Welcome to Litsy!

Interview with the author on this podcast episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heres-where-it-gets-interesting/id15762666...

The author mentioned this website as a resource to show librarians some love.

Link: https://wethelibrarians.org/

I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I heard about it. There is nothing I‘m more passionate about than books. My local librarians know me well. Each time I walk in their doors, I wonder what kind of battles they are facing, near and far—from book banning fascists. This book is just one experience. On July 19, 2022, Amanda Jones gave a short, direct, and professional speech at her library board, which was open to the public. Her goal:⬇️

The self-righteous scream judgements against others to hide the noise of skeletons dancing in their own closets.

—John Mark Green

It‘s not indoctrination to acknowledge that historically certain groups have had less power and were systematically persecuted over decades and centuries. It is called historical fact.

—Amanda Jones

The current wave of book banning sweeping the country has created a chilling effect on our education system and the purchasing of books in our libraries, the effects of which will be seen for decades even if we somehow get it under control in the next year. This is a huge movement that has been in the works for a while. It is well funded and well coordinated. It is about marginalizing and erasing cultures and groups of people, it is about⬇️

Each attempt to ban a book by one of these groups represents a direct attack on every person‘s constitutionally protected right to freely choose what books to read and what ideas to explore. The choice of what to read must be left to the reader or, in the case of children, to parents. That choice does not belong to self-appointed book police.

-Deborah Caldwell-Stone

I‘m never not impressed when the literary gods let me know they pay attention. I checked this book out from the library on the same day as I checked out Anne Heche‘s twenty year old memoir, which I‘ve been meaning to read since she died. And here Anne is, referenced in an unexpected place.

It felt fitting to finish this one today. A powerful account of one woman‘s fight against censorship and her right to free speech as the book banners in her community attacked her relentlessly and without cause. This is happening to librarians and citizens all over the US as white nationalists try to take our country back decades. I was angered, informed, and inspired. I highly recommend! #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

A bit repetitive at times, but just ridiculous how people are trying to ban books. Super important to pay attention!
#NFNovember @Bookwormjillk

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

A book that is definitely needed right now!

Amanda Jones refused to back down when she found herself caught up in book censorship dispute in Louisiana. I truly appreciate her for sharing her story and not shying away from the emotional toil it took on her and her family.

The writing does get repetitive, but this is a book that needs to be read and talked about.

Started tagged book on a beautiful fall walk!
@PuddleJumper #flerken

Starting these today. I‘ll read the first chapter of each and see which pulls me in first.

Very timely and important story on the current wave of book challenges and attempts to restrict access to books in libraries from the perspective of a middle school librarian who spoke out against these acts at a public library board meeting-as a citizen- and was targeted by online bullies for the other side. She fought back. Not great writing (very repetitive) but unfortunately very necessary.

I‘m giving this book a so-so because it was so repetitive but otherwise it‘s an important read.

I know many Littens are just as horrified as I am about the wave of book bans cropping up across US. Amanda Jones, an award winning school librarian in the South, spoke up against censorship in a town meeting and was then subjected to a massive hate filled smear campaign. She was called a groomer and a pedophile. She lost friends. Her story is scary and infuriating. The telling of it in this book does get repetitive but her point gets driven home.

Don't mess with the library! This award winning middle school librarian was disgustingly defamed, bullied online, and sent death threats in the mail for voicing her concerns about book banning at the local Louisiana public library. This only served to throw Amanda Jones further into activism. The book gave me some hope that adult minds can be changed.

Half Price Books sent me a birthday coupon 🧁

Today, I received this arc of “That Librarian” by Amanda Jones.

This is part memoir, part manifesto of Amanda‘s story advocating for inclusivity on the front lines in our schools & libraries today.

Here alone in North Carolina, there were at least 18 attempts to restrict access to books in North Carolina. These attempts included challenges to about 114 books in total last year.

Reviewing That Librarian is a tad unfair because I have worked with Amanda Jones for years, but that being said, I genuinely did not know how bad things had been for her and this memoir is an urgent call for decorum as much as it is one against censorship.