Books are incredible things that have the power to help you escape to another universe or learn more about your own. However, despite having such tremendous importance in our lives, numerous books have been stripped away from their roles of imparting valuable knowledge over time. These books are to be known as Banned Books. Throughout history, books have been banned for obscenity, sexually explicit language, and various political reasons.
Here are some of the most popular Banned Books of all time.
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Published in 1988, Rushdie's fourth novel, which popularized the term "fatwa" in the literary world, is banned in India and several other nations. A significant portion of the Muslim world believes it disrespects the Prophet Muhammad's legend. The Satanic Verses led to the author having a death warrant put as a result of this book; Salman Rushdie had to go into hiding for an entire decade after Iran’s Ayatollah issued a fatwa, a fatwa that also led to the death of Rushdie’s Japanese translator.
To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee The 1966 novel To Kill a Mockingbird is still banned or subject to legal challenges by school districts today. The book's idea was viewed as immoral. A white attorney defends a Black man who is wrongfully accused of rape in the book.The book has recently generated controversy for a variety of reasons. It was challenged and prohibited in 2021 because of its "perception of the Black experience," its use of racist slurs, and its disastrous effects on students. It also featured a "white saviour" figure. It was one of the ten most disputed and banned novels of the 20th century.
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas Published in 2017, YA bestseller The Hate You Give was subsequently made into a film starring Amandla Stenberg and Regina Hall. The book's protagonist is a teenage girl named Starr Carter who sees her best friend Khalil shot and killed by police.The book received praise for its candid examination of race and for illuminating the destructive impacts of prejudice. It has also been divisive from the start, which is perhaps not surprising. It was criticised for using vulgarity and for spreading a message against the police. The book was banned in 2017 by school officials in Katy, Texas, due to "inappropriate language."
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Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Ever since its publication in 1955, many readers who come to Lolita expecting to be appalled or titillated may find themselves disappointed because it is a banned book whose reputation has frequently masked its true content. Its scant few quasi-erotic sections are a harsh satire on American morals in the middle of the 20th century. However, that did not stop its contentious subject matter from getting banned in France and the UK in the 1950s, especially when the Sunday Express launched one of the first tabloids of morality panics against it.Do tell us about your favourite banned/controversial books and what is your take on freedom to read and write?