The book Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, was released in 1951. Within just two weeks of its release, the book became a New York Times best seller. Nine years later, in 1960 an English teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma a teacher was fired for assigning the book to high school students. The teacher later won the argument, but the book was not a novel students were required to read. A group of people in Columbus, Ohio said that the book was anti-white. The book was later banned for excess vulgar language, sexual scenes, excessive violence, and themes resembling an occult. The book was banned from libraries from 1966 to 1975. In 1975, the book was “dubbed” a classic novel, and was taken off the list. Even recently, the book has had some controversy. A mother in Florida is trying to get the book back on the banned book list. Her reasoning is that it contains improper language, and t uses the Lord’s name in vein. Another group of people who have strong ideas about this book is the teenagers.Teenagers reaction on catcher in the rye are some but there are some people who do have major opinions on this book. Like Becky Johnston-Carter she had such a huge opinion that she took her copy of Catcher in The Rye and she stabbed it with a knife and then she barbecued it so she could see the book burn. Another teenager named Zoe Miller loves the story so much that her copy of the book is tauten and torn around the edges. So teenagers do have opinions on this book and they range on all sides. Also with so many people having strong ideas on this book some people thought instead of actting out they would send J.D Salinger letters. There were several letters to J.D. Salinger about why his book was banned. He never answered those specific questions. Some of the letters were winners of several different websites that give out awards to the writers of the letters. Some of which were Letters About Literature and Humanities Tennessee.
Click on link below to view MANY, MANY, MANY letters to J.D. Salinger. They are funny, mean, and some are true, LOTS are opinions!!!!!
work cited
http://204.232.203.158/letters/index.php?page=letters&tpl=letters
http://www.lettersaboutliterature.com
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35310305/ns/today-books/
http://askville.amazon.com/catcher-rye-banned/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=1218557
http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2010/09/26/martin-county-mom-trying-to-get-catcher-in-the-rye-banned-from-classes/
It surprises me that it took 9 years for people to catch on and decide that this book was "inappropriate" for teenagers. These days if something that comes out seems wrong, you can usually see people taking a stand against it right away.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you guys find the letters written to Salinger? I couldnt find them anywhere!
Here's the link to the letters Amy:
ReplyDeletehttp://204.232.203.158/letters/index.php?page=letters&tpl=letters
i understand why the book would be banned because of the language and the sexual scenes and such. parents probably felt that it was inappropiate for the teens, even if they were the group that was interested in the book. it all comes down to how the teens feel about the book and if it relates to their life.
ReplyDeletethat last comment was from AJ not alina again.
ReplyDeleteI believe if you are banning this book because of the language there are many other books out there students read with bad language. I think this book shows life though someones eyes. The sexual content could put some parents over the edge but it is still something students should read.
ReplyDeleteif you tried to ban this book, using god's name in vein can't be your only reason. doesn't everyone use god's name in vein? come on, how many people do you know who say "oh my god" ... ? god is used as if it meant nothing to people .. Holden's probably the same way.
ReplyDeleteI think banning books is not fair to writers. Most teenagers do use this language they claim as bad and some teens who have no direction in life do turn to prostitution as a way to survive or live on the edge "sexually" but most teens who attend school and live healthy lives do not turn to prostitution.
ReplyDeleteI think it's super naive for people to want to ban this book because of the language. It's how teens talked back then and it's how they talk now. I feel banning a book simply for it's language is stupid.
ReplyDelete-Ace
Wow i see that you guys have done a lot of reaserch and it all looked amazing. I found it very interesting how many places that this book has been banded in and why it was banned.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to tell me your real name so you can get credit. Who is Badaxx?
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