This book was adapted into a film of the same new, and I had never actually seen nor read it until I volunteered to be on a committee to review the book after it was challenged within my local school district.
It’s been a year since I read it. The book stuck with me in more ways than one, probably the biggest being the way it so succinctly captured the way trauma manifests as a child. The 20th anniversary edition contains an extra letter that wraps things up to a much more… “happy” ending.
Have you read this or seen the film at all? What are your own thoughts?
Per Wikipedia:
Reasons for censorship include content considered to be anti-family, sexually explicit, and content involving homosexuality, offensive language, drugs and alcohol, nudity, descriptions of masturbation, and suicide.
I didn’t write it to be challenged. I didn’t write it to be a controversial book. I can’t really take it as a point of pride because it was banned someplace. The first time it happened, it was… well, exciting isn’t the right word, but I thought, ‘Wow, it’s getting all this attention.’ And I did think it was kind of exciting, that it was being talked about that way. But after a time, you start to realize that the argument is always the same. I no longer find the argument exciting, and it’s certainly not a matter of pride. It’s more of mourning the fact that people can’t agree to disagree, and people can’t find common ground. The people who object for moral reasons cannot see the value of the book, and the people who see the value of the book don’t realize why it’s upsetting to more religious people. — Stephen Chbosky, Word Riot, 2011
I enjoyed the book. As a person struggling with mental illness the book resonated with me. I also enjoyed the movie.
Ive never seen the movie but this book was special for 15 yo me. I didnt know it was a banned book.
The book is excellent but quite intense, I’d HIGHLY suggest it if you get the time to read it if you enjoyed the movie! It’s a pretty quick read too. I haven’t seen the movie but I’ve heard from some people that it’s pretty faithful to the books overall vibe.
