Chris Cruthcher discusses his banned book "Whale Talk."
An author who has been banned in many different schools across the country said that banning books is an effort to censor emotions and experiences, regardless of their prevalence in society.
“The whole business of trying to ban books is mostly about mind control,” Chris Crutcher said.
Crutcher spoke to a large audience for banned book week at the Coeur D’Alene Public Library Friday. He is among those uniquely qualified to speak on the topic of restricted books, being one of the most frequently banned authors in North America, coming in at number eight. He said he sees it more as an accomplishment than a drawback.
Crutcher spoke to two different audiences in lieu of banned book awareness. One centered around teens and another focused more toward the adult crowd.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Bette Ammon, Library director. “You can see the faces of the kids mesmerized for 90 minutes.”
The subjects of many of Crutchers books are teens dealing with serious life issues.
“I thought he was really entertaining, but he also spoke a lot of truth,” said Brett Dickman, a Coeur D’Alene High School student.
Karl Haakenson, Coeur D’Alene High School, added “I thought it was important, how he said we are not safer through ignorance.”
During his high school years Crutcher said was content to be a C student. He would skate by on book reports by reading his brother’s old A assignments, he thought he would never have to read a book again.
“I was rocketing toward graduation, and total illiteracy- and the scary part was, I was proud of it,” said Crutcher.
In his early twenties, Crutcher decided he wanted to be a writer. He realized however, the problem that he had no idea how because he had never read anything anyone had written. His saving grace, was in sophomore year his teacher assigned “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, which his brother did not have a report on.
Crutcher said he loved the book; it was like he’d found a friend. When he started writing himself, Crutcher said he tried to follow Lee’s example of having an intimate connection to the reader.
“One of the things you have to do when you’re writing stories is get realism. You’ve got to believe in it,” Crutcher said.
Crutcher spent an hour with the youth audience, explaining what it means to ban a book, and that it is important to be actively aware of things that can be brought to light through literature. Crutcher mentioned that one of the most important things when writing fiction is to look around and find things that are the truth, and to tell them as real as you can.
Schools across the country have banned Crutcher’s books based simply on the language used in the books. All of the banning’s have taken place because of a parent or teacher who was offended by something in the book.
“This is pretty cool, I think he communicates very well with this audience and I am thrilled for him. The fact that it’s banned means it’s pissing people off, and I’m happy about that.” said J.J. Dion, a local composer from Post Falls.
In his most banned book, “Whale Talk,” Crutcher outlines one reason that he writes the way he does. People must be portrayed as they are, if he were to censor the language used by the stepfather, he said it would undermine the viciousness of that character, which in turn, downplays the heroism of the child.
Crutcher mentioned that the banning of books may be a symptom in the cause of our current education in America.
“I was a loud and tenacious opponent to No Child Left Behind,” Crutcher said. “We started caring about memory level thinking. We took creativity out of education. Albert Einstein said you have no intelligence without imagination.”
Crutcher, 64, of Spokane, Washington is the author of 13 books, which include 10 novels, two short story compilations and an autobiography.
Bette Ammon wanted to be sure to let all those in attendance know that the Library providing permanent copies of Crutcher’s books on its shelves.
