form or another, is found in almost every library.

The Giftschrank has been around since the 1580s (thank you 99% Invisible for your diligent research) and is probably here to stay, but perhaps it will one day return to its original meaning and simply be a place where we lock up morphine instead of ideas.

I’m Silently Correcting Your Grammar Cat Mug
by AllThatGlittersIsProseFurther Reader & Sources

99% Invisible http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-giftschrank/

Nazi Book Burning: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings

Giftschrank: German Wiki https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giftschrank

Dangerous books behind lock and key: Exploring Australia’s hidden library collections http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-16/australias-hidden-library-collections-restricted-giftschrank/7415768

ALA: Banned Book Week http://www.ala.org/bbooks/

Photo credits

Featured Image: Books behind bars… by Miranda Ward via Flickr Creative Commons License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

“Archiv der Pharmazie,” (1835-1923), page 318 via Internet Archive, Book Images Flickr Public Domain Image

Berlin Book Burning, May 10, 1933. U.S. National Archives (See also: http://www.ushmm.org/research/research-in-collections/search-the-collections/bibliography/1933-book-burnings), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1253020

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All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy | Banned Book Project

All the Pretty Horses (1992) Synopsis

All the Pretty Horses tells of young John Grady Cole, the last of a long line of Texas ranchers. Across the border, Mexico beckons—beautiful and desolate, rugged and cruelly civilized. With two companions, he sets off on an idyllic, sometimes comic adventure to a place where dreams are paid for in blood. — Goodreads

All the Pretty Horses is the first volume in Cormac McCarthy’s Border Trilogy.

Award Wins and Nominations

Winner, National Book Awards 1992 for Fiction.

Locations Challenged or Banned

Overland, Kansas: 2004 – Parents at the Blue Valley School System fought to remove 14 titles from five high school libraries and reading lists. Six hundred concerned citizens signed an online petition stating that the offending books didn’t comply with the school board’s policy that all materials be “absence of vulgar language, sexual explicitness or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed.” The challenged list of books included, The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams, The Awakening, The Bean Trees, Beloved, Black Boy, FallenAngels, Hot Zone, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lords of Discipline, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Song of Solomon, Stotan, This Boy’s Life.

Reasons for Challenge or Ban

Sexual content, profanity, violence

References

Education Reporter, March 2003, p. 3. “Kansas Parents Organize to Improve High School Reading Lists.” https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2005_3-March-EdReporter.pdf

National Book Foundation. 1992 Winners. https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-1992/

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The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver | Banned Book Project

The Bean Trees (1988) Synopsis:

Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle. She must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and discovering surprising resources in apparently empty places.

Locations Challenged or Banned:

Overland Park, Kansas: 2004 – Parents at the Blue Valley School System fought to remove 14 titles from five high school libraries and reading lists. 600 concerned citizens signed an online petition stating that the offending books didn’t comply with the school board’s policy that all materials be “absence of vulgar language, sexual explicitness or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed.” The challenged list of books included, All the Pretty Horses, Animal Dreams, The Awakening, The Bean Trees, Beloved, Black Boy, FallenAngels, Hot Zone, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lords of Discipline, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Song of Solomon, Stotan, This Boy’s Life.

Valdosta, Georgia: 2005 – A concerned parent complained about adult situations and vulgar language to her child’s junior high school English teacher at Lowndes High School. The unidentified parent then filed a complaint with the school administration, rallying her friends and congregation at the Forrest Park Church of Christ. The Lowndes County School System Superintendent, Steve Smith, removed the book from the school reading list. Going further, Smith stated that the book violated the Lowndes School District’s code of conduct, and any student caught with the book on campus would be suspended.

North Richland Hill, Texas: 2008 – Birdsvill High School in the Irving Independent School District restricted access to the book from 9th grade to 11th grade for scenes of nudity, sexual content, and offensive to religious sensitivities.

Saugus, California: 2009 – Parents challenged the book as part of the William S. Hart Union High School District honors English required summer reading due to sexual scenes and vulgar language. Students were given the option to substitute the book.

Reasons for the Ban or Challenge:

Obscenity, poronagraphy, sexual content.

References:

American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (2009). “Free People Read Freely: The 13th Annual Report on Challenged and Banned Books in Texas Public Schools.” https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/bb2k9.pdf

Doyle, Robert, P. Books Banned or Challenged in 2009-2010. https://www.ila.org/initiatives/banned-books-week/books-challenged-or-banned-in-2009-2010

Education Reporter, March 2003, p. 3. “Kansas Parents Organize to Improve High School Reading Lists.” https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2005_3-March-EdReporter.pdf

Marshall LIbraries. Banned Books – 2010. The Bean Trees. https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/bean-trees/

Pope, Jessica. “Book raises ire of parent; ‘The Bean Trees’ off LHS required reading list.” Valdosta Times Daily, December 6, 2005. https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/book-raises-ire-of-parent-the-bean-trees-off-lhs-required-reading-list/article_b0a2fe78-9d88-5b67-aea9-fd781f7af663.html

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9 Ways To Ignite Your Creative Spark

For some, creativity is as natural as breathing. It seems as though their mug of creative juices sloshes over with great ideas. This group of people always seem able to come up with fresh ways of expressing themselves, and they finish projects like they’re on an assembly line. And then there’s the rest of us, the lowly prole slogging away at our first attempt at writing in over a decade or trying desperately to finish that first draft of our Great American Novel. Well, I have news for the second half of this grouping: creativity must be nurtured.

The first group, the naturals, we’ll call them, are always brimming over with ideas for new creative endeavors because they’re always creating. They are constantly exercising their muse muscles and, as a result, have an easier time than those of us who put off making art, whatever that art may be. This isn’t to say that they never have bad days and may be at a loss for words or get stuck in a slump. It’s just that it happens less when you create regularly.

If you are getting back into creating every day after a long hiatus, are trying it out for the first time, or perhaps you’re a seasoned author with a few books under your belt but would like to try something new, check out this list of creative exercises. Take what you want and leave the rest.

Take the Road Less Traveled

Breaking the monotony of autopilot in small ways can positively affect your creativity. By simply taking a new route to work, the grocery store, or on your daily walk, you can help shut off your autopilot, making you more aware of your surroundings and more present during these journeys. Besides walking or driving new routes, try brushing your teeth or eating with your non-dominate hand. While in the shower, soap yourself in a different order than usual, or if you carry a bag or purse, wear it on the other arm. It may seem silly, but you’d be surprised how much we operate out of habit. Doing the same thing daily will make you more efficient, but at a potential cost to your creative spark.

Set a Schedule and Stick to it

This is where that whole efficiency thing comes into play. By nature, humans are creatures of habit, so if you can get into a habit of working on your craft at the same time every day, you will be more productive and have less of an issue with superficial debris damming up your creative flow. Schedules don’t come easy to everyone, especially when you have to self-manage. Take it day by day, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you falter. Training yourself to do a new task regularly can take a great deal of work and perseverance, but it will pay off in the end.

Media, Media, Media

If you find yourself stuck, try other media. Read books, and watch TV and movies in your chosen genre. Go to an art show or museum. Listen to new bands. Take up a new hobby. Not a huge poetry fan? Try it anyhow. You never know what you might find. Just look at the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, which was inspired by Robert Browning’s poem, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came. A small note on the poetry thing: make sure you read good poetry. Bad poetry will make a newcomer never want to read another stanza. I suggest checking out the Poetry Foundation for links to poems that will knock your socks off.

Set Limitations on Your Work

This may seem strange, but giving yourself arbitrary boundaries can stimulate creativity. Try setting a precise word limit, either small or large, and stick to it. Write a series of 200-word flash fiction pieces. Set a goal to write 1,000 words a day, and stop as soon as you reach it. Try to write sentences devoid of a particular letter or where every word has to contain the same letter. If you paint, limit which colors you can use for a particular project. Work only in lines, dots, or pencil.

Allow Yourself to Daydream

Letting your mind wander is an excellent way of letting your imagination go nuts. Think about crazy things, impossible scenarios, and off-the-wall conversations. Let your mind visit the dark places you may fear to tread, the happy places, the silly, and the erotic. Have fun with it.

Carry a Notebook

We all know the creative impulse strikes when we least expect it, so carrying a small notebook in your bag, back pocket, or purse (along with a pen) will easily allow you to record these pieces of inspiration. Try recording yourself on your cell phone if you can’t find something to write with. You may sound and look like a crazy person, but who cares? This could be your magnum opus we’re talking about.

Color Outside the Lines

Break the rules of writing and grammar. Get experimental. Leave out punctuation, write in the vernacular, or tell a story from the point of view of inanimate objects. This idea may make your skin crawl. It may make you break out in hives. It may even make you a little queasy. If it does, all the more reason to get jiggy with it. Write a story about a toilet that abhors the sorority house it’s doomed to live in. You never know; it could be one of the funniest things you’ve ever written.

Use Prompts

A glut of websites and blogs provide daily creative prompts. If you ever find yourself in a creative slump, give one of these a try. Another route is to create prompts for yourself. Write a list of words, themes, or items on slips of paper, drop them into a hat or jar, pluck a few out, string them together, and bam! Instant creative prompt.

Try a Different Format

If you’re a writer, step away from the keyboard and write longhand. We get so used to typing in the digital age that we forget how visceral and tactile writing with a pen or pencil can be. Writing longhand is a very different experience for our brains than typing. Longhand writing is a multi-process endeavor that exercises our memories. By linking the fine motor movement of the pen with the act of thinking or taking in new information, we will likely remember what we’re written or heard. Typing may be faster, but it can lead to mindless processing. If you’re an artist, work in a medium you don’t usually play around with or create an image without lifting your pencil from the page.

I hope you have found some useful creative outlets here. If you have a favorite creative exercise not listed above, please leave a comment.

I Before E Except Holiday

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