The County Library discussion

With Banned Books Week the first week of October, this month’s challenge is to read a banned book.

The American Library Association tracks reports of challenged and banned books and has compiled several lists regarding these books to help raise awareness of censorship. Here’s a couple of the lists they have compiled you can look at for lists of banned and challenged books:

2001-2011 (Top Ten Challenged Books for the Year)
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/fr...

Frequently Challenged Classics
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/fr...

For more information about Banned Books Week check out http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/ba...

Yea for banned books! :)

Maybe I'll pick something off of one of the banned/challenged lists for my book club pick...

I thought I might not participate this month because 1/2 of it I will be out of town and I simply refuse to take the library's books when I travel. But, looking down the list, I see the Harry Potter series. Which I own. In all formats available. AND, I'm currently on the audiobook format of Half-Blood Prince. Guess I'll move it over to my iPod and listen to it on the plane! Its already on my e-book reader.

I'm in. I plan on reading either Huck Finn or Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Loved that book, Becky. I haven't decided which book yet, but maybe a Stephen King book in honor of Halloween :0)

i might read Harry Potter #1

Jackie wrote: "Loved that book, Becky. I haven't decided which book yet, but maybe a Stephen King book in honor of Halloween :0)"

I have never read Stephen King before but picked up 11/22/63 on an Aunt's recommendation; I am loving it! I got sucked right in. It helps that I'm listening to it and whoever is reading it does a great Maine accent. :)

Micah wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Loved that book, Becky. I haven't decided which book yet, but maybe a Stephen King book in honor of Halloween :0)"

I have never read Stephen King before but picked up 11/22/63 on an..."

Glad you are enjoying 11/22/63. I personally don't think it was typical Stephen King style, though, so be warned if you decide to read something else written by him, lol.
Anyone know off the top of your head if he has books on the banned list? I am too lazy to browse the lists....

Micah - I also listened to 11/22/63 and LOVED it. It's been almost a year since I "read" I still think about it all the time. WONDERFUL book. Enjoy!

Banned books - what a GREAT challenge! Now I just have to pick one, lol!

Jackie wrote: "Anyone know off the top of your head if he has books on the banned list?"

I did some digging around and here are some Stephen King titles that have been either challenged or banned at some point: Carrie, Christine, Cujo, and The Dead Zone. I read on a non-ALA website that The Shining has also been banned, though it didn't list a year, so I was unable to verify that.

He may have more, but these were the titles I could find that had been challenged or banned.

Maggie wrote: "i might read Harry Potter #1"
I can't believe that one is on the list. But I remember the controversy - letting kids read about "witch craft".

Ann wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Anyone know off the top of your head if he has books on the banned list?"

I did some digging around and here are some Stephen King titles that have been either challenged or banned ..."

I am just guessing here, but I wouldn't be surprised if almost every one of his books are on a banned list somewhere. He has quite the dark imagination :0)

I'm reading "As I Lay Dying" by Faulkner, have "Catxh-22" on my list and checked out video of "Lord of the Flies," which I have read many times.

I'm counting "Belinda" by Maria Edgeworth (1801) because the themes were controversial at the time and she had to change parts (interracial marriage) in later editions because of the backlash.

I'm going to read 1984. After reading Steve Jobs and watching the famous 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial I've been curious to read the book.

"And you'll see why 1984 won't be like '1984'."

One of my favorite banned books is The Giver, by Lois Lowry. This book made a deep impression on me when I read it in sixth grade, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I found out Lois Lowry had written succeeding books in the Giver world.

The fourth and final book in the Giver series was released earlier this month. I have Son on hold and am looking forward to the conclusion of the series.

Allen wrote: "I'm going to read 1984. After reading Steve Jobs and watching the famous 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial I've been curious to read the book.

"And you'll see why 1984 won't be like '1984'.""

Excellent choice. One of my favorite books. I should read that one again...

I finished Belinda and As I Lay Dying for this challenge.
I have a copy of Catch-22 I hope to read by the end of the month, but it may be to heavy right now for me.

I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for this challenge. On to Deadly Hallows.

As I looked at the list of Banned books, I was surprise that most of my favorite books were on the list. I read Julie of the Wolves and Julie (Julie if the Wolves) #2, by Jean Craighead George. I enjoyed them both and I think that both books should be read as one.

Brenda wrote: "As I looked at the list of Banned books, I was surprise that most of my favorite books were on the list."

Funny how that happens, I know I've found the same thing. Even stranger is how so many very popular books and series, like Harry Potter and the Twilight books also wind up on banned book lists. And looking at the Frequently Challenged Classics list was like reading a syllabus for my junior high and high school English classes.

Thank You Ann, I just finished reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry.

Debbie wrote: "I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for this challenge. On to Deadly Hallows."

I also just finished Rabbit, Run by John Updike. So I've finished two books from the banned/censored list.

I finished 1984. I enjoyed it, but it was a lot more violent than I remember. Maybe I've never actually read the whole book before.

The November Reading Challenge has been posted, for those who want to get a jump-start on their reading. Seeing as it is not November yet, you will find the November Reading Challenge under the October Reading Challenge link. I will move it up to the top once November hits.

I hope you’ve all been enjoying our Banned Book’s Challenge for October. For those still working on the October Reading Challenge there’s still plenty of time to pick up and read a banned book; a lot of banned and challenged books are fairly short or quick reads. Just remember to let me know when you complete your book so I can include you on the list for our drawing at the end of the month.

Happy Halloween!

Just a last minute reminder, you have until the end of today to let me know if you completed the October Reading Challenge. Hope it’s been a “treat” for all of you this month.

Debbie won this month's reading challenge. She read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling and Rabbit, Run by John Updike.

For those of you who missed the October challenge join us for a fun food related read in November.