Image by matthewvenn via Flickr
When’s the last time you got burned?
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By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 9/26/2010
Did you know it’s Banned Book Week? I think this is especially poignant with the recent attempt at challenging Laurie Halse Anderson’sSpeak
I may be extra sensitive to book banning, since my parents literally burned and tore up some of my favorite books, and prevented me from having access to books through removing all my books for weeks at a time as punishment when I (quite desperately) depended on books as survival. And also because they consistently tried to silence me.
Books are so important, and a way for people to find validation, support, and information in a safe way that they wouldn’t otherwise find out about. They offer healing, a widening of the world and of dreams, and for me, they have been soul food. So to hear about people trying to prevent others from reading any book makes me angry. If you don’t want to read a book yourself, that’s fine–walk away from it. But to try to keep a book from everyone, or from a group of people? That’s not okay.
I found one of my favorite picture books, And Tango Makes Three
I hope you’ll consider buying (or borrowing) and reading some of these banned books–and sharing them with others. I hope, too, that you’ll
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cheryl Rainfield, How To Do Stuff. How To Do Stuff said: RT @CherylRainfield Banned Book Week: Speak Up & Pick Up a Good Book! (my blog post) http://ht.ly/2JYhy #YAlit #bookbanning #SpeakLoudly [...]
This is such a crucial point, Cheryl: “Books are so important, and a way for people to find validation, support, and information in a safe way that they wouldn’t otherwise find out about. They offer healing, a widening of the world and of dreams, and for me, they have been soul food.” I wholeheartedly agree with you, and deplore the way some people try to control others’ choices by banning books.
I’m so glad you not only survived, but thrived! And you have gone on to help others through your own books.
Thank you, Book Chook (hugging you). I also hate the way some people try to control others through banning books. It seems to me that it’s about power and control…and is a kind of oppression. Something I experienced a lot of.
And thank you for saying that–that my books help others. It is something I care about a lot. Books truly were one of the things that helped me survive. Books, dissociation, writing, art, and self-harm…they all were what kept me here and alive and able to dream and love and care.