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Food for Thought!

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Write On! Publishing, Wayne Tilden

The following essay was posted on BookRix by screen name “elisa1215” on Mar 8th 2012 at 12:11:29. If you will note her first and 18th paragraphs.

As writers and publishers, I think we can’t help but agree with this post.

Read on!

Censorship vs. gagging.

“My Dad is uploading his work onto smashwords. Mark Coker, the site owner wrote him a message. This was his response, which he asked me to sen to you all:

“Does the date:10,

Mai 1933 mean anything to you?

“It was a day of infamy as far as ‘non-German’ (aryan) literature was concerned.

“One can compare it to the a*****e [sic.] who caused a world-wide outrage when he announced he would burn copies of the Koran.

“We saw the consequences of the incident in Afghanistan when a number of the Holy book of Islam was burned.

“So, these articles that were forever destroyed, were only bits of paper and ink one might say.

“The Bible is written on ink and on paper, what if that were also burnt because of its literary content?

“‘So what?’ Some people will say.

“I say ‘shame’, others though, will cry out ‘Sacrilege’.

“The following was part of the ‘letter’.

“‘Two weeks ago, Paypal threatened to deactivate the account of Smashwords, if Smas

hwords did not immediately stop

selling certain categories of e-books that PayPal found offensive.

“‘This is censorship at its worst.

“‘Smashwords is a site dedicated to promoting new and established authors’ fiction and non-fiction.

“‘Today, I and other authors around the world now feel anger

and frustration, and we fear the day when censorship means your book, our books, our work will be cast into the fire, just because somebody does not agree to the contents.

“‘I fear a future where all books are banned (Fahrenheit 451), followed by all works of art.

“‘If you don’t agree with a book’s contents, then don’t read it.

“‘I once saw carved in stone, these words, “Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear”.

“‘I am all for freedom of speech, after they take that away, what follows?

“‘If you believe in free speech then pass this message on everywhere you can.’

“Paypal is owned by Ebay. “His master’s voice”.

“Thanks,

“Elisa.”

Censorship is not my (pay)pal! (gilshalev.com)
E-Books and Self-Publishing (writeonpublishing.wordpress.com)
Smashwords and the Evil Paypal Literary Censorship Campaign (atoasttodragons.com)

Filed under: censorship, publishing | Tagged: BookRix, e-books, Ebay, Paypal, publishing, SmashWords, writing | Leave a comment »

Comments and Ratings

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"To Kill a Mockingbird" was required reading when I was a freshman in high school. At that time, we also viewed the movie together as a class. It's surprising how true to the book the movie is.

The further information on whom the characters are based gives it a special enjoyment to me. If you didn't know, Scout is the author, Harper Lee, herself - who also narrated the movie, and Dill is Truman Capote, the author of "In Cold Blood", who actually was a summer neighbor and friend of Ms Lee.

Since then I have read the book a number of times just because I wanted to. It's still, as far as I'm concerned, a modern classic which should continue to be required reading.

Poland by James A. Michener
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While a very long book, Poland is a worthwhile read. Michener is at his best and is able to cover a very large period of time. The novel begins in 1204 and covers 777 years until 1981.

The author courageously covers the major wars, civil changes, and social changes. His descriptions, particular of the battles and subterfuges make you feel like you are intimately involved with the people and places.

While many of the characters are fictional, he manages to include, at least, references to historical figures. Pope John Paul II (Cardinal Karoly Wojtyla), Lech Walesa, Ronald Reagan, and others.

We are taken into battles between the Polish people and the Tatars, the Prussians, the Viennese, the "Great War" Germans, the Nazis, and the Communist Russians, to name a few. And each time Poland always "bounces back".

This is a protracted tome, but well worth the read. If you're interested in the minor countries place in the Middle Ages, in the relationship of those Slavic related countries, in World War I's place in Eastern Europe, and the beginnings of the freedom fight against the Russian Communists, then this is one great place to start - or to continue your reading and study.

Step up, take a deep breath, and enjoy.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have had many opportunities to have read this book before, but the scope of the story frightened me. After I found out that it covered the same period as Les Miserables - which I have read - I decided that it was time to read it.

This is a book of tremendous scope. I found it hard to keep track of some of the characters, but the overall story was excellent, and the principles were very well fleshed out and showed great humanity.

In many ways this was a "typical" Charles Dickens story. There are many storylines and some of the characters work in and out of the stories to tie the whole thing together.

I found this to be an enjoyable read and recommend it to any and all who are Dickens fans and any who are interested in the period of Louis the XVI, the guillotine, the storming of the Bastille and the French students' rebellion/riots/protests.

View all my reviews