I like to read… who am I kidding? I LOVE to read. If I have any addiction, it would be to books. I can’t seem to stop myself from buying books. At least now, I can manage to buy paperbacks instead of only hardcovers. This summer alone I’ve probably purchased 15-20 new books with no hopes of finishing them any time soon, and still I want more.
While I typically prefer Fantasy/Science Fiction, I’ll read just about any genre. In my library you’ll find Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, Ken Follett and Joseph Keller, Eudora Welty and William Faulkner, Christopher Moore and Neil Gaiman, China Mieville and Stephen King, Brian Jacques and J.K. Rowling, Gregory Maguire and Michael Chabon, Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø, and Tana French and Dean Koontz. That’s just scratching the surface.
There are very few books I would refuse to read, and there is rarely a time I would favor censorship or out-right banning. The way I look at it, if you don’t like the subject matter, the language or plot, just don’t read it.
Sept. 24 through Oct. 1 is Banned Books Week. Reading through the list of books challenged or banned this year in schools and libraries, I was amazed and incredulous at the reasoning behind some the challenges.
I was not surprised to find that I’ve read many of these verboten novels. In honor of Banned Books Week, I’ve already started reading yet another challenged book: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
I’ll let you know if I feel corrupted afterward.
Thin spiral notebook 
So interesting in the thought processes of why some of those books are banned – I just might have to read one of those this week – and by the way, I too have a book buying problem (spent $7 at half price books just today)
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Wow, some people have too much time on their hands- i mean really? it’s a BOOK. i have heard Water For Elephants is wonderful, I really should check it out- I am waiting for the HELP! 🙂
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after your 100 words, I amy go find a Henry Miller book on amazon
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I am the same in that I always buy more books than I read. I probably spend most of my money on books.
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I love books too. Fortunately for me, my addiction is to the library. I have a pretty large book collection but it doesn’t even come close to comparing to what I actually read, since I borrow most of them from the library. If I hear about a book I want to read, I go to the library website and place it on hold, then they email me when it’s in. I absolutely LOVE it. I have a bookmark that matches your “Read a banned book” image. Guess where I got it? The library, of course. LOL
I liked Water for Elephants a lot. I’m not feeling terribly corrupted, although perhaps I’d like that….hmmm….. 😉
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Looking over the list, at least 3/4s of which I’ve read, I realize that most of them gore some vested interest’s sacred ox. Political/control issues, discrimination against races, religions, women, gays… Greed, hatred, jealousy… That book list reads like the “dishonor roll” of human biases. And the fact that the various powers-that-be can impose their biases on society and education is disgraceful.
Just saying.
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