Topic: Banned Books Week 2009! (Read 20470 times)

Caleb · « **on:** 10 Sep 2009, 11:41 »

(large full color pdf of banned and challenged books in 2008-2009) \/

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2009banned.pdf

I am somewhat disappointed that" Catcher in the Rye" is still being banned. I am guessing that it was on the required reading lists for some schools and parents decided their kids didn't need to read that.

And I didn't know that gay penguins were still such a hot button issue. But I guess it is because "And Tango Makes Three" was still getting banned this year.

How are you going to celebrate banned books week?

I have a display set up in the library but it's tough to keep up because most of the banned books are out and people keep on checking out the books that are on the display.

JD · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 16:33 »

Why the hell did The Supernaturalist get banned?

Golden Compass too, ack

My Sister’s Keeper? D:

The Entire Bartimaeus trilogy knocked out because of complaints of the occult? Stupid parents

Merrick · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 17:10 »

Why the fuck is Catcher In The Rye banned?

Border Reiver · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 18:29 »

You know I grew up in what is probably a fairly conservative house, Dad's a Mason, we went to church regularly, both he and my mother have fairly conservative views of society, etc. And I still remember what my Dad told me - Judge people by what they do, help out if you can, at the end of the day it doesn't matter what the other guy thinks - if you tell him that he can't read this or talk about that eventually you'll lose your right to do the same thing, if you can look yourself in the eye when you shave in the morning and say "I've done the right thing" then you've at least got a conscience, and never let your wife go to bed angry at you.

Banning books is stupid - all that does is create in some people the desire to read them to defy authority. If you disagree with the content, debate it- stupid ideas or bad writing when analyzed tend to go away faster.

And as to the ads, who designed them? That colour scheme is far from eyecatching, and is hard to read.

Ferc Eater · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 21:11 »

So people are still scared of paper?

Be My Head · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 21:13 »

Oh, well, Twilight was challenged at least...

Ballard · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 21:20 »

Is there a non-PDF version of this list? My computer's a piece of trash currently and PDFs are what send it over the edge (half hour long lag-outs and Firefox crashes).

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 21:28 »

Isn't Catcher in the Rye still on High School reading lists pretty much everywhere it isn't banned by these silly organisations?

Anyway, I live in Australia, where the only things that are banned are books actively encouraging criminal activities and American Psycho, but only in Queensland and only if you don't ask for it.

Ballard · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 22:16 »

Man, it is a good thing these people never caught wind of Loompanics Press.

Kugai · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 23:41 »

People are stupid sometimes.

5 will get you 10 that over half these idiots bemoan the book burning carried out in Nazi Germany, yet can't see just how similar their actions are. After all, that's how it starts.

"Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to go fly a kite."
Lazarus Long.

Caleb · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 06:13 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 10 Sep 2009, 16:33

Golden Compass too, ack

People were told that this book supports atheism. So I suppose they were worried that their kids would become Godless heathens who don't support organized religion if they read it.

(though I am assuming it would take more than cool battle polar bears to take away someone faith if they truly had any to begin with.)

Lines · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 06:42 »

Books I've read on this list (bolded ones were required reading): Go Ask Alice (wtf, this is a good book), Brave New World, Girl, Interrupted, To Kill a Mockingbird (another WTF!), The Golden Compass, Wicked (are you serious?), the Twilight series, The Bluest Eye (this book is pretty effed up, but still good), The Book of Bunny Suicides (lol), The Catcher in the Rye (I think they got mad either because they are actually phoney or because this book is a piece of crap), and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

How am I going to celebrate? Read more banned books. Also probably make a shirt that says "I read banned books" because I don't need another tote bag.

Surgoshan · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 07:34 »

Quote from: Be My Head on 10 Sep 2009, 21:13

Oh, well, Twilight was challenged at least...

Not for sucking, though, but because of sex in the fourth book. Yes, ban all four because of the last one.

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that Harry Potter wasn't on there. I guess they've gotten over it.

TwistedRemedy · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 07:38 »

To kill a mockingbird? Seriously?

"Riley, Andy. The Book of Bunny Suicides: Little
Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don’t Want to Live
Anymore."

I feel bad that this one made me laugh.

Josefbugman · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 07:56 »

Catcher in the rye should have a warning label that reads "Criminal levels of stupid angst, look elsewhere for angst that has a reason".

Other than that, this list is deeply disheartnening, I mean who bans books? We aren't living in 18th century France for Petes sake.

Lines · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 08:55 »

Quote from: TwistedRemedy on 11 Sep 2009, 07:38

"Riley, Andy. The Book of Bunny Suicides: Little
Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don’t Want to Live
Anymore."

I feel bad that this one made me laugh.

Why? Have you ever seen this book? It's all illustrations that are both cute and disturbing. It's hilarious!

AanAllein · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 18:09 »

So what's the story behind all these banned books? I didn't open the PDF because it is huge. Like, is some unnecessarily sensitive church group banning these for schools, or in particular states? The whole concept of books like TKAM being banned in the 21st century doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 19:55 »

Mostly just stupid parents, who may have heard something from someone who's child heard about the book from somebody else, complaining to the school that these godless works of sin should not be allowed near their children because it may keep their mind open or something

Eris · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 Sep 2009, 20:38 »

Twilight Books Banned from Primary Schools for Being 'Too Racy'

Nodaisho · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 00:29 »

The Supernaturalists banned for having to do with the occult? Did they not even open the damn cover? I actually liked that one, now that I look back on it, it is sort of cyberpunk for kids. I would more expect someone to object to the rampant criminal behavior, showing someone that looks like a 6 year old drinking beer, or the overall quite explicit dystopia given the age range it is aimed at. Of course, these people do not appear to act with anything I would recognize as logic.

Probably not going to do anything for Banned Books Week, since I hadn't heard about it beforehand. Maybe just daydream about busting out an R. Lee Ermey impression on someone complaining about a book and saying it should be removed from the library.

Surgoshan · « **Reply #20 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 05:59 »

Quote from: AanAllein on 11 Sep 2009, 18:09

So what's the story behind all these banned books? I didn't open the PDF because it is huge. Like, is some unnecessarily sensitive church group banning these for schools, or in particular states? The whole concept of books like TKAM being banned in the 21st century doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

1) Sex. If it has sex in it, then it's evil and must be banned.
2) The occult. If it has magic in it then it's satanic and must be banned.
3) Homosexuality. Fuck it, man, queers are evil and must be banned.
4) Wangst. If the main character is whiny, then he's a satanist and must be banned.

satsugaikaze · « **Reply #21 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 07:17 »

Whoever banned Brave New World must be living in the fuckin' 40s or something. Hell, it's still part of Australian syllabi. And To Kill a Mockingbird? This banning shit is something I'd expect imposed on 10-year-olds living in Nazi Germany.

Lines · « **Reply #22 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 07:49 »

Did you see why they tried to ban it though? Because some parent thought it would upset black kids. Not upset just anyone, but only black kids.

Surgoshan · « **Reply #23 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 08:12 »

Quote from: satsugaikaze on 12 Sep 2009, 07:17

To Kill a Mockingbird?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird#Challenges_and_bans

Essentially, it started as a mix of "we don't like negros" and "we don't like frank descriptions of rape" and evolved to a mix of "we don't like bad words" and "we don't like frank descriptions of rape".

Tom · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 13:59 »

The liberalness of Australia relative to other English-speaking countries constantly comes as a surprise to me. I've read like at least one of those banned books each year for high-school.

LeeC · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 16:09 »

wait... seriously Grendel on the list? read it senior year of HS and it is a really good read!

Hat · « **Reply #26 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 21:53 »

Quote from: Surgoshan on 12 Sep 2009, 05:59

4) Wangst. If the main character is whiny, then he's a satanist and must be banned.

so this is why Catcher in the Rye is banned? damn

also lets think of some more books that should be banned:

Paradise Lost: Paints Satan in a sympathetic light, inconsistent with Bible Narrative.

The Odyssey: Subversive paranormal elements, too many uppity female characters bossing men around

Nodaisho · « **Reply #27 on:** 12 Sep 2009, 22:47 »

There is this one that has a lot of people using magic, there is murder, slavery, rape, lynchings, genocide, and reference to there being multiple gods. I've got a copy of it right here, it is called The Elble.

Wait, hang on. Some of the gilding on the cover has come off over the years, let me see if I can tell what it really is supposed to say. Oh, The Bible. ...Shit.

Border Reiver · « **Reply #28 on:** 13 Sep 2009, 09:00 »

You've missed a few of them there Nodaisho

Hat · « **Reply #29 on:** 13 Sep 2009, 19:19 »

Quote from: Nodaisho on 12 Sep 2009, 22:47

There is this one that has a lot of people using magic, there is murder, slavery, rape, lynchings, genocide

none of that stuff sounds subversive, seems like typical government policy to me

thanks to Harry Potter I am convinced that wizards run the government though

Lines · « **Reply #30 on:** 13 Sep 2009, 19:35 »

Mein Kampf isn't on that list, which means that list was made by Nazis. Also Mists of Avalon is not on that list, which has lots of sex, some incest, adultery, the occult, and is anti-Christian. So I guess it's made by incestuous female Nazis who are involved with the occult.

Daaaaaaaag.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #31 on:** 13 Sep 2009, 20:14 »

Quote from: Tom on 12 Sep 2009, 13:59

The liberalness of Australia relative to other English-speaking countries constantly comes as a surprise to me. I've read like at least one of those banned books each year for high-school.

And yet our video game classification system is outdated and ridiculously inconsistent.

Hat · « **Reply #32 on:** 13 Sep 2009, 23:42 »

see also: freedom of speech laws

in case anyone was wondering, Australia is a deeply confusing place

evilbobthebob · « **Reply #33 on:** 14 Sep 2009, 01:26 »

Oooh ooh don't forget the recent internet filtering laws that are still being attempted. Don't worry, it's only there to stop paedophiles. A Melbourne dentist's website and some pro-abortion sites on the blacklist mean nothing.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #34 on:** 14 Sep 2009, 02:51 »

Yeah, screw it I'm moving over there with your semi-banned books. You have cricket over on your side of the ditch, right?

Border Reiver · « **Reply #35 on:** 14 Sep 2009, 07:00 »

Quote from: Hat on 13 Sep 2009, 19:19

Quote from: Nodaisho on 12 Sep 2009, 22:47
There is this one that has a lot of people using magic, there is murder, slavery, rape, lynchings, genocide

none of that stuff sounds subversive, seems like typical government policy to me

thanks to Harry Potter I am convinced that wizards run the government though

No, just stuff dealing with their own little world.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #36 on:** 14 Sep 2009, 22:38 »

They can't do that, even. The bestest wizard in the world is all like "hey, the bad guy's back" and they're just sittin' there with their fingers in their ears goin' "la la la can't hear you la la", and then when they see it with their own eyes even they don't do anything and then Voldermort completely takes over and it's up to a seventeen year old kid who ain't even finished High School to save everyone's arses.

Caleb · « **Reply #37 on:** 15 Sep 2009, 06:44 »

Quote from: Nodaisho on 12 Sep 2009, 22:47

Oh, The Bible. ...Shit.

Many times in the past different versions of the Bible have been banned. Of course nowadays it is a much different story.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #38 on:** 15 Sep 2009, 17:34 »

Let me guess, it was by people that preferred their version of the bible?

Or places where Christianity was/is illegal, but I was thinking more euro-centric, since that is where most of the concerned parents I have heard of come from.

Border Reiver · « **Reply #39 on:** 16 Sep 2009, 07:44 »

The earliest banned versions of the Bible were translations of the Latin versions into the local language. Something about avoiding mistranslations - getting the word of Christ wrong (which I find amusing since Jesus would have likely been speaking Aramaic or Hebrew, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and many of the books of the New Testament were written in Greek).

Or it might have been something sinister like restricting knowledge to those persons who could speak Latin.

In the end the "banned versions" of the Bible are still with us - so we can see just how effective the banning of books can be - if you don't get all the copies it doesn't work.

look out! Ninjas! · « **Reply #40 on:** 17 Sep 2009, 06:02 »

That and the supposed 'other chapters' that were supposedly omitted because they weren't popular with the editors.

Border Reiver · « **Reply #41 on:** 17 Sep 2009, 07:42 »

Those would be parts of the New Testament - the other gospels weren't banned so much as not included in the official version, and given the copying technology of the time (ie. copying the book out by hand) just faded away.

Wasn't a question of those gospels being "unpopular" - those gospels were deemed as being outside of the message decided on by the Council of Nicea and so weren't included in the official version being touted by the Roman Empire. The Empire was looking for ways to keep itself politically unified and keeping a single message in a religion was one of the ways - less division over who had the "right" interpretation, etc.

Not quite the same as being banned, but if there are only a few copies hanging around before, and they don't get copied out as often they tend to decay with the passage of time and the effect is similar.

Reed · « **Reply #42 on:** 17 Sep 2009, 08:27 »

Well if we're going to talk about banned religious texts it is probably necessary to point out Islam's Satanic Verses.

Ballard · « **Reply #43 on:** 17 Sep 2009, 19:22 »

Ha, and on the topic of banned books:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses

Reed · « **Reply #44 on:** 18 Sep 2009, 09:50 »

I completely missed that when I was writing the post. I guess I just have an uncanny ability to subconsciously bring threads back to their original point.

Ballard · « **Reply #45 on:** 18 Sep 2009, 11:30 »

This is probably a better link on that. Oddly enough the controversy of the book is barely mentioned in the original article.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #46 on:** 24 Sep 2009, 03:28 »

I can't find any books which are banned in the UK. Some have been, but I have read them (and taken some of them out of the library) so they clearly aren't banned any more.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Banned Books Week 2009! (Read 20470 times)