Banned Books: Books that got us in trouble
I’ve had a lifelong obsession with reading material of all kinds. This, combined with my endless curiosity as a child, led to the discovery of a few very-adult books that I (rightfully) got into a lot of trouble for reading. Looking back, these pieces seem perfectly tame, but they were far from kid-friendly.
A few real-life banned books:
Disappearing Acts, Terry McMillan. Like nearly all Black 30-somethings in the ‘90s, my mother was a huge fan of Ms. McMillan. Unbeknownst to her, so was I. As she brought them home, I read them, beginning with Mama and ending with How Stella Got Her Groove Back. And she never would have known if I hadn’t let Disappearing Acts fall into the tub while I was deeply engrossed in Franklin and Zora’s love story…
Sex and the City, Candace Bushnell. Sarah Jessica Parker’s curly-haired image was enough to get me to sneak and catch episodes of “Sex & the City” in middle school. Those snippets of the show made me want to furtively get a look at the book, which was, satisfyingly, even more racy than the show. I quickly shared with my schoolmates.
The Color Purple, Alice Walker. I was always warned by concerned old folks that this book was way too mature for a kid to read, so of course I tried really hard to get my hands on it. But since it wasn’t in my elementary school’s library nor in the kiddie section of the public library I had to wait until my younger classmate snuck a copy onto the school bus. After she read a couple of disturbing pages aloud, I hastily agreed with my family and didn’t pick the book up again until college.
Exclusive, Sandra Brown. For the uninitiated, Sandra Brown is a romance novelist turned romantic thriller writer whose novels are about 50/50 mystery and sex. I vividly remember whispering steamier passages to my friends during school breaks in seventh grade after I “borrowed” a copy of this book from my teenaged sister.
Anything by Zane. Luckily I was away at college by the time these Erotica books became popular (no sneaking around!). But had I discovered Zane’s graphic prose a precious few years earlier, I would have been ripe for severe punishment based on the titles alone.
Clutchettes and gents – what books got you in trouble?
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Good article Whitney. It seems those books have inspired you in some form or another, you are a writer now. I too loved to escape in the wonderful world that books supplied me during my formative years. Nancy Bloom was my first racy book that instantly peeked my curiosity. I somehow came across The Bitch by Jackie Collins and I knew that I wanted to write by that time.
Very good list! I concur.
My mom took a few books away from me on the low. They myseriously disappeared off of my shelves “like sisters on the home front” “coldest winter ever” and “coffee makes you black”
i never got caught, but sometimes wish that i had…i dealt with promiscuity, which was fed by the passion rising off those pages. i wanted to experience what i was reading.
-i will definitely pay attention to what my daughter is reading.
Thanks for pointing out the need, in some cases to prohibit the reading of these mature books. Sex is for grown men and women who can handle the sometimes negative ramifications that follow the act. I remember these types of books being passed around in high school and it did make sex much more alluring as a result of reading it. I would be more ashamed to read these stereotypical types of books now. I would much rather be challenged by the literature I read, than be told in many different ways that I am to play a hyper-sexualized and submissive role in society.
Don’t forget Flyy Girl! That was the first book I jacked from my mom. Now she’s ‘borrowing’ my Zane novels… shame on it all, lol.
i agree with everything my first ‘grown’ book was mama and coffee will make you black oh and flyy girl anything triple crown productions or Eric Jerome dickey and my favorite author E Lynn Harris may he rest in peace
My parents never censored my book list. Then again, I wasn’t a kid and picking up sex books. I first read Malcolm X’s autobio (with Alex Haley) in the 6th grade. Yep, 6th grade. Read “The Color Purple” about a year after that. I’ve always been a bibliophile.
The Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris and all of ‘em trashy Black lit books came around high school/university. And then I put them away…because they just weren’t gratifying or very well written. Interesting…but not very good.
Nowadays I stick with biographies and autobiographies. Non-fiction is great. I’m starting “The Book of Negroes” by Lawrence Hill (fiction)…I hear it is a masterpiece.
Flyy Girl was the book! WOW. I cannot believed I read that at 13 or 14!
Hi,
Great list. My mom never asked I think she was just glad I was reading. However, I read everything from teens books to science fiction, so I guess she wasn’t sure which one was dirty. Books and cable kept me from doing a lot of things my friends did until I was older. Reading about was all I needed.
My mom is a librarian and I have been around books all my life. I love books and I love libraries. My mom never censured any of my books. I’ve read all the famous childrens books and all the “racier” books that are on this list. I love me some Eric Jerome Dickey and some E.Lynn Harris. My mom always told me there was nothing I couldn’t read because she would always be there to explain things to me. I never had to sneak around and read a book (couldn’t anyway she worked at the library and knew all the books i’d ever checked out) no matter how “racy” the content. In a way it was good, a book led to my mother and I having “the sex talk” and at least for me made it less awkward. I think when I have children i’ll follow the same rule so they don’ thave to sneak around and hear things from other kids. Anyways, those books are fun quick reads and theres no need to be a book snob. Enjoy reading and all books no matter how “deep”. I know I still do!
Taking it way back – Judy Blume’s Forever. Definitely the first book that got me questionable looks while reading. I remember one of my teachers asking if my mom knew I was reading that book. My first real job was working in the public library, so nothing published was off limits after that. Freedom to read what I liked at age 14 – priceless.