We just had Banned Books Week here in the US – so we want to know, how do you feel about book banning? What are some of your favorite books that have been banned or challenged?
Julie:
Book banning is awful, isn’t it? I think it is sad that schools and governments try to decide what people should and should not read. That decision should be left up to the individual or the parent of the minor. I don’t want anyone else who thinks they have authority over me to tell me I can’t read something because they disagree with some of the topics. For example – one very popular banned/challenged book series is Harry Potter – because it contains magic. Well, if you just read the books you’ll see how many important life lessons those books teach. Sure, there’s witchcraft, but rather than keeping that from people, let’s educate the masses that magic isn’t real. Done. Every year when lists of banned and challenges books are published, I enjoy seeing how many of those books I’ve read – and some in school! The banned/challenged books tend to be pretty thought-provoking, educational, and lead to great discussions. So let people make their own decisions and learn from these great books.
Rose:
If you really want to get people interested in reading a book, just tell them it is on a banned list. There is no better sure-fire way to get a student excited to read a book than telling him/her that the book has been banned. I guess people love rebelling??? Banned books lists prove just how influential books can be on society. Thinking is challenged, mindsets broadens, and revolutions started due to the written words contained between the covers of books. Governing bodies of various institutions uniformly recognize the power of books by creating lists of literature that is not permitted for general consumption. I personally know that if I am told that a book is banned, I am automatically more interested in reading it. Weird. I guess there is a little rebellion in me after all.
I agree with Rose. Telling someone a book is banned is a sure fire way to get them to read it! 🙂 I agree with perhaps regulating books for young children, but certainly no book banning for adults. Thanks for linking to Quote Me Thursday!
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I’m with you, regulating books for children is totally different than book banning across the board.
The line between banning and regulating is a hard one to draw, but this whole topic really highlights the power of books! Thanks for sharing this at Mommynificent.com’s Booknificent Thursday! Always enjoy your contributions!
Tina
Tina at Mommynificent recently posted…Booknificent Thursday Link Up Party #66
Great comment! I completely agree. The difference between book banning and book regulating is small, but distinct.
[…] Julie and Rose share their thoughts on banned books. […]
I think the idea of banning books in the early 21st century is ridiculous. Like Rose says, tell someone the book is banned, and they’ll go right out and read it (especially young adults and teenagers). I’m also with Julie, I love going down banned book lists and seeing which ones I’ve read. It’s so much better to engage with difficult and controversial books rather than attempting to bury them (which isn’t really possible in this digital age, is it?).
Leila @ LeilaReads recently posted…Why I YA (And You Should, Too)
It just surprises me sometimes that even today books are still going through the banning and challenging that went on years ago when things were more controlled. I need to find a list of recently banned books and go through it. I haven’t done that in a few years.
When you compare what is on TV today, it is kind of difficult for me to understand why certain books are banned. It seems like a double standard.
Yeah, I don’t really appreciate someone deciding what I should or shouldn’t read. And you’re absolutely right…there’s no better way to generate interest in a book than to ban it.
I think as adults it is really hard for us to understand why someone else thinks they can make that decision for us.
No kidding, tell me I can’t do something and I will totally want to do it!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Yea reverse psychology works so well on everyone 🙂