The Freedom To Read

I've been talking about book banning for a while now, but to recap: books are good!  Let people read books!  Let trained librarians make good choices for us. Banning books takes away books from everyone.  It is not true that banned books sell more because people automatically buy books they can't find in their library.  Often they don't know the book is even there to miss.   And yes, books should be age appropriate.  So maybe kindergarten kids don't need calculus books just yet.  But that doesn't mean calculus books shouldn't exist or even be in the library.  

Also, if I thought these weirdoes who keep banning books were serious about keeping kids safe, they wouldn't keep banning a picture book about penguins.  A non-fiction picture book about penguins I might add.  

But what can you do instead of just agreeing with me and clicking away.  Tell your library you love their books.  Tel your city council, and or other local government entities you love books.  You support the library.  You want the library funded.  Staffed even.  That libraries make things better.  Also, if you haven't checked out a book in a while, do that.  

Weekend

I went up to New York for a quick trip that included a friend's book launch. (Amaya's second book.For the early readers in your life. Here's where I talked about book 1: http://www.talkapedia.com/2024/09/mi-tierra.html?m=1) 

In the train station in DC I arrived early enough to chill in the waiting area. When they made the announcement for the train, predictably a number of people leapt up and rushed off, even though the train stops for about thirty minutes in DC. One parent said to the two children with him, "Hey, just because other people are rushing, I don't want you two to think you have to be in a hurry." 

And I thought wow, that is kind of profound. We were all going to line up and then wait and then get on the same train. Sure, having earlier pick of the seats may be important to you, but all the other people were going to be riding the same train. So you could rush. Or you could choose not to. And we were all still going to be on the same train going to the same place. 

The quiet car remains a delightful piece of our society that we should mirror in other places. The book launch went great. 

I grabbed some food and then went to see "Hadestown". Despite my spoiler phobia in other places, Hadestown was a show I had gone deep into the rabbit hole on. The internet makes this so much easier. I've seen videos from the Dutch and Australian casts, and own both the original Broadway cast album and the London cast recording. Oh the Tiny Desk too. 

I put myself on a moratorium of videos and music ahead of the show, but had managed to learn that Jack Wolfe had 

 the cast. I had enjoyed his work on the "Next to Normal" revival. 

I don't know that a Tony winning show in it's sixth year on Broadway needs my review. It's a sung through musical, so the cast album gives you a lot. But of course there are always delightful things you learn or hear differently when watching it love. Despite my adoration of happy endings, I continue to find resonance in a story about trying to right things. In, to paraphrase Hermes telling a tale you hope will turn out differently.