“Several trends are driving the popularity of the memoir today. One is the public’s continuing fascination with reality TV. The programming genre’s obsessive interest in the lives of ordinary people and B-List celebrities has migrated to the printed word.” From the Wall Street Journal via BookSlut

What happened to the good old autobiography? Is it a dying artform?

A Gwinnett County, Georgia, parent wants to remove the Harry Potter books from the county’s public school libraries. Why? I’m glad you asked:
On the forms, she wrote that she objected to the series’ “evil themes, witchcraft, demonic activity, murder, evil blood sacrifice, spells and teaching children all of this.” She wrote she had not read the series because it is long, and she is a working mother of four.

I don’t know which is my favorite part: the fact that she didn’t read the series “because it is long,” or the reference to “evil blood sacrifice.” (Is there good blood sacrifice?) Atlanta Journal-Constitution readers react to the controversy, and thankfully bring some perspective to the issue:

“I am a Christian. I feel that Christian rights are being abolished in this country. Everyone talks about our views being pushed on them. But what about our beliefs? Don’t we have any rights at all?”
— Posted by “red” on the message board

I have heard the Constitution has something to say about free expression and nonestablishment of religion, but I haven’t read it, because it is long. (Thanks to Leila and Tim for the links.)

This was posted on BookSlut today and I had to follow the link through to the article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The reader response that got me was this one:

“I totally agree with this parent seeking to have Harry Potter books removed. If we suggested the Bible be on a list of mandatory books for students to read as a part of their novel requirement, there would be an immediate protest. Therefore, as a Christian, we must begin to take a stand and begin to show accountability for what our children are being taught and exposed to.”
— Posted by Mendi on the message board (ed. bolding added by me)

This raises an interesting point. I’m sure most parents would have no problem with the Bible being read as a novel as part of a literature course. What most people object to, I’m sure, is it being taught as religion in public schools.

I, personally, am all for studying the Bible as an important piece of literature since it has had such an influence on common literary themes, just like Greek and Roman myths have, and I know I studied those in school.

*ducks in preparation for the flames*

This weekend is the annual BookCrossing Convention and this year it is being held in Toronto. I’m excited to final get a chance to meet many of the members that I’ve spent the last year and a half chatting with online. So if you’re in Toronto this weekend and you spot a book in the wild, pick it up and help in on its journey – you’ll make a bookcrosser happy!

I saw this on BookSlut today. I love the work of Muriel Spark and I’m so sad to hear that she has died. Author of 20 books, Muriel Spark is probably most famous for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

I have been collecting her works for some time now and look forward to truly learning to know the work of this fabulous author. The literary world has lost another star.

This morning I paid a visit to Lettuce Knits. I keep hearing about this fabulous knitting store on the various knitting blogs. Their recent newsletter announcing the arrival of a new shipment of Socks that Rock meant that an immediate visit was required! Luckily I had already planned an overnight trip to Toronto to visit my friend Jennifer.

What a fantastic shop and yet so compact. The Socks that Rock were prominently displayed in the front window and after about 15 minutes of debate, the Moss Agate won out. I also left with a beautiful double point set of US #1 Rosewood needles from Lantern Moon.

After the yarn shopping, we wandered the shops in Kensington Market. I picked up some spices and a fun pair of sequined mules in spring green.

My friend Susan writes with a capital W. My scribbles are book reviews and this collection of the pressing concerns of my mind. She Writes and someday soon I’ll be telling you all to go out and buy her books.

In the meantime, wander over to her blog and get to know Trevor and Mitchell and the rest of Shapeshifter (their band). Spend some time and read some great outtakes that may or may not end up in the finished novels. Oh, and at the website you can read the first few pages of Trevor’s Song.

Check back on her blog often as regular outtakes are added.

Just because she wants to say hi to the other kitties out there in blogland.

All around me are unfinished objects. I promised myself that &*%! sweater for my Grandmother (only on the needles for two years) will be finished before I start/work on anything else. The body is sewn together, front plackets done, collar done and sleeves 85% done. I’m knitting both at the same time which is a bit slower but worth it.

So this week I’ve been working away at the sleeves while finishing up my marathon viewing of Season 2 of Stargate SG-1. I have two episodes left to go and somehow I don’t think the sleeves will finish at the same time. I think it’s going to need season 3 to finish up this sweater.

Once that’s done I can sew in the ends on my Olympic scarf and present everyone here with a photo of the beautiful finished project.

So here’s a call to action for all you book lovers. On April 21, go visit your local independent bookstore and buy something. Tell them why you appreciate them being in your community.

Thanks to Booklust for reminding me of this important day! But as she says…”But really, we should keept April 21st in our hearts every day, and remember to Think Independent, Read Independent, and Buy Independent.”

Well I’ve been silent quite a few days but I have a good reason – a new job. I’m doing some consulting for a few weeks and that is keeping me very busy.

So to celebrate spring – and at least give people something new to look at until I can do a decent post – here’s something I wish I was seeing now. This is a picture I took several years ago at the floating flower market in Amsterdam.