September 29 through October 6th is Banned Book Week here in Library land and across America. It’s time to take down some of your favorite titles and peruse them again. To take a stand for intellectual freedom and the right to read what you want!
At the library where I work, I took the advice of the American Library Association and decided to do something to mark the occasion this year. I organized a Read-A-Thon. We invited a diverse group of townspeople including officials, library trustees, state reps, and notable citizens, people whom most of the town will recognise, and they will be reading selections from 15 of the banned and challenged books from our collection. We hope for a big crowd and I’ll let you know how this event goes.
I’ll be reading a passage from “Flowers In The Attic” by V.C. Andrews. I never read it before. It’s on the banned and challenged list, and even though it’s not quite what I usually read, it was actually pretty addictive.
So, here’s the perfect excuse to become a Reading Revolutionary and read a dangerous book! Let me know what titles you’re reading. We revolutionaries have to stick together!
September 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
What with the surreal political campaign and the possibility of having President Sarah Palin, I’m re-reading “1984″ !!!!
September 28th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Good choice, Kassie! The perfect title to stand up for. In re-reading parts of it recently for the program it still rings far too frighteningly plausible.
Steph
October 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Hi Steph, I’m reading a collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, not banned material by a long shot. But I have fond memories of previously banned novels.Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” was a book I reread too many times to count in the difficult years between 12 and 16. Most meaningful was my mother’s gift of “The Well of Loneliness” [by Radcliff Hall] when I was 16. It may not be timeless literature but it moved me greatly. And receiving it from my mother sent a very strong message.
Margaret
October 14th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I have another Banned Books Week graphic here:
http://web.mac.com/safelibraries/BBW/National_Hogwash_Week.html
September 19th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
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September 19th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
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