January 28, 2024
BANNED! One of my favorite books is on the banned book list in Orange County, Florida, along with another favorite Ann Patchett book, Patron Saint of Liars. You can see Ann Patchett’s response here. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1ryx_DLK7C/?utm_campaign=wp_book_club&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&wpisrc=nl_books
Escombia County, Florida, went even further. Their new list of BANNED books includes:
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. BANNED!
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. BANNED!
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. BANNED!
- For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. BANNED!
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. BANNED!
- Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. BANNED!
You might as well ban English teachers and classes.
Oh, also on the BANNED list is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, but that’s obvious, isn’t it? With SEX in the title. And there are the usual suspects, books by Toni Morrison, May Angelou, and Margaret Atwood. But the list also includes National Geographic Society’s Human Body Systems. Heaven forbid that young people learn about their own bodies. And five dictionaries and The Guiness Book of World Records. Huh?
These campaigns, of course, are not about books. They are about control and fear. What to do? Well, one thing is to encourage the young people in your life to read, to be curious and explore the wonders of books, and to talk with them about what they are learning and discovering. And to share your thoughts about banning books.
Why Didn’t I Think of This?
The New York Times Book Review, Sunday, January 14, published an essay about a new phenomenon called “Reading Rhythms.” Not a book club, but “a reading party.” People gather to read –whatever they are reading at the moment–and then after an hour or so they talk about what they are reading.
I’ve long believed that gathering in groups to meditate together or to write together opens a different kind of energy from doing those activities alone. But I had not considered the power of reading in groups, although I love the calm and pleasure of sitting in the same room with loved ones when we are each reading, but what an interesting idea to do that intentionally with a group of strangers or to invite friends over to read and then talk. A cozy winter activity, but I also imagine doing this outside in the summer sitting on the shore of a favorite lake.
Stay tuned–an invitation may be forthcoming.
An Invitation
What’s your favorite BANNED book? I would love to know.
NOTE:
Read the full article about this new list of BANNED books in the Washington Post Book Club newsletter by Ron Charles. https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=596b1081ade4e24119acf1e6&s=65a1547e22c7b80f14d01ca7&linknum=2&linktot=90&linknum=2&linktot=90
Living on Life's Labyrinth 
Hi Nancy!
I loved hearing Ann Patchett’s response re: her books that were banned. I’m sure the irony was lost on the legislators, however. Thanks for including it in your post.
Thinking of you often.
😘
Marcia
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You are in my heart.
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Likewise!
Marcia
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Wow, Incredible list of those banned books! It truly is unbelievable those books would be banned. Shameful. Thank you for posting Ann Patchett’s response.
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My mouth dropped open as I read the list.
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two of my favorite banned books are Little Black Sambo about a little boy who becomes a hero against tigers who would eat him and Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories that all had a life lesson of courage or anti bullying or kindness in the mischievious animal stories. I found copies of both books and read the stories to my grandson when he was little and talked about the lessons they teach.
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Nancy I also love Patron Saint of Liars and Tom Sawyer among thise you mentioned. I think book banning is terrible. The only caveat is pornography and extreme violence in elementary or pre schools but not banned entirely.
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