A long time ago, there was an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson on Disney Channel that made reference to Fahrenheit 451. I don't remember much of the episode's plot (as it was a long time ago and TFJJ didn't last very long), but I do remember Jett taking part in a sit-in, and his inspiration came from Bradbury's novel.*
It's Banned Books Week! I have yet to read Fahrenheit 451 (it's on my to-read list), but I did finish my 2012 BBW read this morning: The Giver by Lois Lowry. It's one that's likely to be taught in school at some point, but for some reason, I was never in an English class that taught it. I know it wasn't because it was banned/challenged in the district; it was merely a matter of it not being on the syllabus in the English classes I took the year I took them. I managed to also miss anything by Jane Austen until college, as well as The Catcher in the Rye. We did read some fabulous literature in elementary, junior high, and high school. Plus, I had the chance to read some great literature in college courses from authors I'd hadn't encountered before then. As for the rest of them, I'm slowly making up for lost time, reading all the books I missed.
And because there are so many of them, combined with the fact that I'm a slow reader, it's taking a long time.
But, anyway: The Giver. I'm glad that I didn't know much about it going in. I knew it was a dystopian novel, and I knew it was greatly admired, but I didn't know anything about the plot. It blew me away. I gasped aloud at least twice, as realizations hit about the true horrors of the community system in which Jonas, the protagonist, lives. It's a brilliant novel, and Lowry's writing is incredible--this, I think, was the first book I'd ever read of hers, and I was so engaged that I forgot what time it was and the list of things I'd hoped to do today. And as soon as I was done, and found out there were three more books within the same series, I added them to my to-read list.
There are a lot of banned and challenged books that have been included on various lists over the years. The American Library Association has compiled lists by year, from 2001 to present day.
One of these days, I need to sit down and make my way through Brave New World. After The Casual Vacancy and The Hobbit, anyway. The freedom to read is a beautiful thing. What are you reading?
*I was curious. When I looked it up, I watched it on YouTube; someone had posted the episode in two parts (part 2).
