Banned Books Week Arrives
Every September bookstores and libraries across the country remember that some freedoms continue to be challenged. Books are regularly targeted to be banned in communities on the grounds of indecency, blasphemy, or age-appropriateness.
Banned Books Week was created in 1982 to raise awareness. Activities in Tacoma have expanded beyond a single week, thanks to the independent bookstore Kings Books. Events run from today, September 28, through October 16.
Things start tonight with a Free Speech discussion at Kings Books with Chris Finan, President of American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. Tomorrow go to Kings Books for Storytime with Banned Books in the afternoon and Banned Film Night in the evening.
We’re also looking forward to the Banned Book Slut Social at the Tempest next week as well as the Art Auction.
And October 10, the Intellectual Freedom Panel at UWT will feature three panelists, including local author Brent Hartinger. Here’s an interview he did two years ago after his novel The Geography Club was banned in University Place.
Read a book. It’s good for you.
Link to Kings Books
4 comments
S Sassy McButterpants January 30, 2008
Rick Steve’s is totally the man. In addition to deftly guiding my hard living 18 year old self through Europe, he is starring in a production of “A Foreign Affaire” with the FABULOUS Seattle Mens Chorus:
http://www.flyinghouse.org/smc/afa/
Why is there no Tacoma Mens Chorus? Is there one?
A Andrew January 30, 2008
I love Rick Steves…straight up. See you there.
E ensie January 30, 2008
The fact that Rick Steves is an advocate for the legalization for marijuana is way old news, and not surprising at all; considering that the man lives the majority of his life in Europe. He’s talked about this a lot.
The fact that he’ll be here is awesome.
J jamie from thriceallamerican January 31, 2008
I think he actually gave the keynote at HempFest last year.
That a charmingly geeky little Scandinavian-Washingtonian can be so awesome as Rick Steves gives me hope that someday I could be one-fifth as awesome.