This post topic probably seems a bit on the late side since Banned Books week was back in September this year, but a recent issue has arisen that has my blood boiling.
In case you were unaware, a school board in Florida has decided to place a ban on books that include "profanity, cursing, or inappropriate subject matter." You can read about it in more detail here. This directive is ridiculous and appalling. What is "inappropriate" subject matters? Who gets to decide what is "inappropriate"? What if I find certain topics inappropriate that others don't? The frightening part of this directive is that it will undoubtedly be used to silence the voices of marginalized groups. There have been plenty of studies that examine the connection between empathy and fiction readers. They've even done studies focusing specifically on Harry Potter! If you don't have access to library databases, you can do a quick google scholar search and come across a multitude of results. It might seem an odd notion to some, but students need access to materials that contain profanity, cursing, and inappropriate subject matter. They need to see that some things are just human nature. It also helps students be able to frame and contextualize situations that may seem foreign to them. By not allowing students to access stories and information, we're stunting their growth. One could even make the leap and say we are stunting the growth of our society. We should be encouraging younger generations to be better than us - to be more open, more accepting, more inclusive. Reading is about broadening your horizons, opening yourself up to new experiences in a safe environment. It's about reflection; it's about examining what makes you uncomfortable and why. It's about learning.
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The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (TAHQ) is a debut novel by Joel Dicker. If you like mystery, particularly crime dramas, then this book is for you. TAHQ is quite a lengthy tome. It, quite honestly, could have been shortened down to half the length. It dragged at parts, but the plot was always intriguing enough to keep you going. The author was clearly not an American; I mention this because there are instances in the book that would not occur because of our judicial policies and procedures and stick out like a sore thumb at times. If these sorts of divorces from reality do not alter your suspension of disbelief, then you will be all right. If implausibility in reality bothers you, I would steer clear of the novel. While there were a few flaws with TAHQ, I would recommend the title overall. The writing was well done, and the plot was very engaging. Once you get to the last hundred pages, you won't be able to put the book down. A great read for those who like twists and turns! In light of the horrible actions that occurred in Charlottesville recently, and in America over the past year or so, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about diversity in literature. Diversity means "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements". It's so important to have a diverse collection for a number of reasons. It enables people to be exposed to ideas, cultures, and thoughts that are different from their own. It also allows people who are more marginalized in society to have a voice. Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. So, I've made a list of lists of diverse books. Have any other great lists or recommendations? Add them in the comments section! Adults:
Children/Young Adult: The book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari is marketed as answering the questions of humanity's future. Where will we be going from here? What will humans be like in the future?
Readers looking to read a few hundred pages on future hypothetical worlds will be disappointed. The author spends the first two-thirds of the book discussing the past and present of humanity. The last third of the book explores possible avenues for the human species to follow. While a majority of the book does not deal with the future, it is necessary and worthwhile. The author does an excellent job of keeping the past interesting and without seeming like a boring history lesson from middle school. Harari breaks the past into different categories and then showcases the patterns that have existed throughout homo sapiens' history. He then applies those patterns to the present and uses them to foreshadow what will most likely be in store for humanity. A well written piece of non-fiction, Harari keeps readers engaged throughout each section of the lengthy tome. A recommended read, especially for those readers that are just beginning to dip their toes into the non-fiction genre. |
AuthorI have worked in Education my entire life moving from K-12, to a community college, to my current position at a four year. I am fascinated by weird things and information in general. Archives
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