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ENG 110: How to Write Well (Sultenfuss): Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week

 

The first official Recharge with Reading event will be Banned Books Week, taking place September 26-October 3 of 2020. This annual event promoted by the American Library Association celebrating banned and challenged books and the history surrounding them. This year, to celebrate Banned Books Week, the Cannon Memorial Library is having volunteers read selections of their favorite banned pieces of literature. This page showcases readings and events from Banned Books Week, as well as ways you can get involved, and check out Banned Books available at the library! (You can read banned books all year round, can't you? Every day is a chance to celebrate that!) You can find out more about banned books and Banned Books Week here.

Banned Books Readings

Banned Book Readings from Saint Leo University Faculty and Staff

Note: This section will be updated with recordings and more information as more readings are planned and provided.

 

Alicia Corts - "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe: First published in 1843, Poe's short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart," is told through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who believes the heart of the man he murdered is still beating beneath the floorboards of his home.  "The Tell-Tale Heart" is often banned for its use of violent imagery and was famously banned in Virginia after protests that the story could "plant the seeds" of crime, depression, and disobedience in children.

Doris Vankampen-Breit - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien: Follow the Hobbits and their companions in the second book of the series as they strive to overcome evil and destroy the One Ring. This series has been banned as 'satanic' in some areas and was even burned by members of a church in New Mexico in 2001.

Delaney Rose - Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden: Annie On My Mind is the story of two best friends, Annie and Liza, who come from opposite social backgrounds and have their relationship challenged by society. Annie On My Mind has been extensively banned and was even publicly burned in the Kansas City school system in the early 90's for fear it would cause children to experiment with homosexuality. Despite this, it has never been out of print.

Michelle Joy - Northern Lights (Called The Golden Compass in the United States and some other countries) by Philip Pullman: The first book in a trilogy titled His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass centers around Lyra Belacqua, a young girl, and Pantalaimon, her daemon, as they attempt to locate and rescue her best friend, who has been abducted by a mysterious group Lyra and her friends refer to as "The Gobblers." The Golden Compass has been banned primarily for religious reasons, as Pullman's books make it clear he is not fond of the Catholic Church or the way God is sometimes used to justify violence against certain groups.

How You Can Get Involved

How You Can Get Involved

 

  • Check Out Our Readings! As you know, Saint Leo University faculty and staff members have been recording readings from their favorite banned books! Simply click the link to hear our readings, and share your favorites!
  • Record Your Own Readings, We'd Love to See! Do you have a favorite banned book? If so, we'd love to hear your reading too! Tag us in your readings on social media using #SLUREADS to twitter and Instagram, and Share in LionsShare! Let us know what your favorite banned book is, why, and read us a selection.
  • Read a Banned Book! Now you know that the library has a lot of banned books available. Why not read one for yourself, and let us know you did! Tag us using #SLUREADS to twitter and Instagram, and Share in LionsShare! Let us know what you think of your new read!

Famously Banned Books in Our Collection

Banned Books (and eBooks) available to read

Check them out!