Tag Archives: IDAHO

Movies Based on Banned Books

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Banned books are trending on social media and in the news. Parent groups concerned about the content in books stage protests and overrun school and library board meetings. If you’re not a reader and want to know what this banned book whoopla is all about, have I got a surprise for you. Many banned books have been made into movies!

Common refrains from book banners are, “Books should have a rating system, like movies” and “Books for adults should be kept separate from books for children.”

Both of those things already happen! Books are rated and organized according to age-appropriateness and reading level. There’s no way a child perusing picture books would accidently stumble across a western, a romance, or even a Christian fiction novel because they are all shelved in different parts of the library.

But my question to book banners is, “If the books are so bad, how come no one is trying to ban the movie?”

Below, I’ve outlined the basics of how books are organized and catalogued in schools and libraries. I’ve also included lists of popular movies based on banned books for each category. Continue reading →

Idaho’s Banned Books

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There are several problems with banned books lists, the first of which is that they keep getting longer. The American Library Association (ALA) reported a record number of book bans in 2022. Last year there were 1,269 attempts to ban books, up from 729 in 2021 and 156 in 2020. And they just keep coming.

The other problem is deciding which list to check. Do you want children’s books, novels, classic literature, or nonfiction? Do you want books banned anywhere in the United States or only those banned in your state? Do you want a list of the most banned books of all time or just those that were banned last year? How about a list of banned books that are over 100 years old? Or better, how about a list of 100-year-old books that were banned last year? 

After a lot searching, I’ve created a list of 83 books recently banned in the State of Idaho. Continue reading →

City Spotlight: Viola

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My most recent article, “Viola: Here, Gone, and Coming Back” appears in the March 2023 issue of IDAHO Magazine. The article contains Viola history, ghostly run-ins, and interviews with current businesses and residents, along with a little hope for the future. Locally, IDAHO magazine is available at BookPeople of Moscow.

Purchase a copy directly from IDAHO Magazine for just $6 here:
Buy it now!
OR
Purchase only the Viola article for $1.99 here:
Viola—Spotlight – IDAHO magazine

Thank you for supporting Idaho businesses and Idaho authors.

Lake of Spirits: Payback in a New Novel

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I recently completed a book review of Stuart Scott’s novel, Spirit Lake Payback for the December 2021 issue of IDAHO Magazine. The article is more than just a book review. It also contains some juicy tidbits on the history of Spirit Lake, Idaho. Both Scott’s novel and the current edition of IDAHO magazine are available from BookPeople of Moscow.

Purchase your copy directly from IDAHO Magazine:
Buy it now!
OR
Purchase only the article and review here:
Lake of Spirits – IDAHO magazine

Continue reading →

Storm: The Cat who Lived

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The topic of my most recent article for IDAHO Magazine is Storm, a blind foundling I plucked from the ditch during my morning walk. Storm was incredibly tiny when I found her and despite being gravely ill, she rallied and survived. She even managed to overcome blindness. But, what is really remarkable about this tale is that neither the veterinarian nor I killed her.

To explain that last sentence, I need to back up a few years. Continue reading →

Grizzly Ghosts

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Looking for spine chilling ways to amuse your family during this time of social distancing?  My article, “Grizzly Ghosts: Tales of the Hoodoos” was published in the April 2020 edition of IDAHO Magazine.  The article covers ghost stories new and old that have been passed around campfires by decades of scouts attending Camp Grizzly as well as some mysterious happenings that occurred elsewhere in the Hoodoos. Continue reading →

Who Swiped the Dishrags?

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My article “Who Swiped the Dishrags?” appears in the November issue of IDAHO Magazine and talks about many of the wonderful surprises my neighbors have gifted me with over the years.  IDAHO Magazine can be purchased at BookPeople of Moscow.  Also, copies are available for check out from the Potlatch Public Library and the Moscow City Library.  If you somehow missed out getting a copy at any of those locations, you can always buy a copy online directly from the publisher at:

https://www.idahomagazine.com/shop/2018-11-november-2018-menan/

If you enjoyed this story you might also enjoy “Zucchini Bandits.”  Continue reading →

Idaho Magazine, May 2018

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My story about treating Bruce to dinner in Harrison for his birthday is featured in the May 2018 issue of IDAHO Magazine. You can read the whole story for free by following the link.  (I suspect the free read will only be offered for a short time, so if you’re curious, read it now!)

IDAHO Magazine rules state that authors cannot mention businesses unless they are advertisers, so the restaurant where we dinned is not specifically mentioned in the story.  However, I am please to say that we dinned at The Landing.  The proprietors, John and Shawna Nelson, out did themselves to provide a perfect evening and I look forward to dining there again, when Bruce returns the favor and treats me for my birthday in June.

More pictures from around the area are below, I hope you enjoy them.

Continue reading →

Feral Cat Fiasco

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My story, Feral Cat Fiasco: Lovable Until They’re Not, is featured in the January 2018 edition of Idaho Magazine.  There were several edits to the story so as not to offend the sensibilities of the magazine’s readers.  However, I have no such apprehensions, so you can read a bit that was cut from the story below.

Also, to see more information about my troubles with feral cats, check out this post on Feral Cat Solutions.

The Cut Bit:

Well, if they want to maintain a feral cat colony, let them do it at their house, I thought.  And that’s when an idea took root. Continue reading →

A Flair for Solar Cooking

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My article, A Flair for Solar Cooking, And Sparks over the “Hippy” Method is featured in the August 2017 edition of IDAHO Magazine.

Sharon Cousins, was kind enough to share her experience with me during a solar cooking lesson at her residence in Viola, Idaho.  The story includes a recipe for her famous vanilla cake which, I can assure you, is delicious.  While waiting for the cake to bake, she regaled me with tales of solar cooking adventures from around the world.

Photo: Sharon proudly displays her golden vanilla cake, which miraculously came out of the pan in one piece!  Photo Credit: Joshua Yeidel

Locals can read a copy of IDAHO Magazine at either the Moscow or Potlatch libraries.  Or if you would like your own copy, they are generally available at BookPeople of Moscow.  Also, a copy of this issue can be purchased directly from IDAHO Magazine by clicking here: http://www.idahomagazine.com/shop/2017-8-august-2017-sugar-city/