RedFreeBlueHope

[redfreebluehope]

My last post on r/bookporn caused a bit of a stir. Below is my newest post:

So, it's been a while since my last post on Maya Angelou's *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* caused some backlash from redditors that took umbrage with my using the term "banned." I figured I'd use this post to answer some common questions I recieved so I can refer back to it on future posts.

**Can you really call a book banned if I can get it in my local library?**

I'm using the American Library Association's lists of top 100 and top 10 banned/challenged books going back to 1990, thus I'm going by their definition of banned/challenged. I take book bans seriously, because book bans are often directed against author's that are writing to address issues of social justice, often offending those who prefer to maintain the status quo. Book bans undermine the voices of marginalized author's, seek to maintain a narrow world view, and reduce the populations' ability to engage with works that encourage critical thinking and empathy.

The books on the ALA's lists may not be banned nationwide, but the bans in individual libraries still pose a threat to freedom of expression, representation, and the health and safety of marginalized groups. We should all be concerned with any book bans, because they represent a step in obscuring, limiting, and/or eliminating the lived experiences of those who are discriminated against.

**What do you get out of reading banned books?**

Increased empathy and compassion. And also a better understanding of the struggles that marginalized groups go through. I have my own experiences, but that can also create blind spots to ways of being and attitudes of groups that I have limited contact with. Reading books from different perspectives can help you confront unconscious bias you may have learned.

I'm also keeping tabs on what the detractors are so afraid of and exposing myself to those elements to see if the bans/challenges warrant the uproar. This way I can also better defend those books that are banned/ challenged.

A chance to flex my critical thinking skills and engage with challenging books that often require further research, discussion, and debate. Also, an increased awareness of the literary canon, and ideas on books that should be added or dropped.

Honestly, I can't downplay the value of entertainment and the itch to work on a collection. I've enjoyed nearly all the books I've read so far, and I love having any excuse to pick up new-to-me books.

**Won't you get bored only reading banned books?**

I haven't so far, and I'm around forty books in. Not only am I getting the chance to read books I might not have otherwise picked up, I'm getting the opportunity to read the voices of people who are different than me, to experience challenges, fears, and triumphs that I never will. I believe this is important, because it encourages empathy, compassion, and a commitment to social justice.

I'm also glad to read stories from my own LGBTQ+ community. I've learned so much by picking up challenging books and experiencing the wide variety of ways that one can be queer. I'm also glad to finally see people like me depicted in more books, which is all the more reason to be concerned when people work against all the progress we have made.

**Why the American Library Association?**

I'm American and currently living in a swing state. Using the ALA's list helps me keep tabs on what's going on politically in my own backyard. Once I've finished the bulk of the books on their lists I will start looking into books banned in other countries. Feel free to comment or DM me with any recommendations.

**Why use banned/ challenged in the title? Are you just trying to be controversial or gain more clicks?**

Honestly, my last post did get significantly more attention than my previous posts. This is a good thing because I've had so many people tell me they didn't not realize that said book was banned/ challenged in America. It feels like I'm getting the message out about bans and challenges to beloved and important books, and encouraging others to be aware and get involved.

[redfreebluehope]

Another banned book down. Maya Angelou's *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* is a memoir in story form, and quite a roller coaster of experiences, considering that the book only covers her childhood up to the age of eighteen.

Angelou bounces back and forth between her divorced parents and her grandmother, ultimately growing up fast and facing many hardships along the way. The book is banned/ challenged for sexual content, including csa, homosexuality, racial issues, language, and because it was deemed to be unsuited for high schoolers.

I will say, this is a book I would have expected to read in undergrad, but I think high school students could reasonably tackle the novel. All of the reasons for its banned or challenged status are ones that ought to be discussed, especially around high school and college age. Once again, shying away from the experiences of black people in America just comes off as racist. If we want to make progress, we have to be willing to talk about the history of racism in this country. First hand accounts are an excellent way to bring this history to life for students who are not intimately familiar with these experiences.

I absolutely recommend reading *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*. Angelou's life is absolutely fascinating, filled with trauma, familial love, and perseverance. I don't want to share the plot points, because they are worth experiencing first hand.

[redfreebluehope]

It's hard to believe that an author could shove such an impactful and deep narrative in such a short story. This is another example of a story I read as a kid and appreciated, but now as an adult I feel like I've picked up on so much more going on the story, especially when it comes to the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

If you haven't had a chance to read Of Mice and Men I can highly recommend it to you. Once again, it's very short, but packs in a lot of drama. No words are wasted, and I don't feel like I need more characterization for any of the individuals in the story. So many of these characters are really just strangers to each other, no matter their connection.

According to pbs.org the book is often challenged for profanity, "'morbid and depressing themes'", Marxist sentiments, and potentially disparaging depictions of African Americans, Women, and the mentally disabled. The first three just fell like so much pearl-clutching, but the later might have some merit. But I think the depiction of the black character has a lot of say about race relations, and should be a point of discussion. The only female character is not the epitome of ideal womanhood, and I kind of enjoyed that about her. You really couldn't change much about Lenny's character without altering the whole story. I don't get the impression that Steinbeck wanted any of these characters to be monoliths of their respective groups, because the God voice isn't the one making negative or broad statements about them (from what I remember, maybe I need to do a close read).

[redfreebluehope]

Another banned book down!

I didn't realize just how old this book was until I mentioned it to my mom and she said the movie was really good, which got me interested in it and I found out the movie came out in '85! Here I thought it came out in the nineties at the earliest. The quality remains the same, and I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone. I had my fair share of emotional ups and downs reading this one, which is always a sign of a good read, in my opinion.

I suspect this book is banned because it deals with race relations in a less than pleasant light, which is both historical and applicable. Only people who are afraid of encountering the truth would have a problem reading stories like this. It also deals with sexual subjects and queer identities, another subject that conservative types just won't try to empathize with. I'll take any solid representation I can.

If for no other reason than to stick it to the haters you should really pick up this book. I suppose at some point I'll have to watch all the films based on banned/ challenged books, too, and post my thoughts on the adaptations. I'm worried the movie nixed the queer parts, but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[redfreebluehope]

Finished another banned/challenged book. I'm curious if anyone else has read this series and would recommend it. I enjoyed the overall concept, but the characters could definitely have used some work. I need to know, does the main character ever get any better? She looks down on so many people, has so little empathy, and supports eugenics. Does she ever get an effective character arc?

I can imagine that this book is banned/challenged because it shows Christianity in a negative light and deals with witchcraft/paganism. The sexual elements in the first book are very tame, but I'm willing to bet they become more explicit in the later books. Overall, this is the kind of series that I could imaginable would feed into the "satanic panic" that some people seem committed to keeping alive. Personally, the supernatural elements were the best part of this book.

So, let me know, should I try reading more of this series, or leave it here?

[redfreebluehope]

Finished this banned book last week. I think I last read it back in junior high! I remembered the general story, but I have to wonder if we read a censored version, or if a ton of this story just went way over my head 😅

Finished *Flowers for Algernon* in about two days, that's how hard it gripped me. I'm so glad I took this journey into reading banned/challenged books, because I get to experience so many stories from my childhood as an adult. I can see why this book is challenged, not only does it include mild sexual situations, but it also advocates for the humanity of those who are developmentally challenged. It also includes a woman who acts well outside the expected norms for her gender in just about any time (and I love her).

If you haven't read *Flowers for Algernon*, or haven't read it in a long time, I highly recommend it. The emotional journey of the protagonist mirrors that of an adolescent, but in the body of an adult, which I think a lot of us can relate to. Charlie is easy to empathize with, especially if you have a keen sense of justice and what's right. Ultimately, I think this book reminds us that compassion is one of the highest virtues.

Also, you've got to love the cover on this edition. The visual elements in the background that double as a maze and gray matter are just chefs kiss!

[redfreebluehope]

The latest on my quest to read as many banned and challenged books as possible: *Hell Followed With Us* by Andrew Joseph White.

A delightfully horrific queer take on the Apocalypse where an evangelical Christian cult are the bad guys, *Hell Followed With Us* is unflinching graphic in is depiction of violence, reminiscent of other post-apocalyptic stories like *The Walking Dead.* The parallels between monsterhood and Trans identities are deep felt and handled with bold emotions. The story holds up from beginning to end, and should really capture your attention by the mid point.

Honestly, this book could have been double the length and would not have suffered for it. My main criticism is that the rag-tag band of freedom fighters needed more time in the spotlight for the reader to get deeply invested in each character, but overall the author did a great job building an interesting world and populating it with characters you'll want to root for and against.

[redfreebluehope]

I picked up some classic copies of Evangeline Walton's _The Four Branches of the Mabinogion_, which are a fictional retelling of the myths of the same name from Welsh mythology. I've had a wonderful time with these books. Walton has an absolutely poetic way of writing that is a joy to read and makes you feel deeply for the characters in the stories.

I really wanted tito share all these pictures, because, just look at the art on those covers! Truly gorgeous! I spent some rhetorical effort taking down nice copies of these particular covers just so I could possess them and admire them up close. So happy to add these to my collection of vintage books!

[redfreebluehope]

Inktober Day 5: Deer

I've always thought that deer skulls are rather aesthetically pleasing, so I had to draw a druid wearing a deer skull headdress. In coming up with the composition, I also knew that I wanted a staff, but the shield only came about because that corner was so empty without it.

I used my Vampire Hunter D art book as a reference for the shading and line work. I still have a lot to learn, but this is probably the closest I've come to Amano's style so far. The more I study his work, the more i realize that he probably isn't drawing and inking these as fast as I imagine. Working within a time constraint means accepting that the final piece will not be as polished as I might like, but it also helps me to see the flaws in my strategy. I have a lot of elements to study up on when this month is over!

#inktober2025 #artwork #penandink #inktober #deer #druid

[redfreebluehope]

Inktober Day 4: Murky

When I hear "Murky," the first thing I think of is a swamp. And if I'm thinking of swamps I'm transported to Dagobah overlooking Yoda's hut. I had also thought about drawing a creepy castle in the swamp, but I couldn't help myself and had to pay homage to my favorite film.

I wanted to work on speeding up my inking, so I kept the sketch very simple and dived into inking, starting with the dark and working backwards into the light areas. I wouldn't mind trying this piece again starting with the lighter colors instead. I think it turned out okay, but I find that I continue to overwork a piece, even when simplifying the image would make the work go faster and look more aesthetically appealing.

#inktober #artwork #penandink #inktober2025 #Murky #swamp #dagobah

[redfreebluehope]

Inktober 2025 Day 3: Crown

I love how my goal was to get away from the nest and tidy style that I normally run with, but I just couldn't seem to help myself here 😅 At least it turned out pretty cool. I think it would make a metal tattoo!

#inktober2025 #inktober #penandinkdrawing #penandink #art #artwork #TattooDesign #crown #skull #lich

[redfreebluehope]

Posting a day late, but better than never! Inktober Day 2: Weave. In the Faerun setting for Dungeons and Dragons, The Weave is the name for the omnipresent order that makes magic possible. So, how could I hear "weave" and not think of casting a spell?

I still have a long way to go when it comes to drawing characters and clothing, but the focus of this piece is supposed to be the spell, and I will say I think the fire turned out really cool. I'm motivated to look up some similar illustrations to figure out how to improve on what I can do right now.

#inktober #inktober2025 #weave #theweave #penandinkdrawing #art #penandink #drawing #magic #spell

[redfreebluehope]

First creation for Inktober 2025!

I'm trying to work on loosening up, drawing and inking a little faster, and not worrying so much about perfecting every line. I'm using Yoshitaka Amano as my primary influence this month. I am desperately in love with his art and want his skills!

While this first piece turned out decent, I can already point out some things I want to work on. The background is empty. This character was supposed to be a bard, but I forgot to include an instrument. Their facial expression is very bland, practically neutral. I switched between techniques (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing).

Overall, I'm just glad I finished this piece on time!

#inktober #inktober2025 #mustache #penandink #penandinkdrawing #bard #art

[redfreebluehope]

Inspired by an old painting of Beowolf facing off against Grendel's mother, this particular drawing is starting to make me question whether or not I'm actually better with the greyscale markers, rather than straight up black and white.

I'll have to start copying old black and white etchings from the days before photography was widespread. So many fun art things to do, so little time!

#inktober #inktober52 #swamp #inktober52swamp #lizardfolk #fantasyart #art #penandink #drawing #nonbinary #nonbinaryartist

[redfreebluehope]

Zoo

This is probably my favorite drawing of the challenge so far! I've been obsessed with Shapeshifters, especially werewolves, for as long as I can remember, and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to draw a seriously badass looking werewolf for this prompt. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

On another note, I'm falling farther behind on new drawings because of my current gig. I'm trying to stay positive, but I'm kind of annoyed at the drop in my quality art time. We'll see how the rest of this week goes. I'm going to have to make the most of every minute I can.

#inktober #inktober52 #zoo #inktober52zoo #shapeshifter #werewolf #art #penandink #drawing #nonbinary #nonbinaryartist

[redfreebluehope]

I remember thinking when I stayed this piece that I really just wanted to draw the male form (even though most of these characters I'm drawing for Inktober are meant to be a little ambiguous, or non-conforming, or generally nonbinary), so I stuck with the typical image of Aqurius with his water pot.

I had the idea of using masking liquid to paint the stars so I could just go over the background with black ink. I used my fingers to rub the masking liquid off, but unfortunately that also rubbed off some of the ink and turned that part of the background a lighter shade of black. In a layer piece I found out that I could work on pulling these up one by one without damaging the background, so lesson learned!

This is another example of a piece that I thought was pretty goofy looking when I finished it, but I really love it now! I still need to spend more time just drawing the human figure, especially the face... I think I'm slowly getting better with bodies, but my faces are still very basic... ASD ftw air? 😆

#inktober52 #inktober #inktober52aquarius #aquarius #penandink #penandinkdrawing #drawing #art #zodiac #astrology #nonbinaryartist #nonbinary

[redfreebluehope]

So, even though I'm only two weeks behind on my drawings, I'm months behind on posting the finished pieces. I'm gonna have to push past my anxiety and just throw everything out there!

This is for week three prompt: Tick Tock. A vampire with a pocket watch. Now your assignment is to write an article on the themes ;)

This picture honestly took way longer than I though it would because I ended up with so many unfamiliar elements, such as the different textures of the materials in the throne and the outfit. I had to play around lot of guessing games with how to depict the play of shadows and light from the candles on all the elements from the foreground to the background.

I can still tell that getting the contrast right is my weakness. But I also feel like I need to practice drawing everything (not just human figures, but also furniture, fixtures, plants, etc. I read a Yoshitaka Amano biography where he said he threw himself into drawing anything and everything when he was a kid. I wish I could just draw all day long. That would be heaven!

#inktober52 #inktober #inktober52ticktock #penandink #penandinkdrawing #drawing #art #vampire #vampireart ##nonbinaryartist #nonbinary