Banned Books Week: The Great Gatsby

In our final Banned Books Week post, Matthew discusses the importance of The Great Gatsby and its take on the 1920’s.


Matthew Sivo, Communications Intern
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Why was this book banned?
The Baptist College of South Carolina was offended by the book’s language and sexual references.

Why do you love this book?
I like this book because it shows how there’s always more than one side to people.  I also like Fitzgerald’s hard-hitting critiques of 1920’s gender norms and ethics.

What is your favorite quote from this book?
“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.”

Why is literacy and access to books important to you?
Access to books and an understanding of literacy help to expand a person’s creativity, as well as how they view the world.


This week marks Banned Books Week, which celebrates everyone’s right to read. This year’s theme stresses the importance of the First Amendment and our right to read in the ongoing battle against censorship. As we reviewed lists of the top challenged books throughout the years, we asked our staff to talk about their favorite banned books, and the importance of literacy and access to books in their lives.

Check out our other staff picks:
David – Eleanor & Park
Emily – To Kill A Mockingbird
Gohar – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Katie – Siddhartha