Pleasure to burn....

Did you know that this week is Banned Books Week? Well, that's what the American Library Association tells me anyway. Banned Books Week been around since 1982 and is meant to remind us not to take our freedoms for granted. It "celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them." (ALA website, emphasis theirs).

Here's the list of the most challenged books of 2006, according to the ALA:

"And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
"Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
"Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
"The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
"Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;
"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Have you read any of the most challenged books of 2006? Have you read any of the most challenged books of 1990-2000? What is your favorite banned book of all time? For me, it's a toss up between CATCHER IN THE RYE and FAHRENHEIT 451.

In honor of Banned Books Week, let's all chose a banned book to read! I'm going to pick up BELOVED by Toni Morrison. What are you going to read?

Comments: 5

G. M. Lupo Oct 3, 2007, 9:58am EDT

Catcher in the Rye is my favorite banned book as well. When I was in high school, Lady Chaterly's lover was banned but one of my teachers brought in copies which she let students take out. First they had to rip off the covers so no one would know what the book was.

reply to this comment

Machiavelli Dayupay Oct 5, 2007, 9:49am EDT

I've been just aware with that issue... (Banned Book Weeks)

Its all right to know all points of knowledge but just be very cautious in Accepting them.
If YOU want yourself to be a good example, most like if one is a writer or one that plays mind and reason in entertainment or purely Academic.

''Sometimes the play of reasons in literature and media are quite confusing, ''AN ENTRAPMENT!''. It is best to stay in the basic of what is the known conventional to further know when to be so radical...''

Just some thoughts, a wedding of knowledge... nice infos ( It is always a private person's choice)

reply to this comment