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I didn't think any of my favourites have been banned, challenged, or censored. On the other hand, considering the trivial things that the pearl-clutching "think of the children!" types get hysterical about, I suspect they would have an apoplexy if they read some of my favourites. razz

Then I found this list of books that have been challenged here in Canada. It looks like race, religion, and homosexuality are the subjects that are particularly touchy, judging by the books on the list. (Not that that's surprising, of course.)

I've read a number of them over the years. A Clockwork Orange, Go Ask Alice, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Goosebumps (really??), Macleans magazine (really?!), The Golden Compass, The Handmaid's Tale, Harry Potter...
Even the Bible is on the list.

Kind of ironic that someone wants to censor the Handmaid's Tale, considering the plot of the book. Rather like censoring 1984, or Farenheit 451.

I've read the Grimm version, but now I'd like to get my hands on a transcription of the French version (in the original language, if possible). Sounds interesting!


I just don't understand the mentality associated with banning or censoring books. I've read books that I found distasteful, but it never occurred to me, "Hey, this is awful. No one else should read this." There's a YA book that a friend suggested I read (unfortunately, the title and author are escaping me at the moment) primarily because she found it so incredibly disturbing. I would not be surprised to hear it had been challenged or even banned.

It's told from the first-person perspective of a young girl who was abducted as a child by a sexual predator, and it was really difficult to get through. sweatdrop Still, I would never argue that it should be banned.