Strolling through Books a Million, a “Banned Books” shelf caught my attention. Displayed were titles many of us revered as literary milestones in our academic lives. These weren’t just books; they were mirrors reflecting the societal fabric of their times. Yet they’ve faced bans.
I was taught that these were great American classics because of the writer’s style and their ability to articulate the views, culture, and politics of an era.
At Carroll High School, I remember the challenge of reading “J.D. Salinger’s “A Catcher in the Rye” and writing book reports about the “Lord of the Flies.”
So I was amazed to see many of the titles that I came to admire “banned,” including: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou; “To Kill a Mocking Bird” by Harper Lee; “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neal Hurston; “Beloved” by Toni Morrison; “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway; “1984” by George Orwell; and “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell.
Why are these books banned?
J.D. Salinger’s “A Catcher in the Rye” depicted teenage angst, rebelliousness, and casual swearing. This coming-of-age tale was seen by some as promoting immoral views. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” an anti-racist novel, has paradoxically faced bans due to its candid portrayal of racial issues and use of racial slurs. Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” a hauntingly beautiful novel, faced criticism for its graphic content and dark themes. George Orwell’s “1984” was too politically charged for some and considered anti-government. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, despite its moving narrative, was targeted for its graphic scenes and religious viewpoint. “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell showed some slaves who liked “Mammie” and were loyal to their masters.
However, it’s not just about individual issues within these books. By banning them, are we entering an age where selective groups dictate our literary consumption?
Ironically, the best-selling book that has all of the banned themes in it is “The Holy Bible.” The Bible contains violence, war, sex, withholding, adultery, racism, genocide, and murder. It includes everything from the passionate love scenes of Songs of Solomon to the incest of Noah and the adultery of David. It’s not on the banned book list yet.
While Books a Million might be cleverly marketing these titles, the bigger picture is concerning. If we begin sanitizing literature based on themes some might find uncomfortable, where does it stop? Literature should provoke thought, challenge norms, and sometimes even discomfort us. Banning such books robs us of invaluable insights.
Let’s champion diverse narratives and the freedom to access them. Understanding why books are banned is the first step to appreciating their invaluable contributions to society.
Because Books-A-Million still sells banned books, they are not really banned, but the banned bookshelf seems to be a subtle way of giving the middle finger to those who want to control our thoughts.
