Banned Books

[AmandaSparks730]

I'm curious to see the adult responses to this time-old question:

What are your feelings on "banned books"?

I've read a few for class assignments, and many others for pleasure. Currently, my Humanities classes are reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (English) and The Color Purple (United States History).

Which (so-called) banned books have you read? Which are your favorites? What are your thoughts on those who want them off the shelves?

Personally, I find that banned books can be some of the best out there. Sure, some might have a graphic scene or two, or perhaps some language, but nonetheless, many present important issues that, even if published years ago, still pretain today.

I am a Sophomore in High School, by the way

 

[Quacktatty]

Since when are those books considered banned? I guess it's been along time since high school for me!

 

[shelemm]

Nevermind.

 

[glitterkittyy]

I don't believe in banning books. They tried to have a protest when I was in HS (that was a long time ago. lol) about Huck Finn. My teacher fought them all the way and won. All of us were like "wow, I wonder what's in there that's sooo bad." Well you've read the book so you know what's in there. Nothing THAT bad. Yes, it has some racial slanders used in it, but heck, you hear those on tv, in movies and music. I am about as anti-censorship as they come and have been ever since that time wayyy back in 9th grade.

Good question!

 

[ntsammy5]

Where are these books banned and by whom?

 

[debbi801]

I don't believe in banning books. They tried to have a protest when I was in HS (that was a long time ago. lol) about Huck Finn. My teacher fought them all the way and won. All of us were like "wow, I wonder what's in there that's sooo bad." Well you've read the book so you know what's in there. Nothing THAT bad. Yes, it has some racial slanders used in it, but heck, you hear those on tv, in movies and music. I am about as anti-censorship as they come and have been ever since that time wayyy back in 9th grade.

Good question!

This is where I stand too.

Where are these books banned and by whom?

http://www.banned-books.com/bblist.html Has lots of info about who decided they wanted the books banned.

 

[LilyWDW]

Over the years so many books have been challenged or banned in the United States that it's hard to make a comprehensive list. From what I could find based off of the official information on Banned Book Week by the American Library Association... well... I have read a LOT of them.

From 2008 Banned Book List

Why the Caged Bird Sings
Harry Potter (All)
The Golden Compass
Beloved
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Giver
Of Mice and Men
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn


From 2007 List
Da Vinci Code
Fahrenheit 451
The Learning Tree


And if you keep going back, the list continues to grow. And this is but a SMALL percentage of books that have been challenged in the United States.

Personally, I don't think anyone needs to ban books. Yes, some may not be appropriate for a younger audience but it is up to the individual parent to make that decision. If you (general you) don't want your kids reading it for whatever reason, whatever floats your boat, but don't push those thoughts and beliefs on me and mine.

 

[JCJRSmith]

I find it interesting that Fahrenheit 451 is on that list. It is a book about censorship (among other things). 451 degrees fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper burns.

Ray Bradbury was a freakin' genius.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

we went through this in the beginning of this school year. Sensorship stinks in my opinion.

 

[christiane]

Absolutely against banning books or art of any kind. As long as the exposure is appropriate to age & emotional maturity, then I feel censorship is wrong.

I wasn't sure what books I have read that were banned, so I check out a list and was suprised to find these books on there. They have all been banned at one time or another in the US or Europe. Many of them are considered classics and widely taught in literature classes now...

Animal Farm/Orwell
As I Lay Dying/Faulkner
Brave New World/Huxley
Canterbury Tales/Chaucer
Grapes of Wrath/Steinbeck
Gulliver's Travels/Swift
Howl/Ginsberg
Lady Chatterley's Lover/Lawrence
Lolita/Nabokov
The Lottery/Jackson
Moll Flanders/Defoe
Naked Lunch/Burroughs
1984/Orwell
Tropic of Cancer/Miller
Ulysses/Joyce
Uncle Tom's Cabin/Stowe

Just goes to show how censorship just reflects the times...

 

[iggbees]

i've read a lot of those banned books, both in grade school and high school and again when i was older. honestly, i didn't understand what half of them meant until i reread them again as an adult. i don't see the point in banning books. they are a part of american history. no wonder why 1984 and fahrenheit 451 are banned books...

what's absolutely pathetic is that there is more garbage on tv than in most of those books. oh and i learned swear words on the bus in grade school, not from reading those books. haha.

 

[Mikelly1221]

I don't believe in banning books. Never have. Think it's a dumb concept.

However, I do believe in age-appropriateness in all things (movies, TV) and that includes books. I have no problem telling my child, "That book's not appropriate for you now. Wait a few years and you can read it and maybe we'll talk about it." Same as TV, movies.

 

[legalsea]

I don't believe in banning books. Never have. Think it's a dumb concept.

However, I do believe in age-appropriateness in all things (movies, TV) and that includes books. I have no problem telling my child, "That book's not appropriate for you now. Wait a few years and you can read it and maybe we'll talk about it." Same as TV, movies.

Exactly my thought.

As a lawyer with strong feelings on 'freedom of speech', I believe no book should be 'banned'. However, for schools, 'age appropriateness' is key.

It reminds me of the book "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boon (I hope I spelled her name right). She describes a scene when she was a young girl and asked her father a question (about the Nazi's or such). The father replied "Corrie, would you carry my bag for a bit". Corrie tried, but it was much too heavy for her, and she told her father so. "Yes", he replied, "I would be a poor father to have you carry such a heavy object. Just like the question you asked: you are too young to understand the answer, and I would be a poor father to ask you to try to understand it at your age".

Huckleberry Finn is a wonderful book, but it is too much to ask a young child to carry its thoughts. Same for many other 'banned' books in schools.

However, by senior year of high school (at least) most youngsters are ready to accept, or at least think about, the ideas in such books.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have read most of the banned books listed as part of my school curriculum. I remember reading Huck Fin in grade school. My Mom bought it for me. I loved to read. (still do) I don't think any books should be banned. If you don't want to be exposed to certain things then don't read the book.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Exactly my thought.

As a lawyer with strong feelings on 'freedom of speech', I believe no book should be 'banned'. However, for schools, 'age appropriateness' is key.

It reminds me of the book "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boon (I hope I spelled her name right). She describes a scene when she was a young girl and asked her father a question (about the Nazi's or such). The father replied "Corrie, would you carry my bag for a bit". Corrie tried, but it was much too heavy for her, and she told her father so. "Yes", he replied, "I would be a poor father to have you carry such a heavy object. Just like the question you asked: you are too young to understand the answer, and I would be a poor father to ask you to try to understand it at your age".

Huckleberry Finn is a wonderful book, but it is too much to ask a young child to carry its thoughts. Same for many other 'banned' books in schools.

However, by senior year of high school (at least) most youngsters are ready to accept, or at least think about, the ideas in such books.

I love "The Hiding Place"! I also read a biography of Corrie Ten Boom-she was a remarkable woman!

 

[legalsea]

I love "The Hiding Place"! I also read a biography of Corrie Ten Boom-she was a remarkable woman!

She was indeed! I encourage all to read her book.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Absolutely against banning books or art of any kind. As long as the exposure is appropriate to age & emotional maturity, then I feel censorship is wrong.

I wasn't sure what books I have read that were banned, so I check out a list and was suprised to find these books on there. They have all been banned at one time or another in the US or Europe. Many of them are considered classics and widely taught in literature classes now...

Animal Farm/Orwell
As I Lay Dying/Faulkner
Brave New World/Huxley
Canterbury Tales/Chaucer
Grapes of Wrath/Steinbeck
Gulliver's Travels/Swift
Howl/Ginsberg
Lady Chatterley's Lover/Lawrence
Lolita/Nabokov
The Lottery/Jackson
Moll Flanders/Defoe
Naked Lunch/Burroughs
1984/Orwell
Tropic of Cancer/Miller
Ulysses/Joyce
Uncle Tom's Cabin/Stowe

Just goes to show how censorship just reflects the times...

Although I've only read a couple of those...they are supposed to be staples of history and culture...
I think the banning of books is ridiculous. Just another way to take control of censorship......

 

[NMAmy]

I have a t-shirt that says "I Read Banned Books" on the front and has a list of banned books on the back. When I read that shirt, people will stop me to discuss the books listed. It's very interesting to people--some of the books that have been challenged over the years include The Wizard of Oz, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Where's Waldo?

Yes, I read banned books and I have always encouraged my dd to read them, as well. My thought has been that if there are books that some people don't want their child to read, then don't let them read those books. But don't try to take the books out of the school library so no one can read them. You raise your child your way and I'll raise mine, thanks. We don't need anyone else making our reading decisions for us.

This is a great topic, OP! My favorite banned book is To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, that's just my favorite book but it has been challenged over the years.

 

[XTinabell]

Over the years so many books have been challenged or banned in the United States that it's hard to make a comprehensive list. From what I could find based off of the official information on Banned Book Week by the American Library Association... well... I have read a LOT of them.

From 2008 Banned Book List

Why the Caged Bird Sings
Harry Potter (All)
The Golden Compass
Beloved
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Giver
Of Mice and Men
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn


From 2007 List
Da Vinci Code
Fahrenheit 451
The Learning Tree


And if you keep going back, the list continues to grow. And this is but a SMALL percentage of books that have been challenged in the United States.

Personally, I don't think anyone needs to ban books. Yes, some may not be appropriate for a younger audience but it is up to the individual parent to make that decision. If you (general you) don't want your kids reading it for whatever reason, whatever floats your boat, but don't push those thoughts and beliefs on me and mine.

I've read many of those books but I can't figure out why the Giver would be banned. Thinking back to it I can't think of anything controversial.. I guess some people are way more sensitive than I am.

I have a t-shirt that says "I Read Banned Books" on the front and has a list of banned books on the back. When I read that shirt, people will stop me to discuss the books listed. It's very interesting to people--some of the books that have been challenged over the years include The Wizard of Oz, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Where's Waldo?

Yes, I read banned books and I have always encouraged my dd to read them, as well. My thought has been that if there are books that some people don't want their child to read, then don't let them read those books. But don't try to take the books out of the school library so no one can read them. You raise your child your way and I'll raise mine, thanks. We don't need anyone else making our reading decisions for us.

This is a great topic, OP! My favorite banned book is To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, that's just my favorite book but it has been challenged over the years.

I agree with you completely. I loved To Kill A Mockingbird. It wasn't banned when I was in highschool, at least not where I was from. It was a great book.

 

[LilyWDW]

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Dell; Houghton. Appalled by
descriptions of adolescent pill-popping, suicide, and lethal
injections given to babies and the elderly, two parents
demanded that the Mt. Diablo School District,
headquartered in Concord, Calif. (2007), eliminate the
controversial but award-winning book from the school
reading lists and libraries. Source: Jan. 2008, p. 8.

This is the information given on the ALA site for 2008 banned books about why The Giver has been challenged.