Blogroll

Wish I’d said that

It’s always somewhat surprising when you read something and realize not only that you wish you’d said it but that, if you had, you probably wouldn’t have said it quite as well.

The latest case in point for me is a post at Tales from the Reading Room called “Reasons For Buying Books.” Now anyone […]

Book Review: The Country Where No One Ever Dies by Ornela Vorpsi

Even during the height of Communism, Albania was an outlier, a dystopia seemingly little noticed by most of the world. Here was a country whose dictator, Enver Hoxha, broke ties with the Soviet Union because he believed criticizing and abandoning Stalinism was “revisionism.” Having then allied the country with Red China, Hoxha broke that off […]

Weekend Edition: 11-14

Bulletin Board

Two of my favorite things — books and jazz — come together tomorrow at the local B&N. With this voucher (which will also be available in the store) a percentage of your purchases will be donated to the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society’s Education Fund. The SFJB also plans music and a […]

Favorite Film Friday: Good Bye Lenin!

It’s been too long since the last installment in this series and the celebrations this week over the fall of the Berlin Wall create a perfect opportunity to talk about Good Bye, Lenin!. While the movie is about the fall of the wall and Communism, it presents an innovative and fun take on it.

The […]

Banned books debate goes local

Start the debate.

The Sioux Falls School District has removed a graphic novel from student access at two middle school libraries. The book, Stuck in the Middle: 17 Comics from an Unpleasant Age, now is available only for school staff to check out and use in class. Although I blog frequently about banned books, I […]