Banned Books

Identical

1 Comment / 2009, Banned Books, Books in Bed, Fiction, Young Adult /

In honor of Banned Book Week, I put a couple of Ellen Hopkins books on my library reserve list. I couldn’t believe I’d never read one of her books before… they all seemed so familiar.

Turns out there’s a reason why her books were familiar, Crank is the book RJ ranted about reading for the first couple of weeks of school. It was too depressing and it wasn’t realistic… yes, she said that. It wasn’t realistic to her because she wouldn’t be the girl in Crank. Whatever…

Identical was interesting once I got used to the prose style writing. And oddly enough, it took me a good long while to figure out the underlying issue with Kayleigh and Raeanne…

RJ would say this is depressing, and oh boy is it… but I think she’d have probably liked it better than Crank.

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A Banned Book: Fun Home

2006, Banned Books, Books in Bed, Comics & Graphic Novels, Favorites, GLBT, Non-Fiction /

I don’t really DO graphic novels (or comics). They just aren’t my thing, I know that and I avoid them. But when I heard Fun Home was being challenged and banned, I decided to give it a try. I do like Dykes to Watch Out For, in small doses, so I had high hopes for Fun Home.

High hopes indeed. Fun Home is excellent. And it totally needed to be a graphic novel instead of just a written word piece. What a family, what a story, what a terrific job Bechdel did telling her story.

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I love banned books

6 Comments / Banned Books, Favorites, GLBT, Reading Lists /

I don’t really want to ban that stupid Modesty book because then that will just make it more beloved to the masses. We all know that’s what happens when a book is banned or challenged. It’s certainly happened for me. If we’re just talking about books and someone mentions Ordinary People, I’m likely to say “It was ok but no big deal” but as soon as I see it on the Banned/Challenged List I get all sentimental about it. Absence or the potential for absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

I’m thrilled that three of the most challenged books last year had gay themes or undertones. (Yippee! Next year let’s get four!) Not because I’m all that thrilled with the books themselves, (though The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a favorite around here), but because those gay and not really all that great books are getting more attention than if folks had just kept their mouths shut about them. I mean really, “King & King”? Who would have given that a second look if folks hadn’t made such a stink. It certainly wasn’t going to replace Grimm’s Fairy Tales in the classic Prince and Princess love story genre, was it?

And since I’m on the topic of Banned and Challenged Books, can someone explain to me how Song of Solomon is porn? Because I don’t get it. At all. It’s not even erotica. If I handed Song of Solomon to Michelle and told her it was porn, she’d laugh her rear end off. And I’m glad.

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