quotes Elisquared likes


"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."— John Green

9.30.2012

Happy Banned Books Week!


Copyright: American Library Association
Today marks the start of Banned Books Week.  Running from September 30th to October 6th, Banned Books Week is a celebration held every year to highlight the freedom to read and the importance of the 1st amendment.  The American Library Association (ALA) uses BBW to highlight the importance of fighting against censorship and bringing attention to the attempts or instances of book censorship and banning within the United States.

Intellectual Freedom is the basis for BBW, as the ALA states that Intellectual Freedom is "the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular." Therefore, the information contained within a book must be accessible to all, even if you don't agree with it. Of course people have a problem with this, anfd are consistently attempting to deny access to not only themselves and their families, which is perfectly fine, but to other people and thier children as well. This is a problem, as not each family has the values or beliefs as the next, and should not be subjugated to those beliefs.

To be clear, a challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. If the material is then removed, that book has now been "banned". Over the past ten years, American libraries were faced with 4,660 challenges.

  • 1,536 challenges due to material deemed “sexually explicit”;
  • 1,231 challenges due to “offensive language”;
  • 977 challenges due to material deemed “unsuited to age group”;
  • 553 challenges due to “violence”
  • 370 challenges due to “homosexuality”;
  • 121 challenges due to material deemed “anti-family”; and
  • 304 challenges due to “religious viewpoints.”

    In the light of these statistics it is important that people (like all my wonderful readers) take a stand, and support Banned Books Week!   Here are some resources to get you started!

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom publishes the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom and provides regular news updates via the OIF blogTwitter and the IFACTION mailing list.

The National Coalition Against Censorship is an alliance of fifty national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups that works to educate both members and the public at large about the dangers of censorship and how to oppose it.

is the only organization in the United States whose primary goal is to protect and promote the First Amendment in libraries by participating in litigation dealing with free expression in libraries and other venues. Members receive a quarterly newsletter, The FTRF News

maintains an online First Amendment library and provides breaking news about First Amendment issues via its RSS newsfeed


Also don't forget to check out the Banned Books Week Hop, and enter to win some great prizes!

9.28.2012

Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop



I am again participating in I Am a Reader, Not a Writer's annual Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop!  

This book hop is particularly important to me as I am book advocate, and a member of ALA (Librarian-in-Training!).  I wholeheartedly believe that no book should ever be banned from anyone or challenged by anyone, even if the information contained within clearly opposes a person's personal beliefs (First Amendment anyone?).  You can read more about Banned Books Week at the ALA website or the Banned Books Week website.

This time around I'm letting you pick the book you want by giving away a $15 Amazon giftcard!  One of the most important aspects of Banned Books Week is freedom to read what you want, so I want to help you do that!  I also found these awesome banned book keychains, featuring some classics!  I want to give the lucky winner one of these as well, and you'll get to pick out the one you want from Angelica Night's awesome Etsy store (as long as supplies last!)!

After you enter my giveaway, don't forget to hop on over to the others listed below!  Thanks so much and keep defending and fighting for books!


Rules:
Open only to US residents!
No INT entries! 
Must be 13 years old to enter. 
ONE winner will win a $15 Amazon giftcard & keychain.
(Keychain may be replaced with equivalent (up to my discretion) if they are out of stock)
Winner must have a mailing address within the US.
NO PO BOXES!
Winner will be contacted by email. 
Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address.

9.27.2012

Trailer Thursday (29)



Today I'm bringing you the trailer to a great sci-fi book.  This is the second book in the series, and I really loved the first!  The concept is fun, and there is a mix of mystery, thriller, and sci-fi that's irresistible   Definitely a book that boys will enjoy!

by Richard Paul Evans
Published Date: August 14, 2012



My Book Haul from DragonCon

I've wanted to do this haul for weeks, but I A) didn't have the time and B) lost my camera charger. So, needless to say it was postponed.  But now that I have my iPad (even if the video quality leaves much to be desired) I can post videos once again!  Huzzah! 

I'm excited to share the books I had signed at the Con, and also some of the books I received throughout the month (this is really a sneaky IMM).  Let me know what books you're excited about getting this month, and DFTBA!


(The links for my 500+ Follower Giveaway are on the sidebar)

9.26.2012

Waiting on Wednesday (62)


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we seriously can’t wait for.

 Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait for:


The Night Has Teeth
by Kat Kruger
Publication Date: September 23, 2012
-------------------------------------------------
There’s a darkness that lurks in the City of Light

Seventeen-year-old Connor Lewis is chased by a memory. On his first day of kindergarten he bit a boy hard enough to scar the kid for life. Since then he’s been a social outcast at a New York private school. 
Through an unexpected turn of good fortune, he lands a scholarship to study in Paris, where everything starts to look up. On the first day he befriends two military brats, and he may finally get a taste of what it’s like to be a normal teenager. 
It doesn’t last. 
His host family — an alluring young tattoo artist and her moody, handsome boyfriend — inadvertently introduce him to the underworld of werewolves where there are two types: the born and the bitten. Those born to it take the form of elegant wolves, while the latter are cursed to transform into the half-man, half-beast creatures of horror movies. The bitten rarely survive. 
Unfortunately, Connor is on the wanted list of a four hundred-year-old bitten human who’s searching for both a cure and a means of wiping out werewolves for good. 
Connor’s loyalties are tested as he becomes embroiled in a conflict where werewolves, mad science and teen angst collide.
------------------------------------------------
This has already come out, but I haven't had a chance to get a copy!  But I want one because  WEREWOLVES!  Not just werewolves, but a world with Bitten and Born.  I think the mythology is going to be so cool, and it's set in Paris!  Oh god, I'm just so excited!

What book are you waiting for?

9.25.2012

And.....

I'M BACK!

At least I hope so!  I am trying to juggle grad school full-time and a new job, so my posts may be very inconsistent!  I am also trying to read inbetween all the many things I must do, so please be patient while I get back to speed!

In the mean time, check out my 500+ FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAYS!!  (see how I use shiny giveaways to distract from my poor blogging?)

I have THREE giveaways for my amazing followers, all of which are located on the right sidebar of my blog.  There are two giveaways a piece for each US and INT followers!  Gotta show my love for everyone!

I am really going to try to pick up my posts, dust off my reviews, and get back to business!

9.06.2012

500+ Followers Giveaway - Choice of 2012 Favorite (US/INT)

This giveaway is for BOTH my US and International followers!  There will be a US winner and a INT follower, so I need to know where you hail from!  

I really wanted to give away some of my favorite 2012 books!  These are all books that were published this year up through October (just due to crazy pre-order biz, I prefer not to have any listed).  So pretty much each winner will pick ONE book from the list to get in their hands!  The two winners can pick the same book, but no substitues.  

Books to Choose From:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Starters by Lissa Price
Immortal City by Scott Speer
The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
Revived by Cat Patrick
Mothership by Martin Leitch & Isla Neal

To enter just fill out the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 Rules:
Must be 13 years old to enter. 
Must be a blog/Youtube follower to enter.
There will be TWO winners.
One winner will be from US, the other winner INT.
Winners must be able to get books from The Book Depository.
Winners will be contacted by email. 
Winners have 48 hours to respond with mailing address. 
NO PO BOXES.
Each winner will pick ONE book from the provided list!

500+ Followers Giveaway - $25 Worth of Books (INT)

This giveaway is for my amazing International followers!  I know that I have a lot of followers out there in the world outside of the US, and I can't thank you enough!  I also know a lot of times you are left out of giveaways because of shipping costs!  This is why I love the Book Depository; while it may not ship EVERYWHERE in the world, it comes pretty close, and let's me give books to others!

So here's the deal: I am giving ONE winner the chance to pick out $25 worth of books.  Now if the total ends up being $26-$27 don't freak out, that is perfectly alright.  Anything more than that, you'll have to pick different books.  I'd suggest checking the prices on Book Depository before you email me with your picks!


To enter just fill out the rafflecopter below!


Rules:
Open to International residents ONLY!
No US entries! 
Must be 13 years old to enter. 
Must be a blog/Youtube follower to enter.
There will be ONE winner.
Winner must be able to get books from The Book Depository.
Winner will be contacted by email. 
Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address.
NO PO BOXES!
All books chosen must total to $25!


500+ Followers Giveaway - Box of Books (US)


This giveaway is for my awesome American followers!  I have all these extra books and ARCs lying around that I want to give to a good home!  Who better than one of my followers?

This giveaway is for a big box of ARCs, signed books, and finished editions plus some swag.  I'm not sure exactly what will be in it, but I can tell you there are some cool things!  I kind of want it to be a surprise, but I know how that annoys me sometimes, so I will post a partial list very soon!


A little teaser - SIGNED copy of Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

To enter just fill out the rafflecopter below!



Rules:
Open only to US residents!
No INT entries! 
Must be 13 years old to enter. 
Must be a blog/Youtube follower to enter.
There will be ONE winner.
Winner must have a mailing address within the US.
NO PO BOXES!
Winner will be contacted by email. 
Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address. 


9.05.2012

500+ Followers Giveaway

I am so blown away that I have so many awesome followers!  In almost two years, this little blog and little Youtube page I started has grown into something that means so much to me.  That is all due to you!

While I do this for me, it's nice to know that there are people out there that read my reviews and my features, and watch my videos; I'm not alone!

So in order to give back, I wanted to hold a 500+ Followers Giveaway!  There will be THREE giveaways; one exclusively for US residents, one exclusively for International residents, and one for both!

US only - A box of signed books, finished copies, ARCs and swag will be mailed off to ONE lucky winner (I'm not sure which books yet, but there are some lovely signed ones!).
INT only - $25 worth of books from the Book Depository will be shipped off to ONE lucky winner (If the price ends up being a little over that may be negotiable.).
US/INT - TWO winners will get to pick ONE book each from my list of 2012 Favorites (These will be shipped from the Book Depository, so keep that in mind.).

That's just a little summary, more information will be available on each giveaway page.  These will be posted on September 6 and run through October 6, so you have a month to win!

I just want to say THANK YOU one more time!  Without you all it wouldn't be the same!  DFTBA!
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