Banning books is something that has a Hitlerite feel about it and so it is with interest that next week is Banned Books Week with libraries and bookstores across the US at least celebrating the works of fiction that at one time or another faced getting banned from libraries.
Some of the titles will cause raised eyebrows because for today's reader they seem relatively mild but for instance Mice and Men ran into resistance because it promoted euthanasia and of The Great Gatsby because of its sexual references. To see the full list of the reasons why the books were challenged look at the American Libraries Association site. Some of the challenges to get books removed from libraries now seem pathetic and thankfully these great classics remain in circulation.
It’s also good to see that Google Books is throwing its weight behind the campaign to encourage people to read the 42 books on the banned/challenged list.
