WORLD BOOK DAY: FEBRUARY 23 11.2K
Total Views: 332 By Jonathan Goetz February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) — World Book Day is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The main purpose of World Book Day is to encourage people of all ages to discover the joy of books and reading. It also aims to support authors and publishers by raising awareness of their work and protecting their rights, according to Bing’s Copilot. It is celebrated on February 23 in many countries around the world, including the United States. The San Diego County Library offers a wide variety of books, as well as e-books and Kindle books, all free to readers. Or find a list of top-rated San Diego County bookstores here: visitcalifornia.com/bookstores-san-diego/ East County is home to Maxwell’s House of Books in La Mesa, rated as one of the Top 50 Indie Bookstores in the United States by the Huffington Post. In 2017 David Moye reported, “Maxwell’s has a lot of rare academic and scholarly titles as well as other hard-to-find titles. The owners are happy to engage in deep conversations about the books. It’s in a cozy neighborhood in a San Diego suburb and I feel like everyone is stopping by to say, ‘Hi.’” More recently, a lot of the talk has been about banned books. Banned books are books that have been censored or challenged in schools and libraries for various reasons, such as their content, language, or themes. Maxwell can tell you about banned books and why it is so important to continue reading, as well as the importance of East County Magazine within La Mesa and the greater East County. Some of the banned books are available at Maxwell’s House of Books, including: “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley “1984” by George Orwell “Animal Farm” by George Orwell “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood Barnes & Noble is a renowned retail bookseller and a leading provider of content, digital media, and educational products. With approximately 600 bookstores across the United States and a premier e-commerce site, BN.com, it has a significant presence in the literary world. B&N has at least two East County locations, one in La Mesa Grossmont Center, and another on Mission Gorge Road, in Santee. In 2023, several books faced challenges and attempts at removal from libraries and public-access spaces. These bans often targeted books written by or about people of color and those related to the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some of the most frequently challenged books, according to Bing’s Copilot: “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe: This insightful and frank memoir explores the experience of being nonbinary and asexual. “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell: A story about bonded penguins Roy and Silo, and their adopted egg. “This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson: A book that delves into LGBTQ+ experiences and identities. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews: A novel about friendship, loss, and self-discovery. “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins: A powerful novel that tackles addiction and its impact on a teenager’s life. “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas: The second book in the fantasy series “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Pérez: A historical novel dealing with race, love, and tragedy. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie: A coming-of-age story about a Native American boy navigating life on and off the reservation. “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison: A novel exploring themes of identity, ambition, and social class. These books, despite facing challenges, play a crucial role in promoting diversity, empathy, and understanding. Reading diverse books not only broadens our perspectives but also enhances literacy and fosters a more equitable society. World Book Day is a great opportunity to celebrate your love of books and reading, and to discover new and exciting stories. You can join the celebration by reading a book, sharing a story, dressing up as your favorite character, or just pick up a book laying around your house with a goal to read for five minutes, and see if five minutes don’t turn into twenty. Editor’s Note: Maxwell’s House of Books is a supporter of East County Magazine Printer-friendly version
11.2K viewsBORDERS BOOKS DECLARES BANKRUPTCY, FOLDS EL CAJON STORE 9K
Total Views: 107 February 17, 2011 (El Cajon) – Closing a chapter for local book lovers, the Borders Group has announced plans to close 200 Borders bookstores nationwide, including stores at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon and in the Gaslamp district downtown. The company filed for bankruptcy reorganization after running up over a billion dollars in debt. Three San Diego County stores will remain at Mission Valley, Carmel Mountain Ranch and National City. Craig Maxwell, owner of Maxwell House of Books in La Mesa, observed that books are more available than ever before in both physical and digital formats, Yet he wrote in an e-mail to ECM, “Ironically, the popularity of reading (real literature) is at an all time low. I would suggest that the causes of this decline consist primarily of cultural (i.e., religious, moral and educational) factors that run beneath–deeper–than economic explanations.” Others have cited the rise in electronic media as a factor in the younger generation’s declining interest in books amid an era where information on revolutions is texted and Twittered, while video games and surfing the Internet fill those idle hours once occupied by reading books. CEO Scott Henry has said the company’s strategy going forward will include enhancing its customer loyalty program, aggressively expanding Borders.com and its e-book market share, offering more non-book items, cutting costs and improving customer service. Another 75 stores may need to be closed, he said, according to the Associated Press. Although Borders was a competitor in the book-vending business, Maxwell laments the demise. “I don’t see how the loss of a bookstore can be interpreted as anything but a sad commentary on society,” he said, “especially one that purports to be self-governing. How can a democracy run by illiterates work?” Printer-friendly version
9K viewsAUTHORS TO APPEAR AT READER’S INC BOOKSTORE DURING LA MESA’S CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE 6.9K
Total Views: 33 November 29, 2010 (La Mesa)—During La Mesa’s Christmas in the Village holiday celebration on December 10 and 11, the Readers, Inc. bookstore will have numerous authors speaking. Below is a schedule of events. Friday, Dec. 10 5-9pm Tom Kirkbride, author of Gamadin series will appear, along with Doug Richards, author of The Prometheus Project trilogy, Jordan Reimer, author of Love On Lemon Lane, Maggie Espinoza, author of The Priviledged Pooch, Luxury Travel With Your Pet, Anne Bromley, author of The Lunch Thief, Jeffrey Garcia, author of Santa Claus and the Molokai Mules: A Hawaiian Island Surfing Adventure, Larry Keough, author of Fragilly and Dirty Dan. Saturday, Dec. 11 5-9pm Kevin Gerard, author of Conor and the Crossworlds series, James Newland, author of La Mesa, Mara Price, author of Grandma’s Chocolate, a bilingual picture book, Rene Lainez Colato, author of From North to South and several bilingual picture books, Laura Locomara, author of Floating On Mama’s Song, a bilingual picture book, Suzanne Santillian, author of Grandma’s Pear Tree, a bilingual picture book, Irene Hunt, author of To Be A Honey Bee Like Me, and several bug picture books, Larry Keough, author of Fragilly and Dirty Dan, Eleanor Ramrath Garner, author of Eleanor’s Story: Living In Hitler’s Germany, Udo Wahn, author of Cabo and Coral Go Surfing, a picture book series, Toni Hood and Marjorie Krausz, authors of A Flight of Greed and Glory, Kristen Johnson, author of The Eleventh Sense, Tom Kirkbride, author of the Gamadin series, and Doug Richards, author of The Prometheus Project trilogy. Christmas in the Village has become a family tradition for the last 20 years in downtown La Mesa. Streets closed to traffic and open to strolling minstrels, carolers, sitting on Santa’s lap, puppet shows, a horse drawn carriage ride, carnival rides, crafts, vendors, and cute La Mesa Village shops, and restaurants. For more information on Readers, Inc., which is located at 8219 La Mesa Blvd., see www.readersinconline.com. For information on Christmas in the Village, see http://www.lmvma.com/SeasonalEvents/Christmas-In-The-Village.aspx. Printer-friendly version
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