It's Banned Books Week

We're smack in the middle of Banned Books Week, an event sponsored by the American Library Assn., the American Publishers Assn. and others. This year, they've launched an interactive map that shows which books were officially banned or challenged, and where, in 2008.

Southern California seems to be pretty tolerant when it comes to literature. The only challenge was at a private school in Yorba Linda, where Curtis Sittenfeld's "Prep" was removed from an accelerated reading program after a parent complained about sexual content. There was, admittedly, sexual content in "Prep" -- often coupled with a dose of adolescent self-loathing -- but that's the kind of thing anybody can see by turning on the TV to watch "Gossip Girl," right?

Speaking of "Gossip Girl," the series of novels on which the TV show is based came in as the seventh most frequently challenged book/s of 2008. The top 10 includes the "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz and "Bless Me, Ultima," by Rudolfo Anaya, both because of "occult/Satanism." Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy was objected to for its political and religious viewpoint. And "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" and the picture book about same-sex penguin parents in the Central Park Zoo, "And Tango Makes Three," were found objectionable because of homosexuality.

The objections seem silly, if not outrageous -- people are still upset about the gay penguins? Really? But the bannings and challenges haven't caused much of an outcry in California. Only two events in the state are listed on the official Banned Books Week website, and neither is in L.A. County. Maybe that's because we don't traffic much in book banning around here.

But if you've got an event to bring attention to Banned Books Week, be sure to let us know.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Image credit: Banned Books Week / American Library Assn.

RELATED: Laurie Halse Anderson's "Speak" almost too much for Temecula

Comments

[Lu]

Skylight Books held a Banned Book Open Mic event on Saturday, and has been taking donations of banned books for local high schools.:

http://www.skylightbooks.com/skylight-books-celebrates-banned-book-week-september-26-october-3-2009

[Cathie]

There is one Banned Books Week event going on this week: Village Book Shop in Glendora is offering book lovers uninterrupted reading time to celebrate our freedom to read. Anyone who signs up for an uninterrupted block of reading time can read their choice of a book, and enjoy a snack and a drink. For more information about those participating in Village Book Shop’s celebration of the freedom to read, contact owner Deborah Gould at (626) 335-5720.

[BeautyQueen]

Banning books makes me sick.

What are people afraid of, that someone else might form an opinion outside of their own? That someone might learn something about someone else's view - real or imagined - and, Heaven forbid, come to understand it? Golly Gee Batman! Say it ain't so!

We'd better start banning films, television, newspapers (oh wait, we practically have gotten rid of newspapers), THE INTERNET, art works, conversations, etc., etc., etc. Oh, but we'd better not EVER ban the Bible. That's always acceptable reading. Nothing more wholesome than a book filled with deceipt, revenge, murder, war, adultery, polygamy, idolatry, betrayal, condoned slavery, hatred, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.... Sure, consequences and admonishments for some of these undesirable states are also in the Bible, but who's to say the reader cares about that? Who's to say that the reader doesn't see any one of the aforementioned conditions as a guide to getting what they want out of life? Consequences Shmonsequences!

It's not the words on a page that are bad. It's how people interpret and use them that is the problem. Bible included.

And yes, I just went on an unsolicited rant about people who misuse the Bible, but it ties in to my larger rant on banning books. In general, people hold the Bible up as acceptable reading for anyone. It's not called the "Good Book" for nothing. My point is that it contains most of the worst facets of mankind imaginable, just as these banned books may (or may not).

It is not for us to judge what someone else should or should not read. It is more for us to teach others - by our own example - to embrace and emulate what is right, good, decent, compassionate, kind and humane, regardless of what they read, see, hear or experience to the contrary.

[Raised In Redlands]

Sorry but no one has a right to decide what I can and cannot read.
That is my right as a free American to be free in my thoughts and in my life.
To all those narrow minded people your kids will learn these things one way or the other.
Either you can tell them or they will learn it from someone who won't be so delicate about teaching your children.
We live in the modern age of the internet so you won't be able to shelter them from the world forever.

[Lawrence Turner]

Banning a book is better than advertising a book - and a whole lot cheaper!

[Puerto Rican Government Bans 5 Books for High Schoolers]

The Department of Education of the government of Puerto Rico recently eliminated five books from the eleventh grade curriculum of the public school system: Antología Personal, by José Luis González; El Entierro de Cortijo, by Edgardo Rodríguez Juliá; Mejor Te Lo Cuento: Antología Personal, by Juan Antonio Ramos; Reunión de Espejos: An Anthology of Essays edited by José Luis Vega (all Puerto Rican authors); and Aura, by Carlos Fuentes from Mexico. The public agency justified its action by saying that the books “contain unacceptable language and vocabulary, which is extremely coarse and vulgar.”

The governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, supported the decision:

“I think I have been very clear, and that all of the mothers and fathers out there understand perfectly that the books that an 18-year-old can read should not be read by a 12-year-old.”

Numerous writers and artists in Puerto Rico publicly voiced their concerns and described the government’s action as censorship. The Federation of Teachers also condemned the decision and stated that it “reflects ignorance about the social reality that our students live in, and a backward-looking vision of modern literature as part of the academic curriculum.” After such public pressure, the Department of Education said they had only permanently eliminated one book, but were still evaluating the rest.

[Mischa KK Bagley]

As one of those authors invited to speak at the Banned Books event in Chicago Sep 26, may I say that the ALA campaign applies not only to literature available in US schools but, in my experience, to unpublished literature also.

My invitation was based on my old blog*, which was established to promote my novel pre-publication. Hosted by Blogger/Google, the blog remains hidden to online visitors, as Blogger/Google placed it under an interstitial.

I strongly take issue with this interference with readers’ right to choose, not to mention the high-handed judgement on my work. As a British/New Zealand author, I find my work falling under judgements made by a US company, which are in turn based upon Blogger/Google’s Terms of Service, raised under American law. Though living outside US law, my work is judged by a company with unchallenged reach beyond its borders.

This is not a diatribe against American laws and values: I’m a staunch supporter of America, politcally and socially. My point is that the ALA’s campaign includes the broader issue of writers’ freedom to pen what they desire in any location, and still have an unrestricted audiencein this digital age.

Sincerely,
Mischa KK Bagley.

* https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconfessionofthepantherwoman.blogspot.com%2F