September 14, 2023
2023-09-14T18:00:00
Banned Books Club meets monthly on the second Thursday at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room at Arcata Public Library. To become a member, please email Cayman at the link below. You must be 18 or older. Questions? Call Arcata Library at 707-822-5954 during open hours.
500 7th Street
(behind and below City Hall)
Arcata, CA 95521
Free. Sponsored by Humboldt Library Foundation and Friends of Arcata Library.
6:00 PM, Arcata Library's Banned Book Club, 'The House on Mango Street' (in Person & Zoom Option).
Thursday, September 14, 2023
In September, Hispanic Heritage Month, we're talking about 'The House on Mango Street' by Sandra Cisneros. This book, structured as a series of life moments, follows Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. Based on aspects of Cisneros's own history, the novel shows Esperanza's experiences over the span of one year in her life, as she enters adolescence and begins to face the realities of life as a young woman in a poor and patriarchal community. Despite its high praise in the realm of Latino Literature, it has been challenged, banned and removed, landing it on the American Library Association's list as a 'Frequently Challenged Book with Diverse Content'.
Banned Books Club
The Banned Books Club, brought to you by Arcata Public Library, was hatched from curiosity about the books we've been told to avoid. Book banning has been around for centuries in the U.S., and even longer internationally. Who are the people and/or groups challenging and banning these titles? What are the reasons cited? Where in the U.S. are we seeing this occur? These are some of the questions we will be asking and as we explore each title, we will discuss trends and patterns we see emerge from historical and current bans.
Due to the nature of the titles we will be reading, the book club is an 18+ space.
Discuss Banned Books with Cayman
Say 'hello!' to Cayman, one of Arcata Public Library's Assistants and the host of our new Banned Books Club! Cayman's pronouns are She/Her/Hers, she has worked for Humboldt County Libraries since January 2022 and is currently a student at Cal Poly Humboldt working towards her Bachelors of Arts in Literary Studies. She is an avid collector of pressed pennies, first edition books, and hopes to adopt a kitty this year. This is her first time hosting a book group. Cayman looks forward to learning and growing with you all!