Banned Books Awareness: Ismail Kadaré

January 31, 2016 R. Wolf Baldassarro 1

Most people think of poetry as sonnets and Shakespeare; as romance and respects. More often, poetry offers commentary on socio-political issues. That is how Ismail Kadaré found his works banned in Albania for several years. Kadaré, an Albanian novelist born January 28, 1936, skillfully used poetry and prose to criticize […]

Banned Books Awareness: “Harriet the Spy”

January 18, 2015 R. Wolf Baldassarro 1

In 1960s America there weren’t many mysteries solved by powerful female detectives. The choice was between Nancy Drew (who was often overshadowed by the Hardy Boys) and Harriet M. Welsch, better known as Harriet the Spy. It was hard not to like Harriet or to laugh at the whimsical quips […]

Banned Books Awareness: “Different Seasons”

October 14, 2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro 3

Stephen King is one of the most recognizable names in literature. His horror-filled library of tales like Carrie and The Shining are classics on bookshelves and on the silver screen. His intense dramas exploring the human condition, such as The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me, are likewise celebrated. But […]

Banned Books Awareness: To Kill a Mockingbird

July 30, 2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro 30

Harper Lee’s immortal classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, was first published in 1960 to instant acclaim- despite her editors’ warnings that it probably wouldn’t sell all that well. In its first year of release it would garner rave reviews by The New Yorker and Time magazines, as well as the […]