Don't Be Closed Minded. Read a Banned Book. #Giveaway
On this list, compiled by the ALA, of the top 100 challenged books of the decades 1990-1999 and 2000-2009, I've read:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Adventure of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Blubber
Crank
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Dead Zone
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Fat Kid Rules the World
The Giver
Harry Potter (series)
The Hunger Games (series)
The Kite Runner
The Lovely Bones
Olive's Ocean
Speak
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
That Was Then, This Is Now
Thirteen Reasons Why
Twilight (series)
A Wrinkle In Time
I would recommend any of them, but especially the titles I've linked. The thing with me and banned books is that I don't get it. The banning thing. Why would you ever feel the right to keep a book out of the hands of other readers? Why would you feel you have the authority to say what some can and cannot read? Do you have the right to voice your opinion? Absolutely! If you think the book is inappropriate somehow, tell people why. But to pull it from shelves or distribution? Absolutely not. Are there books I've read that I don't recommend? Yes. Am I feeding the banned book bandwagon by not linking all the above titles? No. I simply didn't enjoy the books enough to recommend them. You might like them, so if their blurb sparks your interest - go for it.
The only readers I ever felt I had authority over were my underaged children. I tried to steer them into reading books I thought they were emotionally mature enough for - and that decision was different with each child. However, once they got past about 16 or 17, all bets were off and they could read whatever they wanted with or without my consent. Hopefully, knowing that I was ALWAYS available to talk to if a subject rocked their world in some good or bad way. Books are the SAFEST place for people to be exposed to controversial subjects. I would much rather learn about subjects such as; prejudice, incest, and brainwashing by reading about them. Reading helps you avoid repeating ugly behavior or falling victim to it. It also opens your mind to how to be a more compassionate, giving human being.
Harry Potter did not teach me how to practice witchcraft, but it did demonstrate how to overcome insurmountable odds. I didn't start killing contemporaries after reading The Hunger Games, but I did see how to hold onto my compassion in harrowing circumstances.
Don't be closed minded. Read.
To celebrate banned book week, I'm giving away an electronic copy of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - one of 2016's top 10 most challenged titles and a book I absolutely LOVED! To enter simply leave a title of a banned book you've read & would recommend in the comments. I'll choose one random winner on October 1st. Open Internationally. Must have an email address so I can contact you and award your prize.
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Adventure of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Blubber
Crank
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Dead Zone
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Fat Kid Rules the World
The Giver
Harry Potter (series)
The Hunger Games (series)
The Kite Runner
The Lovely Bones
Olive's Ocean
Speak
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
That Was Then, This Is Now
Thirteen Reasons Why
Twilight (series)
A Wrinkle In Time
I would recommend any of them, but especially the titles I've linked. The thing with me and banned books is that I don't get it. The banning thing. Why would you ever feel the right to keep a book out of the hands of other readers? Why would you feel you have the authority to say what some can and cannot read? Do you have the right to voice your opinion? Absolutely! If you think the book is inappropriate somehow, tell people why. But to pull it from shelves or distribution? Absolutely not. Are there books I've read that I don't recommend? Yes. Am I feeding the banned book bandwagon by not linking all the above titles? No. I simply didn't enjoy the books enough to recommend them. You might like them, so if their blurb sparks your interest - go for it.
The only readers I ever felt I had authority over were my underaged children. I tried to steer them into reading books I thought they were emotionally mature enough for - and that decision was different with each child. However, once they got past about 16 or 17, all bets were off and they could read whatever they wanted with or without my consent. Hopefully, knowing that I was ALWAYS available to talk to if a subject rocked their world in some good or bad way. Books are the SAFEST place for people to be exposed to controversial subjects. I would much rather learn about subjects such as; prejudice, incest, and brainwashing by reading about them. Reading helps you avoid repeating ugly behavior or falling victim to it. It also opens your mind to how to be a more compassionate, giving human being.
Harry Potter did not teach me how to practice witchcraft, but it did demonstrate how to overcome insurmountable odds. I didn't start killing contemporaries after reading The Hunger Games, but I did see how to hold onto my compassion in harrowing circumstances.
Don't be closed minded. Read.
Visit Bookhounds for more banned book week fun.
Get more banned book week action:
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...
I would recommend Farenheit 451!
ReplyDeleteKim P.
bookbutterfly9(at)(gmail)(dot)com
To Kill A Mockingbird
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
New Follower, nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a part of the Banned Book Giveaway hop because I agree with everything you said. I have never read Eleanor & Park and would love the opportunity to do so. Sherman Alexis book is a favorite!
Russell Miller's Bare-Faced Messiah, a biography of L. Ron Hubbard that was pulled from shelves following a lawsuit. Must-read!
ReplyDeleteHarry potter
ReplyDeleteThe Popularity Papers is so awesome
ReplyDeleteOut of your list I would recommend The Curious Case of The Dog in the Night-Time
ReplyDeleteAs a high school lit teacher, I talk with my students often about banned books because much of what we read is/was on a list at some point. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD -- what if that book had been banned from schools??? Can't even imagin.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, right, right in everything you said. To Kill a Mockingbird, I loved. Also, 13 reasons why. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. I did not know it was Banned Book Week. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI have read Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight series and The Great Gatsby. All of these books I really enjoyed, especially HP, which is my all time favourite.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to read banned Crank and Dead Zone.
I read "Me Before You" and loved it!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
I really liked The Scarlet Letter, and would recommend it.
ReplyDeletededezoomsalot at yahoo dot com
The Great Gatsby and Harry Potter - no matter the age.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite classic book on the banned list is To Kill a Mockingbird, more modern I love all the Happy Potter series. carawling(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a book on the list that I wouldn't recommend. Fortunately, my parents encouraged me to read everything and I am none the worse for it.
ReplyDeleteThe harry potter series.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Gone With the Wind.
ReplyDeletei have read the harry potter series.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend To Kill A Mockingbird.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend The Hunger Games (series)
ReplyDeletelauren.uda (at) gmail (dot) com
Definitely the Harry Potter series
ReplyDeleteI would recommend In Cold Blood.
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter, of mice and men, any of the Judy blume or Stephen king books. I could go on............and on
ReplyDeleteSo many, To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many on that list! I would recommend Slaughterhouse-Five.
ReplyDelete