Books Pulled from Feminist List

[Christine]

This isn't quite banned, but it touches on many of the same ideas. Surlaluneblog is reporting that some books have been removed from a feminst reading list because of content.

Link to the blog: http://surlalunefairytales.blogspot.c...

[jb]

I haven't heard of that.....

[Mawgojzeta]

I have not read the books pulled. Has anyone else? If so, I would love opinions.

[jb]

I have not read any of the three books, but Living Dead Girl sounds quite interesting.

[Christine]

Well, according to the discussion page it seems to do with rape. This is intersting because other books on the list make banned books lists.

I just can't get over the fact that [book:The Hero and the Crown|77366 isn't there.

[Dee]

from what I read - it appears as though the books were pulled because they don't meet the feminist ideal for how to react to these events - so I guess that is my question - if its a specific cause that is championed by a group (in this case) feminism and they pull books that don't meet the purpose of their cause (such as these ones), is that still censorship?

[jb]

Well, I am not sure you would call it censorship....It seems more along the lines of personal views (of a group). I would tend to think they have a right to add or take away from their list of books (or whatever). If a book doesn't meet their criteria for certain angles and views, I would understand their point of view. To me, it seems not so much of a banning of a book/s...more along the lines of this is what we recommend for dealing with or discussing a cause.

[Polkweed]

I read Tender Morsels and I complained that it made the list because it's full of suck.

[Christine]

jennbunny wrote: "Well, I am not sure you would call it censorship....It seems more along the lines of personal views (of a group). I would tend to think they have a right to add or take away from their list of boo..."

I won't call it censorship, but I found it intersting considering the comments. I also find it intersting that some of the books on the list do make banned book lists.

[Pam]

jennbunny wrote: "Well, I am not sure you would call it censorship....It seems more along the lines of personal views (of a group). I would tend to think they have a right to add or take away from their list of boo..."

I agree with jennbunny. If they just want to make a list of books that meets their criteria for their cause then there's nothing wrong with that....just so long as they don't try to force libraries/schools/etc to pull the books from shelves that don't meet their criteria.

[jb]

Exactly....to me it would be no different than me making a list of books which meet my criteria. NOW that being said...I am on the same wavelength that as long as this is just their recommendations as far as certain issues go and they are not trying to convince others to pull the books that is all okay. Seems they are not on the same page as some "movements/groups" who want books which do not meet their "moral standards" pulled so no one can read them.

Now...I do not know much about this particular group as I had never heard of it before so my comments are only based on a few things I have read.

[Julia]

Of the three books that were de-listed I have only read and recommend strongly . I have requested the other two books from my library.

What's disturbing about this is that books were recommended without having been read by the group. The list was created without apparently giving thought to creating criteria. (Some books are early elementary, some MG, some vanilla YA, some are only for the oldest on the YA spectrum. And there's no explanation of that.) The three books were dumped after one complaint on each. They are refusing to reconsider putting the books back on the list, even though many have asked them to. They are also refusing de-list authors who are on the list and want off, because their fellow writers were so shabbily treated.

[Manybooks, Minister of Forbidden Literature]

Julia wrote: "Of the three books that were de-listed I have only read and recommend strongly . I have requested the other two books from my library.

What's disturbing about thi..."

Well, I guess it is their choice, but if these books were pulled because one person complained and they are refusing to consider putting them back onto the list even though many (not a few, but many) have asked them to, then they are, in fact, acting like a bunch of little dictators, they are basically allowing one or two complaints (maybe complaints by friends or perhaps celebrities or other "important" people) to dictate to the majority. This might not necessarily and exactly be censorship, but it does show that this group acts and is acting undemocratically and unfairly. And, the nerve of them not to de-list authors who "want off" the list, how DARE they do that, they don't own the copyrights of these books and should respect the authors and their wishes and concerns. This did not sound so bad at first, but now, it's getting to be a case of "our way, or the highway" (not impressed at all).

[Julia]

This morning I read Living Dead Girl and surely it's not for everyone, but is anything? It's very good.

[Kelly (Maybedog), Minister of Illicit Reading]

I don't understand this at all. Feminism is about freedom and equality. The first feminists called for open debate. How does that describe this action at all? Yes they have the right but it is upsetting.

Oh I should read the associated article before responding instead of after. :) I know of Bitch magazine and it's always bothered me because I don't think "bitch" is a word to reclaim because it's about comparing women to dogs. Now I'm a huge fan of dogs, kind of obsessed actually if you read my profile, and I kind of like thinking of myself as having the traits of a good dog mom. But that is not what that word is about, it's about men calling women animals.

Plus it's about anger and fighting back and it doesn't fit my world view at all. It's the same reason I don't get this sudden resurgence of roller derby for women. It's just so violent and in your face and lots of expletives aimed at anybody who they don't approve of. I have several friends who are into it and I just don't get it.

Anyway, it doesn't surprise me but their response about why actually makes sense to me. If they're recommending these books to empower girls, then at least two of those books are not appropriate. Plus they actually read the books, twice at least which is more than I can say for most of the people we talk about here. I don't want to particularly recommend to my daughter that she read a book where rapists are validated or victims are blamed. She can read them if she wants but I don't want to go out of my way to buy them for her when there are so many other books I could recommend. I can't read all 100 books on a feminist reading list but I'd prefer it be books that fit with feminist values. So it makes sense to me.