The next Books & Beyond (BAB) meeting is Tuesday,
October 25th at 6:30pm in the library’s conference room. If you’d prefer to attend on Zoom, register
here: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/5494765.
The topic for the meeting will be books on general knowledge/trivia and I have
a display up at the 2nd floor service desk.
The Shelf Care page of the library’s website also showcases these
display books, simply scroll down to the row titled “Test Your Knowledge!”: https://oneallibrary.org/adults---reading-recommendations
Upcoming programs:
Stop by the library for a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Rear Window, on
Sunday, October 2 at 3pm: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/7057343.
Bring your craft projects and network with other hobbyists
at Crafternoon on Saturday, October 8 from 2pm-4pm: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/6891937
Tis the season for folk horror on Sunday, October 9 from
7pm-9pm with UAB film studies professor Gareth Jones. He’ll give us a primer on
the folk horror genre in film and media before a screening of the 1975
telefilm, Murrain. Ages 16 and up recommended. https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/6814844
This week, BAB met to talk about the importance of the
freedom to read and banned/challenged books in general.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Set in the mid-17th century in New England, The Scarlet
Letter follows married Hester Prynne after she conceives a daughter
through an affair. Societal standards of puritan New England force her to wear
a scarlet “A” on her clothes as a constant reminder to her and everyone else of
her past infidelity. Through the life of Hester and of her child, they both
struggle through the overwhelming stigma behind Hester’s adultery, and despite
the mounting pressure, she refuses to name the father of her child. Hawthorne
paints an eye opening story of acceptance, shame, guilt, and fierce social
ostracism surrounding one woman and the burden she bears in her life.
“In 1961, parents of students in a Michigan district
objected to the assignment of the novel in high school, arguing that it was
“pornographic and obscene.” Though the parents demanded that the book was
removed from the curriculum, the request was denied. Other requests continued
well into the twentieth century, but the novel is still commonly read in high
schools all across the United States.” https://blog.lib.utah.edu/banned-the-scarlet-letter/
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
When Donovan left his copy of The Adventurers on
the kitchen counter, he didn't think his mom would read it—much less have
a problem with it. It's just an adventure novel about two characters
trying to stop an evil genius...right? But soon the entire town is freaking out
about whether the book's main characters are gay, Donovan's mom is trying to
get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the
middle. Interweaving three connected storylines, David Levithan delivers a
bold, fun, and timely story about taking action (whether it's against book
censors or deadly alligators...), being brave, and standing up for what's
right.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Sent by their mother to live with their devout,
self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother,
Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local
“powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis,
Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the
consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that
love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas
of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow
her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people
read.
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has had thirty-nine
public challenges or bans since 1983. The majority of complaints were
from parents who objected to the book’s depiction of sexually explicit scenes,
including the rape and molestation suffered by the author as an eight-year-old,
but it also has been challenged for being “anti-white” and encouraging
homosexuality. The Office for Intellectual Freedom has received
significantly more confidential reports of challenges to this iconic book in
the past three decades. In a victory for the freedom to read, I Know Why
the Caged Bird Sings has often been retained despite challenges and
attempted removals.”https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/spotlight-on-censorship-i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/#:~:text=Because%20the%20display%20of%20Maya,the%20Spotlight%20on%20Censorship%20series
Grendel by John Gardner
The first and most terrifying monster in English literature,
from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in
this frequently banned book. This is the novel William Gass called
"one of the finest of our contemporary fictions."
“1978 - Maryland - Challenged at Frederick County Schools
for being "anti-christian, anti-moral, and violent." / 1986 - California
- At Wasco High School the principal felt it was "profane," and
created a restricted list of books, this being the first and only book on the
list. / 1997 - Colorado - Challenged but retained at Douglas County schools for
being obscene and violent. / 2008 - Oregon - Challenged but retained at
Sherwood School District for torture and mutilation”https://www.bannedlibrary.com/podcast/2019/7/21/grendel-by-john-gardner
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell (Hoopla ebook, also freely available via any internet search)
“William Powell was just 19 when he wrote this 1971 cult
classic. The guerrilla how-to book managed to anger not only government
officials, but also anarchist groups. One such organization, CrimethInc., said
the book misrepresents anarchist ideals and later released its own book of the
same name. Other critics attacked the book for more practical reasons — some of
the bombmaking recipes that Powell included turned out to be dangerously
inaccurate. Ironically, an older and purportedly wiser Powell later tried to
censor his own book. After converting to Christianity, Powell publicly
denounced his work, writing in 2000 on Amazon.com that the book is a “misguided
product of my adolescent anger at the prospect of being drafted and sent to
Vietnam to fight in a war that I did not believe in.” But even Powell couldn’t
successfully ban the book from print; he no longer owns the rights.”https://entertainment.time.com/2011/01/06/removing-the-n-word-from-huck-finn-top-10-censored-books/slide/the-anarchist-cookbook/
The Holy Bible
“James LaRue, the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual
Freedom's director, said that the Bible is sometimes challenged because of
"sexual content inappropriate to minors" and "incitement to
violence." More often, he said, people mistakenly believe that just having
the Bible in a library violates the separation of church and state.”https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-holy-bible-is-now-one-of-the-most-challenged-books-in-america_n_570d2d33e4b01422324a4465
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the
nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts.
Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of
the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to
appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a
fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives
alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when
she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and
level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or
be killed.
“Critics have also accused The Hunger Games of
being anti-ethnic, anti-family, and violent, and of having offensive language,
occult/satanic references, and references to overt sexuality. Collins has never
directly responded to banning attempts, but has stated that the book raises
important themes that should be talked about publicly.”https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins/
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy
town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But
once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes
a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his
vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is
safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find
themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and
danger.
“In 2009, the YA vampire-romance saga ranked fifth on the
Top 10 Banned and Challenged Book list that year, with challengers citing the
books’ religious viewpoint (Meyer is Mormon), sexually explicit content, and
age-inappropriateness. Twilight also appeared in OIF’s 2010 list of
banned and challenged books, when it was flagged for violence.”https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/my-head-is-sort-of-private-the-twilight-saga-as-privacy-parable/
The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the
letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed
in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly
confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a
great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some
astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
“Reasons for challenging the book included: glorifying
witchcraft, promoting the occult, tones of death, hate, lack of respect and
sheer evil, leading children to hatred and rebellion, confusing children, and
leading them astray. Some were also concerned about the increasing dark tone in
the later books but overall, most of the challengers’ reasons based on religious
beliefs.” https://www.toledolibrary.org/blog/harry-potter-the-most-challenged-book-of-the-21st-century
The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman
These thrilling adventures tell the story of Lyra and
Will—two ordinary children on a perilous journey through shimmering haunted
otherworlds. They will meet witches and armored bears, fallen angels and
soul-eating specters. And in the end, the fate of both the living—and the
dead—will rely on them. Phillip Pullman’s spellbinding His Dark Materials
trilogy has captivated readers for over twenty years and won acclaim at every
turn. It will have you questioning everything you know about your world and
wondering what really lies just out of reach.
“In 2008, the His Dark Materials trilogy came
second for one of the most banned books. Many of the concerns were brought up
by members of the clergy or parents that had expressed their belief that the
true meaning of the story was anti-god. It is interesting to note the
contentions caused by Pullman’s books usually claim to be in the defense of
religion. Phillip Pullman has stated that the true intended meaning is not an
attack on faith or the people who truly believe in the faith, but those who are
using faith for their own benefit. Pullman declared that “In my view, belief in
God seems to be a very good excuse, on the part of those who claim to believe,
for doing many wicked things that they wouldn’t feel justified in doing without
such a belief.” “https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/phillip-pullman-his-dark-materials/
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss
HBO's Emmy winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents
a children's picture book about a Very Special boy bunny who falls in love with
another boy bunny. Meet Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny who lives with his Grampa,
Mike Pence the Vice President of the United States. But on this Very Special
Day, Marlon's life is about to change forever...With its message of tolerance
and advocacy, this charming bunny book for kids explores issues of same sex
marriage and democracy. Sweet, funny, and beautifully illustrated, this better
Bundo book is dedicated to every bunny who has ever felt different.
“Challened and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content and political
viewpoints, for concerns that it is “designed to pollute the morals of its
readers,” and for not including a content warning.”https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/a-day-in-the-life-of-marlon-bundo/
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
An unforgettable tale, set in 17th century
England, of a village that quarantines itself to arrest the spread of the
plague, from the author The Secret Chord and of March, winner of
the Pulitzer Prize. Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged
hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed
evocation of a singular moment in history. Written with stunning emotional
intelligence and introducing "an inspiring heroine" (The Wall Street
Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding
and unforgettable read.
“In 2020, the book was named the 100th most banned and/or
challenged book in the United States from 2010 to 2019, according to the
American Library Association because of “witchcraft, madness, and repressed
sexuality.””https://waldina.com/banned-books/year-of-wonders-by-geraldine-brooks/
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi
tells the coming-of-age story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen,
years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic
Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and
outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one
of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined
with the history of her country.
"Although it was certainly controversial in
the Middle
East, there were no publicly reported challenges or bans of the book in
U.S. schools or libraries until March 2013, when Chicago Public Schools
administrators abruptly
pulled it from some classrooms…claiming that the intention was never
to remove the book from libraries, but only from classrooms due to “graphic
language and images that are not appropriate for general use.”"https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/c.php?g=606679&p=4206258#:~:text=Although%20it%20was%20certainly%20controversial,pulled%20it%20from%20some%20classrooms
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (Hoopla ebook)
Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to
be nonbinary and asexual, Kobabe’s Gender Queer is more than a personal
story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and
how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
“Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and
because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.”https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/gender-queer/
GENERAL DISCUSSION
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of
coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of
great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her
father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly
accused of a terrible crime.
“To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most frequently
challenged books in the US due to its themes of rape and use of profanity and
racial slurs.”https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an
ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caufield. Through
circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves
his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three
days.
“Between 1986 and 2000, at least nine different attempts to
remove The Catcher in the Rye from schools were based on the novel’s
use of profanity and sexual references. Three of these attempts (Wyoming in
1986, North Dakota in 1987, and 1989 in California) were successful in getting the
book removed. Another commonly cited reason is the novel’s use of vulgar and
obscene language, as well as statements defamatory to God. Other, less common
reasons for challenging the novel include accusations that the book is
anti-white, immoral, and/or violent.”https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/j-d-salinger-the-catcher-in-the-rye/
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental
disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The
result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that
enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women.
Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of
Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even
her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. At once a scathing
satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense, The
Handmaid’s Tale is a modern classic.
“2014-Challenged, but retained as required reading for a
Page High School International Baccalaureate class and as optional reading for Advanced
Placement reading courses at Grimsley High School in Guilford County (NC)
because the book is “sexually explicit, violently graphic and morally corrupt.”
Some parents thought the book is “detrimental to Christian values.””https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/the-handmaids-tale/
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Freshman year at Merryweather High is not going
well for Melinda Sordino. She busted an end-of-summer party by calling the
cops, and now her friends—and even strangers—all hate her. So she stops trying,
stops talking. She retreats into her head, and all the lies and hypocrisies of
high school become magnified, leaving her with no desire to talk to anyone
anyway. But it’s not so comfortable in her head, either—there’s something
banging around in there that she doesn’t want to think about. She can’t just go
on like this forever. Eventually, she’s going to have to confront the thing
she’s avoiding, the thing that happened at the party, the thing that nobody but
her knows. She’s going to have to speak the truth.
“2021-Banned, challenged and restricted because it was
thought to contain a political viewpoint, and it was claimed to be biased
against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity.”https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/speak/
Unrelated to banned/challenged books, but a short topic of
conversation at the meeting!
Abbot Elementary tv show (an ABC show streaming on several services,
including Hulu and HBO Max)
A group of dedicated, passionate teachers -- and a slightly
tone-deaf principal -- find themselves thrown together in a Philadelphia public
school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to
help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants
may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do -- even if they
don't love the school district's less-than-stellar attitude toward educating
children.
Trailer for season 1: https://youtu.be/cO-_7oi-61Y
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