RWL’s Comments (group member since Oct 25, 2013)

RWL’s comments from the Region of Waterloo Library group.

Thanks for sharing Leanne and Heather! I can't wait to hear from more of you.

I thought it might be easier to generate a good discussion if we all got to know each other a little better. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, plus what you are currently reading, and your favorite book(s) and movie(s).

My name is Rebecca and I'm the Coordinator, Library Communications & E-Services for the Region of Waterloo Library. I love working for the library because it gives me the opportunity to meet and help a lot of people. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband Derek and our cats Cheerio and Garfunkel.

Reading right now:
Favorite Books: Harry Potter series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and East Lynne
Favorite Movies: Gone with the Wind, Dangerous Beauty, Moulin Rouge

Give us your suggestions or recommendations for making this online book club great! For example, would you prefer to have specific log in times for discussion rather than casual posting throughout the month? Do you have any other thoughts?

What do you think of The Town that Drowned so far?

Here is our first discussion question for The Town that Drowned. What are your thoughts?

This month we are going to discuss the book The Town that Drowned by Riel Nason

Here is some background information you might find interesting!

Information from the publishing
http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads...

Author's Website
http://www.rielnason.com/

It's officially Freedom to Read Week! Check out this 30 Challenged Publications Poster for some titles that have been on the censor's hit list. http://www.freedomtoread.ca/wordpress...

Do you think there are any things right now that threaten, or could eventually threaten, our freedom to read?

Does anyone else need a copy of The Town that Drowned?

I'm glad you will find the rating system helpful. It's very true - that it is nice not to get an unpleasant surprise you weren't expecting! If you have a chance to check out the site, let us know what you think about it.

I have a couple of suggestions. How about for our March discussion we explore The Town that Drowned by Riel Nason. Click on the link for details about the book http://olco.canlib.ca/client/rwl/sear...

Then in April we could discuss Alice Munro's Runaway stories. A Nobel Prize winning Canadian author's short stories will foster a great discussion.

Does this plan work for everyone? If so, please email libhq@regionofwaterloo.ca with your card number, the book title. Please indicate in the email that this is for the online book club.

RWL wrote: "I am looking forward towards the next month when we switch topics. Does anyone have a specific book they would like to discuss as a group?"

Thanks for the suggestion! I think we can manage a Canadian author. Are there any more requests from anyone?

I am looking forward towards the next month when we switch topics. Does anyone have a specific book they would like to discuss as a group?

Rated Reads is a unique website where they rate books on the cleanliness of the content. http://ratedreads.com/book-review-rat... Rated Reads website

What do you think of their approach?

What does everybody think? Should we have a book rating system? How would you apply it? What categories would you like to see? Would you divide books up by age appropriateness or by content? And, do you think that a rating system could encourage or discourage readers from approaching certain books?

I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

I took a look and couldn't find a standardized rating system that is akin to the movie system. However, I did find a lot of debate over the validity or need for this kind of system.

This is a really big topic worth discussing further, so I'm going to create a new discussion topic just focused on this idea. Here is the link to the new discussion

There are some really great points being made here. The role of parent-as-teacher vs. teacher in the educational process is always challenging. Especially in public schools where kids of vastly different backgrounds and belief systems are brought together. Also, the idea of context being an important aspect of determining if something is age-appropriate is interesting.

Leanne, Heather, and everyone else - Are there specific titles that you have been concerned about for age-appropriateness? Young Adult literature often can be controversial because it tends to deal with really intense, difficult topics.

YZ wrote: "Yes, I've read many of these books.I think I recommended "Margaret and I" - don't know anyone else who has ever commented on it. I think "Handmaid's tale" is one of the few of Atwood's novels I li..."

It does make sense. We all enjoy discussing something that evokes a strong reaction - whether it is good or bad. The Handmaid's Tale definitely provokes that type of discourse. Here is the reason it was challenged:

2008 — In Toronto, a parent formally complained about the use of this dystopian novel in a Grade 12 English class at Lawrence Park Collegiate. The parent said that the novel’s “profane language,” anti-Christian overtones, “violence” and “sexual degradation” probably violated the district school policies that require students to show respect and tolerance to one another.
In 2009, a review panel of the Toronto District School Board recommended that schools keep the novel in the curriculum in Grades 11 and 12. - In from the Freedom to Read website.

Heather wrote: "I have read 8 or so of the books on the shelves and enjoyed each of them. Most I read quite some time ago so can't comment in any detail. A few I want to re-read, the latest being The Giver. I h..."

The Giver is a great title! It's hard to believe that it ended up on the challenged works list. Here is the challenge it received (let us know your thoughts!)

1998—A parent in Simcoe County (ON) complained about the presence of this book and Robert Cormier’s novel We All Fall Down in two elementary school libraries.

Objection—The parent said that teaching this book would be more appropriate at the Grade 11 level. The book is aimed at children aged 10 to 13.

Update—The board considered the objection but decided to leave The Giver in school libraries for Grade 6, 7, and 8 students.

Chantel wrote: "I read The Wars in first-year university for a class. I don't remember it - I feel like I probably didn't like it because I "had" to read it. I should give it another shot! I've also read The Handm..."

If you are interested in rereading The Wars, RWL has a copy of it you can borrow. http://goo.gl/w4Trga

What did you love about The Handmaid's Tale? It is definitely, a well-known book that has had it's share of controversy.