Banned Books

September 25 through October 1, 2016 is Banned Books Week.

Banned books on display at the LeClaire Community Library

We’ve all read banned or challenged books. You would be surprised by some of the titles that people/organizations have tried to have banned - many of them are very well known and loved books. Also, the list of banned and challenged books is llllooooonnnnnggg! Your favorite books might be on the list. Mine is.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees our right to read and write whatever we want (it’s called freedom of the press.) The first Amendment also guarantees the right to protest against something you find disagreeable (it’s called freedom of speech.)

Ironic, isn’t it? The First Amendments supports both sides of this argument. It says, “Go ahead, and complain. It’s your right.”  But it also says, “Tough luck, Chuck. Our citizens can read or write whatever they want!”

Libraries across the United States of America are displaying some of the books that have previously been banned. They’re reminding us of our rights as Americans—something we can never take for granted. They’re inviting us to expand our minds, and challenge our own thoughts and ideas. That’s important. Keeping it real, folks.

"If all books were banned and you could
save only one, what would it be?

One of my all-time favorite books, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, published in 1967, has been banned and challenged because of gang activity (the rich kids verses the poor kids), underage smoking and drinking, and family dysfunction. Seriously. What teenager could possibly relate to that? (Sarcasm Alert! Sarcasm Alert!)

Maybe we could have learned about real life from the late 1960’s family sitcoms.  My Three Sons, perhaps? No. That family was a blended family. For shame! The Andy Griffith Show? No. That show had a town drunk and Opie didn’t have a mom.

How about music? Well, Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel was big in 1968. Seduction of a younger man by an older woman was the theme of that song. That won’t do at all. How about Lady Madonna by the Beatles? It’s about a woman on welfare who has one night stands with all her kids in the house. Riigghhtt!  I’m sure all those TV shows and songs had no effect on society. Certainly no mirror of society.

Yep. This one is on the banned list too.

You can see my indignation is for real.

I’m linking a list of banned books right here. Check it out. Better yet, read a few!

Until next time,

Be Good to Yourself,

~Nadine

P.S. If it weren’t for the First Amendment, there would be no place for Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot, etc.

I Love Big Books (and little ones too...)

Hello, my name is Nadine and I’m a bibliophile.  It’s not so much a confession as it is a celebration.  I love books!  The first book I remember really loving was one read to my class in elementary school by our librarian, Mr. Lange, who looked like actor Herschel Bernardi’s television character named Arnie, of the 1970's sitcom of the same name. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, told the tale of a Chinese boy with a great long name who fell into a well and was not retrieved quickly enough and became very ill because of that great long name. It was a tale of naughty boys and consequences.  I loved the cadence of the words and the tension in the plot.  I was intrigued by the Chinese culture, (so mysterious) and the importance of learning a lesson through a story.  As an adult, I’ve added to my collection of much-loved Chinese tales; Demi’s The Empty Pot, and The Greatest Treasure, The Fourth Question, by Rosalind C. Wang, Mr. and Mrs. Haktak’s story in Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong.

As much as I enjoyed listening to stories, I was not a ‘hooked’ reader until several years later. Over the years I enjoyed many teacher’s read alouds. Stories like Charlotte’s Web and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were exciting and fun to listen to. I also was exposed to The Little Prince and Animal Farm, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull, all of which I thought whaaat???

But then, in sixth grade the greatest thing ever happened. Our teacher read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.  My life changed.  This book was about people like me!  I could relate to being from the wrong side of the tracks and fighting for dignity and respect.  I had no idea there were gritty books out there like this! NOW I was hooked!  It took me until sixth grade to realize books could be more than just sweetness and fluff!  They were so much more than I could have ever imagined! The day I checked out Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, my teacher came to me and asked if she could have it to read to our class.  I was dumbstruck! I, Nadine, the awkward quiet one, actually had selected a book the teacher wanted!?!  Of course I said yes. She read about Little Ann and Old Dan and we cried.

What story or book changed your life? How did it change you? I'd love to hear about it!