Happy Banned Books Week readers!
Usually, I don't think too much about banned books. I have such a deep love for the written word that it never occurs to me that someone, somewhere could possibly take offense to the beautiful words these brilliant minds have shared with us. The theme of this week however has forced me to stop for a second and think, "Where would I be without my books y'all?!"
One of my all time favorite books, FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury is not only a banned book, but it is also an insightful and deep commentary on censorship (how's that for irony eh?). I was "fortunate" enough to read this book in high school. I say "fortunate" because I know in my heart how blessed I was to study literature in school, however I struggled with the forced nature of reading created by needing to prove I had learned something from the material. By the time I got to my Senior year when I read this book, I was so "over it" but luckily I had a fantastic teacher (Shout out to Mr. B!) who gave me the opportunity to devour this book.
FAHRENHEIT 451 contains this quote, a motto for my life really:
"I ate them like salad, books were my sandwich for lunch, my tiffin and dinner and midnight munch. I tore out the pages, ate them with salt, doused them with relish, gnawed on the bindings, turned the chapters with my tongue! Books by the dozen, the score and the billion. I carried so many home I was hunchbacked for years. Philosophy, art, history, politics, social science, the poem, the essay, the grandiose play, you name 'em, I ate 'em." -Ray Bradbury, FAHRENHEIT 451
I feel blessed to have a whole bookshelf full of "salad" just waiting to be "eaten" but I'm thinking today about what my life would be like without books like HARRY POTTER, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, or GONE WITH THE WIND (seriously, no "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn"?! What would the world be like?!). How void would my mind be without Harry and his adventures, without the knowledge of The Giver, or the magic of the kingdom of Terabithia? What world would I have left undiscovered if I had never opened the pages of a now most beloved book? Which parts of my mind would have stayed closed, because I never experienced another perspective on the pages? Our world is too large for one person to travel it all, but with books, the world becomes smaller, more connected, more understanding.
I wonder what the we would be like if Bradbury's fantasy came to life. If firefighters were not the men who saved us from fire, but created the fire that destroys literature. If we lived in a world that truly sheltered us from the knowledge of what has been written down. If we lived in a darkness without the light our precious books provide. The only way we would find out is if we stopped reading. So keep eating your "books by the dozen, the score and the billion" my friends, never let anyone tell you to stop.
-Emma
So many books have been banned in adult and YA. It surprises me when I look at the content that people want to sensor. These books teach valuable lessons that children and adults alike need to learn to become better human beings.
When I pulled up a list of YA that were banned or challenged it shocked me at some of the titles. This picture is of books I own, most of which I've read, some of which I still need to. Among these are books that made a difference in my life, or send strong messages that I continue to pass on to others and will pass on to my children when I have them.
I still remember when I first read Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar. It was a series that really got me into reading in 8th grade. My friends and I passed the books around, read, and talked about it. Yes, it does have some things in there that are more adult, but we got to learn about the good, the bad, and the consequences in-between the pages, instead of in real life. It also had falling out between friends, which was a real thing that happened in those years, but with books they can tell you everything will be okay. The drama you face today won't upset your life forever, things will get better.
When I think about Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, I feel the pain that the MC went through. This is an important book about bullying, and how what you say/do can affect another person's life. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott about a girl who gets kid-napped and the terrible things that happen to her. It's good to be afraid of the world we live in. It's good to be aware of the dangers, and to teach you to be strong. The MC in this book is EXTREMELY strong in everything she has to endure. Every one of those books means the world to me. Without books, where would we be? These magnificent pages that influence our lives every day. My children WILL read banned and challenged books because it will make them better and more informed individuals. I will continue to buy these books as gifts for family and friends.
- Kelsey
What's your favorite banned/challenged book? Let us know in the comments!
This is a more passionate post than usual, but we love books a lot.
Much love,
Emma and Kelsey <3
Usually, I don't think too much about banned books. I have such a deep love for the written word that it never occurs to me that someone, somewhere could possibly take offense to the beautiful words these brilliant minds have shared with us. The theme of this week however has forced me to stop for a second and think, "Where would I be without my books y'all?!"
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| Emma and some of her favorite banned books :) |
One of my all time favorite books, FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury is not only a banned book, but it is also an insightful and deep commentary on censorship (how's that for irony eh?). I was "fortunate" enough to read this book in high school. I say "fortunate" because I know in my heart how blessed I was to study literature in school, however I struggled with the forced nature of reading created by needing to prove I had learned something from the material. By the time I got to my Senior year when I read this book, I was so "over it" but luckily I had a fantastic teacher (Shout out to Mr. B!) who gave me the opportunity to devour this book.
FAHRENHEIT 451 contains this quote, a motto for my life really:
"I ate them like salad, books were my sandwich for lunch, my tiffin and dinner and midnight munch. I tore out the pages, ate them with salt, doused them with relish, gnawed on the bindings, turned the chapters with my tongue! Books by the dozen, the score and the billion. I carried so many home I was hunchbacked for years. Philosophy, art, history, politics, social science, the poem, the essay, the grandiose play, you name 'em, I ate 'em." -Ray Bradbury, FAHRENHEIT 451
I feel blessed to have a whole bookshelf full of "salad" just waiting to be "eaten" but I'm thinking today about what my life would be like without books like HARRY POTTER, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, or GONE WITH THE WIND (seriously, no "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn"?! What would the world be like?!). How void would my mind be without Harry and his adventures, without the knowledge of The Giver, or the magic of the kingdom of Terabithia? What world would I have left undiscovered if I had never opened the pages of a now most beloved book? Which parts of my mind would have stayed closed, because I never experienced another perspective on the pages? Our world is too large for one person to travel it all, but with books, the world becomes smaller, more connected, more understanding.
I wonder what the we would be like if Bradbury's fantasy came to life. If firefighters were not the men who saved us from fire, but created the fire that destroys literature. If we lived in a world that truly sheltered us from the knowledge of what has been written down. If we lived in a darkness without the light our precious books provide. The only way we would find out is if we stopped reading. So keep eating your "books by the dozen, the score and the billion" my friends, never let anyone tell you to stop.
-Emma
When I pulled up a list of YA that were banned or challenged it shocked me at some of the titles. This picture is of books I own, most of which I've read, some of which I still need to. Among these are books that made a difference in my life, or send strong messages that I continue to pass on to others and will pass on to my children when I have them.
I still remember when I first read Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar. It was a series that really got me into reading in 8th grade. My friends and I passed the books around, read, and talked about it. Yes, it does have some things in there that are more adult, but we got to learn about the good, the bad, and the consequences in-between the pages, instead of in real life. It also had falling out between friends, which was a real thing that happened in those years, but with books they can tell you everything will be okay. The drama you face today won't upset your life forever, things will get better.
When I think about Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, I feel the pain that the MC went through. This is an important book about bullying, and how what you say/do can affect another person's life. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott about a girl who gets kid-napped and the terrible things that happen to her. It's good to be afraid of the world we live in. It's good to be aware of the dangers, and to teach you to be strong. The MC in this book is EXTREMELY strong in everything she has to endure. Every one of those books means the world to me. Without books, where would we be? These magnificent pages that influence our lives every day. My children WILL read banned and challenged books because it will make them better and more informed individuals. I will continue to buy these books as gifts for family and friends.
- Kelsey
What's your favorite banned/challenged book? Let us know in the comments!
This is a more passionate post than usual, but we love books a lot.
Much love,
Emma and Kelsey <3
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