OK, more on this when Banned Book Week starts on Sept. 27. But why not start early? After all, it seems quite possible that we may end up with a book banner in the White House if we don’t keep on this.
(ADDED LATER: I am, of course, referring to Sarah Palin. And while there has been some question about whether she actually went forward with her plans to ban books from the Wassilla library or what books she wanted banned, the New York Times has reported – after talking to multiple sources – that she “approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books.” When the town librarian vowed to resist censorship, she fired her. That’s enough for me. More than enough.)
Celebrate your freedom while you still have it. Read a frequently banned book and pass one along to a friend. I’m going to start by re-reading Madeleine L’Engle’s wonderful A Wrinkle in Time. Dangerous stuff, ideas.
Oh, maybe I’ll join you. I’ve been meaning to reread some L’Engle. (I wrote my thesis on her.)
Oh, do! I loved her as a little girl but re-reading her as an adult is an eye-opening experience. I’m wondering if we can start a build-up to banned books week. Read a banned book a week? Might be a bit ambitious, but … would be fun!
Your thesis, huh? I knew there was a lot there. Good for you!
Yes, and this is especially important considering that Sarah Palin wanted to ban books at her local library!
ANd basically forced the town librarian out (I have that linked on the main item if anyone is curious – follow the link about the White House).
The “Build-up to Banned Books week” is a great idea. I’m about to start reading a book that’s probably on a banned list somewhere: Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight.
Excellent, Marlyn! You should blog about it and we’ll link up!
Love that book. Sock it to her, Clea. She’s our worse nightmare.
I’ll get on it too my blog.
Hi Clea!
Wrinkle in Time is one of my faves! It’s in Hallie Ephron’s not to be missed 1001 Books for Every Mood…and I wrote the reader’s guide for it for her website! Come visit at
http://www.hallieephron.com/1001books/readers.html
Caroline–I haven’t heard about the banned books thing..tell us more!
Hank – Follow the link on my post where it says “book banner” or go to Caroline’s own blog at
http://carolineleavittville.blogspot.com/
In all fairness, there has been some controversy about the source of the list of books that Sarah Palin supposedly wanted banned from the Wassili library. One of the sources is the mayor she defeated to take over the job. HOWEVER, the New York Times was able to reputably (that is, from multiple sources) report that Palin DID ask the head librarian about how she would have books banned because “some voters found them objectionable” (or it might be “found some words in them objectionable”). So, of course, some conservatives are saying we’re making a tempest in a teapot. Of course, most of us know that anyone who even considers banning books is just wrong, wrong, wrong for this country and for all we stand for.