Thursday, September 2, 2010

Banned Books Reading Challenge 2010.

I am not one to sign up for a lot of challenges. I mean, my personal project is ENOUGH of a challenge some days, but the Banned Book Challenge is something very important to me. Steph, at Steph Su Reads, is hosting the challenge.

The goals of the challenge are simple:
  • To bring attention to books that have been challenged or banned
  • To support authors whose freedom of expression have been questioned or challenged by buying and reading their books
  • To increase awareness of censorship
And since some people don't realize that many, MANY classics have been challenged and banned in the past, I figured it was my duty to participate and read some of those banned and challenged books. I used this list from the ALA to reference my list and I encourage you to check their site for more information.

Between September 1 and October 15, I am planning on reading at least SIX novels from the following list (I am hoping for ten, but we'll see):
  1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  3. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
  4. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  6. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  7. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
  8. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
  9. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
  10. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  11. Native Son by Richard Wright
  12. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
I hope you plan on joining in!

13 comments:

  1. A SEPARATE PEACE is on the banned book list? Oy vey, they'll ban ANYTHING! I had to read that book in like 8th grade. What's the matter with it?
    Anyway, have fun in your challenge!

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  2. Glad to see people getting involved. I've been doing Saturdays, Uncensored! on my blog for the past 6 or 7 weeks. It's an interesting and important cause.

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  3. What a great idea for a challenge. I love it. Also, you've got to read The Awakening - one of my favorites :)

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  4. They seriously ban everything. I don't get it.. but happy reading to you! :)

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  5. I have to echo Amelia (A Separate Peace?? can't think of anything "ban-worthy" in it), and also Brenna (I enjoyed The Awakening too). Loved #8, but it's possible that may be due to the fact that I wasn't allowed to read it in high school (long story) so as soon as I got ahold of it in college I was determined to love the heck out of it.

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  6. I'm doing the challenge too. Can't wait to see your reviews.

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  7. A few of those are on my reading list for the next few months anyway so I might paricipate. Lolita is one of them which I am looking forward to reading and the Color purple.

    I did attemp to read Lady Chatterley's Lover once but it was so dull and boring that I gave up.

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  8. So many of my most beloved books are on there!

    My 11yo son is in a banned-book club at the local library. It is amazing how much wholesome children's entertainment was banned. Harry Potter, yes--I knew that was banned by some--but _Harriet the Spy_ was a bit of a surprise. _A Wrinkle in Time_ and _A Bridge to Terabithia_ are two that meant a lot to me growing up. And Susan Cooper's wonderful _The Dark is Rising_. The list goes on and on.

    Of course, the situation is often that parents don't want a book read in a particular classroom. (Honestly, Lady Chat. probably should not be read by third graders, right?)

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  9. Great challenge. Thanks for sharing! I signed up earlier today because I saw it on Google Reader through you. I'm glad to be involved. :-)

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  10. 1,2,4,7,12 are all wonderful. Happy reading!

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  11. I love this challenge, I just don't know that I'd be able to complete it. Good luck to you though!

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  12. Lots of good books on this list! I would recommend The Awakening.

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  13. Ooh, I love TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD! It is great!!

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