It’s Banned Books Week! And, what a better way to celebrate ten to talk about four of my favorite banned books? Great idea, right?
So I am going to start with my all time favorite book, Lewis Carrols ‘Alice in Wonderland’. I love this book. I love it for multiple reason. First, when I was in third grade I did my first ever play. It was exciting and cool, and I wore tights on my hands. It was Alice in Wonderland, I played the Iris. It was pretty true to the Disney version, and in my excitement I rushed out to read the book so I could do a character study (yeah, I was a pretty hard core thespian even at 8). I was so upset that the play I was doing was so strikingly different from the book.
Later, when I flunked out of high school for cutting class so I could perform at the local children’s theatre (yes, I know, I know. But Walt Disney didn’t graduate high school either), I had to take summer school in order to receive my diploma. One of the classes I selected was a novels class in which I had to write two reports on two novels. I chose Hamlet (which I was performing at the time) and Alice in Wonderland.
Shortly after this I wrote my first script for public use. Of course I chose Alice in Wonderland. I sold it to a few venues and even had the joy of playing the role in a touring production I produced. It was a great experience to see my script performed so widely, and get such great reviews.
Fast forward two years, and my first child is born. A beautiful little girl. I knew even before she was born what I would name her. Alice. (Duh.)
Now, after all this, and all my experience with Alice, and Alice in Wonderland and my borderline obsession with the backstory I was a little shocked to see Alice in Wonderland pop up on the Banned Book list.
In fact Alice in Wonderland used to be banned in Hunan, China beginning in 1931 for its portrayal of animals being portrayed on the same levels as humans. I.E talking walking etc. The censor General Ho Chien believed that attributing human language to animals was an insult to humans. He feared that the book would teach children to regard humans and animals on the same level, which would be “disastrous.”
I am actually not sure how this would be disastrous. In fact, I believe it is a sign of a healthy imagination. ‘The Tumbler Twins’ ask me to put cat whiskers on them all the time so they can go around the house mewing and rubbing against my leg.
But then, I guess viewing animals and humans on the same level kind of destroys the hole master-servant thing.
When was the last time you read Alice in Wonderland?
It all started with a birthday present: a little book I wrote for my grandfather, helped along by a little bit of performing experience and a whole lot of love. It has since evolved. Get to know the woman behind the words. 
