What’s it all about?:
“If you don’t put that ring on this minute, I’m going to take it back,” Annie whispered in my ear. She leaned back, looking at me, her hands still on my shoulders, her eyes shining softly at me and snow falling, melting, on her nose. “Buon Natale,” she whispered, “amore mio.”
“Merry Christmas, my love,” I answered.
From the moment Liza Winthrop meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she knows there is something special between them. But Liza never knew falling in love could be so wonderful… or so confusing.
Welcome to a new feature on my blog! It’s Banned Books that I’m collaborating with Chrissi Reads and Luna’s Little Library on.
Every month for the rest of 2014 ChrissiReads, Luna’s Little Library and myself will be reading one Banned/Challenged Book a month. We’ll be looking at why the book was challenged, how/if things have changed since the book was originally published and our own opinions on the book.
If you’d like to join in our discussion (and please feel free!) below is a list of what we’ll be reading:
December
Lush by Natasha Friend
Chosen by: Beth
But back to this month….
Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden
First published: 1982In the 100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999 (source)
Chosen by: Luna’s Little Library
Reason: Homosexuality
Do you understand or agree with any of the reason for the book being challenged when it was originally published?
BETH: Not at all. Perhaps in the early eighties homosexuality wasn’t quite as accepted as it is nowadays (although there are still some nasty bigots out there) but I think this is a great book to show that there’s nothing seedy or wrong about two girls being in love. There are no graphic scenes or bad language, nothing really to warrant banning although I’m not sure how teachers would see it if they had to teach it to a class of sniggering students.
CHRISSI: No. There’s nothing particularly graphic in this book, it really is just a book about two people in love. It just so happens that they are the same sex. That said, I can somewhat understand why teachers would shy away from it. Not because it’s an explicit story, but because there could be so many homophobic behaviours displayed during the reading of it. It would take a strong and good teacher to challenge them. I do hope there are some out there because I think homophobia should be addressed so that we can become more tolerant.
LUNA: No. For the purpose of our Banned Books Discussion I read Annie on My Mind again, this time going over it with a fine tooth-comb to see if there was anything that could be classed and explicit or graphic. There isn’t. Two people met and fall in love. They’re both female. That is the reason this book was banned, challenged and burned! Yes you read that right, burned – 1993 in Kansas City. (source)
I don’t get it. I will never get it and for that I am really grateful because it’s a load of nonsense. There I’ve said it. You love someone because of who they are not because of their gender or race. Teaching understanding and tolerance would get us so much further.
Because it’s one of the reasons that Liza is judged and also because I think it’s still one of the reasons Annie on My Mind and LGBT books are challenged (recently The Miseducation of Cameron Post was removed from a reading list) I’m going to look a bit closer at the below scene/quote:
“…It’s – it’s so disgusting.”
[Cont. further down the same page.]
“…Read your Bible, Liza. Ms Baxter showed me it’s even mentioned there. Read Leviticus, read Romans 1:26.”
I don’t know what I said then. Maybe I didn’t say anything. I’m not sure I was able to think any more.
I do remember, though, that I went home and read Leviticus and Romans, and cried again.
Annie on My Mind, page 194
“The Bible has been translated and interpreted many, many times. We can’t be one hundred per cent certain what the original even said… / Even the various modern version of the Bible are different, so how can one possibly take it all literally?
Contexts change. The bible repeatedly refers to going after taxmen – who at the time were crooked. You don’t hear about Christians chasing HMRC* with flaming torches, do you?
… Jesus said precisely NOTHING on the subject. As we know, Jesus taught nothing but love and tolerance.
Specifically on Leviticus:
Leviticus is mean as a list of instructions…. / anyone throwing that bit of Leviticus your way should also be prepared to:
Point made.
And:
“It’s not a negative. Don’t you know that it’s love you’re talking about? You’re talking about how I feel about another human being and how she feels about me…”
Annie on My Mind, page 222
How about now?
BETH: Well why not? The physical part of Liza and Annie’s relationship is handled very delicately – I think the most graphic part is where the word “breast” is mentioned (Oh no! Call the police!!) Apologies for my sarcasm, but I see no valid reason for this book to be banned.
CHRISSI: I hope there’s more tolerance now, but sadly I believe it probably still would be challenged in schools.
LUNA: “Don’t let ignorance win,” said Ms Stevenson. “Let love.”
Annie on My Mind, page 232
What did you think of the book?
BETH: It was a sweet love story that showed that a relationship between two people of the same sex is NORMAL. I think it would be a great book for teenagers unsure of their sexuality or out and proud!
CHRISSI: I enjoyed it. I hadn’t read it before, so I’m glad I did!
LUNA: I’ve lost count of how often I’ve read Annie on My Mind now but it’s been a lot. It’s still one of my favorite books.
Liza’s teachers, Ms Widmer and Ms Stevenson, are the adult parallel of what Liza and Annie wish to be and (while infuriating) their ending only makes the story more real.I really really love this book because it is a wonderful, beautifully written story that makes you fall in love.
Would WE recommend it?
BETH: But of course!
CHRISSI: Yes!
LUNA: Love this book so much! YES. (Sunshine Star)
Beth’s personal star rating (out of 5):
This book definitely raised some good issues for discussion (I’m still trying to stop laughing over Luna’s BEWARE THE PRAWN comment!). Let us know what you think and join us again on the last Monday of December when we’ll be discussing my Banned Book choice, Lush by Natasha Friend.