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HedwigStrange · 10-02-2005, 06:17 PM

I have what my friends call my Badass pin. It says, "I read banned books!"
The banning of books enrages me.

Here are the ones I really object to...
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling - I'll grant that there is violence and death in the later books that might scare children under 8, but other than that, these are harmless.
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry- This book was created as a simple way to show middle schoolers a creepy hypothetical "utopia" and scare them into never becoming socialists.
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel- WHAT!?!?!?! So the religious types don't agree with the evolutionary view Auel uses (egads, neaderthals!). I'm sure they hate the Mother Goddess worship, and the idea that women could be equal to men or (gasp!) dominant. There are very beautiful and descriptive sex scenes, and one rape scene, but that is used to show just how wretched and horrible rape is. The books are not evil. They do not encourage rape or violence. While I wouldn't recommend them for under middleschool, I think it would be very beneficial for young girls to read the perspectives about sex and virginity and female roles that are presented here.
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl- this book has a fantastic plot! It might be a little scary, but kids have to experience fear, it's part of existence!
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein- Sigh. Religious objections to sex and homosexuality.
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood- Once again, let's ban something that shows how a hypothetical version of this world with the intention of warning society against becoming that way.
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George- I read this in the second grade. I have yet to steal anything, become a prostitute, or commit murder. I think it's probably alright for children to read this. As I recall, it promotes better understanding of nature.
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras- That's right. Let's not tell our children about their bodies. Let them worry incessantly about being "abnormal" because of puberty. Let them feel ugly because of armpit hair and growing hips. Let our girls think that menstration is dirty. Let them be ignorant of birthcontrol and yeast infections and STDs. Let them be ignorant and torture themselves because we want them to stay "innocent."
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- Again. Let's ban it because it mentions a bad thing, even if the whole theme of the book is the denounciation of said bad thing.
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole-see 40
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl- what???????
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy- yep. Let's ban this book and let our boys learn about sex from whatever degrading porn they can get for free.
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras- ignorance is the way!
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding- this is a pathetically mild book.
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday- Teen age girls should probably read this. I never felt like I should be reading these sorts of books because I was supposed to be a proper young girl and not think about sex or desire. Only later did I find out how many useful things were in these. If I had only known sooner...
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya - honestly now. This isn't that bad. Every child knows what a whore is and what murder is. The book doesn't condone these things in any case, so why shouldn't it be read?
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle- Have children know lost the right to know where they came from? I think the the title is too politically correct anyway. It should read "My Parents Had Wonderful Sex and I Am The Product of Such Joy"
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis- grates teeth
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy-grates teeth more

I suppose I have to respect the right of others to with hold books from their children, but it still iritates. Why should we keep children and teens in ignorance?

10-02-2005, 06:17 PM	#64 (permalink)
HedwigStrange Tilted	I have what my friends call my Badass pin. It says, "I read banned books!" The banning of books enrages me. Here are the ones I really object to... 7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling - I'll grant that there is violence and death in the later books that might scare children under 8, but other than that, these are harmless. 14. The Giver by Lois Lowry- This book was created as a simple way to show middle schoolers a creepy hypothetical "utopia" and scare them into never becoming socialists. 20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel- WHAT!?!?!?! So the religious types don't agree with the evolutionary view Auel uses (egads, neaderthals!). I'm sure they hate the Mother Goddess worship, and the idea that women could be equal to men or (gasp!) dominant. There are very beautiful and descriptive sex scenes, and one rape scene, but that is used to show just how wretched and horrible rape is. The books are not evil. They do not encourage rape or violence. While I wouldn't recommend them for under middleschool, I think it would be very beneficial for young girls to read the perspectives about sex and virginity and female roles that are presented here. 27. The Witches by Roald Dahl- this book has a fantastic plot! It might be a little scary, but kids have to experience fear, it's part of existence! 28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein- Sigh. Religious objections to sex and homosexuality. 37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood- Once again, let's ban something that shows how a hypothetical version of this world with the intention of warning society against becoming that way. 38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George- I read this in the second grade. I have yet to steal anything, become a prostitute, or commit murder. I think it's probably alright for children to read this. As I recall, it promotes better understanding of nature. 40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras- That's right. Let's not tell our children about their bodies. Let them worry incessantly about being "abnormal" because of puberty. Let them feel ugly because of armpit hair and growing hips. Let our girls think that menstration is dirty. Let them be ignorant of birthcontrol and yeast infections and STDs. Let them be ignorant and torture themselves because we want them to stay "innocent." 41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- Again. Let's ban it because it mentions a bad thing, even if the whole theme of the book is the denounciation of said bad thing. 54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole-see 40 56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl- what??????? 58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy- yep. Let's ban this book and let our boys learn about sex from whatever degrading porn they can get for free. 61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras- ignorance is the way! 70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding- this is a pathetically mild book. 72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday- Teen age girls should probably read this. I never felt like I should be reading these sorts of books because I was supposed to be a proper young girl and not think about sex or desire. Only later did I find out how many useful things were in these. If I had only known sooner... 73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen 75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya - honestly now. This isn't that bad. Every child knows what a whore is and what murder is. The book doesn't condone these things in any case, so why shouldn't it be read? 76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle- Have children know lost the right to know where they came from? I think the the title is too politically correct anyway. It should read "My Parents Had Wonderful Sex and I Am The Product of Such Joy" 84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford 93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis- grates teeth 95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy-grates teeth more I suppose I have to respect the right of others to with hold books from their children, but it still iritates. Why should we keep children and teens in ignorance?