Bookmark This | Banned books edition | Sept. 27 - Oct. 3

Happy Sunday everyone. Today I'd like to introduce another mini-series to my blog, called Bookmark This.* Each week I'll put together a small roundup of articles and videos I've "bookmarked" and want to share. For now, the links are mostly book-related, but I may foray into other categories as well. 

To acknowledge Banned Books Week in the U.S., I've rounded up some humourous and thought-provoking articles about banned books.

19 Banned Books That Changed Your Life | Buzzfeed

Nineteen readers share what banned books taught them about society, race, class empathy—and magic. 

A reader says Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison "completely changed how [they] view racial tensions in America. It made [them] realize [they] had blinders of [their] own that kept [them] from seeing privilege, colour blindness, and so many other issues exist." 

Read more here.

Harry Potter fans are trying to free Dobby | Hypable 

People have been trying to free Dobby at the WB Studio Tour 😢 pic.twitter.com/qTduzDmZvu

— Hogwarts Logic (@HogwartsLogic) September 27, 2015

Once upon a time, Harry Potter was a widely-banned and feared novel in the U.S. Some parents disagreed with J.K. Rowling's use of magic. Much to their dismay, the book's influence is ever-present 18 years after the first book's release. Fans of Dobby the Elf recently tried to "free" him from a Warner Bros. studio tour by giving him their socks. (It is magic-folk custom to give a house-elf an article of clothing if you wish to free them) 

Read more here.  

Banned Books Week is a Crock | Slate 

Not every agrees with the necessity of Banned Books Week. Slate writer Ruth Graham argues there isn't much to celebrate in 2015 since hardly anyone contests books today in the U.S. 

Read more here.  

Banned Books Week Isn't a "Crock" | BookRiot

In response to Graham's editorial, BookRiot author Michelle Anne Schingler writes that whenever a book is challenged, no one wins. 

Read more here.

Downloadable bookmarks | Quirk Books

Quirk Books made a set of banned books-related book marks, encouraging readers to stick them in their favourite banned books—perhaps from your personal collection, or the library. 

Download the bookmarks here.

What's your favourite banned book?

Until next time,

Nadya 

* Please note the roundup links provided in Bookmark This do not necessarily reflect my views. I will try to roundup varying perspectives and views each week.