Banned Book Challenge: The Giver

During October’s Banned Book Week, I issued a challenge to myself. I would try to read five challenged/banned books over the course of the year and report back.

First up was The Giver by Lois Lowry, which I have recently finished reading. This is a soft science fiction young adult novel that has been challenged and/or banned in schools due to some of its content. Jonas, a 12-year-old living in a utopian society, is chosen to become a receiver of memories. In the past, Jonas’ community decided to go to ‘sameness’ and to remove emotion and emotional memories from their lives in order to live pain-free. Naturally, that comes at a cost. As Jonas learns more about his new job (he accepts the memories of the past that include war, hunger, and much, much more in order to serve as an adviser to the community) the more the illusion of innocence slips from his world.

The Giver has been challenged for many reasons. One is that in some ways, Jonas’ community resembles a communist society, two is that suicide is used as an ‘out’ by one character, three is infanticide, and fourth is the role of death in the story. Personally, I would have thought his ‘stirrings’ would have got a few parents squawking. I guess because he took a pill to resolve the pleasurable feelings, it’s okay. (Although, he did go against the rules and stop taking it. I would think that would really bother some parents.)

Personally, I enjoyed The Giver. It is a book that deals with a lot of heady topics and can serve as a forewarning to the next generation in a ‘what if’ sort of way. For example, what would happen if we didn’t remember war? What would happen if we had no choice or individuality?

I believe it to be an important book. What do you think?

P.S. Here is a cool little blurb about a student who is keeping a banned book lending library in a school locker. I love her gumption. She’s creating readers and should be given The Pristine Award (don’t know what it is? Stay tuned, more on that in December). She’s got some great ones on her lists.

Freedom To Read Challenge For 2009

So, I have read 35 books (or at least recall reading 35) that have been challenged or banned. So what? The over-achiever in me wants to raise that number. Plus, reading those lists, it reminded me of some books I want to read. Therefore, I have issued a challenge to myself. I will read 5 banned or challenged books over the next year. (Why a year?–because my ‘to be read’ stack is already toppling at 30+ books and silly me, now belong to 3 book clubs. (I do encourage them to choose books that I have in my ‘to be read’ stack, but you can only do that so much before you become the annoying, pushy gal in the group. Or at least, become the annoying, pushy gal for other reasons….)

Without further ado, here are the 5 banned/challenged books I will read over the next year, with a check-in during Freedom to Read Week (Canadian version of Banned Book Week) in February:

The Giver (Lois Lowry) Reason for choosing: Was a ratty, popular book in the library I used to work in. I’m curious.

The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) Reason for choosing: I already have a head start with all the background research I did on the film for a film studies project years ago. I like knowing the social and political history of a book’s time period. And I also like Steinbeck.

Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov) Reason for choosing: I have actually been waiting to read a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran because I haven’t read Lolita yet.

Lord of the Flies (William Golding) Reason for choosing: It is surprising nobody made me read it in school, and since I don’t want to be the only person on the planet who hasn’t read this classic, I’d better get moving.

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle) Reason for choosing: I’ve heard lots about it, and have even had it recommended, but have never picked it up. Yet.

Want to read a few challenged/banned books too? Join me! Your mind will never be the same. Mwa-ha-ha.