Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Many Americans like the idea of censorship, but they don't like to use the word 'censorship'.
Very true. The powers that be just decide that it wouldn't be commercially viable and, therefore, published. Ironically, what used to get books banned is usually exactly what gets them published nowadays.
I also found it interesting that quite a few of the [formerly] banned books were about sexually empowered women (whom most people *still* refer to as "sluts"). They also happen to be some of my favorites:
The Awakening Lady Chatterley's Lover Moll Flanders The Scarlet Letter Madame Bovary
Salmon Rushdie's works come about as close to being banned here as what comes to mind, recently. However, as many have pointed-out, we do not ban books here in the US today. There are, regardless, groups that ban books in the sense you won't find them on a recommended reading list they hand out. I well imagine the Harry Potter series is not on the library shelves of a number of Christian schools.
To some extent, even public schools will refuse to purchase a book and place it on the library's shelves, or include the title/author on recommended reading lists, whether it be from the English Department or the Media Center. As a member of the Media Committee(s) of a number of different schools throughout my career, I had to often defend authors and titles, even against my own colleague's objections -- who did not have to include the authors and/or works on their own classroom reading lists. It didn't mean the books shouldn't be on the library's shelves.
"Animal Farm" " Nineteen Eighty Four" and "All quiet on the Western Front" all banned in their days are fantastic books which still resonate today for me anyway.
I found it so funny that "Candide" was banned in the US in the 30s for obscenity when it was required reading for me at school when I was about 12 !! And who on earth could ban "The Grapes of Wrath"???? On what planet is this masterpiece an offensive work!?!?
"Madame Bovary" and "The Metamorphosis" also got banned despite both being wonderful books. Censors seem to have little taste...
And the idea of "Rights of Man" by Thomas Paine being banned is also beyond ludicrous... I guess all authorities are terrified of the populace having access to different ideas and being able to make their own minds up. I am sure if they could get away with it now they would still be telling us what to read.
These are books from childhood: the Alice series, Goosebumps series, The Face on the Milk Carton, Killing Mr. Griffin, and James and the Giant Peach. I remember so many books from when I was younger. Now that Im older I dont recall certain books, just certain authors that I like. And why is Gone With the Wind on there? Thats one of the greatest romance novels ever.
Any book that is "banned" is a favorite with me! I truly hate the idea of censorship or banning of books.
As several people have indicated it is up to the parents to help their kids decide what is good reading - at least for them. And books can create such wonderful discussions if parents are open to that.
Have just started a new bookclub (my 5th now) and every time it is my turn I always include a "classic" or a book from the banned book list. Think next time all of my suggestions will be a banned book!
Whenever people complain about something on TV the reaction is usually, "Well then don't watch it ." If someone complains about a book, I tell them, "Well then don't read it!" Nobody seems to understand that the minute you ban something its popularity (and sales) go thro the roof.
So true! I don't understand why people and organizations try to ban books so often but you never hear anyone objecting to the 95% of television that is total trash. I don't like it so I don't watch it, but I would never dream of wasting my time and effort and money on trying to get a trashy show off the air. If someone wants to watch it, that is their right. I just turn it off.
"From Here to Eternity" is one of the better books I've read. It reminded me of Fallen Angels (another banned military-themed book).
Also, The Catcher in the Rye, of course.
What's that old quote? "When books are banned, people will follow"? I am glad that my mother encouraged me to read everything I could get my hands on, and wasn't some dumb redneck book-burner. "Ah don't like this here book about sex n' stuff! Farmer Jethro! Lit's berrn it, ya'll!"
The Catcher in the Rye, The Shining, Naked Lunch, American Psycho, Tropic of Cancer, Are you there God? It's me Margaret, Lord of the Flies... the list goes on.
Are there books that are state/federally banned in the USA?
Strange subject - the United States does not "ban" books, other countries do (many of your "social democracies/nanny states" in Europe), but not the US.
Actually the US has banned books from publication in the past: Tropic of Cancer was banned until the 1960s, Candide was banned in the 1930s, Fanny Hill was banned until 1961, Lady Chatterly's Lover was banned until 1959.
To my knowledge the UK hasn't banned anything since Spycatcher in the 1980s and that was because the author was a former MI6 employee who had signed the Official Secrets Act before deciding to publish his memoirs.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
And who on earth could ban "The Grapes of Wrath"???? On what planet is this masterpiece an offensive work!?!? 
) and every time it is my turn I always include a "classic" or a book from the banned book list. Think next time all of my suggestions will be a banned book!
