1. Tenth of December by George Saunders This collection of short stories by MacArthur genius grant winner, Saunders, has really polarized opinion. People either love it or hate it and I am one of the former. The seeming simplicity of Saunder’s writing belies an ability to make the reader empathize with the downtrodden and disenfranchised… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Staff Picks
Dale’s Top 5 of 2013
1. Boardwalk Empire (TV Series) 2. Troll Hunter (Film) 3. Call of Duty Ghosts (Video Game) 4. Homeland (TV Series) 5. The Bell Witch Haunting (Film)
Lynne’s Top 5 of 2013
1. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes 2. Wonder by R.J. Palacio 3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 4. Ben Behind his Voices by Ranye Kaye 5. Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Julie’s Top 5 of 2013
1. Locke and Key By Joe Hill A series of graphic novels about siblings overcoming tragedies in a very weird house! 2. Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews Continuing Kate Daniels’ story in the magic-plagued city of Atlanta. Kate is a very strong character and I love to read how she saves the world! 3…. Read more »
What are TPL Staff Reading?
Stuck for something to read? Check out what the TPL staff are reading on our pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/topshampl/what-tpl-staff-are-reading/
The Banned Book I Bought at the Book Sale by Emma
Today I went to the Friends of Topsham Public Library’s book sale and bought a banned book! I purchased Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak for my niece and nephew. It was banned in many places but went on to win many awards including the Caldecott Medal. There have been many criticisms leveled… Read more »
The most frequently challenged book of the decade by Lynne
It’s amazing to me that the most frequently challenged book(s) of the last decade was the Harry Potter series. The complaints ranged from it being anti-family and violent to accusations of occultism and Satanism. I’m not usually a series person, but this is one of the few that I read to the end. What was… Read more »
My Favorite Banned Book by Dale
My favorite banned book is Cujo by Stephen King. Not only do I like dogs, but I also love a good horror book. Cujo manages to be realistic and terrifying. Stephen King’s books are often banned or challenged for explicit language and violence, but I firmly believe that I should have the freedom to choose… Read more »
A Banned Book I Read Recently by Helen
A recently re-read To Kill at Mockingbird as I really like the film adaptation and it had been years since I read the book. This book is often challenged with reasons cited as “offensive language” and “racism”. However, I think it is a true reflection of life at the time and its themes and events… Read more »
Banned Books in the News by Bernardo
I was surprised to “hear” that Invisible Man was banned because it had “…no literary value.” The article in the Christian Science monitor attributes that view to only one member of the Randolph County school board in North Carolina, who actually says that he himself did not find literary value in that book. It brings… Read more »