The American Library Association today released their annual list of the year’s most frequently challenged books.  Challenged books refer to those that patrons, parents, and others request to be removed from school or public libraries.  The number of challenges in 2008 was up almost twenty-five percent from 2007, a worrying sign, though books still aren’t being challenged at the rates they were twenty years ago.  513 challenges were reported last year, though it should be noted that the number only reflects formal written complaints; the ALA believes the actual number of books complained about may be as high as five times that figure.

Topping the list for the third year in a row is And Tango Makes Three, the picture book about gay penguins.  Following behind were Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, Alvin Schwartz’ Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark series (which I loved when I was nine), Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (which I loved when I was nineteen), the Gossip Girl books (which I love now), Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, and Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

According to the ALA, books were actually pulled from shelves seventy-four times last year.

Not About The Buildings seeks models for an upcoming photo project.  Details aren’t being publicly announced yet, but we’re looking for people to pose with their favorite books for an late spring art event/website relaunch.

People of all ages and looks are wanted for the project, which will involve a print campaign as well as the website.

If interested, or if you have any questions, please e-mail thebuildings@notaboutthebuildings.com

From Four Corners Books, makers of Four Corners Familiars:

We are seeking proposals from artists, at any stage in their careers, for a volume in the Four Corners Familiars series. The series presents artists’ responses to classic novels and short stories and participants are encouraged to come up with innovative, distinctive ways of complementing the text, far removed from traditional notions of illustration.

Artists need not be represented by galleries, and proposals are welcome from all sections of society, from which we will publish the selected project in 2010.

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Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I’m headed to Chicago on Wednesday for a few days and have a lot of loose ends to tie up before I go.  But I’ll try to be better starting next week.

Evolutionary biologist Nicholas Hughes committed suicide last Monday in Alaska.  Hughes, the son of poet Ted Hughes and author Sylvia Plath, was 47.

Forty-six years ago, the scientist’s mother famously committed suicide by sticking her head in an oven, and a few short years later his stepmother did the same.  But The Guardian has a good take on why Hughes’ death shouldn’t be romanticized, and how looking at this as a family curse is offensive to the depressed and to Plath fans.

Hughes taught at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks in the School of Fisheries and Ocean Science.  He resigned from teaching several years ago but stayed on as a researcher, studying salmon in Alaska and New Zealand.

I’m sorry, but I really don’t think 912 pages of anything could be a better read than The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.

I’ve now officially lost interest in this year’s Tournament of Books.

This sounds like…something.  Maybe not something worth traveling all the way to Wisconsin for, but if you’re in the area anyway it might be worth a visit.

Call For Participants!
The 3rd Annual Edible Book Show!
Sunday, April 5, 1-4pm

What is an edible book show you might ask! An edible book show is designed to encourage new ways of thinking about literature by creating a space in which individuals or businesses can display books made out of food. Last years books were made out of ingredients such as gravy, twinkies, cheese, spinach, cake, cookies, tofu, and even play-doh!

Books are judged upon Delectability, Creativity and Difficulty

Entrance Categories
Children (Ages 5 - 17)
Individual (Ages 18 and up)
Business (Restaurant, Bakery, Caterer, Grocery Store, etc.)

The unique scrumptious art show is like no other, and is quickly approaching. Please call Woodland Pattern at 414.263.5001 to sign-up now and become a participant!

http://www.woodlandpattern.org/

Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
phone 414.263.5001

Margaret B. Stillwell Prize 2009
*FOR UNDERGRADUATES*

MONETARY PRIZES
First $750 / Second $500 / Third $250, as well as gift certificates will be awarded.

In order to stimulate the interest of students in books and printing, and in all the bibliographical concerns which motivate its members, the John Russell Bartlett Society has established this annual prize competition, open to undergraduates at any Rhode Island college or university. In so doing, the Society honors the memory of Margaret Bingham Stillwell, Brown University Class of 1909, the University’s first woman Professor of Bibliography and a renowned scholar of early printing, with the intent of encouraging students to share her lifelong pleasure in reading and book collecting.

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List of Stories Featuring Nuclear Pulse Propulsion.

The Tournament of Books put on by Powell’s and The Morning News pits sixteen of last year’s most noteworthy books against one another in a quest to see who wins the coveted Golden Rooster.  I’ve only read two of the sixteen book on this year’s list, but I’m pushing for Frankie Landau-Banks to take the award because that book is really awesome.