Task #16: Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country

[Bonnie G.]

Emma wrote: "Being from the UK I also struggled with this task. I've gone with "last exit to Brooklyn" which was challenged and part of an obscenity trial in the UK when it was first published."

I think Sons & Lovers and Portnoy's Complaint (both great books) were banned in the UK, and also Satanic Verses.

[Jenny]

I'm from Scotland and I'm pretty certain that not all books banned in the rest of the UK have been banned in Scotland as well, I think it's one of the things we've always had separate laws for - like education. For example, I think Common Sense by Thomas Paine wasn't banned here, but was elsewhere in the UK? I THINK Lady Chatterley's Lover was banned here, too, but I'm not certain...

[Rachel]

I read This One Summer, which was challenged for profanity and mature content, as well as LGBT characters (although there weren't any. Just one mention of people one character met who were lesbians). I live in Canada, and there really aren't many books banned or challenged here.

[Tania]

Sonia wrote: "Anyone from México? I'm struggling to find a challenged book that is not a biology textbook! :P

Might go with Aura since it was deemed "inappropriate" by a govt. official a few years ..."

I'm not sure if you still need it (probably not, but I just joined the challenge last month :P), but looking for books I found that the Opus Dei in Mexico continues the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (which officially ended in the 60s). Their list includes +60,000 and there are amazing books there: Fuentes, Goytisolo, Ibargüengoitia… I'll read Dos crímenes for this :)

You can find the list here: http://www.opus-info.org/index.php?ti...

[Megan]

I just finished The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; my book club selected it for this month's pick, so I'm looking forward to discussing it with them when we meet up this month.

Looking over the books I've read this year, it looks like I've got a few others that would've worked for this category, too:
* Siddhartha;
* George; and,
* Their Eyes Were Watching God.

[Leslie]

I took a different approach with this topic and read I Am Jazz with my 4 year old twins. I'm glad the book is out there to tell her story, but I had some problems with the way gender norms were presented in the book: describing certain toys and clothes as boy or girl items. But it is a completely harmless book that makes a complicated issue easy for kids to understand, and I suppose that's why so many people feel the need to ban it.

[Veronica]

Having never read it, I decided to tackle Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was banned in the Confederate states and has since been challenged numerous times. I'm glad I finally read it for its historical significance, and to figure out where the term "Uncle Tom" comes from, but it was not the most engaging of reads, mostly because Beecher Stowe is extremely preachy and not a whole lot happens until the final hundred pages of the book. I have a hard time recommending it for anything other than historical edification. Full review here.

[Cristy]

This One Summer - aaaaand I still am not wild about the whole graphic novel medium. Keep plugging along under the assumption that I haven't found *it* yet.

The Handmaid's Tale seemed an appropriate choice given the current political climate of my country. Not sure how I hadn't read it before, so there was another good reason to give it a whirl.

[Michelle]

Is there anyone in the group with some suggestions for books banned/challenged in New Zealand? Thanks!

[Bonnie G.]

Michelle wrote: "Is there anyone in the group with some suggestions for books banned/challenged in New Zealand? Thanks!"
I know of 2. Lolita (which has been banned nearly everywhere, and which is sooo good) and Into the River which I have never read but was mentioned in an earlier discussion about this.

[[deleted user]]

For this task, I read အမှတ်တရ by ဂျူး. It was controversial in my country for "endorsing Western existentialist philosophy and portraying cohabiting unwed couples".

[Yrinsyde]

I've decided to read Droll Stories by Honore de Balzac - banned in Australia from 1901 to 1973. I don't know why it was banned... no doubt I will find out! Available for free download from Project Gutenberg.