Books Changed My Life, and They Can Change Yours, Too

Welcome back to Snaps, Macs, and Actual Books!

Books Changed My Life, And They Can Change Yours, Too

Source: Melissa Curtis

I want to start this post off with a little story. It's the story of how my love for reading bloomed. 

In second or third grade, it was discovered that I had trouble reading; I wasn't up to the reading level with my other peers. My mom sent me to a local academic learning center for a summer to help improve my reading skills. It worked, to say the least, if you would talk to my family and friends. 

That summer was a turning point in my life and I didn't even realize it at the time. That summer is when I developed an addiction to books and reading and all they can give me.

You might be wondering, "Well, that's nice, but what's that got to do with marketing college libraries through the use of photography, design, and creative writing?" And I impulsively want to simply say that it doesn't, but that would be a lie.

Wait, what? 

Here's why. In my Advertising and Promotion class, I learned that one of three factors to keep in mind when specifying a target market are behavioral variables, specifically the consumer's past experience with the product or brand. While my goal isn't to specify a target audience, I want to tell about my past experience with reading and books and how they changed my life and how they can change yours, too.

Books gave (and continue to give) me... 

Me An Escape

Source: milena mihaylova

I didn't realize how much of an escape books and reading gave me until about middle school when the cliques form and the opinions of your peers matter (more than than they should). Loving books and reading as much as I did, I felt my peers thought I was weird for choosing a book over a basketball or volleyball. Where else do I turn to during that awkward phase? To my books for an escape from a reality where I felt like an outcast.

New Perspectives And Insights

Source: Gabriel Kronisch

There's no good way to explain this one except for this way. With reading many books from a variety of genres and even those that I probably wouldn't have chosen for myself, there comes a sense of seeing the world in a different way. It's almost as if you wake up and the world you once knew is completely different and you almost don't recognize it. You're given new perspectives and insights with each book you read.

Hope

 

Source: Taymaz Valley

Let's face it. The world definitely has its problems. Some days I wonder if there's any hope left in the world. There is. Books have hope and can inspire. An obvious example of the quite depressing divorce rate makes me wonder, "Is there no love left in this world?" Where do I turn to? Books. Even though it may not be real or sometimes, realistic, the stories inspire the possibility of that kind of love existing. And it's that notion of possibility that helps me and many others and not just with the idea of love.  

A Way To Connect

Source: Didriks

Referencing the dreaded middle school years when I felt like an outcast for loving reading, I found the silver-lining. Actually, it was more like I discovered that my love for books and reading gave me a way to connect with others loved reading and books as much as I did. No longer did I feel like an outcast.  

To sum it up:

Without books and realizing how much they've impacted my life, I wouldn't be working in the Rod Library at the circulation desk and (eventually) becoming a public relations student assistant for them. 

Without books, my life would be completely different.

How have books impacted your life? Which books have impacted your life?

Let me know in the comments below!

Stay tuned for next week's post! 

6 Banned Books I Will Read To My Kids Someday

Welcome back to Snaps, Macs, and Actual Books!

6 Banned Books I Will Read To My Kids Someday

Source: Melissa Curtis

Growing up, I kept hearing about Banned Books Week, but I never fully understood what it was about until middle school. Back then, I had a hard time grasping why certain books would be banned because, to me, books are magical in how they let you escape reality for a little while and immerse yourself in another world. Still today, I don't understand some the reasons books are banned; some reasons are just plain ridiculous as you will see in a short bit.

I, Melissa Curtis, stand up for the right to read. I stand firm and proud in my freedom to read. So, with that said, here are six banned books I will read to my kids someday.

1.  Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park 

Source: Melissa Curtis

You can click on the title to learn about what the series is about. 

I don't know how I got started on these, but I'm glad I did. I love these books because I could identify with Junie and she made me laugh out loud many times.

Why It's Banned/Challenged: "mouthiness and bad spelling."

My Thoughts: She's a first grader, for goodness' sake; who isn't bad at spelling and a little mouthy at that age? You're probably lying if you think you weren't. Heck, I'm almost 21 years old and I still have trouble spelling sometimes and can be a little mouthy. It's her "bad spelling" and "mouthiness" that makes her so relatable and identifiable to her audience. 

2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Source: Melissa Curtis

You can click the title to learn about what this book is about.

Freshman English in high school is when I read this book. And I absolutely fell in love with all the characters, especially Scout and her innocence. 

Why It's Banned: "racially and sexually-charged themes are inappropriate for young readers," according to Kenya Downs with PBS.

My Thoughts: I can understand why this book is banned, but that doesn't mean I agree with it. This book shows controversial issues through the eyes of an innocent child who realizes the world and life—and some of the people in it—aren't fair. For those of us who can grasp, they realize that cowards are the people who know the truth and don't speak up about it. It's a must-read for all ages. 

3.  And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Source: Melissa Curtis

You can click on the title to find more about this book.

I loved this book! It didn't hit me what this actually meant until someone told. I didn't think there was anything wrong with a two dads raising a child. 

Why It's Banned: "AntiFamily, Homosexuality, and Political Viewpoint."

My Thoughts: How can a book about a family be "antifamily"? If it's because there is two dads, there needs to be a better reason than that. The world is changing; there are non-traditional families now. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. It's for this reason why this book needs to be read. It shows and exposes kids to non-traditional and/or different relationships and families than they are probably used to.

4.  Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Source: Amazon Books

You can click on the title to find more about this book.

If I had to choose a book to sum up my childhood, this would be the book. I could read and read this book over and over again and always find something I didn't find all the other times I read it.

Why It's Banned: "talking animals are considered an 'insult to god'," according to Buzzfeed's List of "14 Classic Children’s Books That Have Been Banned In America." 

My Thoughts: It's similar to my opinion about Junie B. Jones. Talking animals? What's wrong with that? The audience are typically kids, and kids typically used to talking animals in literature and movies. They don't mind that. But people are allowed to believe what they believe, and I can respect that.

5. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Source: Amazon Books

You can click on the title to learn more about this book. 

When I read this book in seventh grade, I didn't fully appreciate this book or maybe I couldn't fully grasp what Lowry wanted to get across. It wasn't until after I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins that I finally picked up on what the book was trying to tell me.

Why It's Banned: "'violence' and claims that the book is 'Unsuited to [the] Age Group'—or in other words that it’s too dark for children," according to Ben Blatt of Slate, a daily online magazine.

My Thoughts: This is was the first of many dystopian books that I've read. It showed there are imperfections in a seemingly perfect and orderly society. I don't disagree with the claim of violence, but "it's too dark for children"? It's introducing us to a kind society we might see in the future, if it doesn't already exist. 

 6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Source: Amazon Books

You can click on the title to learn more about this book.

Coincidentally, I also read this book in seventh grade. Unlike The Giver, I got what Hinton was hinting at (no pun intended). What really drove the meaning home was the fact my class did a real-life remake of the trial from the book. 

Why It's Banned: "drugs, violence and that old standby 'unchristian values,'" according to Joanna Robinson from Pajiba. 

My Thoughts: The first two reasons don't surprise me one bit. Because there are drugs and violence in the book. "Unchristian values" is a bit more tricky because when it comes to matters of faith, people have the right to believe what they believe. Despite what people think of this book, it's an another must-read because it exposes kids to the many injustices in this world and an emerging's teen experience with the old-age battle between the "haves" and "have nots". 

Do you agree? Did you see any of your favorite banned books? 

If I missed any, please comment with the book title and author, reason why, and your thoughts!

Stay tuned for next week's post!