Monday, September 29, 2008

Banned Books Week

This is banned books week. Let's pay tribute to all the banned books throughout history this week. Here's a comprehensive list of the latest banned books.
Why do some people want to decide what other people read? Sure, there are dangerous books out there like "how to make a bomb for fun and revenge" (not sure if that exists or not) but why do those "in charge" feel threatened? Does the truth hurt? Are they afraid that someone might believe a lie? Do they not know the difference between fiction and non-fiction? These and many other questions wait to be answered, as if they actually could be answered. One thing for sure, banned books tend to get a boost in readership. So, in effect, banning them only gets the opposite effect. People don't like to be told what to do. They want to believe that they actually have the freedom of choice. Go ahead, ban my book, I dare you. Let's promote the freedom to read and write!

2 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

How can they keep classics like Huck Finn on that list? Makes no sense.

Have they banned VC Andrews' books yet? Her Flowers in the Attic has incest. But they are well written and I have most of her books.

I guess, based on their criteria, my books will be on that list someday...

pmrussell said...

Yes, actually, there were places that banned Flowers In The Attic.