Censoring Imagination: Why Prisons Ban Fantasy and Science Fiction LitHub
"As PEN America’s new report Reading Between the Bars shows, #books banned in prisons by some states dwarf all other book censorship in school and public libraries. Prison censorship robs those behind bars of everything from exercise and health to art and even yoga, often for reasons that strain credulity"
The strangest category of bans however, are the ones on magical and fantastical literature.
Today in Labor History December 17, 1760: Deborah Sampson was born on this date in Massachusetts. Sampson disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She called herself Robert Shirtliff (as in don’t lift my shirt) and stood 5’9”, taller than the average man in those days. She fought in several skirmishes with British forces before being wounded and discovered and then honorably discharged from the army. She later petitioned the government to be repaid the wages that had been denied her because she was a woman. Her friend Paul Revere advocated for her full compensation. Finally, in 1816, Congress granted her request. There are several other women known to have secretly fought in this war. Sampson’s story has been portrayed in several plays and works of fiction, including “Portrait of Deborah: A Drama in Three Acts” (1959) by Charles Emery, “I'm Deborah Sampson: A Soldier of the Revolution” (1977) by Patricia Clapp and Revolutionary (2014), by Alex Myers, one of her descendants. Whoopi Goldberg played her in an episode of “Liberty Kids.”
Today's release: Speculation Publications' folklore/fairy tale anthology - Yule: Tales for the Winter Solstice.
During the cold winter months, we mirror the Earth as she lies quiet, waiting for the return of warm days. We gather around yule fires and perform rituals to lure back the sun. Drinking wassail...
Readers and Friends of readers!
If you like witty wordplay, endearing characters, and a sense of fun with your mystery: PJ Fitzsimmons is your man. His Anty Boisjoly Mystery series is SO delightful; I read the seven books this year, most twice! It’s the kind of book you have to read bits out loud to whomever else is in the room. Or, if you’re feeling shy, just laugh outloud (to yourself).
Looks like was here for half a second @pjfitzsimmons if he stops back, I’d like him to know he provided needed escape in this very tough 2023. Everyone else, check this series out and/or gift to your friends. @bookstodon #bookstodon#books
An Unexpected Attachment is now half price in the Smashwords Winter Sale!
Get your m/m, android/human soft boys falling in love here!
Since androids gained equal rights, Thomas has been seeking out new experiences and sensations. He'd like to try sex, but he wasn't built with the parts.Two months ago, he bought them, but he doesn't want to try them alone...
Has anyone noticed that Audible is now offering books with "virtual voice" narration - computer generated? Each sample is the same voice. So now the powers that be are going to ruin audio books with this #AI crap.
Also there is a ton of shyte titles listed, some only 6 minutes long.
I don't remember where I stumbled on this book -- perhaps even here on Mastodon? -- but I have to say that Jeff Deutsch's 'In Praise of Good Bookstores' is a wonderful celebration not only of independent #bookstores but also of #books, #reading books, and conversations about books. And there's a bonus -- a nice mini-history of one of my favorite bookstores, the #SeminaryCoop bookstore in Chicago. Well worth the read. @bookstodon#bookstodon
"One of the weirdest and most convoluted Christmas stories that I have ever read, filled with surprises, suspense, thrills, fast paced action, danger, gore and grit... a crazy page turner, a roller coaster of a holiday ride."
"I especially enjoyed this title as it approaches the popular topic of dinosaurs from an unusual angle and successfully mixes fact with genuine humour. The illustrations are really amusing too and perfectly complement the flavour of the text. It made me chuckle!"
Voting for the Indie Ink Awards is open! Dionysus in Wisconsin has been nominated in both Best Mentor Character and LGBTQ+ Representation. So...if you're voting, think of it/us (me?).
93 The Art of Dying Ambrose Parry
Will Raven has qualified as a doctor and has been traveling Europe to broaden his experience (in more ways than one). Back in Edinburgh, he takes up a post as Dr SImpson's apprentice. There is an accusation against Dr Simpson that sets Will & Sarah off to investigate. Will thinks he's might discover a new disease, Sarah thinks of a more human agency.
The final two chapters set up a third book.
I listened to this, with multiple narrators #books@bookstodon
150,000 innocents died in Changchun at the end of WW2 when Mao's Revolutionary Army laid siege. Japanese girl Homare Endo, then age 7, was traumatized but survived to devote her life to telling the world of the atrocity China now denies. This gripping, firsthand account is tough reading, full of both brutal descriptions and dispassionate commentary on politics and humanity.