In case you’ve been living under a rock without WiFi, far-right Republicans are out of their ever-living minds these days. Worse yet, they seem determined to impose their socially backward views on the country at the state and local levels. Although book bans aren’t exactly new, their frequency seems to have exploded in the wake of COVID-19, as school systems, teachers, parents, and political activists fight over the specifics of education in America.
But we’re going to let you in on a little secret: banned books are some of the best books. Looking for your next scintillating read? We have a few suggestions…
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Banned Book List
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7. As I Lay Dying
William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying is a book often banned by religious fanatics since it contains many passages referring to abortion and uses God's name in vain. So unless you're Ned Flanders or Mike Pence, this is an excellent read!
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6. The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck's award-winning The Grapes of Wrath is often the subject of banning from Jesus freaks. The reason behind it is the book often uses the Lord's name in vane and contains many sexual references. In other words, it's an excellent read and one you must check out.
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5. Catcher in the Rye
If you're a stodgy and socially backward conservative who wishes to impose your sanctimonious morality on young minds, this is a book you'll want to ban. Many schools deem J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye to be a novel for being "anti-white" and "obscene" and often ban it.
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4. Maus
Even though it's the year 2022, Tennessee seems to think it's 1944 Germany and decided to include this award-winning graphic novel by Art Spiegelman that depicts holocaust victims as mice among its banned books. That means the book is amazing and full of insights and facts, so be sure to read it when you can.
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3. Beloved
Toni Morrison's Beloved came under fire as part of the heated debate over how we teach race and history during the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race. The novel examines atrocities of slavery from the perspective an escaped slave.
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2. To Kill a Mockingbird
With so many white parents freaked out about their children possibly learning about the treatment of Black people, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a white lawyer who defends a Black man accused of rape in a small Alabama town is obviously quite relevant. Given its racial overtones and teaching of racism, it's a frequently banned or challenged books by public schools and libraries. Thus, a must-read!
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1.The Handmaid's Tale
Following the leak of a draft opinion from the ultra-conservative Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale seems more relevant than ever. As reproductive rights are under assault across the country by a bunch of dudes who most women would never sleep with anyway, this is a must-read.
