Because Reading is Fundamental…And Should Be Up To You
September 26, 2006
So, two of my favorite bloggers, Mocha Momma and MissZoot have brought to my attention that there are still banned books lists that people aren’t supposed to read.
Several of my favorites are actually on these lists; and like MissZoot mentioned, I, too, learned about sex by reading Judy Blume. I also learned about it by reading my mom’s Danielle Steel novels, but Judy’s stories seemed to be less bodice-ripping and much more realistic. It definitely helped to have read Judy Blume prior to losing my virginity, and I’ll leave it at that. Forever should be required reading to all teenagers. But that’s me.
When discussing this with my son, I’m going to have to tell him that one of his favorite series of books, the Captain Underpants series, was placed on the list in 2005 due to content. I have to wonder if Mr. Pilkey has sent the people who felt it necessary to place him on this list flowers. This will only ratchet up his cool quotient. I wonder if the people who bothered to do this understand that the audience Mr. Pilkey is catering to enjoys this brand of humor. There are probably many people that regret not doing these books themselves.
Personally, if books are to be banned, it should be based on reading difficulty. If this was the case, Brave New World would have topped my list*. I read this in 11th grade, and to this day, I never would have figured this thing out without Cliff’s Notes. Do they still have these? For this book, those were incredibly helpful. I could also guess that if I had whatever Aldous Huxley was ingesting while he wrote it so that I, too could join him on that strange trip would have helped. However, I’m going to hazard a guess that they were (and still are) illegal, so I’ll just leave that trip to him as a solo voyage.
As I read over this list of Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century, I’m struck by the amount of books that are on this list that I have read either in classes or on my own. A few have been made into movies of varying greatness. I’m shocked! shocked! I tell you to find Ernest Hemingway** listed many times in this list. (insert sarcastic tone here)
I’m struck by the fact each of these books have amazing stories to tell in their own way. The reasons given for many of these books being banned make me laugh, because in many cases the reason they are banned has very little to do with the actual story the book is trying to tell.
Spiff is just beginning to have a desire to write books, and his first attempts have been funny, and cute, and well, he has a long way to go before being published. But he could be published someday. However, I know it would just kill him if whatever he may write was viewed as needing to be banned because someone didn’t agree with how he worded something in Chapter 2 that really played a small part in the overall story, but still needed to be written to convey the emotion of the moment, or even the intensity of the situation.
Books are crucial to our livelihood, whether it is in the reading or the writing. We need these books if only to have them available for us when we are ready to receive them. It’s not up to anyone else as to what I (or you) should read. It is up to you.
That’s the point.
Now, go read a banned book. You know you want to. I’ll be looking into #58 for Spiff, #51 I’ll be reading with Scamp (Shel RULES!!!), and I’ll go ahead and be honest and say that I actually bought #18 when it was first released. I don’t think I have it anymore. My hubby re-reads all of #48 in anticipation of the final book to hopefully being released soon. We’ve already read many of this list and even own copies that make up our family library.
We’re a family of rebels, what can I say?
*Apparently, Brave new World is a banned book. Click here to read more about why. Let’s just say it has nothing to do with my reasoning.
**I really like his stories, and have read several of them. He’s someone who didn’t really care about conformity in his own life, so it only speaks to why his stories found their way on this list. Sad, really.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
I love that you did this, too! It helps me with tomorrow’s post then on my next book since I found more stuff on why they banned the book I’m doing.
Now, really. Did you think I’d tell you?
Ok. I’ll give you the author only: Toni Morrison
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September 27th, 2006 at 5:20 am
Whoo-hooo! Wonderful post! It does my little librarian heart good to read people defending books so passionately. Well done.
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