Sunday, 2 October 2011

There's A Banned Book In Town


LinkStand a chance to win  
1 Amazon.com voucher ($10)
from 24 September till 2 October 2011
(Scroll down for details)


How would you feel if you published a book that had you receiving death threats two decades after it was published? The Satanic Verses was published in September 1988 and to date is still banned in at least 11 countries with predominant Muslim communities such as India, Bangladesh, Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Thailand, Tanzania, Indonesia, Singapore,Venezuela and Pakistan. The book is said to be "blasphemous against Islam" in its detailed and fictional depiction of Islam's Satanic verses.

The title refers to a disputed Muslim tradition that is related in the book. According to this tradition, Muhammad (Mahound in the book) added verses (sura) to the Qur'an accepting three goddesses who used to be worshipped in Mecca as divine beings. According to the legend, Muhammad later revoked the verses, saying the devil tempted him to utter these lines to appease the Meccans (hence the "Satanic" verses).

Immediately after publication, the book caused such fury in the Muslim world to the point that bookstores were firebombed and Muslim communities in several nations in the West held public rallies burning copies of the book. Several people associated with translating or publishing the book were attacked, seriously injured, and even killed. Author Salman Rushdie was forced to live under police protection for many years. On 14 February 1989, a fatwā requiring Rushdie's execution was proclaimed on Radio Tehran by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of Iran at the time.

Rushdie has reported that he still receives a "sort of Valentine's card" from Iran each year on 14 February letting him know the country has not forgotten the vow to kill him. He said, "It's reached the point where it's a piece of rhetoric rather than a real threat." Iran has rejected requests to withdraw the fatwā on the basis that only the person who issued it may withdraw it, and the person who issued it – Ayatollah Khomeini – has been dead since 1989. (Sourced from Wikipedia)

Have I read this book? Yes. And I loved it as with all of other Salman Rushdie's books. Another Salman Rushdie book I found especially captivating was Shalimar The Clown. And now, for another juicy bit, the giveaway.



What You Need To Do
- Must follow @PandoraPoikilos on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/PandoraPoikilos
- Must "Like" Facebook page (Peace from Pieces)
https://www.facebook.com/peacefrompieces
- Email pandorapoikilos@gmail.com with the subject "Pandora's MidWinter"

What you need to know ...
- Winner will be picked at random
- Winner will be announced on 4 October 2011 at Peace from Pieces, you will have 48 hours to acknowledge receipt.
- Voucher is valid for Amazon.com only
- Terms and conditions of the voucher are as per Amazon.com

This MidWinter's Eve Giveaway Hop is organised by two very Blog-A-Licious blogs, I Am A Reader Not A Writer & I Read Banned Books and there are loads of giveaways happening so do come join us and check out the other 300++ participating blogs HERELink



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Books Sold - 6 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012

Some of you have asked me for my total number of books sold to evaluate KDP Select so here it is. Bear in mind, that results will vary based on genre and author. Good luck and remember, Keep Moving Forward.

Total - 120,836

1. Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out
Amazon Kindle - 42,559
Paperback -
Smashwords -

2. Frequent Traveller
Amazon Kindle - 35277
Paperback -
Smashwords -

3. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 1
Amazon Kindle - 462
Smashwords -

4. Mirror Me Martha (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 281
Smashwords -

5. Drive On Hope (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 190
Smashwords -

6. Blog-A-Licious Directory 2012
Amazon Kindle - 1
Smashwords -

7. Pandora's Reading Room 1
Amazon Kindle -
Paperback - N/A

8. The Cat That Barked (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle -

9. Dora's Essentials - Examining Anxiety
Amazon Kindle -

10. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 2
Amazon Kindle -

11. Elevenses from Around the World
Amazon Kindle -

12. Genetically Modified Foods vs. Sustainability
Amazon Kindle -

Blog-A-Licius - Sherbet Blossom

SherbetBlossom

Blog-A-Licious

Dealightfully Frugal

Blog-A-Licious - The Few, The Proud, The Wife

Blog-A-Licious

My Soul Slippers

Blog-A-Licous - Textbook Mommy

Blog-A-Licious - Blue Frogs Legs

Blog-A-Licious - Pretty All True

Pretty All True

Blog-A-Licious - tbaoo

tbaoo

Blog-A-Licious

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Blog-A-Licious - The Invisible Art

Blog-A-Licious - Rediscovering Domesticity

Rediscovering Domesticity

Blog-A-Licious - Quiver Full

Blog-A-Licious - Cori's Big Mouth

Blog-A-Licious - Great Fun

Greatfun4kids

Blog-A-Licious - Busy Wife

Blog-A-Licious - Steps To Happiness

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Blog-A-Licious - Toby & Max


Blog-A-Licious - Amelie

Raising Amelie

Blog-A-Licious - Peas In A Pod

Blog-A-Licious - Riley

Blognostics - Poetry

BlogNostics

My Awards - September 2010

My Awards - September 2010
Awarded By Jo Frances

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded By Alejandro Guzman

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded by Kriti Mukherjee

My Awards - April 2011

My Awards - April 2011
Awarded By Roy Durham

My Awards - June 2011

My Awards - June 2011
Awarded By Sulekha Rawat

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