Category: Authors
Catholic Fiction: Flannery O’Connor and Self-Censorship
“Southern Gothic” short-story and fiction writer Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) is celebrated to this day for her wry portrayals of strange, often disturbing signs of life below the Mason-Dixon Line. But as a devout Catholic, she also practiced self-censorship in the form of avoiding or otherwise officially requesting permission to read works included on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books. How did she reconcile the two?
‘Books saved my life and my sanity’: An Interview with Banned Author Carmen-Francesca Banciu
Carmen-Francesca Banciu is an author, journalist and lecturer who grew up in Romania as the daughter of a high-ranking member of the Communist party. She studied in Bucharest, going on to win the International Short Story Prize in Arnsberg, Germany in 1985, leading to a ban on her works in Romania.
Happy Birthday, Art Spiegelman
Through his art, Spiegelman has taken on such topics as Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the Crown Heights riot of 1991 and we celebrate him as a banned author.
Happy Birthday, Stephenie Meyer!
By: Allyson Mower A hearty and happy birthday from librarians across the country to one of the most successful authors in America! Stephenie Meyer was born on December 24, 1973 […]
An Interview with Author Sophie Labelle
By: Alex Falck For my final installment (for now) in my Trans Author Interview series, I spoke with cartoonist and activist Sophie Labelle. Here in the States, she’s best known […]
Happy Birthday, Gustave Flaubert!
This month we celebrate the birthday of banned French novelist Gustave Flaubert (December 12). Find out what (most likely) earned his most famous novel a place on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books.
An Interview with Author Lady Dane Figeuroa Edidi
Edidi is a black trans woman, writer, poet, musician, priestess and performance artist. Her novel, “Yemaya’s Daughters,” is a work of otherworldly fiction.
The Marvel-ous Stan Lee and Diversity in Comic Books
These characters were real and flawed. They grappled with moral issues. And yet, they fought hard for justice and saved the day. Their victories showed readers that they, too, could be a hero, standing up to evil and protecting the innocent, and that they didn’t have to be perfect to do so.
Banned Book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is America’s ‘Best-Loved’ Novel
Part of the reason that the novel is so well loved, I think, is because it challenged so many of us to think about difficult issues. Whether we continue to teach Mockingbird or choose to move on to another, more modern book, one important lesson from Mockingbird will live on – we will continue to read, and love, our banned books.
Happy Birthday, Mark Haddon!
Mark Haddon was born on October 28, 1962. He is the author of many books for children and adults, including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.