WithTheBanned

The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky

Happy April, #WithTheBanned readers! Our book this month will hopefully be a change of pace. I‘ll post some discussion questions the last week of the month

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4h

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4h

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4h

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @Karisa 4h

CatLass007 I just bought my copy and I‘ll be starting it in the next couple of days. 4h

22 likes5 comments

Jadams89

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

pick

This book was scary. I hate that it‘s still so relevant. I hate that it could happen here. #WithTheBanned

Karisa True horror, now more than ever. The Hulu adaptation is haunting too… 😢 4d

47 likes1 comment

Jadams89

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

#WithTheBanned

Karisa Just watching the news these days shows how prophetic Atwood was (unfortunately). We can‘t take any rights for granted when some in power do not value them and have fear of losing their “rightful” place 🤢 4d

5feet.of.fury Unfortunately it‘s quickly become more relevant with the current US political climate in general, tradwives, states limiting reproductive care, conservatives creating panic over “declining birth rates” and “family values” 4d

Melismatic Atwood‘s story idea clearly didn‘t come from thin air. TV show‘s success aside, how frequently people reference this book in regards to today‘s US politics shows you the impact. An even passing reference often earns defensive commentary in return. 4d

28 likes3 comments

Jadams89

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

#WithTheBanned

Karisa This is another aspect that leaves me feeling frustrated and afraid for them when I read it. Even the smallest exchanges can bring swift, harsh punishment on them. It‘s horrible. 4d

Bookwormjillk It makes me feel super tense. Taking away communication is such an effective way to incapacitate people and their ability to fight back. 4d

22 likes2 comments

Jadams89

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

#WithTheBanned

Karisa I love this book and have re-read it twice. The bonnets are like horse blinders. Further control of the women and how they perceive the world. I did wish to see more of the bigger picture of the world. It makes sense though since we are left frustrated like Offred. 😢 4d

5feet.of.fury The chapter that notated “this is a reconstruction” highlighted that her recollection and it may not be 100% complete and unreliable to an extent. She remembers her family in short snippets and pushes them aside so she can keep moving in her new reality. While lacking the full explanation of events, being just in her head added to the panic and claustrophobia and imparts on the reader how trapped Offred felt in Gilead 4d

23 likes2 comments

Jadams89

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

Hey fellow banned book readers! Here‘s the first discussion question for our March book.

Like last time, I‘ll just tag everyone in the first post. I‘ll be posting 4 questions total.

#WithTheBanned #buddyread

Jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 4d

Jadams89 @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @Melismatic @bookwormjillk @KT1432 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4d

Jadams89 @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl @Bookbuyingaddict @CuriousG @AllDebooks 4d

See All 20 Comments

Jadams89 @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 4d

Bookwormjillk I think the lesson for me is that the unthinkable can happen. 4d

Jadams89 The scariest thing for me is how easily the government was taken over. Some of the things that happened are just too close to things currently happening in the US. This book shook me. 4d

CatLass007 This is how it starts. https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-bill-success-sequence-of-life-pa... 4d

CoverToCoverGirl Well said @Bookwormjillk @Jadams89 scary times. Chaos overload every single day. 4d

Jadams89 @CatLass007 I hadn‘t seen that before! That‘s definitely how it starts. This world gets scarier every day. 4d

CatLass007 I live in Tennessee so I pay more attention to state news. 4d

Jadams89 @CatLass007 I‘m in Kentucky - watching the supermajority trying to undermine every bit of progress that had been made. 4d

CatLass007 It‘s horrifying. 4d

Karisa @CatLass007 Success Sequence 🤢Never even heard of that! as if there is only one way to find success in life and only one definition… 😵‍💫 4d

Karisa @Jadams89 So true. We can‘t take any progress for granted. 😢 4d

5feet.of.fury I agree with the other comments. It would have seemed so impossible if I read this 10-15 years ago, but now I see how easy it would be for society to change like this, and the complicity of more privileged women who would help enforce it to keep themselves a couple rings above. 4d

Melismatic @5feet.of.fury well said 4d

Riveted_Reader_Melissa The first time I read this book it seemed so much dark twisted fantasy, I read it after watching the movie (old move now), and thinking how odd & bizarre. Every time I have revisited it…this is my third time I think….its much more understandable how we could get there, more realistic to me, and much timely & prescient …and makes me think of an interview with Atwood where they asked basically how she thought up all this stuff, and she replied ⤵️ (edited) 2d

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ that she did not. Everything in there was from somewhere and sometime and someplace in our human history. 😬 2d

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Not the original… but a good one where she talks about it: 2d

Riveted_Reader_Melissa https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testa... 2d

27 likes20 comments

AllDebooks

Untitled | Unknown

April 2025 #BookSpinBingo list

1 - 8) - Buddyreads for #NaturaLitsy #VirginiaBloomsberries #LiteraryClub #BookedinTime #AuthorAMonth #HashtagBrigade #WithTheBanned #LosersClub #SheSaid

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5d

38 likes1 comment

lil1inblue

This Book Is Dangerous: A Reading Journal: For Those Who Refuse to Be Told What They Can - Or Can't - Read | Nicole Lintemuth

I did not realize how very timely this banned book journal would end up being. I thought I would share with the #withthebanned crew in case they wanted to track their reading. It contains a bunch of information on book bans and how to fight them.

The author owns Bettie's Pages, a bookstore in Lowell, MI. I try to support the store with online orders because a bookstore like hers is much needed in that area of the state.

www.bettiespages.com

lil1inblue @jadams89 @JenlovesJT47
@BooksBlanketsandahotbeverage
@Read4Life @skygoddess1
@Julsmarshall @Lapreader 6d

lil1inblue @lil1inblue @Deblovestoread @dabbe @5feet.of.fury @TheDaysGoBy @AnishaInkspell @thewallflower0707 @catsandbooks @megabooks @Kenyazero @CoverToCoverGirl 6d

lil1inblue @SconsinBookyBadger @PaperbackPirate @CogsOfEncouragement @Amiable
@peanutnine @CatLass007 @melismatic @bookbuyingaddict 6d

See All 18 Comments

CatLass007 Thank you! Preventing book banning is a hill that I am willing to die on. The more I learn the more I can do in my own small way. 6d

lil1inblue @CatLass007 Hard same! 🙌 6d

Melismatic Great idea! 6d

Skygoddess1 Thank you for this, I just ordered a copy from Bettie‘s Pages for myself 6d

Deblovestoread Thank you for this! Will definitely be ordering one when I get home today. 6d

dabbe 🎯🎯🎯! 6d

Amiable Excellent, thank you! And totally agree about supporting Bettie‘s … my husband and I lived in East Lansing for a few years when I was in grad school at Michigan State! You aren‘t kidding about that part of the state. (edited) 6d

lil1inblue @Melismatic 💙 💜 💙 6d

lil1inblue @Skygoddess1 That makes me so happy! 😍 6d

lil1inblue @Deblovestoread Hooray! I'm so glad! 💓 6d

lil1inblue @dabbe 💙 💜 💙 6d

lil1inblue @Amiable Right! 😬 😬 😬 6d

Catsandbooks 👏🏼🔥✊🏼❤️ 5d

Bookbuyingaddict Love ❤️ it 🫶🏻👏🏻✊ 4d

Kenyazero This looks awesome! 4d

50 likes18 comments

Melismatic

The Testaments: A Novel | Margaret Atwood

#WithTheBanned is reading Handmaid‘s - and since I rarely re-read, now is the perfect time to get the sequel off my shelf and read. 🫣💖💪🏻

Jadams89

TheBookHippie 🙃 2w

34 likes1 comment

5feet.of.fury

The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood

pick

Read for #withthebanned Somehow not what I expected after hearing about it all this time. Offred navigates a society where women aren‘t allowed to read, write or express themselves in society & are reduced to breeding potential while she recalls her life before. Atwood used historical touch points (which are too relevant today) to show how society changes & can bow to extremists even in a short time. Looking forward to the discussion!

DogMomIrene This book blew me away when I read it in the 90s. Have you watched the series? Atwood has input. I‘m not sure how much, but it‘s frightening to watch her vision extended over several seasons…while looking a lot like modern times. 2w

5feet.of.fury @DogMomIrene I haven‘t watched the series but I‘m definitely going to now! 2w

DogMomIrene @5feet.of.fury Your timing is perfect. Seasons 1-5 are available to stream or buy and the final season premiere airs on April 8. I‘m so eager to see how they tie this one up. 2w

48 likes2 stack adds3 comments

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