Freedom of religion? Check. Freedom to bear arms? Check. Freedom to eat a whole box of Girl Scout Samoa cookies IF I WANT TO? Check. Freedom to read? Che...really? Yep. This week is Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA) "BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular." (I'd like to think that extends to blogging, as well.)
Apparently, I love banned books. Although I've never read The Color Purple, I never pass up a chance to watch it when it's on tv. Same with Gone With the Wind. I've read all of the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them all. I own everything by Toni Morrison. I named my husky Howard Silas after Silas Marner. And who doesn't love The Outsiders?
Two questions: 1) Are any of your favorites on the banned book list? and 2) If The Very Hungry Caterpillar can be banned for promoting obesity can someone please ban Nicholas Sparks for being simplistic, predictable and corny? Thanks.
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My favorites that are on that list are "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Bridge to Terabithia." Both are great stories. I can't believe that the Junie B. Jones series is on there, either! Just goes to show you that being controversial, imaginative or a grammar challenged 1st-grader can make for great reading.
ReplyDeleteI have read "The Color Purple" and although it does get pretty graphic at times, I feel that anyone who has ever been in an abusive situation might look to this book to find the strength to escape it. These books shouldn't be banned they should be mandatory reads! You need only look to our bigots to see the need for these books.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many books that I enjoyed reading on the banned book list - Toni Morrison, Judy Blume so many others. I know why the caged bird sings - classic. The Color Purple was great, as was Beloved. I pay no attention to the list and read as a matter of fact when i was in school many of the banned books were mandatory reading. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteYeah, amen on Nicholas Sparks. I read one book by him and that was enough to tell me he's not my kind of author. But it does give me hope that if I write something it might be published and I could make lots of money!
ReplyDeleteNow off to read the list. I'm sure I love plenty of it.
I don't even know where to start I love so many of those books. Where are they banned from ? Sorry I must have been sleeping under a mushroom.
ReplyDeleteIsn't amazing all the Judy Blume books that re on there? "Are you there God? It's me Margaret" is a teen girl classic! I am also a big fan of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lovely Bones and Of Mice and Men.
ReplyDeleteI love to read and when I was a child I loved reading Judy Blume books. I don't get the whole banning books, I mean come on.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious....some of those books are totally innocent - Junie B Jones, Captain Underpants and several others that Jarod has (I read with him and they are fine), WTH is banning these books, my God there are some real prudes and ignoramuses around. :(
ReplyDeleteThe Hungry Catepillar, you are kidding right! I like Nicolas Sparks but can make you feel bad if you have just a normal life, who doesn't want romance like that. I do love The Notebook and a Walk to Remember.
ReplyDeleteJunie B. Jones is banned? What? How bizarre! People are whacked...
ReplyDeleteOh thank God someone else doesn't LOOOOVE Nicholas Sparks. I was feeling a little "Emperor's New Clothes" there for a while.
ReplyDeleteSnow Falling on Cedars
ReplyDeleteBeloved
Go Ask Alice
I've never looked at the banned book list. Crazy. When I was younger I wanted to read Forever by Judy Blume. The librarian made my mom come in and give consent. She did so in front of me. Then she took my mom aside and talked to her for about 10 minutes about the evils of that book and how Judy Blume is "upity and scandalous for young minds". My mom then drove 30 minutes to the town next to us and purchased it for me. I was a freshman in high school.
Many of my favorites are on this list.
ReplyDeleteShame on any one who thinks that by reading a book I will be brainwashed into believing and living every-single-word.
Hmmm....
(I might be getting into dangerous territory here.)
Catcher in the Rye and Slaughterhouse Five are two of my all-time fave books. Also love The Lovely Bones, Snow Falling on Cedars and Beloved.
ReplyDeleteThere are some very strange books on that list. How could anyone find the Junie B. Jones books the least bit objectionable?!?