One of my favorite books is Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Coincidentally, this book also makes the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books list for 2000-2007. I love this book so much that I wanted to name my daughter Scout, after the young girl in the story (and I would have if a certain celeb-utard couple hadn't beat me to the punch!). I simply cannot imagine not having had access to this book when I was a teenager...the lessons it taught became a part of who I am today.
And so in honor of Banned Books Week, this week I am giving away not only a beautiful hardcover copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also an autographed copy of Mockingbird, A Portrait of Harper Lee, the wonderfully written biography by Charles J. Shields.
All you have to do to enter is to take a look at the list of banned and challenged books (see link above) and tell me which one had the greatest impact on your life and why. It's that simple!
Edited to Add: Yes, this contest is open to international entrants! (Thanks, Leah, for the reminder!)
I can't say any of those books had a great impact on my life, but I loved color purple. It introduced me to a new author, a new style of writing and a very different breed of women
ReplyDeleteHey why was Lovely Bones banned? I have read it and see no reason why?
ReplyDeleteI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings had the most impact on me...not only because of subject matter...but because it was the first book I ever read by an African American author...it was the first book that I read about people like me. What a beautiful thing that was!It wasn't until years later, when Terry McMillan came on the scene, that I would be overrun with books by folks like me and would not have to look outside my race for a good book. However, because I'm an eclectic reader, I still read books by everybody but I'm happy to know that my kids have more chooses in books today than I did as a child...because the world is not all white. Or all black. It's a rainbow of colors and all of our stories should be told.
ReplyDeleteHmm - I've read a few of those books, and am surprised at some of the titles on that list!
ReplyDeleteOne of the books that had an impact on my life was Go Ask Alice - please keep in mind that I read this book over 16 years ago! I read the book at a time when drugs were becoming the "cool" thing to try in school. I had received plenty of "just-say-no" speaches from my parents about drugs, sex, cigarettes and alchohol, but the thing that had the biggest impact on keeping me away from drugs was Go Ask Alice. The scene with the main character hiding in the closet while she thinks bugs are crawling all over her will forever stay with me. I think it was especially impactful for me because I was a similar age to the main character in the book, and the book came across as very real to me at the time.
So . . . a huge thank you to the author who wished to be anonymous!
Please include me in your drawing - I am still good friends with my favorite high school lit teacher (she comes to my son's birthday, to book club get-togethers, etc), and if I recall, she loved To Kill a Mockingbird!
Wendi :)
wbarker (at) hotmail.com
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com
Of all the books listed, To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite. I read it in my very early teens and would love to have my own copy now. I learned how unfair life can be and how cruel some people are. It was a book I've never forgotten. I've read several other books on the list and don't understand why they are even there. I don't believe in banning any book.
ReplyDeletemittens0831 AT aol DOT com
I loved Like Water for Chocolate but wonder why it was banned. It is beautifully written and set up like a cookery book together with ingredients and method as each stage of the story is linked to cooking a particular dish. The main character is in love with a man but forbidden to marry, and every time she cooks, her emotions go into the dish so that those who eat it are overwhelmed with her feelings. I often wondered what it would be like if you could do that. Its one of my favourite books.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win a book but am from the UK so I understand if the postage is too much.
Leah, thank you so much for reminding me--- yes, this is open to international entrants as always! I'll edit the post so that everyone knows that!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say Are You There God, It's Me Margaret had the biggest impact on me. It's how I learned out growing up and "becoming a woman."
ReplyDeletemcelhra1@yahoo.com
Black Boy by Richard Wright because it opened up the whole spectrum of Harlem Renaissance writers for me. I'd like to be entered for this draw please. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I was a young adult when I read it and it showed me a whole new world I'd never been exposed to.
ReplyDeleteI think "The Outsiders" had the greatest impact one me. I loved the book and all of S.E. Hinton's other books. I go back and read it almost annually. My children are now discovering S.E. Hinton's books are we are enjoying them together.
ReplyDeleteViolet - 'Lovely Bones' has been challenged in several school districts for the description of abduction, rape and murder that occurs in the book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea for a giveaway! Forever by Judy Blume had a HUGE impact on me as a teen. My mom wasn't very vocal with me about "teen" issues and Judy Blume's books made me feel I wasn't alone in the feelings I was having. Her characters were flawed and real and wonderful for teen girls to identify with. Thanks for reminding me of her books:)
ReplyDeletebookroomreviews@hotmail.com
While I'm rather amazed at how many books I've read off that list, I have to say that A Brave New World probably had the most impact on me and still serves as a cornerstone to my on-going interest in utopian societies. I still mention and discuss it years after I've last read it. Perhaps I should add that to my TBR list...
ReplyDeletevvpriceATgmailDOTcom
http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/
I'm not sure how much of an impact it had on my life, but I do remember Catcher in the Rye was one of the first books I read that showed kids with problems. As a kid with anger issues, I think it was good to know I wasn't alone.
ReplyDeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird was my favorite growing up- back then it was a must read for class not a want to read...and yes life is unfair, very unfair and very cruel. Catcher in the Rye was also a required read which now I look back and think you forced us to read , now they are banned, oh my!
ReplyDeleteJudy Blume was a must read for girls.
I guess I have not looked at the banned book list because I have read at least 90 percent of them and see nothing wrong at all with those I have read.
I read the book Beloved by Toni Morrison in college. The book covered the topic of slavery like none other I had read before. I remember feeling sick with sorrow reading parts of it.
ReplyDeleteBlubber is on that list!?!? WTH? I read that book over and over as a youngin'...I think it probably, hopefully, made me a nicer girl. Looks like a bunch of Judy Blume books are on the list...how sad. And angering.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great giveaway. Thank you!
ignoramoose (at) gmail (dot) com
First I have to say that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is one of my all time favorites too. I've gone through two paperback copies of it and I was thrilled when my oldest daughter read it in high school. I even took my kids to a local theater to see a dramatic reading of it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as far as the book that changed my life, I'd have to go with the Judy Blume books that are on the list because, like some of the others have said, I remember learning about "growing up" from those books.
Another favorite is Slaughterhouse Five, but Vonnegut hasn't impacted my life as much as Judy Blume did. ;)
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
April
thatcrazymom@gmail.com
I am an avid reader and I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird when it first came out. People would cover what they were reading. It was so funny to see that. And exciting to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe color purple has to be one of my favorites. I don't know why but it has always left a mark on me.
ReplyDeletelivlifelov at yahoo dot com
I'd have to say all of the Judy Blume books.
ReplyDeleteGreat contest! Please throw my name in.
The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green was one of my favorites growing up. I still have my copy that I read over and over as a kid. I don't know why the story resonated so much with me. Maybe it was seeing an enemy soldier as human, or empathizing with the main character not being understood by her parents, I don't know for sure. It's funny because I loved the book so much, but I never stopped to analyze my feelings about it.
ReplyDeleteOf Mice and Men by John Steinback, just one of many books that made me think. This was a ninth grade must read book, I can remember hating that English teacher but she really introduced me to some good literature. I love To Kill a Mockingbird, what a great giveaway, thank you for your kindness!! karensmilom@msn.com
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that To Kill a Mockingbird has had an impact on me personally, such a wonderful book. But I must also mention that, as a school librarian, I had to defend Are You There, God, It's Me Margaret. That entire experience, although it was years ago, remains with me to this day.
ReplyDeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird and of Mice and Men were such fabulous books to read when I was younger. I think a lot of books on this list my grandchildren read! Heck, I must be really really old.
ReplyDeleteflorida982002@yahoo dot com
I actually haven't read most of the books on the list (shame on me!), but of the ones I know, To Kill a Mockingbird has one of the most bittersweet stories ever. A great encouragement to stand for what is right in the face of persecution.
ReplyDeletefrog123 (at) cyipcom (dot) net
I know it's not unique, but my all time-favorite book is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I have read it many times, and that's unusual for me to re-read a book. I love everything about it from the story, to the descriptions, to the prose, to the characters, etc. This book is what I hold all others up to! I would love, love, love to win this contest!
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, To Kill a Mockingbird was the most influential for me. I was struck by the courage it takes to stand up to injustice, especially when most oppose you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway!
bluebyrd24 at gmail dot com
It's a tie between To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye for me. Both of them really contributed to increasing my love of reading and taking it to another level. I used to think symbolism and things like that were completely stupid, but these books taught me it is totally necessary!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm one of the few to have never read To Kill a Mockingbird! I was also surprised at some of the titles shown, including The Lovely Bones. It's a really good book, showing how much a family can change due to one tragic event. I can see why it would be challenged, but come on now, if you knew what the book contained, why is it being read in schools?
ReplyDeleteEither way, it really made me think about the afterlife. I'm sure everyone has a reason to "stay behind" or feels like they have unfinished business.
Harry Potter came as no surprise, being listed at #1. I still laugh whenever I think about the accusations people make about it.
I've been wanting to read To kill a mockingbird again for many years. I remember enjoying it in school when we had to read it. I find it funny that the Junie B books are on that list, lol. I can figure the reason, but it seems a bit drastic to be banned. Then again most of these books are. I'm not sure what had the biggest impact for me, the Harry Potter series did even though I was an adult reading them. I think if I was a kid reading them, they would make me feel encouraged that I could accomplish anything & I took a bit of that with me even as an adult.
ReplyDeleteThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is another one, love Mark Twain. I agree with many of his philosophies so reading his books helped me growing up.
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