The Pulpwood Queen READS BANNED BOOKS!

Dear Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys,

Each year NEW Banned Book Reads are posted.  I remember back from my bookseller days being shocked to learn that The Little House on the Prairie books had been banned because someone had declared they were derogatory to Native Americans.  Yes, evidently Ma had become fearful as she learned from Pa that some Indians were nearby.  Folks you can not rewrite history, white settlers were fearful of the Native Americans but mostly because of what some previous white fellas had done to them.  Laura Ingalls Wilder was just writing from the memories of her childhood.  Onward and upward, give it up people.

So then I read years ago Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”.  I fell in love with that story as it was one that needs to be told.  Then it was banned, unbelievable, some folks had a problem with it.  I do not know about you all but I have Cherokee roots, I have his next book just waiting to be read once I finish this semester of college.  I can hardly wait!

Then Banned Books Week came become even more personal.  My own mother tried to stop the publication of my book, “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life”.  I had never been so shocked.  I had actually sent a pre-published galley of my book to all my family hoping that they would then understand how I felt growing up.  I wanted them to know why I found my escapism in books as they saved me.  I love my family very much but never have I been more hurt than in telling my story. That is the price you pay as an author, not everybody loves or even likes what you write.  I have developed a tougher skin since then after talks with authors, Jeannette Walls and Pat Conroy about how they handled the negative family reaction from their books.  God Bless them both, forever. You will have to read all the books mentioned to know why books are so important to me.

Then several years ago Banned Books raised it’s ugly head to demand that I quit reading a book with my youth group.  One that I loved and felt so strongly for as a cautionary tale on trusting those with power.  I felt my kids needed to learn at junior high and high school age that sometimes you have to trust your gut instincts and be able to speak out when someone gets too close, or too personal, who enters your comfort zone and makes you feel uncomfortable.  I have to tell you that book when on to win the top award in Christian publishing, The Christy Award.  In fact, she won two, one for the Best Christian Book of the Year and for Best New Author.  The Author?  The most loving, giving, Christian woman I know, author Julie Perkins Cantrell.

So before you even begin thinking about banning a book, perhaps you should read it.  Then if you have a problem with it, let’s discuss it, and even better, let’s hear the author tell about why she or he wrote that book. I remember this distinctly when reading The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez with our book club.  Some people just could not understand Debby’s story.  So I brought Debby in to speak of her book.  The Pulpwood Queens loved her, in fact, they voted her book Pulpwood Queen Book of the Year!  Lives are changed from reading books and yes, even banned ones.  Do you know To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is usually banned every year?  Best book ever written as far as I am concerned but you have to read Go Set A Watchman too, the original manuscript by Harper Lee.  The one that she turned into her publisher, I love it too.

The one most important thing I have learned in going back to school is that do your research.  Did you know the person that banned the book I was reading with my youth group had not even read the book?  She heard it was bad.  I told her that her point was mute.  If she had not read the book, she had no say in the matter but she did.  I was given a sabbatical from teaching my youth group until things cooled off.  I eventually came back but the damage was done.  Kathy L. Murphy was using subversive books to read to children.

One thing if you do not know me is that I am the biggest advocate for children of all ages.  Growing up the way I did, I will do everything in my power to protect and mentor to youth.  I love kids, I am a big kid myself not matter that I am 61 years of age.  I have been a youth group leader most of my adult life.  I worked for years as a Children’s Book Buyer/Book Store Manager.  I started a Girl Scout Troop when my girls were little and we kept going until Junior High when it just got too hectic.  I have been invited back to my former hometown to speak to Jefferson High School on Career Day.  Evidently, they liked what I had to say last year which went GO FOR IT!  Reach for the stars but work for it!  I try to practice what I preach but if you are reading this more than likely I am preaching to the choir.

So I would like to give big thanks too to Pulpwood Queen Author and Journalist, Judy Christie who wrote about Banned Book Week in the Shreveport Times.  She also gave the Pulpwood Queen a big shout out.  So I am shouting back, “THANK YOU JUDY CHRISTIE!”  But the best part, I am going to be with author Judy Christie and Julie Perkins Cantrell and Celeste Fletcher McHale as they will be on my panel, The Pulpwood Queen Presents at the Louisiana Book Festival.  See previous post on that event and read all about BANNED BOOK WEEK!  Or better yet, READ A BANNED BOOK!

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/life/2017/09/20/banned-books-week-emphasizes-freedom-read/105812602/

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About Kathy Murphy

Kathy L. Murphy is the CEO/Founder, and Executive Director of The International Pulpwood Queens and and Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation.

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