Banned Book Week Spotlight : Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLISHER:

Macmillan

SOURCE:

Library Book

There has been a lot of press about Eleanor & Park due to its being challenged for subject matter and profanity. What has surprised me most about the incident is that all the children involved have already read the novel. Across the board students embraced this novel. The complaints stemmed from the subject matter and what some thought of as offensive language and situations. What I think is an integral question to ask is where were these concerned individuals when the actual reading occurred ? To be filled with ire after the fact and not willing to compromise in terms of Rowell’s visit and the availability of the book seems extremely unreasonable to me.

I had plans to read E & P at some point but after reading about the situation I bumped to the top of my reading list.

There are so many wonderful layers to this novel but at it’s heart it is a story of love, faith, and perseverance. Eleanor and Park are brought together by one small act of compassion. Eleanor has returned to the home of her Mother and Stepfather and younger siblings. It is not a comfortable situation and having to deal with the initial hazing and bullying of a new school doesn't help . Yet one move by Park to a window seat creates an opening for communication that slowly builds to friendship and love.

Park is initially angry at himself for making way for Eleanor but as weeks pass he finds in her a peace and freedom he has never felt before.

For Eleanor their relationship opens a different door. She lives on eggshells in a house where one wrong word or action can destroy her world. There is no solace for Eleanor at  home. Her Mother will not fully look at the dysfunction in their home, her siblings watch her like a hawk always wanting to touch her meager possessions and barter her secrets for advantage. Eleanor knows the risks and she takes them for a chance with Park, apiece of her life that belongs solely to her.

There is such a wonderful beauty to this book. It connects to readers no matter what their age or ethnicity. There are a million Eleanor's in the world. I know because I was one of them. Though not to the extent as Eleanor's home there were challenges in my home that I never spoke of. I poured myself into school and books the things that made sense, the things that gave me hope. This is a novel that needs to be accessible, to inspire and guide others in similar situations.

 

The main reasons many have protested this book was due to  profanity. There are instance of foul language in this book but they are not gratuitous. This book would benefit by parental guidance depending on the age of the reader.

Such a powerful and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.

Blog Tour: Interview With VICIOUS Author V.E. Schwab

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone! Today I have a wonderful book to spotlight. I was really drawn to Vicious because it is a serious examination of the Superhero tropes of Hero and Villain . For comic fans I would relate Victor and Eli’s relationship akin to Reed Richards and Dr. Doom, but way more lethal! I was fortunate to have the chance to ask V.E. some questions about comics, her writing influences, and the future of stories set in the Vicious Universe. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?
In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

 

 

 

1) I was intrigued by the phrase " a comic book without pictures" in the title solicitation. Where you heavily influenced by the comic book world in creating your story?

I was influenced by both the content and structure of comic books, from the heroes and villains and the vivid colors in which they’re painted to the staccato pacing, the turn-page urgency and the constant sense of action. I wanted to emulate that in book form!

2) Have you read any current comic book titles?  What are some of your favorites, past and present?

I’m definitely a fan of Watchmen, Sin City, and Sandman (I joke that I like Antis (as in Anti-heroes) and Archetypes. I’ll also devour anything Marvel—I’ve been a huge X-Men fan since I was a kid, and right now really like Young Avengers Assemble, even though it’s not as dark as I usually skew.

3) There is an interesting dynamic with Victor and Eli having female companions/ sidekicks. Was that deliberate on your part?

Yes, in that I wanted the sisters divided, and I wanted to see how Victor and Eli react to and interact differently with them. But I always struggle in calling them sidekicks. I know they’re technically secondary characters, but would argue that they are the two most powerful people in the book. Hell, if VICIOUS actually HAS a “hero,” it’s Sydney.

 

4) Do you think a Villain is an acquired trait ? Or just natural to certain individuals?

I think villainy is a product of upbringing more than nature, but I do think some people are born different. Victor, for instance, even before he dies, is detached and driven by cold logic. He’s a card-carrying sociopath before he ever becomes an EO, and while his upbringing certainly didn’t help, it wasn’t what made him that way. Eli, on the other hand, is very much a product of whatever trauma he went through as a child, though I’m sure the underlying psychosis was there.

 

5) Would you like to explore more stories in the world of Vicious? What type of characters would you like to focus on if you did?

I would absolutely love to. While I did my best to give VICIOUS a sense of closure (because as a reader, nothing irks me more than an unnecessary cliffhanger and an interminable wait) the fact is I am not done with these characters (I know exactly where they go from here). I hope I have the opportunity to share the next stage of their journey, and introduce new characters into the world of VICIOUS.

6) What Superpower would you like to have?

I would have the ability to control time, but only to pause, speed up, or slow down. Going in reverse seems to be where all the trouble starts ;)

 

V. E. Schwab

V. E. Schwab is the author of The Near Witch, a YA fantasy from Disney Hyperion, as well as The Archived, the first book in a YA supernatural series, also from Disney Hyperion. The product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a Southern upbringing, Victoria has a penchant for tea and BBC shows, and a serious and well-documented case of wanderlust. This is her first adult book. Find her online HERE

My Geeky Week : Spotlight on Banned Comics &Fighting for Your point of View

 

 

 

 

 

 

These Great Images are from CBLDF & ALA

 

Last week my Edge of Empire RPG group had a geeky debate. It started with one of our group commenting on how Obi-Wan Kenobi is just a huge liar :) I laughed and I said well “I guess that all depends on your point of view”. I thought of that conversation as I prepared my banned book posts. It’s become clear to me that the foundation of those who argue against a specific book being in a school room, or a public library  are their attempts to enforce their point of view on others.

 

The issue becomes even more murky when children become involved.  So it is no surprise that the largest battle ground for banned books are in classrooms and school libraries across the nation.

I do believe that parents have a right to a say in what books their children are exposed to but they do not have the right to control what other parents may find acceptable for their families or to limit access to those books to the general public who aren't parents.

 

Comic Books have always had a history of being challenged. From physical book burnings to congressional hearings comics have consistently been challenged by those seeking to “protect the innocent”.

 

Here are a few of the most frequently challenged Comics/Graphic Novels:

 

 

I’ve read and loved all of these! I find that the complaints: sexuality, profanity,nudity really missed the point of the books. In fact I don't even think those that challenged the book even read it in its entirety.

 

Fighting For Your Point of View

Staying Informed

Even if you aren’t directly effected by a banning it’s important to take steps to protect your reading rights.

For comics fans the most important and easiest way to do this is to join the CBLDF

 

The CBLDF website is the best place to find out about any challenges towards comic fans reading rights as well as seeing the results of  your donations through their successful litigation cases spotlighted on the blog.

 

To protect the availability  of graphic novels in your public library the best resource is the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom. This site hosted by the American Library Association, updates readers about books that are in danger of being pulled from shelves.

 

Challenge Censorship

 

Getting Riled about censorship is only half the battle. Failure to take action is the same as agreement. Here are some suggestions:

Support where you read

If you hear about a book being censored or challenged report it to the ALA, attend a council meeting discussing the topic, Send a letter to a local newspaper or write a blog post defending the material.

 

Support Your Local Schools & Libraries

Start a Parent & Child Graphic Novel club at your school or Library

Donate comics & Graphic Novels

Donate money for the purchase some manga or GN’s for your local library

 

Hope this post encourages you to be more active in your community!

 

Happy Reading!