I Want A Banned Book!
Holy Huck! I didn't realize that it was time for Banned Books Week again and time to celebrate my freedom to read. This issue has such clarity for me that the defiance flowing through my veins gives me a feeling of euphoria. At times like these, I wish that everything on my shelf -- the bought as well as the borrowed -- was banned.
I'd like to thank my parents for never restricting my reading, even when my choices got pretty edgy. I passed this freedom on to my son. Hope he keeps the chain going.
The first time I heard of books being banned, I thought it was an 'olden-days' thing. Too soon I learned that it is, unfortunately, a most decidedly modern tactic used by what I now affectionately refer to as The Knuckle Draggers Amongst Us. I was incredulous, then I got really mad. That progression of feelings is still with me as I scan my shelves fiercely for something banned to read. I've got three on hand that I haven't read yet, so there you have my reading for this week:
1. The Giver
2. The Naked and the Dead
3. American Psycho
For years, I demanded to know why and how each book got banned. Now I don't care. No reason is good enough. There should be no lists of that kind. We shouldn't have to call attention to these lists by having this week.
To those who believe in reading freedom and fight the good fight against banning, I lift my glass to you.
To those who believe that banning is the way to go, I'd like to lift something else.
10 comments:
The Giver is one of my favorites. I hope you love it as much as I did.
Hello, you came by my blog earlier today, so of course I had to check out your blog. You got a lot of blogs! I am now hooked on this blog of yours. Skimmed through your archives. You're fun to read. You've got me wanting to read a bunch of books. And, I have my own piles of unread books from years back to read. :-)
A new follower,
Su-sieee! Mac
This and That. Here and There. Now, Sometimes Then.
Avid Reader,
I started The Giver last night and I am amazed at how good it is. The perfect choice for this week.
Joven,
You're a little short on blog etiquette. Generally, people use the comment section to say something about the content of the blog they're visiting, not just blatantly advertise their own. As a result, your visit here was wasted. I probably won't be visiting much less following your blog.
Su-sieee! Mac,
Love that name. Thank you for your kind words. I have a lot of blogs because I use them in the classroom on occasion. I'm going to read your archives as well.
When my son was in 7th grade and not a child who gravitated to books, he handed me The Giver and said with great emotion "Mom, you have to read this". I did and it remains a treasured book.
First I grinned, then I laughed out loud, then I said, "Oh, you have to *read this*!" to Mr. UR. Then I laughed out loud again -- in sheer delight.
Rage on, reader Bybee!
Kathy,
I finished The Giver last night. Wow, that was an incredible experience. I know how your son felt.
Unruly,
Blush!
Great thoughts on censorship! And I love your final gesture :) The Giver is an amazing book - didn't realize it was banned - so hope you enjoyed it!
Keep up the attitude!
I was pleased to see that not only had I read many of the top 100 banned books from 2000-2009 (on the ALA site), but many of them are my kids' favorites as well. Hooray for not censoring reading!
Another thumbs-up to The Giver. I wish I could read a banned book, this week, but I overdid the ARC thing, again, so I'm trying to get a jump on October. I have got to stop that. How ya been, Bybee? I haven't been here in a while.
LOVE this post! The Giver is, by far and large, the ONE book that each of my THREE daughters actually wanted to talk to me about, and told me that I HAD to read! Since they are five years apart, I made as though I hadn't read it before, and read it again so that I could discuss it with each of them anew! Any book that stimulates the imagination and thought processes and love of reading for reading's sake is a good one!
Julie @ Knitting and Sundries
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