Showing posts with label banned books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label banned books. Show all posts
Banned Books Week, 2011
Its Banned Books Week, 2011, from 24th September until 4th October, 2011. Celebrating its 30th year, this is an annual awareness campaign sponsored by the American Library Association (A.L.A). It is celebrating a love of reading, opposing censorship and promoting freedom of speech in the United States of America.Books are challenged and banned for all sorts of reasons including to protect children, due to religious, racial or political content or because of what are deemed to be (by some), to be inappropriate themes. But doesn't the fact that a book has been challenged or banned just make it all the more desirable to read? Don't you want to read it simply to find out what all the fuss is about?
One misdemeanour I’m sure many of you have committed is reading the Harry Potter series! This series has caused controversy and mayhem in the U.S. due to its wizardry and magical content. (Some books in the series have even been bestowed with the dubious honour of becoming burned books in some states).
So, if you are feeling a bit rebellious, (or even just curious), and would like to read a banned or challenged book, a good place to start is by reading from this list of the top ten frequently challenged books of the past year, created by A.L.A. You can request copies of these books from the library.
1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit
4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
5. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
6. "Lush" by Natasha Friend (available via Interlibrary Loan)
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
7. "What My Mother Doesn’t Know" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
9. "Revolutionary Voices" edited by Amy Sonnie (available via Interlibrary Loan).
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit
10. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit
4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
5. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
6. "Lush" by Natasha Friend (available via Interlibrary Loan)
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
7. "What My Mother Doesn’t Know" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
9. "Revolutionary Voices" edited by Amy Sonnie (available via Interlibrary Loan).
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit
10. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence
2011
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banned books
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Banned Books Week
This week is Banned Books Week. This is an annual event held primarily in the US to celebrate freedom of expression and reading.
Over the years, a number of books have been banned both in Australia and overseas for reasons that include offensive language, sexuality and 'immorality'. Some of these bans have been imposed by schools, churches, States and even National governments.
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.
1984 by George Orwell
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Over the years, a number of books have been banned both in Australia and overseas for reasons that include offensive language, sexuality and 'immorality'. Some of these bans have been imposed by schools, churches, States and even National governments.
To celebrate banned books week, how about checking out some of these books that have been banned in the past. They sound too good to pass up:
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.This is a story told by a 17-year-old boy who has just been kicked out of his 4th school. Throughout the book Holden comments on society with all its 'phoniness'. This book was banned and challenged in numerous US schools for being anti-christian, anti-white and obscene.
1984 by George OrwellThis is where the famous idea of 'Big Brother is watching you' came from. Set in a future where the world is ruled by a totalitarian regime complete with the 'Thought Police' this tells the story of those that try to rebel against the system . . . and the consequences of their rebellion. This was actually banned in the USSR for being too anti-communist and banned in Florida for being too communist.
The Lord of the Rings by JRR TolkienWe all know the fantasy story of Frodo and his band of Hobbits, Wizards and Elves on their journey to destroy a powerful ring before it destroys them. If you don't, there are three 3-hour movies you could watch. This was not so much banned but burned outside a community church in the US as it was considered satanic.
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas RockwellThe story of a 10-year old boy who is dared to eat 15 worms in 15 days or risk being called a 'chicken' for life. This has been banned in the past as it was felt it promoted inappropriate behaviour in children and gambling.
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von ZiegesarThis series of books for young adults reveals the loves and lives of a group of rich, spoilt teenagers. It has also been made into a TV series. It has been banned in places for references to sex and drugs.
Now over to you.
What do you think of the idea of banning books?
Do you know of any good books that have been banned or challenged by certain institutions that you'd recommend?
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