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Let's hear it for the Dirty Thirty! Books, that is. Thirty most challenged......

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Dirty Thirty

 

Look what I found in my old things this time.

It's a  clipping from some magazine back in the early 80's that has come back into my life.

This list of the Dirty Thirty inspired me to start a reading project.

Being a teacher at the time with easy access to the library, I vowed that I'd read them all.

If they were dirty or challenged that was motivation for me to find out why. 

This list was compiled based on surveys from 1965 to 1982 of the most challenged books.  I kept the list to mark off books as I read them. 

I have read lmany of them and must say some of them are great books and you'll wonder why they received objections.

Keep in mind this list is very old. No telling how they'd rank today. 

Happy reading!!

Show All Comments
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Leslie, I guess so.

Nutsy, consider them added.  They do do some pretty offensive writing about my little godson. 

Dec 06, 2009 07:37 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

I personally find nothing offensive in the writings of Mr. Charles and Ms. Kate. Nutsys writing is another matter.

Dec 06, 2009 07:54 AM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Barbara on this date today Dec 8th 1980 Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennonand he had a copy of the book the catcher in the rye.... I was 11 ears old at the time I'm just guessing ....peace zane

Dec 08, 2009 12:21 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

James, Nutsy is a terrific writer.  You need to be more appreciative.

Zane, I'd forgotten all that.  Did you read the book to see if it was relevant?  To tell the truth, I don't remember what the book is about.  I do think I read it though.

Dec 08, 2009 12:37 PM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Barbara....I don't know how to read.....no i didn't read it I only read history, car books, manuals things like that...and my better homes and garden magazines.....I had a class once where it was required reading but I didn't read it.....peace zane

Dec 08, 2009 12:49 PM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

My times have changed - or at least our perception of things.  I am surprised by many of these!

Dec 11, 2009 01:23 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

James, not many of them are shocking anymore.

Dec 12, 2009 12:09 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Inna, what a change just since 2009 when this blog was written!!  It is so hard to believe that books are no longer cherished!  In 2009 there were no ipads? 

Dec 20, 2014 09:23 PM
Anonymous
Jason Kee

Thank you so much for this. I was talking about this list to an American friend just the other day. My school in Canada included the list on our curriculum encouraging students to read and report on their value.

Apr 14, 2015 09:43 AM
#23
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Jason, I wanted to read them all and got through several of them.  Now our reading time has been cut down seriously.  We have so many internet chores that we have less time for reading. 

Apr 14, 2015 09:54 PM
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

"Catcher in the Rye" was required reading in my advanced English class in

college in the early 60's. What was memorable was the teaching assistant

wo discussed it was gay and was murdered in downtown Berkeley, CA near the campus.

Apr 14, 2015 10:45 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Don, that's an interesting story.  Was he murdered while you were in school or much later?

 

Apr 15, 2015 04:48 AM
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

WHile I was taking the class. He didn't show up one day and we heard he had

been murdered. That was 1961.

Apr 16, 2015 06:24 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

That is horrible, Don.  I hope it was not a hate crime because he was gay.

Apr 16, 2015 07:44 AM
Anonymous
Shawn

I have read 17/30. I think no will make an effort to read the others as well.

May 17, 2016 10:48 AM
#29
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Shawn, reading all of them is still my goal but I keep getting side-tracked.

May 17, 2016 09:56 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I like anything that uplifting my spirit and inspires me to be a better person every day, every moment, with everyone. Thanks for the books suggestions! They are still great.

Jan 25, 2018 10:55 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Inna, I read "God's Little Acre" recently and was surprised to find that it is not on the Dirty Thirty list.

Jan 26, 2018 04:33 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Thank you for your post on AR blogs over the years-it led me to this post.

Aug 20, 2019 04:10 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Michelle, I have tried to read all of the Dirty Thirty.

 

Aug 20, 2019 04:46 PM
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