It's Banned Books Week
While I still need to get to a football post or two, and I'm planning on reviewing some of the new TV shows this season (hopefully before the season is over or one of the ones I like gets cancelled), this is more important and relevant.
Yep, we still live in a world where folks try to ban books, because apparently acting like a Nazi isn't a deterrent. And yes, those who do such things in the US probably voted for George W. Bush. But I digress.
Celebrate Banned Books Week by reading one of the most banned titles of 2006 (at least, those that were the targets of bans):
"And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
"Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
"Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
"The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
"Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;
"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
Of note is that perennial titles on this list like Catcher in the Rye, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Of Mice and Men were not on this years list.