Hundreds of University students and community members gathered in the Eugene Public Library Wednesday night to hear Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry speak about banned books.
As the second floor of the library filled with avid readers clutching their copies of Lowry novels, library staff members handed out buttons that said “I read banned books.”
With controversial novels like “The Giver” and “Number the Stars” under her belt, Lowry was on the “Most Frequently Challenged Authors” list in 2005 along with authors such as Judy Blume, J.D. Salinger and Toni Morrison.
Much to the excitement of the captivated audience, Lowry described how she came up with the ideas behind her best-selling novel, “The Giver.”
“So I began to create a group of people, a town, a community, I suppose a civilization – who had found a way to make themselves feel very comfortable and to make themselves feel very safe by getting rid of all the memories from the past, which is enviable in many ways,” Lowry said. “There’s no poverty, nobody needs anything; everything is provided for them. There’s no racism because everybody’s the same color. Of course what they’ve done is, in getting rid of the bad things, they’ve also removed a lot of the things that add so much vibrance to our lives.”
Lowry stressed that in her book and in real life, the good always comes with the bad. She said that at some point we all face tragedy, and at other times in life, ecstasy. Lowry shared personal stories that feature both.
She told a story about her sister, who died of cancer at a young age, and described her “blonde-haired, blue-eyed, happy-go-lucky” son, who died in a tragic accident. Lowry sugarcoats nothing; she tells it like it is, she admitted.
University senior Jess Rivas attended the talk as part of a requirement for a class. Though he has not read Lowry’s books, he still found the talk to be well worth his time.
“I really respected her. Because I am an author as well, I really appreciated her reality in her books, writing from real-life events. She was really passionate about her writing,” Rivas said.
It was also apparent that Lowry is in the business for the pure love of writing, he said.
“I respect any writer who writes not to sell the books but to put (herself) in it.”
Director of the Library Connie Bennett was impressed at the level at which Lowry connected with the audience by sharing personal stories from both her childhood and her adulthood.
“I was really pleased. I thought it was fun to see everyone, and we had more than 600 people here,” Bennett said after the event. “I hope people walk away with an appreciation of how precious our freedoms are. Our freedom to talk about ideas that some people find challenging.”
Journalism professor Kyu Ho Youm is the University’s Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair. He firmly believes that young people should be exposed to all types of literature, barring obscenities like child pornography.
“Generally speaking, banning or prohibiting a book from circulation is an ultimate violation of freedom of expression,” Youm said.
Though he doesn’t condone book banning, he tries to see the opposing viewpoint.
“It’s an extremely sensitive issue. But I don’t want to denigrate motives of people or government officials wanting to ban books. Some people are fanatic about it, though, without knowing what they are talking about,” Youm said. “Those who don’t know try to impose on those who know more.”
Youm is opposed to censoring young readers’ access to books. He said he had freedom to read whatever he pleased as an adolescent in South Korea, and “he turned out all right.”
Books are often banned today because of sexual content or harsh language, both of which, if they are only a small part of the book, are simply facts of life, Youm said.
“The general public loses a lot this way instead of benefiting,” Youm said. “We cannot cleanse our society of certain words.” They exist, Youm said, and therefore, we must embrace the realities.
As a communications law expert, the subject of censorship and book banning evokes strong emotions in Youm.
“Banning books should be challenged at every opportunity by those who love literature and want to see their kids grow into mature, responsible adults.”
Lowry agreed that this type of content helps young adults think about important life matters.
“I wouldn’t say I’m proud to have my books banned,” Lowry said in response to a question from the audience. “I’m troubled by people being distressed by them. I like to write books that say things of some importance and that make people think, and I would like it to end there in a positive way.”