Saturday, September 24, 2011

Banned Books Giveaway! (International)

As a teacher, I am absolutely appalled at the fact that anyone would try to ban books. It just boggles my mind. I've read books I found offensive, books that made me absolutely sick to my stomach, books that upset me so much I threw them across the room, books that are horrible drivel, etc. And from each and every one of those books, I've learned and I've grown. The world isn't always pretty. I'd rather learn that from a book than anything else.

Banning a book because it has magic in it is something that drives me even more insane. If you aren't able to teach your children the difference between fantasy and reality, that's your failing, not the books. I loved the Harry Potter series. I also knew while reading it that there's no such thing as Hogwarts (unfortunately) and that Hagrid was not going to come take me away to a wonderful world where I was the girl who lived (unfortunately). Furthermore, everyone knows that if you tell a child not to do something, they're going to want to do just that. Banning something doesn't help. I promise you. Go read Fahrenheit 451 if you don't believe me.

So anyway, that is why I am participating in this awesome giveaway! Yay! There are currently 300 bloggers participating. You can find the full list here.

I'll be giving away any of the banned books I've read that are available from The Book Depository. So if the Book Depository delivers to your country, you can enter. The giveaway will run from September 24th - October 1st. I'm actually going to be out of town that weekend, so the giveaway will probably be up until the 2nd and I'll announce a winner on the 3rd. If I get more than 100 entries, I'll choose two winners!

So here's how to enter :

Leave a comment telling me a banned book you've read, and whether or not you thought it should be banned. If you've never read a banned book, just let me know which book you would like to read.

You get an extra entry if you are a follower, just let me know in the comment. To follow, go all the way to the top of the page and click "follow". Another extra entry if you click the "like" button here.


Just let me know in your comment which you did.

Here are the books you can choose from (so long as they are under $19.99US at The Book Depository).



Lindsey's banned-books book montage


The Great Gatsby
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
1984
A Wrinkle in Time
The Outsiders
Catch-22
Bridge to Terabithia
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
The Perks of Being a Wallflower



Lindsey's favorite books »

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74 comments:

  1. Like you, I've read the Harry Potter series and can't see why some people would challenge/ban the books!

    GFC follower - Yen

    Thanks for holding the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have read 1984 & I loved it. I have yet to read the Harry Potter series, but I'm surprised it's on the list! Surprised that A Light In the Attic is on there too.. whaaat?! I would love to win In Cold Blood-sounds interesting!
    -Heather@BookStacksOnDeck
    ycantujustfocus@gmail.com
    gfc: bookstacksondeck

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have read a few books on the list.Harry potter is one and no it shouldn't be banned.
    Follower PamM
    Kydirtgirl68 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Banned Books - don't get me started... I've read the HP series, His Dark Materials series, Twilight series, 1984, The Giver, James & the Giant Peach, Hunger Games, The Kite Runner, Stephen King's books, The Call of the Wild, Mark Twain's... I won't bore you any longer. I really I haven't a clue why so many of them would even make the list. It's insane!
    tweezle(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. i've only reada few on the list! i love catcher in the rye!

    thank you!!

    americangirlie1991 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. i have read fahrenheit way back in school in my advanced english course. and i loved it. though it was such an "old" book it is still absolutely right for our time.

    witchvela at web dot de

    GFC: Yto

    ReplyDelete
  7. I read the lovely bones and was suprised to see that it was banned!

    unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I find it funny that LOTR was banned for being satanic when Tolkien was a devout Christian and the books are often read as a biblical allegory. It just proves my theory that most censors haven't ever read the books they're trying to ban. Though, the height of irony was when Fahrenheit 451 was banned. That was just too ridiculous.
    If I won I'd love to receive The Sun Also Rises. I've been meaning to rad that for a long time now.
    eeoshiel(at)uncg(dot)eu

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've read several banned books, but my favorite has to be Crank by Ellen Hopkins. I don't nesecarily think it should be banned, jjust an age limit of 16+ put on it.

    I would love to win Christine by Stephen King

    kaylalovesandrew09@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. wow when i went to school they were on the required list to read, thanks for having this tour.
    Julie

    jbarrett5 at cox.net

    have read a few on the list so any book would be nice

    ReplyDelete
  11. I tell you, I was HORRIFIED when I actually took a look at the banned books list. I've read SO MANY and absolutely ADORED them -- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451 (my favorite!), Harry Potter (who shares my birthday lol), Twilight, and of COURSE the entire Lord of the Rings series (love!).

    Thanks for the giveaway! New follower (as The Romanceaholic)

    Jess
    Romanceaholic at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've read the Harry Potter series and the Vampire Academy series and I was shocked to find both series in the list. It's strange because there awesome and I don't find anything that might provoke a ban.
    Thank you for making the giveaway international!
    GFC- Marti
    by_myself AT mail DOT bg

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've read To Kill a Mockingbird and some of the HP series. I really want to read Hunger GAmes next
    msboatgal at aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. like this post on fb
    cheryl s
    msboatgal at aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have read the Hunger Games series and besides the fighting to death- it really is not different than Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome. I enjoy the books and was surprised that they were on the list. Thanks for this giveaway.
    GFC- Christine A.
    your1chef at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've read all the Harry Potter books. I think it's so ridiculous that they've been banned. They're children's books! I just don't get it.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    daniellesaunders1984(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've read Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games...then classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, The Lord of the Rings,
    It's interesting that the banned books are on the top of Goodreads best book ever list :)

    I'd like to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
    Fahrenheit 451, Water for Elephants, Twenty Boy Summer..

    maybe I'll read some of these books this week to celebrate Banned Book Week :)

    think that it's parent’s choice whether the book is appropriate or not.
    If the book is banned because it is unsuited to age group, in my opinion it would be better to mark this book with age limit and not to mark it as banned.
    But the worst example of banning books - political reasons - it's something that needs to be changed


    thanks for the giveaway!

    Zoey42

    GFC: Zoey

    zoey42.42@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. gfc jennifer

    I have read the vampire academy and hunger games series and cannot believe that either would be banned. They are amazing.

    I follow by GFC.

    I liked the comment.

    jlkalman26 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've read several banned books, from Harry Potter to Go Ask Alice and each has touched my life in some substantial way. I'm still not wholly convinced that Hagrid will not someday show up and whisk me off to Hogwarts!! My thoughts on book banning is: How dare some other parent be so arrogant as to believe they have the moral right to deny my child and I the right to choose for ourselves what to read.

    Donna @ The Happy Booker
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've read To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter. HP and The Hunger Games are two of my most favorite books of all time!

    jasmineroster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've read TONS of books that have been banned! HP, Twilight, Orwell... to name a few...

    hk11kira (@) gmail (.) com

    ReplyDelete
  22. TTYL should be banned for stupidity if that was a category otherwise let people read what they want to read. Thanks lisapeters at yahoo dot com I love Gone with the wind...ban it why?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've read a lot of banned books and I don't believe ANY book should be banned. I did read A Clockwork Orange as required reading in early high school and understood why it was controversial particularly as required reading.
    bookloon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I follow on GFC as Laura p.
    bookloon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. So confused at so many books that have been banned and challenged! Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, Shel Silverstein, Wrinkle in Time???? Wow... Thanks for taking part in this!

    widsfam7 @ digis dot net
    GFC name - Lolawid

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've read a handful of banned books, but my favorite is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Of course I don't think it deserves to be banned, especially because I don't think any books deserve to be banned. It had its shocking moments, but it's nothing that a teenager hasn't heard of before.

    mcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've read the Harry Potter series and cannot see - as hard as I try - why anyone would want to ban it. Sure, it has magic in it, but does that really make it worth banning?! Plenty of fiction books do! FICTION being the key word there. Thank you very much for this giveaway. *hug*

    Karaliene24[@]gmail[.]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Also follow via GFC (K M)

    Karaliene24[@]gmail[.]com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I have read many of the banned books, of mice and men, flowers for algernon, a light in the attic, the stephen king books. Do I think they should be banned? Of course not. My son wanted to read the stephen king books, but I knew he was not ready for them. I made him wait. He did read them, and thanked me for making him wait. He just wasn't ready for them yet. I think this should be between parents and their children. Not whatever board decides whether everyone has the right to read them.
    twoofakind12 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. i've read many of these books and no, i don't think that any should be or should have been banned!
    heatheranya at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. i follow you :)
    heatheranya at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the giveaway !!!
    I've read some of banned books and I think they sholdn't be banned. I'm a GFC follower. I clicked the like button.

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ive read many banned books but my all time favorite is the harry potter series. also love twilight, twenty boy summer, to kill a mocking bird.. the list goes on :P

    ReplyDelete
  34. oh also GFC: Juhina
    Facebook: Juhina Elmajdoub

    ReplyDelete
  35. To Kill a Mockingbird, and no way do i think it should have been banned. Everyone should read that book, it's one of my favorites.

    I follow on gfc.

    Thanks for the great giveaway! :)

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. the lovely bones
    gfc
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I've read tons of banned books. I can understand some (like Speak) have been restricted for certain age groups given the subject matter, but some like Harry Potter I don't understand.

    GFC: Leigh Ann
    insanityisnormal(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thanks for giveaway. I have read many of the banned books. I really do not think books should be banned, but parents and libaries should watch what the children reads or checks out. My favorite is To Kill A Mockingbird.

    GFC follower-judy

    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I've read Catcher in the Rye and really liked it. I think it's silly that it's banned.

    GFC- quixoticdreamer
    quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I loveeee the Harry Potter books and it makes me sad that they're banned :( I personally know someone who has very religious parents who wouldn't let them read Harry Potter because it contained "witchcraft" >:P

    I'm a new GFC follower!

    aprilxu2222@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I've read quite a few on the list and I don't think any of those should be banned. The Giver was one of them.
    +1 for goggle follow
    +1 for like button
    Total 3 entries! :D
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I haven't read that many banned books. Crank is one of the few I've read. It's one of my favorite books of all time, but I get why it was banned.

    +1; GFC Follower, Sierra Cullen.♥
    =2entries! :D

    x
    Sierra(:
    ittssierraily(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I've read The Hunger Games and think it's silly that it's been challenged.
    amandarwest atgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  44. When I was in school, most of the books on the ALA list were required reading! The provocative tomes inspired discussion heated debate, mind-opening, idea expanding, creative expression, tolerance, compassion, and yes, education. Ignorance breeds fear, intolerance, prejudice. Support of First Amendment Freedom!
    Two longtime favorites are The Diary of Anne Frank and The Great Gatsby! Who could ever forget Farenheit 451?
    Chanticlear1(at)gmail(dot)com
    Thanks for your generous contribution to the Banned Books Week Giveaway Blog Hop!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have read a lot of the classics. When I went to high school they were required reading. I have no idea why they were banned. Makes no sense to me.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have read a lot of the books that have been banned, from Stephen King's books, Harry Potter, Jodi Picoult and on and on. I think some books are not appropriate for certain ages and the parents can/should monitor that. But for books to be banned - no way! Someone, somewhere can find something offensive in just about everything that has been publlished.

    +1 GFC follower - Susan
    +1 I clicked the Like button

    Thanks for particpating in the BBW hop!
    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks for this amazing giveaway - I would love to win! I read and loved the Hunger Games trilogy. It was very thought-provoking and relevant and I don't think it should be banned.

    +1 clicked Like button

    susanw28 (at) mindspring (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  48. i've read twilight and harry potter series which i absolutely love!

    gfc follwoer: kristina shields

    spicedice45 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I have read many banned books (mainly older ones but as recent as the Twilight saga) and I don't think ANY book should be banned. Except for parents not allowing THEIR child to read certain books, no one should be able to tell another person what they can or can not read.
    GFC: June M.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I read Of Mice And Men, but I'm sure I've read other books back in high school I just can't recall high school was a very long time ago :) I did read the Twilight Saga, and loved it. I don't think books should be banned whatever happened to the freedom of choice?

    +1 GFC follower = Juana Esparza

    +1 I clicked the Like button

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I read all the books in the harry potter series. It should NOT be banned! It is a great series.
    GFC pinkflower
    emilymeimei204 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Any book I have read that I have later seen on a banned/challenged book list never deserves to be banned. this is especially true of the giver and the his dark materials trilogy.

    I follow via GFC-nayjf
    nayjf(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I've read the Harry Potter series,the witches,Da Vinci Code,The Hobbit..I'm really surprised when they challenged/banned books makes it even more exciting to read lol :))

    I'd like to read A light in the Attic

    GFC: kimyunalesca
    kimyunalesca(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I read The Color Purple, and definitely don't agree with it being banned!

    +1 I follow

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  55. i have read the harry potter series and the hunger games series. And a few other books for school, like the great gatsby. i dont think any of them should be banned! :)
    i follow on GFC ÇrÃ¥z¥ K¥
    I liked on FB Alisia Machado
    nightsky1102(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I've read a The Hunger Games series along with a few others (Speak, Flowers for Algernon) and definitely don't think they should be banned. No books should be!

    +1 GFC follower Tiffany Drew
    +1 FB fan Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  57. Thanks for the giveaway! I read the Hunger Games series and I loved it. It is my favorite series ever and I don't think it should be banned.

    +1 GFC - xxsquigglesxx
    +1 FB - Stacey B.

    xxsquigglesxx(At)Gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I clicked on the follow and the like. I am not sure which book I would want to read most. There are so many to pick from...

    my GFC is jaevenstar
    and I followed on Facebook (donna hale)
    jaevenstar(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love to read and I love to read whatever I want. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and GONE WITH THE WIND are my favorite banned books. I don't think either of them should be banned.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for publicizing banned books week.

    mochfly(@)swbell(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  60. I follow on gfc as Becca. I liked the post as Becca Okaneko. I have read The Catcher in the Rye and I don't think it should be banned. Thanks! sbcashortie at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Some of the banned books I've read include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Diary of Anne Frank, Harry Potter, and the Twilight series. I don't think any books should be banned. No one should be able to take away my right to choose what books I may or may not want to read.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Following you on GFC (Darlene), and I clicked "like" on this post (Darlene's Book Nook).

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I've read most of the banned books you show and personally I don't think any books should be banned.

    GFC follower Melanie McCullough
    Melanie.M.McCullough at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  63. I have read many of the banned books and see nothing wrong with them at all... It totaly shocked me that A light In The Attic was on this list.
    Followed blog and liked... april@pinebelt.net

    ReplyDelete
  64. Gone With the Wind, HP, and To Kill A Mockingbird top my list!

    GFC: Karis (YA Litwit)
    yalitwit(at)gmail(dot)com

    Thanks for joining the cause! If you haven't already, check out my giveaway!

    http://yalitwit.blogspot.com/2011/09/banned-books-week-giveaway-hop.html

    ReplyDelete
  65. My favorite "banned" book I've ever read was For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway! No book should ever be banned.

    I also follow you on GFC!

    alicia.ebaugh at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  66. I've read the Harry Potter series and To Kill a Mockingbird. I love Harry Potter and also enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird. I don't think that either should be banned. I don't think any book should be banned. I think each individual should choose what they would like to read. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.

    supaflychikenpi2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  67. I follow as A. Tolar.

    supaflychikenpi2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  68. My favorite one on the list is Wrinkle In Time.

    GFC Lisa Manning
    lhoffpauir at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  69. I read alot of banned books so many on your list harry potter, twilight, hunger games so many I really want to read Twenty boy summer or forbidden! I don't like that books are banned at all! thanks for the giveaway!
    +1 GFC follower/latishajean
    +1 facebook follower/latisha D
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  70. Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC follower SarahSparrow.
    FB - Amber Young.

    I just finished the Harry Potter series and it should definitely not be banned!

    captainsarahsparrow at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  71. gfc follower (Ruth)
    I loved Bridge to Terebithia, and I never dreamed it was banned!
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  72. follow on GFC
    I read the twilight saga and I dont see why it would be banned

    laurie1993@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  73. My 4th grade teacher read BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA to the class and it's one of my faves...and now it's banned. Give me a break.

    Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

    +1 GFC = artsyrockerchick
    +1 FB = amy sondova

    ReplyDelete
  74. Thanks for the giveaway!My fav banned book is Speak and it should NOT be banned it gives out such a positive message.
    gfc- Katie

    katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment! I will try my darnedest to reply to any and all comments. Please make sure they are family friendly. I welcome discussion, but please no rudeness.