Closing Books Shuts Out Ideas
This week is the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, “the 27th annual celebration of the freedom to read. This freedom, not only to choose what we read, but also to select from a full array of possibilities.”
From the ALA, here is a list of the ten most challenged books of last year and the reason for the objection:
1. “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
3. “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language
4. “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
5. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
6. “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
7. “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
8. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
9. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
10. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
Here are some suggestions on how to support banned books week. I’m going to make sure and take some of these on board this week. I’m going to read one of these banned books, “The Golden Compass”, which I’ve just never gotten around to tackling. I’m going to read out to my son, so he’ll learn a love for the written word. And I’m going to speak out by posting about Banned Book Week and reposting a book banning post that I wrote a couple of weeks ago:
Just a warning in advance, I am in a bad mood today. Not in any kind of mood to mince words…
Strange Scottish Girl, who has a snazzy new site by the way, asked me the other day for a political post. I’ve not written one in a while, largely because the whole Sarah Palin nomination/ Republican circus has just depressed me. I’m depressed at the cynicism of the McCain campaign thinking that disaffected Clinton voters will flock to Palin just because of the number of X chromosomes that she bears. I’m depressed that the Republicans are falling back on extreme social conservativism to engorge their base. Again. I’m depressed that the oldest presidential candidate in history has selected a viciously pro-life, creationist, anti-science, book banning neo-fascist to be a malignant melanoma away from the reins of my homeland.
Mostly I’m depressed that it seems to be working. The most recent Real Clear Politics aggregate polls have McCain up three points on Obama, the first time he’s led since he became the presumptive Republican nominee back in the Spring. This isn’t because of McCain’s slightly histrionic and more than slightly disingenuous speech last week, it’s because of Palin.
I don’t even want to post about Palin, I just can’t drum up the words. She represents everything that I think is wrong with the Republican Party and American politics as it stands today. I was really pretty optimistic about things because it looked like things were changing - even the G.O.P. had weeded out the wing nuts and nominated a socially moderate candidate, but then Palin.
But this isn’t about Sarah Palin, it’s about book banning….
Popularity: 50% [?]
We’ve had “And Tango Makes Three” for a couple years, I’ve always really liked it. Clearly I get the gay reason, but anti-ethnic? Didn’t see that one coming. As for not age appropriate, tell that to the kids of gay parents.
Fucking book banning jerks.
maggie, dammits last blog post..Obama or McCain? I need your help. — *UPDATED*
01 Oct 2008 at 10:43 am
I’ve only read two of those on the list. Now, I plan on reading all the rest just because they’ve been banned.
And I know after reading them, I will become a deviant and do all sorts of bad things because it was in a book.
Andrews last blog post..The music is in fact eerie
01 Oct 2008 at 11:52 am
I’m shocked at that list. Wow.
Florida Girl In Sydneys last blog post..Flip Flop Friends with Benefits
01 Oct 2008 at 1:05 pm
What?! Don’t do it! Don’t read it to your son! He’ll want to be a penguin when he grows up!
People in the Suns last blog post..Calling Henry Kissinger
01 Oct 2008 at 1:19 pm
Golden compass… that’s the name of the film, dude…!!
The book is called Northern Lights, the first in the Northern lights (His Dark materials) trilogy, the other two being The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass
Unless they’ve changed the name down under…
but it’s set in Oxford, dude, at least part of it, and it is a great read, if a bit sad, but hopefully Z will enjoy it when he’s older.
In another post, i’d be interested in seeing your favourite books from your childhood and if / how they changed your thinking growing up, cos that’s the sort of shit I’m interested in, Dude. PS, i’m gonny say Dude a lot more, after The Dude, since you called me a stoner.
SSGs last blog post..Just as it was going OK
01 Oct 2008 at 5:29 pm
Are these books banned from public libraries? school libraries? I can kind of understand sexual explicitness and grade school libraries, but homosexuality???? How can that be a reason given to ban a book in a public setting?
Sad. Very sad.
And Palin has EVERYTHING to do with this kind of shit. She is, after all, in favor of abstinence only, and we can see how great that has worked just by looking at her own family.
Bluestreaks last blog post..Less Elitism Please.
01 Oct 2008 at 5:54 pm
It’s only a matter of time before we see ratings on books. Just like on TV shows and video games.
This post is rated E for everyone.
Joes last blog post..The decisions that we make
01 Oct 2008 at 8:04 pm
I can’t believe some people are still pushing to ban Huck Finn and The Color Purple and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. Jeez.
02 Oct 2008 at 2:53 am
That is one of my to-do lists: To read the banned book list. Thanks for posting. Maybe I can get one or two under my belt before Xmas.
02 Oct 2008 at 3:15 am
This is a fantastic idea: print the list of banned books far and wide. The list should be posted in not only in libraries but fast food joints as well (that can’t be illegal?). It is the least they can do if people can’t access these books in public libraries because the content offends modern-day Puritans. It is perhaps the only way to get people to realize everyday their freedoms are limited in the USA. And it isn’t by some wack-job terrorist but rather their own home-grown country folk.
02 Oct 2008 at 4:53 am
I hate Palin a little more today for reading about her “good friend” who is gay, and how she thinks “…she is not my ‘gay friend,’ she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made…”
Spitting nails now.
Re: banning books, it just disgusts me. The Color Purple? Come on, people.
Gypsys last blog post..Before I die I want to
02 Oct 2008 at 5:19 am
Oops…”made a choice” was supposed to be bold.
02 Oct 2008 at 5:20 am
Talk about depressing…I went door-to-door in our neighborhood for the Obama campaign and talked to a gay couple with kids, KIDS!, who were still undecided.
But hey, at least now I’ve got a good picture book to recommend to them.
Megs last blog post..Jews: Get Thee Hinies to Florida!
02 Oct 2008 at 6:02 am
Rolling Stone just posted this interesting little myth-buster on Palin:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/23140513/the_truth_about_sarah_pa
Good stuff. As is the longer piece on McCain.
02 Oct 2008 at 9:59 am
Was about to say the same thing SSG! They only changed the name when they brought out all those new copies to tie in with the farce that is the movie version. The books are waaaaaaaaay better!
Am also planning to (eventually) read all of these books on the list because deep down inside I long to be a deviant and I know that the only way I’m going to accomplish this is by reading these evil books.
Agness last blog post..Guilty pleasures
02 Oct 2008 at 1:33 pm
[…] bookmarks tagged golden compass Closing Books Shuts Out Ideas saved by 1 others gnarly6154 bookmarked on 10/01/08 | […]
02 Oct 2008 at 1:47 pm
I’m so happy to see someone who isn’t a librarian talking about Banned Books Week!!! The list from last year is only the tip of the iceberg. Those of you who haven’t read books on this list…I’m sure you’ve read a banned book.
BTW–Jamie just stuck a bumper sticker on our car a few weeks ago that says: “Everything I need to know I learned from reading banned books.” Waiting to get the windows smashed in any day now.
02 Oct 2008 at 2:52 pm
Maggie - I’m actually inclined to go out and buy that penguin book. If they’re trying to ban it then it must be good.
Andrew - that’s what happened to me. Read Huck Finn and it was all over.
FGIS - that’s the correct response, followed by anger.
PIS - better a penguin than a goose. I mean, if you’re going to be a water fowl.
SSG - yeah, yeah, I know. Blame the librarians, I nicked the list from them.
Bluestreak - mostly school libraries but also public libraries. As for the homosexuality thing, how long has it been since you lived in the States?
Joe - yeah, I’m surprised there’s not already actually.
Courtney - I guess that’s why the call it the Blues. Sorry, Elton John on the iPod.
NATUI - the kids ones will be easy, do them first
Heza - well said.
Gypsy - I can’t wait to see this debate tomorrow. I just hope Biden doesn’t screw it up. All he has to do is shut up and let the Gov talk.
Meg - Really? Undecided about what? We’re they masochists?
Canuck - thanks for that link, great article.
Agnes - I’m digging the not “Golden Compass” book.
Jenn - I’m surprised you guys haven’t been deported from Utah yet.
02 Oct 2008 at 10:28 pm
I am a little confused. Apparently these books are the ten ‘most challenged’. Therefore they’re not yet banned right? So where is the list of books that ARE banned?
In my current Christian School we have a nice disclaimer on the front of all novels, something along the lines of books being tools for learning and not necessarily sharing the view of the author etc. While you may think that sounds sad, at least we have the books in the library, unlike my previous school which would not stock a book which mentioned magic or used ‘bad’ language. And don’t even THINK about sex scenes. It was quite a small library.
arizaphales last blog post..HELLO! I’M ON A TRAIN
03 Oct 2008 at 9:59 am
Last year I read Wallflower for banned books week. I can see why it was banned–lots of sex, drugs, mental illness. So I gave it to my then 15 year old son to read. I figured he might learn something.
He didn’t like it. I think he was too young to deal with all the sex. He’s a late bloomer.
I kind of liked Wallflower. I think I should pick another banned book for this year. I already read Golden Compass. Maybe it is time to pick up the second in the series.
saralas last blog post..Books I didn’t like
03 Oct 2008 at 11:40 am