Blog — banned books

Here in Tampa Bay, strawberries usually mean shortcakes and sundaes at Plant City’s Strawberry Festival. But for Stephen King fans, the fruit carries a darker weight. In Thinner, the cursed strawberry pie isn’t a celebration of sweetness at all—it’s the embodiment of justice, proof that even life’s sweetest indulgences can conceal a bitter reckoning.

 

 I recently sold a beautiful, old copy of Jane Eyre which is about a courageous young woman who falls in love. The timing was auspicious, so I thought I'd also discuss a client's book series whose covers I designed. “Child of the Mountain Gods” is a modern take on Charlotte Bronte's feminist heroine and trailblazer writing style.

 

 

Artist Karen Strum explores the deeper meaning behind The Mad Tea Party—a watercolor inspired by Alice, absurdity, and the power of walking away.

On March 14th we celebrate International Pi Day. “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel  tells the story of a young Indian who is lost at sea in a lifeboat with an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena, and a tiger. A reviewer wrote that “Life of Pi” was about God, survival, and tiger training. I showed my fine art at a Big Cat Rescue Fundraiser in Tampa which rescues exotic cats and rehabilitates injured or orphaned native wild cats. Big Cat Rescue was the subject of Netflix's “Tiger King” not long after the fundraiser.

The BBC launched a popular Sherlock Holmes television series, and as an illustrator, I've had all sorts of requests for “fan art” which I am happy to share. He has played an important role in the development of modern day forensics, but not without a controversial book banning. All of which adds to his appeal so I thought it would be a perfect topic for discussion.