#94: Read at least 15 banned or challenged books.
[see the rest of the list]
First of all, you should know that I’m rather opposed to censorship. Yes, some things are unpleasant. But, if you don’t like it, if you don’t approve of it, turn around and walk away. Don’t seek out the things that cause you displeasure, and hopefully, assuming what causes you displeasure isn’t something like toe socks, those things won’t seek you out either.
Books have been banned, burned, censored, destroyed, criticized, and challenged for centuries, and in setting out to make my 101 in 1001 list I made it a goal to read some of these books. What can I say, I’m a rebel.
For your enjoyment, here’s a short list of tid-bits about banned books:
- Both the Bible and the Qur’an have been censored and banned.
- Books that seem critical of the state or government are frequently banned.
- Children’s books that deal with death or angst are often challenged, probably because parents fear their children acting out what they read.
- A few of the most challenged authors since 1990: Judy Blume, J. K. Rowling, Stephen King and R.L. Stine.
- There were 405 known attempts to remove books from the public in 2005.
The Books:
1. The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy – by A. N. Roquelaure (pseudonym for Anne Rice) [read: April ’07][about]
2. The Harry Potter Books – by J.K. Rowling [read: May-August ’07][about]
3. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold [read: October ’07][about]
4. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West – Gregory Maguire [read: December ’07][about]
5. Prep: A Novel – Curtis Sittenfeld [read: December ’07][about]
6. Go Ask Alice – by Anonymous [read: February ’08][about]
7. Lolita – by Vladmir Nabokov [read: October ’08][about]
8. Weetzie Bat – by Francesca Lia Block [read: March ’08][about]
9. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini [read: March ’08][about]
10. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle [read June ’09][about]
11. Julie of the Wolves – Jean Craighead George [read October ’09][about]
12. Druids – Morgan Llwelyn[read October ’09][about]
13. Lucky – Alice Sebold [read November ’09]
questionable rationale 
I have to point out that the books by Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, etc usually have some hidden moral in them. My teens love these series and it is the topic of many discussions that we have, and as a parent, it was and always will be my choice to read what they are reading and take the opportunity to communicate and teach. If more people would open their minds and close their mouth, they might be suprised at what they hear.
Rosa –
I agree with you completely. All the arguments against Harry Potter were about how magic is evil and how it’s anti-Christian, but Christian holidays are prominent in all the books and there is, definitely, the moral of good triumping over evil, along with a whole host of other morals.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I do agree that the Slepping Beauty Trilogy is quite graphic but who should have the say what children shouldn’t read other than their own parents. Other people should not ruin the oppritunity to read books because their religion or something stupid like that feels threatened.
This does look primisong. I’ll keep coming back for more.
Mark Twain’s books, because of the racism and ideals of the time portrayed. They are especially banned in areas with many blacks.
In Newark, NJ, they tried to pass an ordinance to prevent the learning of the founding fathers and our Consitution because of their beliefs of blacks and women. OMG. Never passed, I heard.