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As you've all probably heard, this is National Banned Books Week. In looking over the list of books that people have attempted to ban I can't help but think that the reasons given for wanting the books banned are situations, people and beliefs that we find in everyday life. How could banning books that deal with everyday life be good? The answer - it can't. Many of the books on the list are children and young adult books. Do I think every child should read any and all books out there? No. That should be up to the parents/guardians of the child. If there is a book your child wants to read but you don't want them reading, discuss why with your child. You might be surprised at the direction the discussion takes. You might find out thing about your child and yourself that you didn't know. And you might end up reading the book along with your child. Knowledge is power.
I've read a number of books on the various lists. Some of the books were even for school ~Slaughterhouse Five, Catcher in the Rye, Fahrenheit 451 and Of Mice and Men are ones I remember reading for school assignments. Judy Blume is on the list many times - is there any Blume book that hasn't been challenged? She was one of my very favorite authors when I was a kid. From the time I was very young to my teen years, I loved her books.
Last year for Nath's Reread Challenge I read Judy Blume's Forever. It was a book that I remember reading as a young teen and gave me much to think about at the time. It has stayed with me these many years later and is still a book I would recommend.
What banned books have you read and enjoyed? Did you read any because they had been banned or challenge? I'm almost finished reading Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak which was a hot topic last week in the blogging community. It made me curious to find out what this story was about.
Leslie, you said it! Knowledge is power.
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprised when I look at the lists and see the titles included there. Judy Blume (shaking my head). Plus, so many of the classics!
I've read about half the list on the Banned Classics list and quite a few of the 1990's and 2000's lists, but not as many there. I don't purposely read Banned or Challenged books, but I'm amazed at how many I HAVE read.
I understand some parents not wanting their kids to read about certain subjects... but seriously, if it's in the context of children or YA books... don't you think it's something they should know? Or perhaps, parents are just deluding themselves... I mean, Mollie had a post recently about a YA book that was banned and when I followed the link, most if it was because masturbation... Seriously, you think that your teen doesn't know about it?!? Sure, you don't want them to know about it, but that's a different story. No use to hide your head in the sand and actually acknowledge that yes, your kid swear, knows about sex, etc. ^_^;
ReplyDeleteHils ~ Many of the ones I have read I read as kid and of course had no idea they were "bad" for me.
ReplyDeleteNath ~ I think some parents would be amazed at what their kids know.
When Abby & I discuss books and how graphic they are (sex, violence etc.), she tells me she hears and sees way more graphic stuff on bus and at school. I believe it and I doubt those kids learned about it from banned/challenged books.