Today on The Tattooed Book Geek I have something a little bit different for you all. I was recently contacted by Isabel Cabrera of Global English Editing about sharing their Map of Forbidden Books in 2019 on my blog to coincide with Banned Books Week (22nd – 28th September 2019) and I agreed.
Introduction by Isabel Cabrera.
Known as the Streisand effect, the most effective way to make something incredibly popular is to ban it.
Governments around the world should probably heed this fact when it comes to banning books they don’t like.
In 2019, scores of books are still banned by governments around the world. From all works by Liu Xiaobo in China, including his critically acclaimed No Enemies, No Hatred, to The Satanic Versus by Salman Rushdie in dozens of countries, classic books are off-limits in many places.
Luckily, this usually only increases their notoriety and makes them more appealing. After all, who doesn’t like reading a book deemed by someone else too subversive to read?
Banned Books Week is an initiative by the American Library Association and Amnesty International. Held in the last week of September each year, the event shines a spotlight on books previously or currently restricted in libraries and schools in the United States.
To help show support for the freedom to read, and kick start Banned Books Week beginning this Monday, Global English Editing have created this epic map of books banned around the world in 2019.
You can also venture to the Global English Editing blog to read a summary of each book, and the reasons why they’ve been banned.
A Map of Forbidden Books in 2019.
The Tattooed Book Geek 
I feel like I have to defend New Zealand, a right-wing Christian political party lobbied so hard the book was temporarily (22 days) banned while the board investigated Into the River, it was then found fine and resumed sale.
Interestingly enough it also caused law reform so that now if the same were to happen it would just be banned for sale to a minor until the board investigated it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard of the Irish one but I am now desperate to read it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh this is so cool! Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Love this post! I am surprised though that I haven’t heard of most of these. The authors certainly but not the specific books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I freely admit I’ve sought out banned books to read simply to spite those who would censor our shelves. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! I liked that map of forbidden books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a damn good point. I went out and bought the Man Hunt video game when they tried to ban it. As it turned out, I thought it was pretty dull. But I had to play it anyway because of the whole trying to get it banned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fan-freaking-tastic map! You’re absolutely right that banning something is a great way to popularize it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, love that map of forbidden books. Amazing how much has changed since and hopefully we won’t ever going back to an era of censorship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true but, sadly, who can say with the governments and those in charge.🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seeing Animal Farm on a list of forbidden books is so frightening since it, among Orwell’s other books, are such cautionary tales. Have read or want to read most of the books on that map tbh.
LikeLiked by 1 person