Ruth, Substack showed me your latest post in the "Substack Reads" email. I'm happy to find you here, as I so enjoyed your biography of Shirley Jackson. There is no other voice like hers. She deserves a lot more love; so thank you for bringing more of her story to light. I'm interested in your new book on Anne Frank, and just ordered it. I'm also intrigued by your idea of a banned book group, though I'm in the throes of a manuscript on the the subject of banned books (more of a historical perspective) and will be laying low about that until after I turn in my manuscript. And your Israeli/Palestinian book discussions. I'll keep an eye out on all of this!
You can read a pdf of an article on banning Ellen Hopkins here: https://journals.ala.org/index.php/jifp/article/view/7916. (Just click on "pdf" under the abstract to immediately open it.) Suffice to say, a big part of the issue with her (and several other authors on this list) is that she writes for teens. CRANK is almost 20 years old now but the idea of a book for teen readers about drugs and violence is still something some folks want to deny should exist. Her books are very realistic and can be brutal but they are also remarkably honest. For a lot of people, denial is vastly preferable to honesty when it comes to teenagers.
Loving the footnote :D Happy the book is getting the love it deserves! I honestly can't recall if I've only seen the movie version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower or also read it. But Water for Elephants has been on my to-read list for the longest time. I do love me a banned book!
Thank you for sharing your struggle to be incessantly on while touring with your new Anne Frank book (congratulations btw!!!). It's interesting to hear about and very relatable. I did an 18 stop tour last year. My introverted self was hard pressed, and I'm not operating anywhere near your scale! Sleeping for a day and a half is exactly what I do as well. I hope you're able to schedule breaks and downtime during your events and cancel if you get sick.
I watched your event at Politics and Prose online. You are so informative and good at taking questions.
I understand what it is like to be an introvert and yet have to be "on" for lengthy periods. I do not have an easy solution as with book tour you have no choice really. Maybe just know that at the end you can crash for much deserved quiet time--2 days sounds good w/o being sick.
Yes, I'd be extremely interested in a discussion of banned books. I taught 'Huckleberry Finn' for many years, but would lose my job for teaching it now. (I'm now retired from teaching at Michigan State.) I've received your magnificent Frank biography and just begun to read it. The Frank diary was one of the formative books of my childhood and your book is extremely important. Congratulations. sincerely, Sheila Teahan
Hi Ruth, I have yet to lay hands on your new book in the UK but I am counting down until it lands at my uni library in March. I am a PhD researcher preparing a thesis on Jewish women's literature and the rediscovery of marginalised artists – your book will be critical. My strategies for exhaustion from too much "on" time – a feeling that I think I share with you – would be early morning / late evening very easy going listening, especially to podcasts about writing. There is one called 'In Writing with Hattie Crisell' that I would highly recommend. It's relaxing but also nourishing I think because of being about people's creativity. Something about hearing others' describe their processes is somehow restful. Take good care and I hope get well very soon. 💛
Lately, I've discovered The Afternoon Nap. It does wonders for the body and brain. You did a wonderful job last night on Literary Modi'in.
Have also been considering this. And thanks!
Ruth, Substack showed me your latest post in the "Substack Reads" email. I'm happy to find you here, as I so enjoyed your biography of Shirley Jackson. There is no other voice like hers. She deserves a lot more love; so thank you for bringing more of her story to light. I'm interested in your new book on Anne Frank, and just ordered it. I'm also intrigued by your idea of a banned book group, though I'm in the throes of a manuscript on the the subject of banned books (more of a historical perspective) and will be laying low about that until after I turn in my manuscript. And your Israeli/Palestinian book discussions. I'll keep an eye out on all of this!
Thanks so much! So glad you found me.
You’re not coming to Boston/Brookline/Cambridge? The Athens of America? The Hub? What have you got against black ice?
You can read a pdf of an article on banning Ellen Hopkins here: https://journals.ala.org/index.php/jifp/article/view/7916. (Just click on "pdf" under the abstract to immediately open it.) Suffice to say, a big part of the issue with her (and several other authors on this list) is that she writes for teens. CRANK is almost 20 years old now but the idea of a book for teen readers about drugs and violence is still something some folks want to deny should exist. Her books are very realistic and can be brutal but they are also remarkably honest. For a lot of people, denial is vastly preferable to honesty when it comes to teenagers.
Loving the footnote :D Happy the book is getting the love it deserves! I honestly can't recall if I've only seen the movie version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower or also read it. But Water for Elephants has been on my to-read list for the longest time. I do love me a banned book!
I hope you're fully recovered soon, Ruth!
Nice 👍
Can we texts, if you don't mind
Congratulations on the book, and on all your endeavors! You’re a mensch!
I would be very interested in the book club.
Thank you for sharing your struggle to be incessantly on while touring with your new Anne Frank book (congratulations btw!!!). It's interesting to hear about and very relatable. I did an 18 stop tour last year. My introverted self was hard pressed, and I'm not operating anywhere near your scale! Sleeping for a day and a half is exactly what I do as well. I hope you're able to schedule breaks and downtime during your events and cancel if you get sick.
I'd join the book club!
I watched your event at Politics and Prose online. You are so informative and good at taking questions.
I understand what it is like to be an introvert and yet have to be "on" for lengthy periods. I do not have an easy solution as with book tour you have no choice really. Maybe just know that at the end you can crash for much deserved quiet time--2 days sounds good w/o being sick.
About banning Spiegelman’s Maus: https://www.mauscourse.scottdenham.net/
And https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OdnT3BWlyuE
Yes, I'd be extremely interested in a discussion of banned books. I taught 'Huckleberry Finn' for many years, but would lose my job for teaching it now. (I'm now retired from teaching at Michigan State.) I've received your magnificent Frank biography and just begun to read it. The Frank diary was one of the formative books of my childhood and your book is extremely important. Congratulations. sincerely, Sheila Teahan
Hi Ruth, I have yet to lay hands on your new book in the UK but I am counting down until it lands at my uni library in March. I am a PhD researcher preparing a thesis on Jewish women's literature and the rediscovery of marginalised artists – your book will be critical. My strategies for exhaustion from too much "on" time – a feeling that I think I share with you – would be early morning / late evening very easy going listening, especially to podcasts about writing. There is one called 'In Writing with Hattie Crisell' that I would highly recommend. It's relaxing but also nourishing I think because of being about people's creativity. Something about hearing others' describe their processes is somehow restful. Take good care and I hope get well very soon. 💛
Thanks for the recommendation - I will try it!
Best wait until there's a palestinian state in Spain or south africa.
https://marlowe1.substack.com/p/how-dare-you-even-think-these-things