Topic: Harry Potter

Banned Books WeeK: Celebrating the freedom to read

September 21, 2008 |

In celebration of Banned Books Week, Clarksville Online will offer our readers articles, and Best Books lists — yes, lists — of the best in literature for both adults and children.  Have you read a banned Book? We hope so!

Banned Books Week:  Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week  of September each year.   Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores. The Library of Congress Center for the Book endorses it.

Many bookstores and libraries across the nation join in the celebration with displays and readings of books that have been banned or threatened throughout history.  These include works ranging from the Bible to John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Education, Events, Issues, News | No Comments

Book Burning: Fueling flames of censorship

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 3, 2007 |

Though it seems hard to believe, the 21st century opened with a series of book burnings, with the most obvious target being the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowlings. The burnings began with Harry Potter and a raging fire, but moved into subtler forms in the shape of governmental dousing not just of the flames but the books — any books –that fuel individuality, that encourage opposing points of views, that question the authority and ‘the way things are.” To those not sleeping at the wheel of their rights, it’s scary out there. Intellectual caffeine required to stay alert to the threat.

“On Sunday evening, members of the Harvest Assembly of God Church in Penn Township sing songs as they burn books, videos and CDs that they have judged offensive to their God.”

–Butler Eagle, Pittsburg PA March 26, 2001

“Two groups of people argued over the definition of evil Thursday night in Kennedy Park. One group said it was embodied in the messages contained in the Harry Potter novels. The second group countered that evil lives in those who want to ban books and censor what men, women and children can read.”

– Jesus Party, Opposition Square Off over Potter Books, 11/16/01

I have to come up on the side of that second group, and move on to ask them what exactly they are afraid of? Are they so insecure in their beliefs and their reality that that they have to persecute — ideas? Imagination? Are “they” afraid that someone may have a better idea?

«Read the rest of this article»

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‘Deathly Hallows’ offers tragedy, triumph

By Christine Anne Piesyk | July 21, 2007 |

True to her word, J.K. Rowling brought the Harry Potter saga to an end with the seventh and final installment of the series, the 759 page Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but not without its share of tragedy and triumph.

On the heels of the heart-wrenching death of the beloved Professor Dumbledore in Book 6 comes a series of often brutal skirmishes and long-awaited climatic battle between good and evil, between love and hate, between Harry and his nemesis, the evil Lord Voldmort.  It’s a sometimes dark and ominous book into which the beauty of love, the power of hope, and the nobility of honor emerge.

For the first time in the series, the primary settings are not the mystical Hogwarts castle and grounds; Harry, Hermoine and Ron are on the run, fleeing from dementors, death eaters and Voldemort himself, sheltering everywhere but at the once safe school of witchcraft and wizardry. With a handful of items — wands, the invisibility cloak, a few legacies from Dumbledore — the intrepid trio work from the shadows to unravel the mysteries of the horcruxes and a new mystery known as the deathly hallows. Skirmishes abound, with forays into the ethereal beauty of a wedding, the haunting sadness of Potter’s old home (now a commemorative site in the wizarding world), and a revisit to the Chamber of Secrets. «Read the rest of this article»

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An update from Miss Trelawney’s Sister

By Debbie Boen | July 21, 2007 |

Miss Trelawney’s sister did hand readings all night long at Hastings.  She recognized the colors of adventure, magic, self love, vitality, pure energy, and ability to see spirit, in all present.  In the process she met many wonderful and creative people all night like Cynthia Smith (AKA J. K. Rowlings) and her daughters Rebecca and Katie pictured above.  She met many parents who, even if their own backgrounds were quite different, create the safe space needed for children to find and use their own creative colors .  It was a validation of human spirit. 

Miss Trelawney’s one grimm message is that our society has a menace that will take away all our beautiful colors if we let it.  It is the TV.  She warns that our good creative colors can be wiped out daily by this kind of death eater.   «Read the rest of this article»

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Harry Potter’s spell enchants local Books-A-Million

By David W. Shelton | July 21, 2007 |

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale at 12:01 am on Saturday Morning in stores all across the country. Clarksville Online editor David W. Shelton presents the events at Books-A-Million in Clarksville and at the Barnes & Noble in the country’s largest shopping mall, the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

No matter how ‘deathly’ the ‘hallows’ may seem, nothing could hold back the hordes of fans that filled bookstores across Clarksville on Friday night. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling’s final book about the boy wizard, went on sale at 12:01 A.M. on Saturday, July 21, 2007. The local Books-A-Million store was one of several “Potter” parties held throughout Clarksville.

The store’s manager, Tim Lause, said this was the second Harry Potter release that he oversaw here in Clarksville. Employees were still selling copies of the book up until the final minute. Since the book wasn’t released until after midnight, fans received a voucher that would be traded for a book once the witching hour began. «Read the rest of this article»

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“Miss Trelawney’s sister” to appear at Hastings Book Store

By Debbie Boen | July 20, 2007 |

I just received owl mail informing me that Miss Trelawney will be at Hastings Bookstore tonight, the eve of the release of the new Harry Potter book.  She will be performing hand readings on children of all ages.  It is rumored that this is not the Miss Trelawney in the Harry Potter books, but her sister, Dee Dee. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, both sisters seem to have received “the gift” of reading spirit in crystal balls, tea leaves and hands.   The 7th and last book in the Harry Potter series will be released at 12 midnight tonight.  Grimm news that the Dark Lord has come into full power and can only be stopped by an unlikely hero is the breathtaking reality.  We wait to see if the pure hearts of the adventurous children can overcome the death eaters.  But what has this got to do with you?  «Read the rest of this article»

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