Cover Your Ears

In the news there has been a story that I have a strong personal opinion about. If you have not hear, NewSouth Books is going to re-print Mark Twain's classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with one crucial change, the N-word, that fills Twain's book, is going to be removed and replaced by slave. Now let's get one thing clear, I do not like the N-word, I find it offensive and do not like to say it. That being said The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic book, by changing this key word that exposing racism and the social setting of the time you are completely changing the book. The used of the N-word in Huck Finn is meant to shock readers and is used as a literary devise. If Mark Twain wanted the word slave to be used he would have wrote it like that originally. 
America has become too soft and spoiled. Just because something like a word upsets so people they have to change it to please everyone. Well guess what? I AM NOT PLEASED! You can't just change the past. Replacing the N-word with slave does not change the fact that the N-word was used and is offensive or the meaning behind it. The word slave doesn't have the same meaning as the N-word and changes the meaning of the book. 
If you don't feel comfortable reading a book with the N-word so many times don't read it! But don't be a sour puss and wreak a fine piece of literature for everyone else. 

A Love For Words

I have always loved reading and writing. A few weeks ago I came cross a letter from my third grade teacher saying she had never had a student who loved to write as much as I did. Knowing this it makes the confession I am about to make not as shocking. And I do have a confession to make... Here it is: I love to read the dictionary. Yeah most people don't find a dictionary a literary  classic but let me explain. My mom recently got our family an new dictionary and it's AMAZING! It's so fun going through and finding all these new words you have never heard of. Reading the dictionary might be really nerdy but who cares! ;) Next time you're bored just pick one up and discover all the marvelous words stores inside.