Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme perfect for word nerds like me. For links to more interesting words, visit Kathy over at Bermudaonion.net.
My word today is inspired by comment from last week’s Word Nerd Workout. I asked for synonyms for bellicose, and Nicole gave me truculent, a truly awesome word. I remember the first time I heard it, in the movie Jerry Maguire.
For those of you who are too young to know, Jerry Maguire tells the story of a sports agent who grows weary of the vicious ambition in his business and decides it would be better to have fewer clients and better relationships. When this philosophy gets him fired, he ends up running his own company with one very demanding client.
By the way, this flick is the only Tom Cruise movie that I’ve ever liked because he plays a bit of a loser, instead of a hot-shot. And Cuba Gooding, Jr., as the bombastic Rod Tidwell, makes me laugh.
Rod Tidwell always has truculent confrontations with the media; he often shakes his fist and shouts at reporters.
truculent \’trek-yə-lənt\ adj, from the Latin truc-, trux, meaning fierce; feeling or displaying ferocity; cruel, harsh; aggressively self-assertive (this fits Rod Tidwell the best)
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a truculent character from movies or literature. My suggestion: Tybalt, from Romeo and Juliet.
Sometimes, getting to all the great books I want to read means that I must listen to them. This is especially handy during my long commutes to and from my kids’ sports practice. When I can find a book that is friendly for all ears in my family, I’m really excited!
I started using audio books about a year ago. At first, I got most of them from iTunes. But I soon switched to Audible.com, and here’s why.
Price, Convenience, Selection
Older books on iTunes don’t cost too much- about $10 per book. You can also find specials, like great teen reads for $3.99. Or good deals on popular books. For example, September 2013 releases from Stephen King and Nicolas Sparks only cost $10 right now. But I’m interested in the Artemis Fowl series. The first few books cost $15 each, but as the series progressed, the cost increased! The most recent AF releases cost over $20 a piece on iTunes. Ouch!
Also, iTunes doesn’t have all of the books in the AF series. I found a promotion from Audible and took the plunge. So far, there has not been a book I’ve wanted that I can’t find. And it’s easy to download books from Audible to my iPod.
Membership Plans
Admittedly, it’s hard to find the fine print about membership on Audible’s web site. Here are helpful links:
Available plans, as of August 2015. (For up to date info, go to the help center and search membership plans.)
I actually called the company when I signed up and spoke to a rep who recommended the Gold Plan. Gold Plan Membership includes:
an annual fee of ~ $150 for 12 credits
1 credit = 1 book (so 1 book costs $12.50)
6 roll over credits per year (so if I don’t use all 12, I can keep 6 for the next year)
30% off all books not bought with credits
So far, I’m happy. I’ve been able to find all the books I want to “read”, and $12.50 seems like a great price when a lot of books cost $20+. If I get close to the end of my membership period, I can always download a bunch of books to my computer until I’m ready to listen- I’m sure I’ll always use my credits in time.
If you want to try Audible, they offer a 30 day free trial membership. After that, you pay $14.95 per month. If you cancel before the end of the 30 day trial, you won’t be charged anything. I actually did this, downloaded two books, then cancelled my membership and resigned up a few months later at the Gold Membership level, since $12.50 beats $14.95!
Technical Stuff
To use Audible books, you must download the Audible Manager software. (easy). Once you purchase books, you can tell the manager to download them to your favorite device: smartphone, tablet, iPod, or computer. Also, with many books, there’s a link between the Kindle version and the Audible version, so you can switch between reading and listening. But you must own both the Kindle book and the audio book to switch between reading and listening. You also need Audible mobile app and the Kindle app.
Suggested Audio Titles
My next “read”
Whether you use Audible or not, audio books are a great way to get in more reading. I highly recommend the Artemis Fowl series, narrated by Nathaniel Parker. He’s an excellent reader, using multiple accents to distinguish between characters. I also really enjoyed the audio versions of Wonder and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.
For a fantastic list of recommended audio titles visit
***Addendum. If you don’t like a book you download from Audible, you can return it up to one year after purchase. I hated The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald. I returned it and Audible gave me my credit back. Yippee!
Have you tried an Audible membership? How was your experience? Can you recommend another source for audio books?
It’s time for Wondrous Words Wednesday! For more great words to add to your vocab, visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net.
I like to listen to the news on the way to school, but my kids complain that it’s always negative. War in Syria, shootings in the US, and fights in Congress. The past few days have had a lot of coverage on the current battle at the Capitol over the budget and the health care bill.
I wish they would stop bickering and get to work.
Anyway, I heard a great word nerdy word:
The bellicose politicians refuse to back down in their fight to defund “Obamacare.”
bellicose \’bel-I-cōs\ adj, from Latin bellicus, of war; favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
I knew “bella” means pretty; clearly “belli” has a very different meaning!
Word Nerd Workout
There are TONS of synonyms for this word. What does that say about us? Anyway, leave a few in the comments. I’ve featured one as a word nerd word before. I’ll give you a hint:
I’m a conservative mother. I don’t let my kids watch PG-13 movies until they are 13. And I reserve the right to label some books as “PG-13” as well. But would I want them banned from schools and libraries? No way.
We need to be cognizant of what we expose ourselves and our children to. According to the ALA site, most book bans start from this premise: to protect children.
But removing books from public access doesn’t sit well with this word nerd. Especially since I know that in our society, explicit language and sexual content abound on radio, TV, and the Internet. We could take Looking for Alaska out of the library. But a kid can go home and watch a You Tube video that glorifies smoking and sex but lacks the important and eloquent messages that come along with Alaska: the struggle to handle ambiguity; learning to grieve; finding one’s place in a confusing world.
One also wouldn’t learn any cool new vocabulary. 😉
My husband, aka Devil’s Advocate, points out that watching TV and viewing You Tube are private activities. Libraries and most schools are public institutions. But please. Wouldn’t it be better for kids to read, think about, and discuss the controversial topics of racism or abuse or sexuality in the context of a book? Perhaps, best case, under the guidance of an adult/parent/teacher?
Most Frequently Banned
Here’s the list of the ten most banned/ challenged books of 2012:
Captain Underpants
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Thirteen Reasons Why
Fifty Shades of Grey
And Tango Makes Three
The Kite Runner
Looking for Alaska
Scary Stories
The Glass Castle
Beloved
Have you read any of these? I have. And I can understand the concern about offensive content. I couldn’t even get through Beloved because of its raw and powerful description of the ramifications of slavery. And I’m no fan of Captain Underpants, but if it gets a kid interested in reading, why not?
Now, if any of my children come home with 50 Shades of Grey, I’ll tell them it’s rated R, and they need to wait until they are eighteen. Yikes. Would any school librarian really buy that for the library?
Here is a list of often banned classics:
The Great Gatsby
The Catcher in the Rye
The Grapes of Wrath
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Color Purple
Lord of the Flies
Of Mice and Men
Gone With the Wind
The Lord of the Rings
These books are all icons of literature, and their value far outshines their offensive content. Again, I have never liked The Catcher in the Rye, but I want my kids to read it and discuss it with me. My thirteen year old recently read Lord of the Flies, and we compared it to The Hunger Games in its commentary on human nature. Later, we could add Heart of Darkness to that reading list.
Why Banning is Bad
In short, I realize that some words offend. But having no words at all would be much worse. I don’t want to perseverate on controversial issues, but I can’t hide from them either. Why not start the conversation with a book?
How do you feel about the idea of banning books with offensive content?
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, an awesome meme for Word Nerds hosted by Kathy at Bermudaonion.net. Visit her site for links to fun and interesting words!
It’s Banned Books Week, and I had to pick a word that fits the theme of the week: bringing attention to books that have been banned or removed from libraries and schools for offensive content.
The editor wanted to expunge the offensive language from the manuscript, but the author refused censor his own work.
Expunge \ik-‘spənj\ verb; from Latin expungere to mark for deletion by dots; to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion; to efface completely; to eliminate (as a memory) from one’s consciousness
Words can build up or destroy. We must be careful how we use them; we should be aware of what we read. But I’m not comfortable with expunging the words, or volumes, of another writer, even if I don’t agree with them.
Word Nerd Workout
Complete this analogy, with a review of another good word for Banned Books Week!
expunge:delete:: expurgate: __________
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
Banned Books Week Giveaway!
Anyone who comments on the blog between Sept 20 and 29 will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Looking for Alaska or another banned book from the ALA’s Banned Books List.
For links to other great posts on banned books, visit Sheila over at Book Journey.
Tell me how you feel about banning books, or share some of your favorite banned books.
Have you ever been upset to discover that one of your favorite books has been banned? I have. Sheila over at Book Journey wants to spread awareness about banned books, and I’m joining in!
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.
Now, I admit, I have some issues with Looking for Alaska, by John Green. But do I think it should be banned? No way.
Looking for Alaska has the witty voice, literary references, and BIG IDEAS that I’ve come to expect from Mr. Green. It earned the Printz Award for excellence in YA literature as well as a recommendation from Common Sense Media for older teen reads.
Miles Halter has never fit in. He decides to leave his public high school in Florida for a private boarding school in the sweltering heat of Alabama. There, in his search for “The Great Perhaps”, he meets Alaska Young. She’s curvy, talks about “boob honks,” and has a suicidal smoking habit.
Immediately, Miles is smitten.
I wanted to smack him in the head.
What I didn’t like
I realized quickly that the tone of this novel is much different from Paper Towns or The Fault in Our Stars.
Crudeness prevails. But, this is a story told by a 17-year-old boy living with other teens under minimal supervision.
Miles never resists the pressure to smoke. Day one, he lights up.
Very important: Alaska annoys me. She spouts off about our patriarchal society and its objectification of women while she’s wearing a tight tank top and short cut-offs. She says she’s “not trying to be flirty” when she lays down and puts her head in Miles’s lap. She’s moody, self-absorbed, and screwed up. But Miles, and many of his companions, love her. (Foolish, hormonal boys!)
What I did like
Even though I didn’t enjoy the characters, I persevered to the end of Looking for Alaska. And I found some cool stuff.
Miles must write a paper that answers the question: “What is your cause for hope?” His insights are thoughtful and authentic. This question permeates the novel and is an excellent discussion point.
Mr. Green redeemed himself to me with his “Intentionally vague and broad discussion questions” in the reader’s guide. He pulls out the big issues of the book- forgiveness, ambiguity, grief, – and underscores the meaning behind all the adolescent shenanigans in his novel. On the issue of teen smoking, he asks, “Why would anyone ever pay money in exchange for the opportunity to acquire lung cancer and/or emphysema?” Oh, the symbolism!
Great lines like this:
If we could only see the endless string of consequences that result from our smallest actions. But we can’t know better until knowing better is useless.
See? Wow.
And so, despite the offensive content, I hope Looking for Alaska stays available to teens. Even though some parts made me cringe, other parts made me think. And that’s what matters.
Caveat: I don’t want my children to read it until they are at least 17, but that’s my decision, not the government’s.
Have you read a book like Looking for Alaska that had offensive content but also important big ideas? How do you feel about the banning of books?
Banned Books Week Giveaway!
Anyone who comments on the blog between Sept 20 and Sept 29 will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Looking for Alaska or another book from the ALA Banned book list. Share your thoughts!
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme perfect for word nerds like me. For links to more interesting words, visit Kathy over at Bermudaonion.net.
By the way, this flick is the only Tom Cruise movie that I’ve ever liked because he plays a bit of a loser, instead of a hot-shot. And Cuba Gooding, Jr., as the bombastic Rod Tidwell, makes me laugh.
