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Question:
In regards of Banned Books Week, what are your favourite books that has been banned or challenged?
My Answer:
I honestly wasn't aware of whether I'd read a banned book.
From what I understand, the only prohibition with regards to books in the UK is books on child pornography but this is part of a general ban on child pornography so it makes sense... I guess individual establishments within the UK, schools and the like, may have different rules on what books they'll make available and promote but they're not legally enforceable like in some other countries.
In order to correct my general ignorance on the topic, I did some quick googling and what I found was that the following books, which I own and/or have read, were banned, at some point or another, somewhere in the world:
Catch-22, Joseph Heller
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
The House of Night series, P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
The Twilight Series, Stephanie Meyer
All Quiet On The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
The Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling
The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown
The Witches, Roald Dahl
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
I'm genuinely mystified as to the logic of banning these books but profoundly glad that I don't have to put up with it.
Wow! I can't imagine why these would be banned.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteFree speech loving Americans seem to be rather keen on trying to get books banned for various reasons. Most of the attempted or temporarily successful bans tend to take place in schools in the Bible Belt and are typically challenged for religious moral reasons (Harry Potter is challenged because of witchcraft.) It mostly comes down to parents wanting to control what their children are reading without having to actually pay attention to what their children are reading in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd you've got a great list of books. - Katie
Thanks for stopping by Katie!
DeleteI would have to go with the Twilight series too. I actually have the movies recorded on my DVR to watch again this weekend. lol
ReplyDeleteI struggle with the movies, mostly, but the first one is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
DeleteThanks for the research.
ReplyDeleteA lot of interesting titles and quite a few I read in high school.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Blogger Hop
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI am always amazed at the books challenged or banned--and for the reasons why. Dr. Seuss, for goodness sake! I hope you have a great weekend! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI know! Why would anyone ban Dr. Seuss?! 🙄
DeleteI didn't even know that Where the Wild Things Are was banned! Great list!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Book Blogger Hop!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
It's crazy, right?
DeleteYes, it's amazing how many books get complaints (if not full bans) and for the strangest reasons at times!
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteThe Davinci Code was banned in our place too, but I'm not sure with the book. And they banned Harry Potter series? How could they!
ReplyDeleteWitchcraft corrupting the young or some such nonsense. I think those that ban HP completely miss the point of everything the books represent! (Clue: It isn't witchcraft! lol)
DeleteI can't believe that "Black Beauty" would be banned! What's wrong with that book? I do agree with some of the other titles being banned, like "Catcher In The Rye", which I had to read n high school, and totally HATED.
ReplyDeleteSome people are getting unnecessarily upset about this issue of banning books. We're not talking about the U.S. GOVERNMENT banning books for ADULTS, for Pete's sake! Now THAT is something to be up in arms about! What we're talking about here is books for SCHOOL LIBRARIES being banned. I think this is entirely appropriate. I would not want my child (hypothetically, since I don't have kids) having access to certain books because some parents insist that they have the right to allow their kids to read these books. What about my own rights to not want to allow my child to read these books?
Those parents who are willing to allow their kids to read ALL types of books should simply take them to their local public library. All types of books are freely available there. School libraries are another matter entirely.
Thanks for your honest comment on my own BBH post!! Enjoy your weekend!! <3 :)
Black Beauty was banned in South Africa during apartheid because of the word black in the title. I think of all the reasons for banning a book that one is quite possibly the most ridiculous of all them all.
DeleteThanks for stopping by Maria!
I live in a county that banned several books, including Harry Potter from the library.
ReplyDeleteThey also changed the rules so that politicians, and not librarians, can have the final say on what books they buy.
It's mind boggling and infuriating.
For What It's Worth
Politicians controlling the books?! 😱
DeleteWoah I didn't expect to see some of the above books on the list! I would be very interested to find out the reasoning and explanation for their ban. I've never really kept myself informed about banned books, but now I'm really curious to find out which books I've read have been banned at some point.
ReplyDeleteSome of the reasons are absolute nonsense like Black Beauty was banned because it had the word black in the title and the South African government didn't like that during apartheid!
DeleteOthers, like HP, are because they promote witch craft and the occult. 🙄
Oh yea, some of the strangest books have been banned. In fact, I had read a book I thought was so good, that brought light to a unknown tragedy and I thought the highest compliment I could give it is that is should be banned. It would be in excellent company.
ReplyDeleteOhh great list Nicola there are quite a few books that I absolutely love and enjoy as well that are on your list. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog hop last week.
ReplyDelete