Book shopping list for the "subversive"

Canonista · 09-05-2008, 09:08 AM

Oooh! Neocon Canonista gets to be subversive! I was reading a thread over at AR-15.com about the American Library Associan's list of top 100 frequently challenged books of 1990-2000. Naturally, I had to go shopping.

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedboo...frequently.cfm

Quote:

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

I bought the three in red. I didn't notice "Flowers for Algernon" in the list when I had it in my hand at the bookstore. I should have bought that one, too. I got em', and will continue buying books from the list, for my 11 year old son who loves to read.

Bolshevik · 09-05-2008, 09:09 AM

Why isn't Orwell on this list!?

Dr. Feelgood · 09-05-2008, 09:22 AM

I see that Huckleberry Finn, which used to be challenged regularly, didn't make the list. But The Adventures of Tom Sawyer did, so I suppose Mark Twain can rest easy in his gravve.

Mack27 · 09-05-2008, 10:14 AM

Huh, I read a lot of those books when I was a kid. What's wrong with "A wrinkle in time?" I loved that book! Do those books twist children's minds? I mean look at me, no wait, I am twisted.

Admiral_Snackbar · 09-05-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canonista

I bought the three in red. I didn't notice "Flowers for Algernon" in the list when I had it in my hand at the bookstore. I should have bought that one, too. I got em', and will continue buying books from the list, for my 11 year old son who loves to read.

Flowers for Algernon is just an amazing classic, and the only reason I see it being challenged is that as Charlie gains his intelligence, his libido and attraction to his doctor surfaces. He is trying to comprehend the effect it has on his focus, and that is where it becomes "troubling" for children to read. It's the same narrowmindedness that has schools ban The Diary of Anne Frank because of her allusion to masturbation and sex on page 107.

As for A Wrinkle In Time, my guess is the depiction of angels as aliens, references to items of witchcraft and that Jesus was compared to other intellectuals and religious figures from Earth as a like-minded voice for peace, but not as the superior voice.

To Kill A Mockingbird: Liberal use of the N-word. Angry, racist child-attacking crackers. 'Nuff said. The whole concept that a white woman would (GASP) willingly sleep with a strong, virile black man in the antebellum south is still enough to strike fear the hearts of many, thus it must be banned.

Lord of the Flies: Distills the behavior of children in a microcosm as the plague indicative to human society. Censors love to ban stuff that is so brazen as to show them the horrors of reality and the human condition.

For a lot of the other books I think it's the fact that these books are assigned to middle and high school classes and contain various depiction of sexuality that their poor, innocent, virginal eyes may not be ready for. This despite the fact that the average 12 year old knows what a rainbow party is and could tell their parents about the overall issues with snowballing.

Twain always gets on these lists because the man hated the political and religious establishment and rightly showed the idiocy of their racism, smugness and childish behaviors in his books.

Tad · 09-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Darn, I've only read 14 of those. I'll have to work on that

moore2me · 09-06-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Feelgood

I see that Huckleberry Finn, which used to be challenged regularly, didn't make the list. But The Adventures of Tom Sawyer did, so I suppose Mark Twain can rest easy in his gravve.

Yes, it is, it's listed #5 as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" , which is probably why you missed it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moore's editorial comment: It boggles my mind that people find the work of authors like Judy Blume, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, JK Rowling, Katherine Paterson, Harper Lee, and Roald Dahl too extreme for kids to read.

This would eliminate some of literature's most enduring and beloved characters like Lenny and George, Huckleberry, Tom Sawyer, and Jim, Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, Scout and Atticus Finch and "Boo" Radley, the magical kingdom of Terabithia, and learned valuable lessons about living and society.

The same kids are allowed to watch hours of television and videos where they show bloody fights, killings, gunplay, sexual acts, violent crimes, and all manner of horrible things inflicted on people and animals. This doesn't seem to bother many parents as the use the TV as a virtual baby-sitter. And they continue to buy the products hawked on the thousands of commercials that pay to keep the violence and profanity flowing to tender minds. Heck, let's watch it in HIGH DEFINITION AND SURROUND SOUND!

fatgirlflyin · 09-06-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moore2me

Yes, it is, it's listed #5 as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" , which is probably why you missed it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moore's editorial comment: It boggles my mind that people find the work of authors like Judy Blume, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, JK Rowling, Katherine Paterson, Harper Lee, and Roald Dahl too extreme for kids to read.

This would eliminate some of literature's most enduring and beloved characters like Lenny and George, Huckleberry, Tom Sawyer, and Jim, Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, Scout and Atticus Finch and "Boo" Radley, the magical kingdom of Terabithia, and learned valuable lessons about living and society.

The same kids are allowed to watch hours of television and videos where they show bloody fights, killings, gunplay, sexual acts, violent crimes, and all manner of horrible things inflicted on people and animals. This doesn't seem to bother many parents as the use the TV as a virtual baby-sitter. And they continue to buy the products hawked on the thousands of commercials that pay to keep the violence and profanity flowing to tender minds. Heck, let's watch it in HIGH DEFINITION AND SURROUND SOUND!

I would bet that the same people who question those books question those television shows and video games too.

Mack27 · 09-06-2008, 08:04 PM

Oh I see, you get people trying to ban books from both sides of the political spectrum. PC moms and bible-thumping moms should all be banned from libraries!

Dr. Feelgood · 09-06-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moore2me

The same kids are allowed to watch hours of television and videos where they show bloody fights, killings, gunplay, sexual acts, violent crimes, and all manner of horrible things inflicted on people and animals. This doesn't seem to bother many parents as the use the TV as a virtual baby-sitter. And they continue to buy the products hawked on the thousands of commercials that pay to keep the violence and profanity flowing to tender minds. Heck, let's watch it in HIGH DEFINITION AND SURROUND SOUND!

Well, sure: that's just good, all-American action. But Rowling and Dahl and people like that...why, they write about magic! Which is Satanic! You let your young'uns start reading books like that, and the next thing you know they'll be going to the Unitarian church and voting for the Democrats!

Tommy_Oblivion · 09-06-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolshevik

Why isn't Orwell on this list!?

Because he was anti communist.
I'm just happy to see my fantasy noir detective british series not on the list.

moore2me · 09-07-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Feelgood

Well, sure: that's just good, all-American action. But Rowling and Dahl and people like that...why, they write about magic! Which is Satanic! You let your young'uns start reading books like that, and the next thing you know they'll be going to the Unitarian church and voting for the Democrats!

I am perplexed about the thin line between magic and miracles. You would think that people that are so vehemently against a giant peach carrying an abused child across the ocean to save him from his aunts who are torturing him after his parents were killed in WWII would consider this more in the miracle category. And having Moses cast his staff on the ground in front of the Egyptian King and the staff turning into a snake would be more in the magic category. I guess I just don't fully understand the subtlties of religious doctrines.

Ernest Nagel · 09-07-2008, 09:14 AM

Kids that are bright enough to be interested in those types of books are also capable of sorting out the issues they raise. Preventing kids from developing their own good judgment and opinions is about the most subversive as well as perverse thing I can think of.

If I had kids I be with Canonista on this. Thanks to all the provincial asshats for a great required reading list.

Dr. Feelgood · 09-07-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moore2me

I am perplexed about the thin line between magic and miracles. You would think that people that are so vehemently against a giant peach carrying an abused child across the ocean to save him from his aunts who are torturing him after his parents were killed in WWII would consider this more in the miracle category. And having Moses cast his staff on the ground in front of the Egyptian King and the staff turning into a snake would be more in the magic category. I guess I just don't fully understand the subtlties of religious doctrines.

Your rationality may be a handicap.

olwen · 09-07-2008, 11:03 AM

I read a lot of the books on that list when I was a kid. What I don't get is how Where's Waldo? made that list. There's hardly any words. I dunno, unless someone somewhere thought waldo might be gay. I just don't get it.

I'm also surprised that nothing by M.E. Kerr made that list. Her books deal with topics like child abuse and teen pregnancy.

T_Devil · 09-07-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olwen

I read a lot of the books on that list when I was a kid. What I don't get is how Where's Waldo? made that list. There's hardly any words. I dunno, unless someone somewhere thought waldo might be gay. I just don't get it.

I'm also surprised that nothing by M.E. Kerr made that list. Her books deal with topics like child abuse and teen pregnancy.

Waldo's gay..... for Harry Potter. It's true. Dumbledore was Jealous, that's why Waldo went into hiding.

Seriously though, Where's waldo challenges children to think and god only knows we can't have children doing that. Children thinking.... good grief!

olwen · 09-07-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_Devil

Waldo's gay..... for Harry Potter. It's true. Dumbledore was Jealous, that's why Waldo went into hiding.

Seriously though, Where's waldo challenges children to think and god only knows we can't have children doing that. Children thinking.... good grief!

No no, thinking can't be it. Bam - I got it: Waldo looks like a pedophile? Or Maybe because one of the other characters is a wizard as this page indicates:

http://the-lawn.net/comics/comics/ph...e%27sWaldo.jpg

LalaCity · 09-07-2008, 11:54 AM

Wow...no wonder Sarah Palin left the town of Wasilla in debt -- what with this many books to burn, err, ban, I mean...

09-05-2008, 09:22 AM	#3
Dr. Feelgood intellectual nerd Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: the Twilight Zone Posts: 3,963	I see that Huckleberry Finn, which used to be challenged regularly, didn't make the list. But The Adventures of Tom Sawyer did, so I suppose Mark Twain can rest easy in his gravve. __________________ Now all you women, Don't you come around Unless you weigh 'Bout fo' hundred pound... -- Dr. Feelgood & the Interns

09-05-2008, 12:34 PM	#6
Tad mostly harmless Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 9,749	Darn, I've only read 14 of those. I'll have to work on that __________________ “I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity." --Eleanor Roosevelt

09-07-2008, 09:14 AM	#13
Ernest Nagel is old Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 3,429	Kids that are bright enough to be interested in those types of books are also capable of sorting out the issues they raise. Preventing kids from developing their own good judgment and opinions is about the most subversive as well as perverse thing I can think of. If I had kids I be with Canonista on this. Thanks to all the provincial asshats for a great required reading list. __________________ "You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation." ~ Bette Davis

09-07-2008, 11:03 AM	#15
olwen Disco Bear Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: nyc Posts: 7,812	I read a lot of the books on that list when I was a kid. What I don't get is how Where's Waldo? made that list. There's hardly any words. I dunno, unless someone somewhere thought waldo might be gay. I just don't get it. I'm also surprised that nothing by M.E. Kerr made that list. Her books deal with topics like child abuse and teen pregnancy. __________________ http://afatgirlwho.blogspot.com/ Last edited by olwen : 09-07-2008 at 11:06 AM.

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09-05-2008, 09:09 AM	#2
Bolshevik Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Posts: 36	Why isn't Orwell on this list!?

09-05-2008, 10:14 AM	#4
Mack27 AΔΦΆΓΙΑ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,765	Huh, I read a lot of those books when I was a kid. What's wrong with "A wrinkle in time?" I loved that book! Do those books twist children's minds? I mean look at me, no wait, I am twisted.

09-06-2008, 08:04 PM	#9
Mack27 AΔΦΆΓΙΑ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,765	Oh I see, you get people trying to ban books from both sides of the political spectrum. PC moms and bible-thumping moms should all be banned from libraries!

09-07-2008, 11:54 AM	#18
LalaCity Master Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,822	Wow...no wonder Sarah Palin left the town of Wasilla in debt -- what with this many books to burn, err, ban, I mean...