Banned Books

Time just slips away from me - in the midst of lotsa work, lotsa worry (sick father, sick sweetie, and I think my 401K is now a 41k), I nearly forgot about Banned Books week! Luckily, the nice folks at the Fayetteville Flyer and the Arkansas Times reminded me with two really nice articles, bringing me back to reality and my bookshelf. I'm happy to say that some of those banned books are ones I own, have read multiple times and love.

But I had to throw in a list (thanks to the Forbidden Library) of some of those challenged books that both asks and answers that timeless question, what the hell some people were thinking. Here's a few of my favorites (with snarky editorial comment in italics afterwards):

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. Challenged in Wise County, Va. (1982) due to "sexually offensive" passages. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a "real downer." OMG, really? A young Jewish girl starts a diary on her thirteenth birthday, right before she and her family are forced into hiding by the Nazis, and someone in Alabama thought it should've been more upbeat? Ye gods.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Removed from a locked reference collection at the Boulder, Colo. Public Library (1988), where it had been placed because the librarian thought the book espoused a poor philosophy of life. Wonder what they thought of the Tim Burton version? Probably locked away in some reference DVD library...


The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Challenged in the Laytonville, Calif. Unified School District (1989) because it "criminalizes the foresting industry." Um, Dr. Seuss? Really? Now I'm surprised that the Cat and the Hat wasn't challenged by an organized group of interior decorators and babysitters.


The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll by Jim Miller, editor Challenged in Jefferson, Ky. (1982) because it "will cause our children to become immoral and indecent." Obviously an opinion that was written by squares. Dude, that was the frakkin' point! Hand me that spliff! Rock and Roooollll, baby! Woooooo-hooooo!


Where's Waldo? by Martin Handford Challenged at the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Mich. (1989), Removed from the Springs Public School library in East Hampton, N.Y. (1993) because there is a tiny drawing of a woman lying on the beach wearing a bikini bottom but no top. They obviously missed the point - yer supposed to look for the goofy guy in stripes, not the beach bunnies. Brought to you by Overachievers Anonymous.


A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle Challenged at the Polk City, Fla. Elementary School (1985) by a parent who believed that the story promotes witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons. Challenged in the Anniston Ala. schools (1990). The complainant objected to the book's listing the name of Jesus Christ together with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders when referring to those who defend earth against evil. Yeah, 'cause Jesus is too busy looking for Waldo amongst all the beach bunnies to be fightin' the devil, right?


Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein This book was challenged, but retained in the South Texas Independent School District in Mercedes,TX (2004). Parents objected to the adult themes - sexuality, drugs, and suicide - found in the 1962 Hugo Award-winning novel being used in a summer Science Academy curriculum. I guess I'm most surprised that there haven't been more challenges for this book, especially to the 1991 restored edition, but it has certainly made it's mark on our society. Grok?        

Got a book you love that others hate? Let me know in the comments!