Recommended reading - what books would be confiscated from your house?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

Am slack jawed reading about the police removing a book from a woman's home which she believes was to "check" her thinking.

It gave me pause to look at my own bolshy bookshelf with scribbles of sedition.

What books have you read that some might consider "problematic" but which you found particularly helpful, interesting or challenging and which maybe led you to these boards?

Jenni's book is by Heather Brunskell Evans, I think it might be this one:
www.filia.org.uk/latest-news/2020/11/27/book-review-transgender-body-politics-by-heather-brunskell-evans

I'd recommend Kathleen Stock, of course
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/material-girls-by-kathleen-stock-review-bkqxckqqr

Helen Joyce, this is the one that every MP was sent.
www.standard.co.uk/culture/books/trans-when-ideology-meets-reality-helen-joyce-review-b944183.html

Milli Hill - not about trans but about obstetric violence
(presumably this was reviewed before Milli said she thought that sex is a thing)
www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/give-birth-like-a-feminist-review

Maya Dusenbery's "Doing Harm" is a few years old and there are other versions by other authors examining medical misogyny, but, this is my favourite of them
therumpus.net/2018/04/doing-harm-by-maya-dusenbery/

Inferior by Angela Saini is similar but looks at the sciences in general
www.chemistryworld.com/review/inferior-how-science-got-women-wrong-and-the-new-research-thats-rewriting-the-story-/3008048.article

Who cooked Adam Smith's dinner by Katrine Marcal is a feminist critique of economics wbg.org.uk/blog/who-cooked-adam-smiths-dinner-a-review/

In Control by Jane Monckton Smith is about predictors for male violence which end in the murder of women www.college.police.uk/article/dangerous-relationships-and-how-they-end-book-review

The Mental Load by Emma (no surname) is a cartoon book about who does what in a home and why www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/gender-wars-household-chores-comic

The trouble with women by Jackie Fleming is hilarious and beautifully illustrated. www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/16/the-trouble-with-women-jacky-fleming-feminist-cartoons

There are others. If the police wish to remove my books I will expect a receipt and for them to be returned to me. Although, if they were a bit dog eared by the time I got them back because they'd been quietly shared round the stations, well, that would please me enormously.

For balance, I have read Juno Dawson, Shon Faye and have attempted Alok Vaid-Menon's three times now...honestly, I know you don't get as much time to read as you'd like, so I recommend saving those treasures until after you have read and reflected all of the books on your "oh, that looks interesting" list.

@AsTreesWalking
That is excellent, both the budget & the ceding of power to your minions
I learned how to use a label-maker as a library elf: getting to label new books was far more fun than it should have been. And issuing books! Bet it’s not as much fun now - doubtless no blippy!scanner & date stamp

@Deliriumoftheendless
Well, they’d have to find it first

I'd be waving it in front of me like an amulet to ward them off, probably.

"Beware my powerful symbol of womanhood, Officer! Don't make me hex you with my her!"

@nitronine minions here still labelling, still eager to issue with scanner, still using date stamp!
We believe in the old and the new side by side (but I do miss card filing drawers)

University of Chester has stamped a trigger warning on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I forget the exact wording but it had the same effect as "can lead to independent thought".

Maybe we should organise women's events where we all gather together and burn these dangerous books that might risk us getting arrested and our houses raided. We can all stand around the fire and sing Tomorrow Belongs To Me, or the chorus from Nabucco or something.

@DdraigGoch

University of Chester has stamped a trigger warning on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I forget the exact wording but it had the same effect as "can lead to independent thought".

WTAF

It used to be the books got banned because children were all going start exploring The Dark Arts. Which is silly, because the books are very clear about not doing that. Well, I say “used to” - it seems some schools are still banning them. The books were even burned in a nice calm proportionate response.

There was also a Tik-Tok trend of burning HP books over JKR’s supposed transphobia. (But it’s GC women who are fascists, apparently )

@AsTreesWalking
Very glad to hear your library helpers get to play with Proper Library Things. I had to use the card catalogue for some things when I was at university (not all holdings on computer system) and there is something hugely satisfying about it. I wouldn’t have wanted to try to navigate a card catalogue for entire library though: might still be there now

@NitroNine I've just had a cancellation from a colleague- for the last 6 years an enthusiastic supporter and participation in my Harry Potter book night- who can no longer attend as he agrees that JKR should be cancelled, and therefore no longer likes her creations...
Idiot.

@AsTreesWalking
Was he the one to FINALLY explain what JKR said that was actually transphobic? If not, I do hope he doesn’t sustain any injuries with that bandwagon leaping of his
What. An. Idiot. And we all thought Wormtail died in Book 7…

@NitroNine
Sigh. I haven't summoned up the energy to ask him yet. Am so cross, as he's a friend and i like him very much, but the last time we spoke about 'the subject' i told him that i did not believe that people can change sex and it didn't go well - though to be fair it was me that lost my cool.
Good news is that i have found a new person to take part who is bursting with enthusiasm!

The Rule of Law by (former Master of the Rolls) Tom Bingham