I don’t really want to ban that stupid Modesty book because then that will just make it more beloved to the masses. We all know that’s what happens when a book is banned or challenged. It’s certainly happened for me. If we’re just talking about books and someone mentions Ordinary People, I’m likely to say “It was ok but no big deal” but as soon as I see it on the Banned/Challenged List I get all sentimental about it. Absence or the potential for absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?
I’m thrilled that three of the most challenged books last year had gay themes or undertones. (Yippee! Next year let’s get four!) Not because I’m all that thrilled with the books themselves, (though The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a favorite around here), but because those gay and not really all that great books are getting more attention than if folks had just kept their mouths shut about them. I mean really, “King & King”? Who would have given that a second look if folks hadn’t made such a stink. It certainly wasn’t going to replace Grimm’s Fairy Tales in the classic Prince and Princess love story genre, was it?
And since I’m on the topic of Banned and Challenged Books, can someone explain to me how Song of Solomon is porn? Because I don’t get it. At all. It’s not even erotica. If I handed Song of Solomon to Michelle and told her it was porn, she’d laugh her rear end off. And I’m glad.
Caged Bird, gay theme? Really? Thought it was the rape scene that was the problem.
Okay, that does it. I must find Modesty to see what the fuss is about.
Have you ever read anything by Christopher Rice? All his books have gay themes. I guess no one has bothered to challenge his stuff, though. Probably not enough teachers or school librarians pushing it. ha!
Hmmm, nothing on Christopher Rice’s author list seems familiar. I’ll add a couple to my reserve list. Thanks.
I don’t think that Tina Angeletti makes much of a case. She’s on a rampage over a book she admits to not having read. She, mistakenly, feels competent enough to make claims about how everyone else speaks. Not to mention that the only word she can come up with is “pornography”? So, Toni Morrison won the Nobel Prize for Pornography for her work? When did they start giving that one out?
Haha, Nobel Prize for Pornography. I bet she would think that was quite the honor. 😉
Song of Solomon, eh? Then what do they say about Love, also by Toni Morrison? That 11-year-old bride thing is pretty scandalous.