30 Sept 2009

Novels Challenged.

"Each year the (ALA) American Library Association's Office Of Intellectual Freedom records hundreds of attempts by individuals and groups to have books removed from library shelves and classrooms. According to this at least 42 of the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels Of The 20th Century have been the target of ban attempts."

I had no idea that such a list existed but then I'm not totally surprised by it either. After all books like the Harry Potter series and The Da Vinci Code to name but two have been criticised and people encouraged not to read them. To me this could be like a red rag to a bull, make enough fuss about something and lots of people will find themselves wanting to find out just what all the fuss is all about.

6 comments:

La Coccinelle said...

Exactly. When I found out that one of Shel Silverstein's books had been challenged for things like "Satanism" and "cannibalism", of course that made me want to read it again (because I certainly don't remember those things from the first time around!).

I've got an award for you! You can pick it up here.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Thanks for that, La Coccinelle.

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

Hi Petty Witter. I am visiting following your visit. I do believe I have been to your site not too long ago, following from another site and sight seeing. I enjoyed stopping by then and thought I had started following, but I guess some how I didn't.

I have been listening to everyone talk about the books challenged and so on. I have to say it does raise questions and curiousity in my mind to take a look at these books. I really don't think they are as bad as the big deals people are making. I have read some of these books and just don't get it. Though I don't go looking for reasons to hate books.

I love you site and the little kitten on the side bar. I think we played for about 5 minutes.

Well, I hope to be seeing you around more. Thanks!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Thanks for that Melissa, it's always nice to hear from new people. I hope you'll visit again.

Kelly said...

I love books and think the individual should be able to choose what they do and don't want to read. I bristle at the thought of someone else making that decision for me!

I agree in that I think banning a book often has the opposite effect... makes it more popular in the long run!

Jenners said...

Totally true! The more of a fuss you make about something, the more people want to check it out.