Wednesday, August 18, 2010

book ban in stockton

This is a follow-up on the banning of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian:

3 comments:

  1. I guess the silver lining of book banning is that it makes some people want to read the book. How sad though that students will miss out on the opportunity to share this amazing book with one another in the classroom. Alexie's book is my personal favorite and I don't see why this book would not be suitable for school use. In fact, I think students would benefit greatly from a shared reading of this book.

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  2. I agree. I studied this book in a literature course in University and was able to discuss it at great length with a few people who are teachers as well. None of us seemed to have any issues with the book being an optional text in classrooms. But as you said (and as anecdotal evidence shows) the banning of a book is one way to ensure great sales!

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  3. I have to admit that I was delighted to hear this book was banned, not because I'm against it, but because The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is one of my absolute favourite books. The ban guarantees that both young and old people will read and discuss the book.

    On one hand, it's ridiculous that this book has been banned, but on the other there are always taboos and taboo art has a delightful way of persisting, even thriving under such conditions. I hope this banning brings heaps of publicity to Alexie's excellent novel.

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