Banned Books Week is September 29 to October 6
There were over 500 challenges made to the American Library Association over books people found "questionable" during 2006 for any number of reasons, including (but certainly not limited to) things like offensive language and homosexuality. That's odd, don't you think? Especially since so many people aren't even reading.
I won't include the entire list -- there are too many -- but the top ten "challenged" books for 2006 include the following:
1. Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell's And Tango Makes Three
2. Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye
3. Cecily Von Ziegesar's Gossip Girls
4. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice
5. Carolyn Mackler's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Round Things
6. Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories" series
7. Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower
8. Toni Morrison's Beloved
9. Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War
10. Chris Crutcher's Athletic Shorts
Toni Morrison should be given a medal for being "Most Offensive Author," while Carolyn Mackler should be awarded the "Best Title for a Banned Book" award.
Curiously, many of these books deal with the issue of sex, either in the form of sexual orientation or the fact that the book contains sexually explicit language and/or scenes.
Obviously we don't want anyone reading about sex, especially our children. They might get confused. Their morals might be compromised. They might even become sexual predators lurking around chat rooms and ending up on an episode of NBC's Dateline. Who knows?
Here's the deal: reading a book might not change the world, but refusing to acknowledge an issue has never made that issue magically disappear. Americans pride themselves on all the freedoms we enjoy. Heck, we even fight wars in other countries so other people can enjoy those same freedoms. And yet, a quarter of our population doesn't feel the need to read a book once a year. Challenge them, yes! But read them, are you kidding me?
Come on, people. It's time to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I challenge you to walk away from the computer, turn off the television, find a comfortable chair or couch or bed, open up that book you've been wanting to to get to but have never found the time, and read.
Published by Therese Mancevski
I grew up in Mississippi and started writing at a very young age. People think I have lovely handwriting. Once upon a time, I used to live next to Miss America, whose father would cut the grass at night and... View profile
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26 Comments
Post a CommentNot one book in a year! I can't imagine! Yet I supposed it doesn't surprise me much. Interesting article!
Nice piece of work.
I'm reading the 'Great Gatsby.' I checked it out from the banned book section of our local public library.
The irony to me is that people say book banning is to protect children, yet most kids would rather be watching one of the three hundred channels on television instead of reading. How about being a parent, turning off the tv and giving your kid a book that's intellectually challenging? That way your kid can be reading and you will know exactly what they are reading. Good article.
Books should NEVER be banned. Banning books like these will just lead to Naziville, Round II and a realistic adaptation of Fahrenheit 451.
I too am very surprised at some of the books listed here. I'm currently reading, 'The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.'
What is so odd to me is the reasons they give for banning books would put the Bible at the top of the list. A drunk man having sex with his two daughters and impregnanting them? Violently stoning people to death? Speaking of Morrison ever read the Bible's "Songs of Solomon"? People can just not read it, if they do not like what it says. To deny others the right to do so, is an infrigement on their human rights. My last reading marathon I read 40 books in 6 weeks and last week I read 4.
LOL: "Especially since so many people aren't reading". But please tell me you were not insinuating Toni Morrison is offensive. I have never found anything offensive in her books; she is one of my favorite authors. The last time I was aware of Banned Books week, another fav was on the list, going back quite a few years ago. The only letter to the Editor I had published was one about banning "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". The people most vocal about it, have not even read it.
We all need to read more!
Amen.