We are in the middle of band broke week which aim to where about book censorship. The week was launched in 1982 and since then more than 11,300 books have been challenged. Library and Pam Stevens facilitate a banned books reading group in the Mira Mesa library. She tells us about the three books. Lolita is a book that a lot of people have heard of. Some have not read but most people have the idea that it was the end and declared obscene because of its themes sexual themes that involves a man who is in love with a young woman 14-year-old girl. It's an edgy story. It's beautifully written and it is worthy of reading despite the edgy theme. It's an excellent book. To kill a Mockingbird is a book that has been banned or challenged for racial games on both sides of the social spectrum. It was written in 1961. There was a lot of racial prejudice and people do not like thing that exposed more recently it has been challenged because people feel the use of the letter and word and the portrayal of African Americans was something that could be black children would not like to see. The grapes of wrath was burnt by the East St. Louis Illinois public library when it came out in 1939. It was banned in Kern County California the scene of Steinbeck's novel. It was challenge and banned for political and social. The farmers did not like the portrayal of the migrant farmworkers being exposed and once again more recently it has been challenged by people who have felt it was an unsympathetic portrayal of Margaret farmworkers even though in the novel it was sympathetic. The people that you heard were banned book club members. You can hear readings from more banned books this Friday from noon to 5:00.
This week is Banned Books Week, which aims to raise awareness of book censorship in the United States. The week was launched in 1982. Since then more than 11,300 books have been challenged.
Pam Stevens is the facilitator of the Banned Book Club at the Mira Mesa library. The book group has a "freedom to read" theme. It meets at the library, 8405 New Salem St., the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Stevens spoke to Midday Edition about some of the most notable books that have been banned over the years.
• "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov was banned and declared obscene because of its sexual themes.
Dorothy Lorenz, a member of the Banned Book Club, points to an excerpt from "Lolita" that illustrates the controversy surrounding the book. It was published in 1955.
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta."
• "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee has been banned or challenged for racial themes. When it was published there was a lot of racial prejudice and people did not like it being exposed.
Patricia Conner, a member of the Banned Book Club, points to an excerpt from "To Kill A Mockingbird" that illustrates the racial themes in the book. It was published in 1960.
"Nobody knew what form of intimidation Mr. Radley employed to keep Boo out of sight, but Jem figured that Mr. Radley kept him chained to the bed most of the time. Atticus said no, it wasn't that sort of thing, that there were other ways of making people into ghosts."
•"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck was challenged and banned for political and social reasons. The farmers did not like the portrayal of the migrant farmworkers being exposed.
Jeff Stevens, a member of the Banned Book Club, points to an excerpt from "The Grapes of Wrath" that illustrates the conditions the migrant farmworkers were living in. It was published in 1939.
"Tom started the car and they rolled through the streets and out toward the country. And by a bridge they saw a collection of tents and shacks. Tom said "Might's well stop here. Find out what's doin', an' where at the work is." There was no order in the camp; little gray tents, shacks, cars were scattered about at random. The first house was nondescript ... A Model T Ford sedan and a two-wheel trailer were parked beside the shack, and about the camp there hung a slovenly despair."
In honor of Banned Books Week, the fifth annual All-Day Read-Aloud Read-a-Thon will take place Friday with banned books being read from noon to 5 p.m. at the Central Library Garden Courtyard. Members of the San Diego Costume Guild will also be performing at the event.
