Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Wrap Up on Banned Books Week


Banned Books Week may have end Saturday, but that doesn’t mean that you still can’t pick up a banned book and start reading. Banned Books Week promotes the freedom for all to read what they chose without being censored. Here is a list of several staff member’s favorite banned books, and the reasoning behind the controversy.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
Book portrays same-sex marriage

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Contains offensive and obscene passages referring to abortion and uses God’s name in vain; contains profanity; has a segment on masturbation

Beloved by Toni Morrison
Too violent; inappropriate language; sexual material; inappropriate topics such as: bestiality, racism and sex

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Shows contempt for religion, marriage, and family; adult themes of sexuality, drugs, and suicide; book makes promiscuous sex “look like fun”

Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Contains profanity, violence and contains a rape scene

Promotes Islam

Promotes Christianity

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
Contains a nude child

Justine, Philosophy in the Bedroom, and Other Writings by Marquis de Sade
Contains sex, homosexuality, and adultery

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Promotes disrespect towards parents, horror, and violence

Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob Grimm
Red takes wine to her grandmother; violence

Lolita by Vladaimir Nobokov
Addresses themes of pedophilia and incest; unsuitable for minors

Age inappropriate since it contains the definition of “oral sex”

Too scary and inappropriate for children


What’s your favorite banned book?

Source: ALA
TLS @ Main

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