Read a Classic (Banned Book) Today
Reading regularly has been associated with many benefits such as improved mental health, increased ability to relax, expanded vocabulary, better memory retention, a deeper understanding of various cultures, and an enlarged worldview. With that in mind, Verde at Howard Square Blog wants to encourage our residents to take the time to start reading a book today.
To help you get started, and just for fun, we put together a book list pulled from classic books that have been banned at one time or another. Author Judy Blume said this about reading and books, “Having the freedom to read and the freedom to choose is one of the best gifts my parents ever gave me.”
Once Banned Classic Books to Read
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The compelling story of two outsiders striving to find their place in an unforgiving world. Drifters in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other and a dream — a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually, they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are doomed as Lennie, struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding, and feelings of jealousy, becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes such as the friendship of a shared vision, and giving voice to America’s lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men has proved one of Steinbeck’s most popular works, achieving success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book stands as the supreme achievement of his career. This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum
Dorothy thinks she's lost forever when a tornado whirls her and her dog, Toto, into a magical world. To get home, she must find the wonderful wizard in the Emerald City of Oz. On the way, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. But the Wicked Witch of the West has her own plans for the new arrival — will Dorothy ever see Kansas again?
How many of these once-banned classics have you read? Head on over to our local Baltimore, Maryland library or bookstore, pick up a book, and enjoy reading in your apartment today!