It is a well-known fact that our country has a history of banning and censoring some of the most insightful, inspired, and inventive material ever produced. And in case you weren’t aware, the confinement of information and suppression of creativity are still very real problems. It’s happening constantly in libraries, theaters, museums, schools, and on airwaves and the internet.
Awesomely, we are SMACK-DAB in the middle of the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week. Beloved North Beach bookstore City Lights is celebrating by hosting readings of banned and challenged books by some truly incredible authors. (Think: John Waters reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover. YES.)
If you ask me, the best way to celebrate banned books week is to READ A BANNED BOOK. Need ideas? Below are some of my personal favorites.
Do you have a favorite banned book? Recommend it– I’m looking for some new reading material!
There’s an Anarchist Cookbook? I want to read that now.