Saturday, September 30, 2006
Ban This
Although it's the last day of Banned Books Week, check out the American Library Association list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000. The Canadian Library Association's website does not have such a list, and although books certainly have been and continue to be challenged in Canada, oppostion to certain works seems to be more vehement in the States. PEN Canada presents the Canadian version with Freedom to Read week. The ALA list is quite interesting, as is the list of those who initiate challenges. I haven't read all of the books on the list, and I admit that I will likely never read many of them (including numbers 58, 60, and 87), but there are many titles which are undeniably important in both the cultural and the literary sphere. So, screw the censor and read a banned book in support of Banned Books Week.
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2 comments:
I'll read #58,#60, and #87 if you do! ;) I don't know if I have much to say on the subject of banned books, other than the obvious boo...let ppl read what they want. Anyone want to try and read the whole list? I'm up for a challenge...oh the glory days of the MLIS, allowing me time to read for fun.
Banned books, as you can imagine, are a hot topic in library school. So hot that everyone seems to be doing their research project around them. Although, if the CLA has no such list, I'll be interested to see what my classmates come up with.
I'm actually reading #7 now, as is Marie I think...What are you reading?
Late comment but just had to say wow - I had no idea that list was so long. I guess with today's "open views and speech" these issues don't get much publicity (or maybe I just don't pay attention!) I don't know most of the books but I was suprised to see a few that I'm familiar with. "Huck.Finn"?? Good grief! I had no idea that one was still so controversial. And "A Wrinkle in Time" - I have that book. It was given to me but I haven't read it yet. I must do so.
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