Read –a-thon intro post

Where are you reading from today? I am reading from Kent Ohio

3 facts about me

After living in the south all my life I just moved to the north

This is my second read-a-thon

I love to meet new people

 

 

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours

I have five books.

 

 

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Not really. I find if I try and set goals and I don't meet them I feel as if I have failed.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Change settings often and have plenty of food and caffeine ready

I woke up in time to start the read-a-thon on time! I have been spending time checking the twitter hashtag and visiting blogs.

I have my books ready and am making coffee. I will start by finishing Woman:an Intimate Journey.

No Pity

This book was suggested by a friend. I have bipolar and I am Deaf. The Deaf part is a minor inconvenience if you ask me. The bipolar part is a huge obstacle. To be honest I was kind of feeling sorry for myself. What did I do to deserve such a thing as Bipoar etc. A friend suggested I empower myself and read books that show that I can deal with it and put the pieces of my life back together. Hence this book.
The title says it all. No Pity. It is true. Disabled people do not want pity but rather an equal chance to do what non disabled people take for granted. For example Deaf people want equal communication access. They do not want any special privileges just the chance to do the same job with the same pay and such as hearing people. Physically disabled people want equal access to public transportation so they can get to their jobs and be independent.
The part that really made me think was the section on mental retardation. I along with 99 percent of the population had always though people with mental retardation needed special help. This book tells otherwise. It shows that people with this can and do lead independent lives. It also goes to show that what people think and the reality is sometimes two completely different things.
That ties in with the major theme of this book. That non disabled peoples attitudes and not the actual disability is what holds most disabled people back. The author gives example after example of this. He also includes a section on ADA and how most businesses and people balk at the idea when in reality they just need to get creative and provide simple and affordable ways to accommodate people. He also shows that the ADA has even helped non disabled people. That when the rights of disabled people are implemented we all benefit.
This is a book I would recommend everyone read. If not for the enjoyment factor but for the education factor.

Sunday Salon

When you read this I will still be camping. Why in the world am I going camping in the north in OCTOBER? I asked myself that very same question. In all seriousness it is called Silent Weekend. It is where Deaf people an people learning ASL get together for a weekend of camping and fun. Of course me being me my in real life friends will have to pry me away from my books. This is my first weekend doing that here so maybe I will even make new friends.

On the reading front I spent all week reading No Pity. It is about the disability rights movement. It wasn't that it was difficult to read it just it made me stop and think. That slowed down my reading. It was a great book.  review will be up hopefully Monday.

I am now reading  CandyFreak. It makes me hungry when I read it but so far I like it. I will probably finish it today so then I will read Women: An intimate Geography. I have been meaning to read this for years but never got around to it. Then I saw an other blogger rave about it so I ordered it from the library.

I got most of my books I ordered from the Library. My friend was joking that most woman want a man with money and that sort of thing but give me a man with access to lots of books and I am happy!

I hope everyone has a happy reading week!