Margaret Atwood Rocks

Abuskedti

You may remember my son rallied against her book, The Handmaids Tail, from being banned by his school. Margaret was in town yesterday promoting her new book. There was a reading - and other events - including a $50 per plate meal. Robbie and his friend Craig received personal invitations - meal paid for. Margaret personally thanked them for their support and signed their books..:)

Scratchin a Letter

Abuskedti wrote:

You may remember my son rallied against her book, The Handmaids Tail, from being banned by his school. Margaret was in town yesterday promoting her new book. There was a reading - and other events - including a $50 per plate meal. Robbie and his friend Craig received personal invitations - meal paid for. Margaret personally thanked them for their support and signed their books..:)

the film's pretty good too. not quite as good as the book but captivating nonetheless. its pathetic that your son's school banned it, such a good read and in some ways, an honest depiction of a direction *some* parts of the world are going in....

Hope&Anger

Abuskedti wrote:

You may remember my son rallied against her book, The Handmaids Tail, from being banned by his school. Margaret was in town yesterday promoting her new book. There was a reading - and other events - including a $50 per plate meal. Robbie and his friend Craig received personal invitations - meal paid for. Margaret personally thanked them for their support and signed their books..:)

Now there's the HOPE I'm talking about!!

Honestly, in this day and age -- banning books. What could they be thinking? (A friend put together a Banned Books Basket for a silent auction a few weeks ago -- it had some of the greatest literature ever written in it.) It's just so un-American.

And banning The Handmaid's Tale -- I don't even get it. My fundamentalist Christian sister-in-law LOVES that book because it reminds her of how important women are to the family and how horrible and sterile the world becomes if you try to reduce them to breeders.

(Of course, she's too cool for this censorship stuff. She and her sons also devour Harry Potter books. When they were younger, she used to point out all the places where the books "diverged" from the Bible, so unlike many of her friends who "banned" the books from their homes, she used them as teaching tools.)

polaris

i voted for her in the cbc greatest canadian thing

lgt

Abuskedti wrote:

You may remember my son rallied against her book, The Handmaids Tail, from being banned by his school. Margaret was in town yesterday promoting her new book. There was a reading - and other events - including a $50 per plate meal. Robbie and his friend Craig received personal invitations - meal paid for. Margaret personally thanked them for their support and signed their books..:)

That's very cool!

Can I ask why that book was banned by the school in the first place?

Abuskedti

lgt wrote:

That's very cool!

Can I ask why that book was banned by the school in the first place?

A student's parent complained that it was vulgar and the superintendant agreed. When the board of education held an open forum to hear both sides, very few were for banning. They quotes passages about some violent sexual images in the book, calling it inappropriate for their children.

It was assigned in 11th grade.

In the end, the book was allowed and continue in the Judson High School Curriculum.

the controversy made for some great speeches from students - very impressive..

Hope&Anger

Abuskedti wrote:

It was assigned in 11th grade.

In the end, the book was allowed and continue in the Judson High School Curriculum.

the controversy made for some great speeches from students - very impressive..

Like 11th graders hadn't been exposed to things ten times worse the last time they went to the movies.

Good for the kids and good for the Board of Education -- and whoever made the final decision!