I’ll begin by being honest and admit that I had never heard of Banned Books Week until a few years ago, after I graduated from college. What makes this sad is that Banned Books Week is one year older than I am, having been founded in 1982. Even though I had never heard of this week-long celebration of the freedom of speech and ideas, I am happy to write that I have been reading these very books since middle school.

Some of my favorite books are banned: 1984, Fahrenheit 451 (thanks to that book I know how to spell that word), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Giver, Lord of the Flies, The Outsiders, and A Wrinkle in Time. Now there are some books on the list that I won’t read, but that is strictly for personal reasons. (For example: I am just not interested and do not care that the Fifty Shades of Grey books are so popular. I would rather read something else.)

To me, the banned books list is pretty close to being the list of the best stories ever told and this year as I look over the list I see that there are many great books that I still need to read such as Franny and Zooey, Doctor Zhivago, A Clockwork Orange, and Call of the Wild.

For me the best way to celebrate Banned Books Week is by reading one of these books. It is a quiet, peaceful protest that I can take part in at my local libraries. Not sure what book I shall read (I’ll pick one by the end of the day), but there are many great options thanks to my local public and collegiate libraries.

If you are on campus and in Chestertown, stop by the Kent County Public Library or the Clifton M. Miller Library to check out the Banned Books Exhibit and see what else is happening …

Tuesday, September 24

Banned Books Open Mic: Come relax in our cozy banned books lounge all day long, read aloud from different selections, disguise yourself with our props, and use Instagram to commemorate the moment! 

Wednesday, September 25

Pi Lambda Theta reading: Stop by at 7 p.m. to join our Education Honor Society for a reading and discussion of banned children’s books.

Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27

Continued exhibit and activities.

 

Happy reading!

 

The Rose O’Neill Literary House at Washington College serves as one of the cultural hubs on campus, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, and local community members from across disciplines. Our annual events provide access to a wide variety of texts, including fiction, poetry, journalism, creative nonfiction, scholarly prose, songwriting, playwriting, and hybrid forms; our letterpress studio and Literary House Press introduce participants both to old and to new technologies. We are dedicated to promoting the articulated word, offering literary programs, classroom spaces, support to student groups, professional training.