Banned Book Week

The Wayfarer · Sep 30, 2008

Banned Books Week is 9/27 - 10/4. Here is a list of the most challenged books of 2007.

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 and 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

The Wayfarer · Sep 30, 2008

Originally Posted by LifeEpicurean.com

This weekend marked the beginning of Banned Book Week, celebrated by libraries across the world. Although technically, very few titles have ever been banned per se, libraries have been challenged in regards to the content of their collections and censors have tried to dictate what materials libraries can make available to the public. The American Library Association began Banned Book Week in 1982 to celebrate our right to read, and the success that librarians, and other information professionals, have had in ensuring that these materials remain available to the public, in spite of censors.

Each year, ALA releases a list of most frequently challenged books from the previous year, while encouraging readers to examine. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a mainstay on this list, and as far as I can tell has been consistently challenged for well over a decade, due in large part to what some feel is racist language. Other titles, such as the popular Harry Potter series, as well as Phillip Pullman's Golden Compass, have also appeared on its list for encouraging witchcraft. Even picture books, such as And Tango Makes Three, Daddy's Roomate, and Heather Has Two Mommies have been challenged for being anti-family and promoting homosexuality.
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SoCal2NYC · Sep 30, 2008

Originally Posted by The Wayfarer

10) The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Loved this book.

Journeyman · Sep 30, 2008

Originally Posted by The Wayfarer

2) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

5) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6) The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

8.) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

I haven't heard of a few of the books mentioned, but all of the above have been around for quite a while (well, a long while, in the case of Huckleberry Finn). I'm surprised that libraries are still receiving complaints about some of these books. What's next, Lady Chatterley's Lover??

LabelKing · Oct 7, 2008

The Marquis de Sade.

kwilkinson · Oct 7, 2008

Ohh Sarah Palin is not gonna be happy.

Piobaire · Oct 7, 2008

If you would like to run an interesting experiment, try bringing a book by Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly to a coffee shop near a university, or other area likely to be inhabited by a liberal crowd. I did this several years ago with a Rush book. Hold it up, so the cover is clearly visible to the patrons as they walk by you. You will think you have a banned book in your hands. It is really quite entertaining.

SoCal2NYC · Oct 7, 2008

Can we add the Bible to this list?

johnapril · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

If you would like to run an interesting experiment, try bringing a book by Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly to a coffee shop near a university, or other area likely to be inhabited by a liberal crowd. I did this several years ago with a Rush book. Hold it up, so the cover is clearly visible to the patrons as they walk by you. You will think you have a banned book in your hands. It is really quite entertaining.

I would've assumed you had a major girl problem or something.

Nouveau Pauvre · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

If you would like to run an interesting experiment, try bringing a book by Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly to a coffee shop near a university, or other area likely to be inhabited by a liberal crowd. I did this several years ago with a Rush book. Hold it up, so the cover is clearly visible to the patrons as they walk by you. You will think you have a banned book in your hands. It is really quite entertaining.

ROFL. I am so doing this.

Piobaire · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by johnapril

I would've assumed you had a major girl problem or something.

Oh, ouch! You so nailed me.

Fuuma · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

If you would like to run an interesting experiment, try bringing a book by Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly to a coffee shop near a university, or other area likely to be inhabited by a liberal crowd. I did this several years ago with a Rush book. Hold it up, so the cover is clearly visible to the patrons as they walk by you. You will think you have a banned book in your hands. It is really quite entertaining.

I can judge that you're reading total crap but don't stand for the banning of Danielle Steel, the point you're trying to make is a totally different one and I can only attribute it to your unwavering belief in the need to balance every "conservative" hypocrisy mentioned in here with an appropriate "liberal" one.

Piobaire · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by Fuuma

I can judge that you're reading total crap but don't stand for the banning of Danielle Steel, the point you're trying to make is a totally different one and I can only attribute it to your unwavering belief in the need to balance every "conservative" hypocrisy mentioned in here with an appropriate "liberal" one.

Actually Fuuma, think again. Huck Finn? It was the PC squad that banned that bad boy.

DocHolliday · Oct 7, 2008

I'd wonder why you were sitting there holding a book awkwardly, and then would probably assume you were trying to do exactly what you seem to have been trying to do.

Piobaire · Oct 7, 2008

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I'd wonder why you were sitting there holding a book awkwardly, and then would probably assume you were trying to do exactly what you seem to have been trying to do.

Well you would have called my bluff! And I would have paid for your coffee. It was however, a highly entertaining experiment for me.

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