tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post2872164578563452568..comments2023-09-05T04:45:06.546-07:00Comments on Talespinning: A simple propositionTricia J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-65289629053447170242010-09-10T20:28:56.885-07:002010-09-10T20:28:56.885-07:00I'm proud to report that I teach several banne...I'm proud to report that I teach several banned books, including Fahrenheit 451 (you know I'm a huge Ray Bradbury fan), Native Son, and Huck Finn. I introduce satire with a piece from The Onion called "Nation's Teens Disappointed by Banned Books." Totally skewers book banners through the eyes of teens, who expected sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll in banned books and were disappointed when they didn't find them.sybcalifnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-66670450195099120082010-09-08T11:22:00.804-07:002010-09-08T11:22:00.804-07:00Suzanne: I guess I will never understand what caus...Suzanne: I guess I will never understand what causes someone to want to ban a book, so I'll keep speaking up for those books as long as I can. Yes, some ideas can be disturbing or even dangerous, but we're better off discussing them and why we disagree.<br /><br />Kathryn: I, too, am stunned by it.<br /><br />Anaya: He's such an amazing writer and speaker. People's lives would be enriched reading his stories.<br />I don't think the people who try to ban books really give a lot of thought to anything beyond their narrow band of belief.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-19299302375809169062010-09-08T09:56:04.728-07:002010-09-08T09:56:04.728-07:00I'm a huge fan of Sherman Alexie, both in his ...I'm a huge fan of Sherman Alexie, both in his writing itself and his larger social message. Glad you mentioned him. I know he'd attracted a bit of controversy, but didn't know that he had actually become a target of the book banners. <br /><br />As a side note, it seems that often these attempts to suppress books only bring more attention, generally positive, to the works. I'm definitely more apt to want to read a book if I hear its been banned or challenged-ironically its a great point of recommendation for me! It begs the question of what these people are really trying to accomplish here...Anayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851363584055867950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-64488814615568409902010-09-08T09:35:40.155-07:002010-09-08T09:35:40.155-07:00Thank you for stopping by my place . . .
It alway...Thank you for stopping by my place . . .<br /><br />It always amazes me how individual people want to push their will onto the people as a whole *sigh*Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-45865796972931867742010-09-08T08:02:47.797-07:002010-09-08T08:02:47.797-07:00Great post. Thank you for writing so thoroughly an...Great post. Thank you for writing so thoroughly and thoughtfully about book banning. I've read many of the books you mentioned and loved them all.Suzanne Casamentohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08306151428658707692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-13008541978602749182010-09-07T22:23:13.805-07:002010-09-07T22:23:13.805-07:00Natalie: I love Sherman Alexie's books. I had ...Natalie: I love Sherman Alexie's books. I had the good fortune of covering one of his speeches when he was relatively new to the scene. He is funny and smart, a really amazing speaker.<br /><br />Ed: I think you're right that the would-be 'banners' wind up sending more people go buy the books than they keep away.<br /><br />Sarah: I'm loving FEED, laughing my head off sometimes. It is brilliant.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-35221733144170899752010-09-07T15:58:35.872-07:002010-09-07T15:58:35.872-07:00I'm reading FEED right now. So many wonderful ...I'm reading FEED right now. So many wonderful authors in that Frequently Challenged list. Clicking over to Steph Su's website!Sarah Wyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13576639307836794270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-58806384307809994402010-09-07T15:18:39.727-07:002010-09-07T15:18:39.727-07:00it's a fascinating subject, banned books. i ac...it's a fascinating subject, banned books. i actually think the books the power establishment is really scared of will never make these lists becuz these lists get publicized. the crazy groups that want to ban books are so counter-productive to their causes because of the publicity they generate. <br />the truly dangerous books, like the ones noam chomsky writes, for example, will never outright be banned but rather quietly ignored, seems to me.Ed Pilollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09139531369534586168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-34729649339605860852010-09-07T08:55:46.020-07:002010-09-07T08:55:46.020-07:00I love so many of the books you mentioned. The Ab...I love so many of the books you mentioned. The Absolutely True Diary is one of my favorites. I need to pick one out to read this year.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861022355718378425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-6866978996408616372010-09-07T08:37:35.174-07:002010-09-07T08:37:35.174-07:00Megan: Hi and welcome and I'm so glad you may ...Megan: Hi and welcome and I'm so glad you may do something on banned books. It's so important to alert people.<br /><br />Franklin: What a great comment! The truth is certainly not obscene.<br /><br />Liza: Yes, it does seem to spread. What's disturbing is so often these offended people react on second-hand information. They never read the book at all.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-32638779454596484752010-09-06T18:26:52.709-07:002010-09-06T18:26:52.709-07:00Closed-mindedness is a critical disease. Thank yo...Closed-mindedness is a critical disease. Thank you for this info.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-3388777048119804432010-09-06T14:13:52.808-07:002010-09-06T14:13:52.808-07:00Thanks for bringing this to my attention Tricia. I...Thanks for bringing this to my attention Tricia. I also can't believe some of the books that have been attacked, and recently too. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is among the first books I'd give a young person to read! The truth is not obscene.Franklin Beaumonthttp://www.flashfictiondaily.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-55703357802512933622010-09-06T14:12:00.278-07:002010-09-06T14:12:00.278-07:00Great idea! I don't review books on my blog - ...Great idea! I don't review books on my blog - but thanks to you - I now plan to write a post about banned books this month.Megan Frances Abrahamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02259684930983493989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-73853967692013894632010-09-06T11:15:33.016-07:002010-09-06T11:15:33.016-07:00Yat-Yee: I'm so glad you read The Handmaid'...Yat-Yee: I'm so glad you read The Handmaid's Tale. That is such an incredible book. Here's to us promoting more of them!<br /><br />Barrie: Hi and you're most welcome!<br /><br />Donna: Any books that cause the reader to think, to question, to imagine seem to be targets, and those are my favorites, too.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-66436752365601858452010-09-06T11:01:58.548-07:002010-09-06T11:01:58.548-07:00I will definitely check that out. The idea of book...I will definitely check that out. The idea of book burning in this country, this century, is horrifying. I suspect that many of the books I love have been banned by somebody.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09990167523549582811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-24302498147999925442010-09-06T10:35:38.360-07:002010-09-06T10:35:38.360-07:00This is a great idea, Tricia. Thank you for all th...This is a great idea, Tricia. Thank you for all the links.Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-23620843375058410732010-09-06T08:56:11.454-07:002010-09-06T08:56:11.454-07:00I am signed up as well. I don't know yet what ...I am signed up as well. I don't know yet what I'll read, but M. T. Anderson's Feed is one I am considering. And a belated thanks for recommending The Handmaid's Tale. It's one that has really affected me. <br /><br />Claire: I agree with Tricia. Your comments really get to the heart of the matter.Yat-Yeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04028075516122778317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-54343008104342700572010-09-06T07:13:23.276-07:002010-09-06T07:13:23.276-07:00Words Crafter: Oh, I hope you do join in. The comp...Words Crafter: Oh, I hope you do join in. The complete lists can be found through the links to ALA banned book week. They have a sidebar with it broken down into decades. Also, Steph Su put up links to resources.<br />If each of us highlights different books, we'll show how wide this net is cast. <br /><br />Jemi: Yay, you! I'm so glad you do that. The first time I heard that The Giver was on the challenged list, I nearly fell over.<br /><br />Bish: Oh, I'd love to have you join in. I know you'd have some pithy things to say!Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-89159059526997835532010-09-06T07:07:19.490-07:002010-09-06T07:07:19.490-07:00Jade: I hope you don't have as much censorship...Jade: I hope you don't have as much censorship. A lot of these books are on school reading lists and that's why some parents or, often church organizations, demand they be removed.<br /><br />Sherrie: I like your house! And what a great idea to do a give-away of a banned book. Everything we do to raise consciousness helps.<br /><br />Stephanie: Yay! I'm so glad you're joining in. We can spread the word wide about specific books and what makes them special.<br /><br />Claire: That was an amazing comment. You have a knack for getting to the heart of issues. Thank you.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-60865546582241922772010-09-06T06:53:59.555-07:002010-09-06T06:53:59.555-07:00I'm always shocked by the books that are chall...I'm always shocked by the books that are challenged or banned. I'll have to look at the list, see if there are any I can read.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-18217340534383248082010-09-06T06:39:55.781-07:002010-09-06T06:39:55.781-07:00I always discuss banned book week with my students...I always discuss banned book week with my students. (Our week in Canada is different. I think it's in February.) Banning books drives me nuts! I often read The Giver with the kids - and it blows their minds that some people think it should be banned. Me too. :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-31643683889376361602010-09-06T05:50:24.607-07:002010-09-06T05:50:24.607-07:00Hmmmm. I will have to come back and see your list ...Hmmmm. I will have to come back and see your list and pick a few from it. And I think I'll join up, too. I had no idea those books you listed/posted had ever been challenged. <br /><br />See, I have my own beliefs but I'm a live and let choose kind of person. I agree with you; we're all entitled to our opinions and beliefs. We DO NOT have the right to try to force those things on other people. Often, those wishing to ban a book are narrow-minded, power hungry, insecure people. And I'm trying to be nice here. I'm writing a note to myself to return for the whole list. Amazing *shaking head*The Words Crafterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14520267901489487512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-49353201053057763042010-09-06T05:38:57.486-07:002010-09-06T05:38:57.486-07:00What a great challenge! I love it!
I can't be...What a great challenge! I love it!<br /><br />I can't believe some of the books that have been banned over the years. Crazy stuff.Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-90408821985427812552010-09-06T01:15:50.901-07:002010-09-06T01:15:50.901-07:00I'm always amused at the reasons people come u...I'm always amused at the reasons people come up with for stuff. <br /><br />Any book that deals with racism, promotes it. <br />Any book that mentions witchcraft, advocates it. <br />Any book with teenage sex, pulls apart the moral fabric of our society. <br /><br />If some people had their way it would be illegal to watch the news!Claire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5777245334432005091.post-17114781044854078262010-09-05T22:26:03.698-07:002010-09-05T22:26:03.698-07:00The idea of banning books just ticks me off. I...The idea of banning books just ticks me off. I'm totally up for this challenge!<br /><br />And BTW- I loved The Handmaid's Tale. It's my favorite SciFi book! <br /><br />A side note to Jade: Many of the books on the list are on American curriculum guides too. But people still want to ban them in certain states.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.com