Three Classic Banned Book Recommendations for the Average Uni Freshman
Welcome to my first blog post of the month!! I’m still attempting to get through The Goldfinch, so in the meantime, here’s a few books I would recommend if you’re looking for something to read and also want to have some spare time for schoolwork! These reads are usually pretty popular among the banned books lists, but I think they’re all interesting in their own ways and I got quite into them as I read! As a precaution, these are quite dark and discuss topics that may be especially sensitive right now (especially with current events) so please be careful as you read!
In the first spot, we have To Kill a Mockingbird! If you’re looking for something more serious or historical fiction like, you should definitely look into this novel. I found it to be extremely interesting, and the characters were really intriguing to me. However, the novel has some darker scenes and there are heavy discussions of racism, as well as usage of the N-word.
Secondly, we have Lord of the Flies! It is considered a dystopia, and it is a slightly longer novel. I found it had the same ‘catchiness’ To Kill a Mockingbird had, with less historical elements. I think it’s a very interesting book to read while we’re all still younger, as the characters are slightly younger than us (from about 6-12 years old). Unfortunately, like To Kill a Mockingbird, there are some elements of racism and violence. An interesting element, however, is the multiple versions of the text there are. The novel has been controversial for its content and some parts have censoring or changing of words.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post, and you should think about checking these novels out! If you’ve read them all already, I’d love to chat with you! See you all next cycle!!
-Nona R.
Thanks for the list! I personally don't think the portrayal of "racism and violence" is necessarily a bad thing if it's done in a sensitive and accurate way. I think getting exposure to stuff like that allows people to have a more personal reason for helping. Additionally, controversy is a good thing because diversity of thought allows people to strengthen their positions as well as learn others' in a thoughtful and respectful way.
ReplyDeleteLanona your book taste is so supreme that I shed a single tear. I am going to read every book to better understand the beautiful pathways of your mind. Your sophisticated and diverse tastes and perspectives make me a better human.
ReplyDeleteHi Nona!! I've heard a lot about these books but never have actually read them. After this blogpost, I might give them a try! Yeah I agree that topics like the ones you stated can be hard for some people to read, but reading about them is also helps with awareness. I like how you write from both perspectives when giving us a summary of the book. I'm excited for your next blogpost!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this list of books! I've never read any of these books but have heard a lot about them. I definitely have to read these books, because all of them sound really good.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very nice list of novels. I looked into them because I was curious and found that each of these novels reveals the harsh truths of society. These are stories that seem challenge you to confront uncomfortable realities. These books are worth every page. I'll take a look at some (I've only read one of these)
ReplyDeleteHey Nona! Great blog post, I always enjoy reading banned books and your taste in novels is wonderful, so I'll make sure to check these one out. I personally think books that confront the "ugly sides" of humanity are really good forms of exposure to these topics (that is when they are handled well and accurately). It is important to know about these topics in the safety of novels and a fictional world so we can learn to combat these if we encounter them in real life.
ReplyDeleteI think that reading books with controversial/serious elements can provide a new understanding about some of the serious issues people have faced, both in the past and present, so I appreciate the list that you've made of books you'd recommend.
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