Banned Books Week 2008

[kimcatch22]

Banned Books Week starts in a couple of days!

 

During this week, libraries and book stores across the country showcase and celebrate challenged and banned books while reminding us of our freedom to read and creating a dialog about censorship. So grab a copy of your favorite banned book and stick it to the man!

 

 

From the American Library Assocation:

Banned Books Week

 

Celebrating the Freedom to Read

 

September 27–October 4, 2008

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2008, marks BBW's 27th anniversary (September 27 through October 4).

 

BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.

 

More on banned and challenged books:

The Forbidden Library

The 100 most frequently challenged books, 1990-1999

Fahrenheit 451 blog

 

 

Oh, and the most frequently challenged book of 2006 and 2007? And Tango Makes Three.

[gogo]

My favorite book to read during Banned Books Week:

 

Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers

 

Edited by Judy Blume, it's a collection of short stories by young-adult authors who have all been banned or censored at some point in their careers. Some of my all-time favorites are in there. Buy it from the National Coalition Again Censorship to support their efforts.

[LouieB]

Sarah Palin should be the poster child for this year......

 

LouieB

[Lammycat]

This is great. I had a parent on Back to School Night this year try to sway me that our school library contains "witchcraft" literature with ritualistic killings, etc. (you know, Harry Potter, etc.). What a drag it must be to be her.

[John Smith]

There is a story now about a Chicago suburb and some parents challenging the book Nick and Nora's infinite Playlist.

[Analogman]

Some other means groups use to ban books: pages are ripped out of a book, the book is repeatedly stolen or thrown away, and the book is checked out and never returned.

[bleedorange]

Some other means groups use to ban books: pages are ripped out of a book, the book is repeatedly stolen or thrown away, and the book is checked out and never returned.

 

It's amazing to me that crap like this still goes on. Although, I suppose the religious zealots will always try to prevent the children's books that feature gay parents.

[Analogman]

It's amazing to me that crap like this still goes on. Although, I suppose the religious zealots will always try to prevent the children's books that feature gay parents.

 

It also goes on with textbooks.

[yermom]

Hooray for naughty books!

[PigSooie]

Is "Blubber" banned yet in schools?

[John Smith]

Is "Blubber" banned yet in schools?

 

Surprisingly Judy Blume is one of the msot challenged authors.

[Analogman]

I have seen such things happen - Last Exit to Brooklyn, Requiem for a Dream, and The Turner Diaries are three examples that come to mind.

[Lammycat]

Is "Blubber" banned yet in schools?

I've got kids in my class reading that. I remember reading it in fifth grade, too. It's a good kid's book, as are most of hers.

[Good Old Neon]

Sort of related (I guess), when I was in my early tweens, I recall channel surfing and coming upon the 700 Club (quite possibly the funniest tv program in the history of like, ever)

[John Smith]

Sort of related (I guess), when I was in my early tweens, I recall channel surfing and coming upon the 700 Club (quite possibly the funniest tv program in the history of like, ever)

[watch me fall]

Surprisingly Judy Blume is one of the msot challenged authors.

Not sure why that's so surpising. She did write Are you There God It's Me Margaret and Forever. Oh and Deenie. I'm never in favor of banning books but I could see why alot of parents/teachers might find those books controversial.

[John Smith]

It's suprsing to me because I see ntohing wrong with her books and generally think they are age appropriate.

[watch me fall]

It's suprsing to me because I see ntohing wrong with her books and generally think they are age appropriate.

 

Well you don't live in the South where everything is challenged if it's the least bit controversial (masturbation, teen sex, etc.)

[John Smith]

No I don't live in the south and we do think differently up here. Here they mainly dislike Harry Potter, DaVinci Code & stuff like that.

[watch me fall]

No I don't live in the south and we do think differently up here. Here they mainly dislike Harry Potter, DaVinci Code & stuff like that.

Oh, Harry Potter is a hot topic here, too, you know because of the whole witchcraft thing. I know several people who've not allowed their kids to read the books.

[Three dollars and 63 cents]

In one of my classes last fall I taught a great article by Judy Blume about how ridiculous the current crusade against the Harry Potter books is. She talks about how it seems parents and teachers are afraid to teach kids how to use their imagination. It sparked what was probably the best discussion of that entire course (and about a half-dozen treacherously boring research papers on book banning...).

[MrRain422]

I have a Fahrenheit 451 tattoo.

[Lammycat]

Oh, Harry Potter is a hot topic here, too, you know because of the whole witchcraft thing. I know several people who've not allowed their kids to read the books.

That's perfectly acceptable if you don't want your own kids to read/watch/do certain things, though. Quite another to try and prevent other kids/parents from making their own decisions.

 

I know you weren't suggesting they were the same thing, just reflecting out loud on the conversation I had with a particular parent of a student.

[yermom]

Sort of related (I guess), when I was in my early tweens, I recall channel surfing and coming upon the 700 Club (quite possibly the funniest tv program in the history of like, ever)

[Griddles]

Oh, and the most frequently challenged book of 2006 and 2007? And Tango Makes Three.

I worked at library two summers ago and made our children's librarian buy this book. She is the wife of a pastor and thought it was a great book. strange.