{Click here for full list of blogs hosting giveaways!}
I hereby interrupt my “blogging break” for the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop. I mean, Banned Books Week only happens once year, right?
What’s my opinion of banned books? I think it really depends on the book and *WHY* it’s being banned and from where the banning is taking place. Honestly, there are some books that I think shouldn’t be in a school library, a public library, or even a church library (like anything by Joel Osteen. Actually, his books are should be banned from society). Of course, these books are based on *MY* opinions and how I view the world and society in general.
As a teen, I tried to read as many “banned” books as possible (with the blessing of educators), particularly if they were classics like Catcher in the Rye. The best way to get someone to read a book is to ban it.
For my INTERNATIONAL (to where The Book Depository ships) giveaway, I’m going you can choose ONE of the following books chosen because it was banned or challenged for a funny reason…
*The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for giving an 11 year-old nightmares. (You can also choose Catching Fire or Mockingjay, which are as equally “nightmarish”!)
*Brave New World by Aldous Huxley for being a repeat offender year after year.
*Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for “glorifying sex.” The book is about a girl dealing with her rape–not so glorifying! This is a really good book about a terrible topic.
*The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien for being burned by a church and labelled as “satanic.” (Your choice of any ONE book in the trilogy–The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, or Return of the King OR the ever “satanic” book, The Hobbit.)
*The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger for being the most banned book of all time!!!
*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee for being a classic banned book!
*The Lord of the Flies by William Golding for a slew of reasons. I happen to think it’s a great book.
*1984 by George Orwell for being “pro-communist.”
*Animal Farm by George Orwell for “indecent images of alcoholic pigs.” A fave book of mine!
*The Bible, particularly Song of Solomon, for its “sexual imagery.” (If you choose the Bible, it *must* be $15 or under…and please only choose this if you want the Bible! This one is nice, despite being $15.69. You can totally choose it.)
To enter, simply fill out
*THE FORM*!
THE DEETS: The giveaway runs until 11:59 PM EST on October 1. After the winner is confirmed (via email) he or she will be announced on Backseat Writer, Twitter, and via White House Press Conference. This giveaway is ONLY open to residents of planet Earth. Sorry, but the cost of shipping books to Pluto is just getting out of control. (Psst! That means it’s a international party, kids!) I am not responsible for prizes that mysteriously disappear in the postal system. You can leave a comment about a book that you *wish* was banned and why. You won’t get any extra points, but it might make me laugh!
Thanks to I Read Banned Books and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for organizing this fab giveaway hop!
She is Beloved 
I would generally say that no book should be banned, but I do think that the Twilight series should be banned from children because it Romanticizes suicide and very unhealthy/obsessive relationships, which is something that children should not wish for.
I’m NO fan of banning. Do the best you can raising your kids and hope they’ll have a good head on their shoulders.
Besides…if they want to get their hands on a specific book you bet your behind they will. Of course some books are not very suited for a young readership, but better deal with the problem instead of just casting it aside (aka banning).
Kathy, I am inclined to agree with you on TWILIGHT. I hate that the books and movies seem to promote a teenage girl’s willingness to give up her own identity to be with a sparkly vampire guy. I do like Edward’s abstinence message, but all in all, the message for younger readers is dangerous. I do hope parents and adults talk to kids about Bella’s decision and allow them to understand what she is choosing. Sometimes we make good choices for love and foolish choices, but I feel sad about Bella’s seeming lack of identity.
BookThingChica, check out that link above and see why books were banned. I think you should really enjoy it. I definitely think teaching kids HOW TO think, not just WHAT TO think is very important.
GREAT post! Thanks so much for participating this year!
Jen
I think that Harold and the Purple Crayon should be banned. I mean, really! I don’t want my kids to think that they can color their own worlds and escape. Plus, I’ve dealt with enough crayon on my walls. (ok, this is just a joke post) :o)
There are books that I don’t read, and don’t want my kids to read, but I wouldn’t tell anyone what they can and can’t read.
Thanks for taking part in this hop!!
The only kind of writing that should be completely banned is rude comments or responses to people on blogs, FB, Twitter, etc. “Can’t we all just get along?”
Other than that, I think it has to be a personal choice, and also policed by parents for their kids.
Really? For giving an 11 year old nightmares? Man if I could ban every movie that gave me nightmares….
Thanks for the giveaway!
I don’t think any book should be banned. I would never assume that I have the moral right to decide what everyone else should or should not be reading. There are, of course, books that I disagree with or have a moral issue with, but I would much rather use them as a means to discuss these things with my child or with someone else rather than using censorship to take away someone’s right to decide for themselves.
That being said, I wish there was an unspoken “ban” about confusing stalking with romance in YA fiction. That’s one of my pet peeves.
Donna @ The Happy Booker
ahappybooker at gmail dot com
Oh great. First the planetary demotion and then this, seems like us Plutonians just can’t catch a break …
Thank you for hosting this giveaway and for being a part of the Banned Books Week Hop!!
Have a safe and great weekend!! =)
GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
It amazes me what books are on the “banned” list. Totally crazy!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh man, if I could ban a book…… I would choose text books in high schools. I HATED lugging those darn things around! Dumb learning!
hehe
Seriously, I could never ban a book. And I, uh, actually READ my text books in high school… LOL.
Thanks for the giveaway. I found it strange that the Dictionary made the list.
I’m never a fan of banning books, but at risk of being chased down with torches and pitchforks, I AM a fan of a “restricted” section in children’s libraries that require parental permission.
So since I can’t think of any that should be BANNED, I would say Anarchist’s Cookbook should be restricted, because, well, I don’t want my kid learning to blow stuff up in his bedroom (though, that would certainly be a creative way to “clean” his room huh?)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jess
Romanceaholic at gmail dot com
Not that I would support it, but any book written by Ann Coulter, Bill O’Rielly, Glen Beck, or Sean Hannity should be used for paper sculptures, not put onto library shelves.
Seriously, I don’t want any books banned.
But, thinking selfishly–if for the brief period when I had high school kids who needed help reading Dickens’s “Great Expectations,” (and I ended up rereading it–Ugh!) its banning might not have bugged me too much!
Gah!!! I’m laughing at “indecent images of alcoholic pigs” — too funny 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
One of the most interesting perspectives on banned books that I’ve read is a Colorado librarian’s response to a patron’s challenge of a children’s book dealing with gay marriage. I understand the parents’ concern, and of course it’s every parents’ right and duty to determine what’s appropriate reading for their child. The librarian’s response is very long, but I especially loved this part: “…if the library is doing its job, there are lots of books in our collection that people won’t agree with; there are certainly many that I object to. Library collections don’t imply endorsement; they imply access to the many different ideas of our culture, which is precisely our purpose in public life.” Very true. (Here’s the full response)
I honestly can’t think of a book that needs banned, My parents let me read whatever I chose, I think they thought I was mature enough to deal with the issues in the books I chose to read. But this was years and years ago and a lot of touchy topics are being discussed today but still I feel no book needs to be banned. I am seriously stunned that the bible is one of them.
I am not a fan of banning books, but if I had to chose one, can we ban Snooki’s book? Although I don’t want to ban it, the Sweet Valley High 10 years later book needs to be used as a torture device.
Thanks a lot for the chance. And I think Breaking Dawn should be banned because that book is really bad!
Maybe if we banned the Bible for its violence and implied sensuality, more people would read it,
I don’t think books should be banned if you don’t like it don’t read it ! Thank you for your great giveaway and post ! GFC follower/latishajean
tishajean@ charter.net
Twilight. Oh wait, it is banned.
No book should be banned, but the one book I read that I wish I wouldn’t have is “Fall on Her Knees” (it’s on the Oprah list)….it’s the book I continued to read waiting for it to get better (I was waiting for vindication, or redemption or SOMETHING)….it did not.
I can’t believe some of those books are banned–crazy!
Haha! The Joel Osteen comment! I actually agree, too! As for banned books, everyone has judgement and can decide what to fill themselves with. Imagine if we banned movies! Use discretion, ask God if He approves 🙂