Book Banning has been around for over a millennium. It is a few small minded people that disagree with the ideas that are put forth in a book. Most of these "concerned parents" only read one or two pages and conclude that this book is trashy or vulgar. Sometimes, they think that is an insult to their religious ideals.
I have lived in a liberal town, but both my parents are extremely conservative. They never really limited me from anything growing up, because when you say that you can't do something. It seems really appealing, when a limit is put on it. I can thank all the broken limits to my older sister. I was allowed to see some R-rated movies, with my parents by the time that I was nine. They never kept me reading from anything and never could really keep up with all the books that I devoured in a day. My parents rather have had me, read about pregnancy, drugs, alcohol use, and such from a book. Then actually go out there and experience it.
Here are three examples of books that I have read and enjoyed, that have been challenged:
1. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman was the second most banned book*, because of political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence. It is a fantasy and set in a whole other world. *bangs head on desk*
2. TTYL, TTFN, and L8R, G8R by Lauren Myracle was the third most banned last year*. For offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group, I think the book say fuck about ten time... I say that in about a weeks times. How is it unsuited for the age group? Ugh, I read these, when they first came out, which was a while ago.
3. Looking for Alaska by John Green has been challenged a few times**. It is my favorite book ever. To me, it is a book about hope and honestly finding yourself. It helped me get through random things, when I was really sick. I have eight copies, because that is how often I have read it or loaned it out. It is one of my mom's favorite books, too. The reason that it gets challenge is because one scene of very uncomfortable oral sex that is pulled out of context.
Seriously, anyone that tried to ban a books, needs to get a hobby. Like maybe actually reading the book that you are trying to ban or educating yourself to not be such a small minded ass. I hope that you guys are all reading something banned and having fun.
**It is currently on this long list of book that two "concerned" parents are trying to get moved to a different section of the library. I think that by next week, they will decide half of the YA section is inappropriate.
The Amber Spyglass was the only book I've ever read that made me feel uncomfortable from a religious stand point. I'm Catholic, so to say that God was just a decrepit, feeble angel kept alive for the sake of power was insulting in the deepest way I had ever experienced, so I put the book down, took a step back from it and realized, "Hey, it's not real, and it’s not going to change what’s true." I got over it and finished the book. I really enjoyed that series, too, despite the fact that I felt Lyra’s character went through an unexplained metamorphosis somewhere between book one and book two.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree with the amount of sexual content in YA books, though. I think that books should have ratings like movies, because, personally, I don’t like reading about that kind of stuff, and I’d like fair warning about what kind of content is going to be in a book before I get to that point.
Nice post, Sarah! I've sounded off with my thoughts for Banned Book Week, too.