Banned Books Week

Hello everybody! Today concludes the week to celebrate our intellectual freedoms and read banned books. I for one am working my way through The Golden Compass, which has been banned and challenged frequently for its religious content.
How have you been celebrating? What are your favorite controversial works? Here are a few of my most beloved:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky since its publication has been banned and challenged regularly for obvious (once you've read the novel) but not acceptable reasons (drugs, alcohol, sex, depression, smoking, abortion, relationship abuse). These are all subjects teens will encounter growing up; by censoring literature that depicts this nothing is being gained.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, often banned for witchcraft by some extremely unimaginative individuals.  These are the most frequently challenged/banned books of all time!

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee for racism, strong language

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is often censored for themes of death and Satanism

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card for one instance of strong language and supposed sexual themes that either do not exist or are very cleverly hidden

Looking For Alaska by John Green banned for (again) some obvious but not excusable reasons.  Things shouldn't be censored just because they contain material already available to teens through culture (also, congratulations to John for making the Top Ten list of banned books for the year!)

In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak again for these supposed sexual themes and for illustrated nudity. Yes, this the classic children's book we all know and love.  Who knows, maybe it is as terribly explicit as it has been accused of being.

I also found out that Of Mice and Men is frequently banned as well but I am not too concerned as I despised every word of it. Sorry John Steinbeck. 

One common thread that these censored books all share is their honesty.  I think that the people who complain so adamantly about these works are trying to shelter their readers from whatever truths are expressed in the books.  What they don't realize is that by being exposed to these books they are safely able to explore these topics, and maybe be able to apply what they find to their own worlds. 

I think J.K. Rowling does a nice job of summarizing the reverse effects of censorship in Order of the Phoenix when a magazine containing a certain article becomes banned from Hogwarts.  Hermione is thrilled, telling Harry "If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read your interview, it was banning it!" 

Confusion? Sadness? Emptiness? Immediate Aftershock of Reading The Little Prince

I just finished The Little Prince by Antoine De Satin-Exupéry about five minutes ago and I have very mixed emotions.  I don't know how it's possible to feel so hollow but so full. Which seems to make no sense but is exactly how I feel.

The book was an adorable and wonderful children's story on the surface, with interesting and darker themes that relate to our society and human nature in general lying beneath.  

As much as I loved it, finishing it has left me with this sort of empty feeling.  I feel like I just lost my own little prince and now need to go find solace in the stars.  I'm experiencing sadness, a sort of dull shock, and just sort of upset- in general, rather distressed.  I think this is a very purposeful emotion from the author, but it stings. 

Anyways, I shall conclude this very brief post (I'll elaborate more later when I have time and I'm no longer in BIS (book-induced shock)) by urging you to read the book.  I'm sure I managed to make it sound super depressing but it's really not the nature of it, I simply got very attached to the characters and the world in the short time it took me to read the book.

Ok. Time to decompress and process that.  That teensy novella was able to really pack a punch.

 “It is such a mysterious place, the land of tears.” 
Yes.  Yes it is.  Time to go there. Sob.

Flower Crowns

One of the things most convenient about summer is the freedom that comes from general lack of time restraint.  This allowed me to spend hours just doing whatever I fancied (mostly reading). On one summer day I spent time creating flower and ivy crowns and wearing them around.

A brief history of me and flower crowns: I love them.  I wore a daisy crown for both my elementary and middle school graduations, and I had a phase where I would just wear them in my hair whenever I pleased.  Something about their brevity as wholesome beings before they wilt makes their presence so beautiful.  They are so temporary, but they make a statement while they are still fresh.
Having beautiful floral crowns are quite simple: You need flowers and ivy (wire is optional)

And beautiful friends to model for you

I will try to get some reviews of the books I've been reading posted soon.  Hope your Autumn is off to a lovely start!