Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him."
— Maya Angelou

Love your story Marvin. I was a book fiend also. I received lots of raised eyebrows in my youth because I didn't respect the Young Adult reading room's border, I think. The librarians would always ask if I actually finished all of the books that I checked out (yes), if my parents knew what I was reading (yes again) and if I did well in school (solid yes). You would think that librarians would be more liberal as to reading and would be glad to see a kid loving books as much as I did. Bitches...ha!

I asked the librarian in the other group to clarify, and she said:

In my library if a patron asks for something and it isn't available on inter library loan, as a policy we check amazon. If it's reasonably priced, we order it. The best thing to do is just ask if it would be possible to order the item. As long as it's a reasonable request (i.e. fits it with the rest of the collection and isn't totally overpriced) then the library will most likely purchase it.

Ooo, Marvin, that's funny! I used to visit the library once a week and leave with a backpack stuffed full of books but I was never quizzed. :)

Back when I was a kid in the 60s, The L.A. libraries would mark the title page of any book they did not feel suitable for minors with a black triangle. They were essentially banned for anyone under 18 and I was 12. I told my father that they wouldn't let me check out certain books.Two of them were Fail-Safe and On The Beach. I was in my cold war apocalypse stage. He stormed into the library and told the librarian that I could check out any book I wanted to and he would sign something saying I could. I never had a problem with the librarian again, except...

Not too long after that, the librarian complained to my father I was checking out too many books and I surely couldn't read all ten or twelve of them in a week's time. My father simply pointed to each book and told me to tell the librarian the plots, which I did. I think the poor librarian started to cringe after that whenever I entered the library.

I don't think she was talking about an inter-library loan. She said they'd buy it. Although I've gotten many inter-library loans, I've never tried this myself.

My library did not like the graphic novels I requested. Many times they accidentally ordered an incorrect volume or a completely different gn. By the way they treated me when I asked about it, I'd bet money that it was intentional to convince me to stop requesting interlibrary loans. It worked and I've even discontinued going to the lbrary for my boys. My library makes me very angry.

i sometimes wonder about my libraries policies. they don't carry any jack ketchum. but, like you said jeremiah you can do requests in the form of inter-library loans. they will borrow from the closest library out of the county, you will have to be patient. i am currently sticking it to the man with about 6 inter-library loan requests. take that!

According to Rosalia, a librarian, in the group Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY!:

---------
If you really want to read something and don't mind waiting, you should consider requesting it from your library. Most libraries have a policy of purchasing books on patron request, as long as it's a reasonable request (i,e, no requesting a ridiculously expensive textbook that you need for a college class at your public library).
---------------

Granted this probably wouldn't work if the library actually has banned it, but it might just be a book they haven't gotten yet. It's worth a try.

Maybe I'm just naturally suspicious, but when my county library system doesn't carry a certain book (for us grown-up readers, I mean), I think of it as a form of banning that particular book because of subject matter. My library doesn't have Let the Right One In, or Stone Butch Blues A Novel, for example.

I hereby protest Jeremiah's book on the grounds of...of...well....I don't like his name!

Does that help? Do I get a percentage of profits?

No one has objected to anything about my book yet, but it's still really new. (published in September) However, there's a lot in it that I'm sure the book-banning zealots won't like if they read it. But I won't get into that in this thread.

I was just saying, I doubt any work has ever suffered much do to an attempt to ban. It's ridiculous they would keep trying. But even without the publicity issue, I can't understand why one would even try to force opinions on everyone else. If someone doesn't want to read something themselves - or doesn't want their children reading something - that's fine, but to actually take the great effort to attempt to ban something ... It's just silly.

Haha...I agree with you Jeremiah. I know there is a lot of rumors started for publicity reasons, in television, film and books. Maybe we'll start a group thread protesting your book. Anyone know how to get a book on a BANNED list?? Haha

Jeremiah, has anyone told you yet that they objected to anything in your book?

I wrote this in another group but it seems to fit here too:

One thing I've never understood is, don't the protesters realize their protest is creating intrigue about the book. I remember when I first got to my permanent duty station in the army, they gave us a list of places we couldn't go. Of course, we had to explore each of them and find out why we couldn't go there. :)

I'm not sure of any authors, but bands often generate negative press on purpose (ie M. Manson would put out negative rumors about himself). I would LOVE people to protest my book.

We (my boys and I) havent read that one. Looks good, I'll keep my eyes open for it.

Kathryn wrote: "Ha, I forgot about that! You're right, we all have butts and come on, the boy in book is a baby, a toddler at the most, right?"

yup, a toddler, and i don't even think there's a full frontal. have you ever read Outside Over There, now that is a truly creepy premise for a children's book. I LOVE IT, the kids are always like.. again?? i'm surprised that didn't make the list

Ha, I forgot about that! You're right, we all have butts and come on, the boy in book is a baby, a toddler at the most, right?

i guess i'm not shocked (although a bit appalled) by sendak's In The Night Kitchen being on the list . that is an all time favorite with my children and i, and yes they are all under 8. the man is a genius, and we all do have butts, there i said it

I am very sorry to hear about your friend Phillip, but I am happy that you will have some wonderful memories. I have little experience with the beat poets but I have heard a great deal about them being banned.

speaking of banned books, lenore kandell, a friend and former neighbor just passed away last week. she was a beat writer and poet whose book of poetry, the love book, was banned for some time. she was arrested at a book signing when the book came out (for possessing a copy of her own book!). lenore was a beautiful person, she was in a bad motorcycle accident in the 60's and had to use a cane to get around. we had a lot of great conversations about keruoac and ginsberg and the gang, all of whom she knew really well. keruoac wrote about her in one of his books, but i forget which one...

Brian wrote: "I love how most of the previously banned books and challenged books eventually become academic required reading!"

I think that's probably how they GET banned. Some parent bitches about little Johnny being forced to read Huckleberry Finn...the school overreacts...city "fathers" get involved...voila! Instant ban.

That would be interesting to research though....how much more popular books become after people attempt to ban them. I know I get curious about books like that.

HAhaha! Rob, you are too funny.

I love how most of the previously banned books and challenged books eventually become academic required reading!

Just don't slip up and say, "I am a gay robot". Or an atheist robot. Or a stuttering robot. Or.....

Well, you know how dangerous imaginations are...haha. I'd hate for people to their their minds and be creative in any way. We must all be sheep and conform. Please repeat: I AM A ROBOT. I AM A ROBOT.

Kathryn wrote: "Alice in Wonderland - Banned in the province of Hunan, China (1931) for the portrayal of anthropomorphized animals acting on the same level as humans."

Next they'll be banning imagination... or has that already happened??

Ahh, the sarcasm is so thick in here!!
Here, I found this to be very interesting...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boo...

Alice in Wonderland - Banned in the province of Hunan, China (1931) for the portrayal of anthropomorphized animals acting on the same level as humans.

But two willing and able penguins? We gotta draw the line somewhere;)

I would totally ban a book that had two willing and able adults lovingly raise a child who needs parents.

Kathryn wrote: "Some people consider the book to promote acceptance of homosexulaity. In the book, two male penguins raise a baby penguin together. I'm not surprised this book has been banned so much. I checked a ..."



Acceptance of homosexuality?!? We can't have that!! Next thing you know, our kids will be forced to accept all KINDS of people who are different from themselves! The horror!! <---sarcasm

I was just screwing around re: Winnie the Pooh. I had no idea it was actually banned anywhere!

Gypsy, that would be too funny if I wasn't more than a little disturbed by it. :)

Oh, and Kathryn, you'll surely want to see this explanation of anti-Pooh sentiments as well:

http://www.qatarliving.com/blog/camper/d...

According to NPR, Winnie the Pooh is banned "for its promotion of juvenile delinquency."

Some people consider the book to promote acceptance of homosexulaity. In the book, two male penguins raise a baby penguin together. I'm not surprised this book has been banned so much. I checked a ways back, my library does not have it and I would read since it sounds like a good story. I even understand why Babar would be banned but I'm still stumped by Winnie the Pooh!

I loved Babar as a kid. It was one of my very favorites, though I don't remember very much other than the pictures.

And Tango Makes Three is always the most banned book ...has anyone here looked at it? Interestingly, adults who've seen the male penguins raising the chick at the Central Park Zoo always, according to news stories, seemed amused by the idea, and used it as a chance to teach about acceptance. So I've wondered how the book could be considered inappropriate for children.

I would also add defending a system that promotes racism promotes racism. I think we've had a little experience in the U.S. on this one. However, the rest I agree with. Books that were written long ago and may have some no longer acceptable ideas can be used as valuable teaching experiences. And, as I said before, Babar is a great story even without the historical issues.

Marvin wrote: "The reason they want to ban Babar usually has to do with the rampant defense of French Colonialism which in turn promotes racism."

That's funny, I thought actually teaching your kid to hate other races promotes racism and books based on actual events in history promote questions about why this or that was the case or why he or she wears that crown and such and such, why, why, etc. and it is during that why stuff a parent can posit the notion of racism or (preferably)teach the kid properly about past historical events!!

The reason they want to ban Babar usually has to do with the rampant defense of French Colonialism which in turn promotes racism. Actually that is exactly what the children book did. Fortunately today's children can read it for what else it is; a charming children story. This book banning crap is ridiculous.

And I always wondered what Christopher Robin was doing with Pooh down by the school yard. (Isn't that the Paul Simon version? This flu is getting to me).

Please tell me none of those are real reasons! :) Pooh bear is one of my all time (and my kids) favorites.

Don't forget - the beaver has a stutter & whistle. They took that little detail out of the latest Winnie The Pooh shows on Disney Channel - it's just not the same without Beaver's whistle! HA

Didn't you know? Eeyore is bi-polar, Tigger has ADD, Rabbit is obsessive-compulsive, and Christopher Robin has "Peter Pan Syndrome". Some book for our children to read!!

And why was Winnie the Pooh on the list? !!

Both I think.

I know there's been arguments to ban Babar the Elephant books so I'm sure there's other crazy ones out there.

Do they still try to ban Huckleberry Finn every few years? Or was that Tom Sawyer?

There was no internet back when I was in school! I kinda wish there had been, though.

"All those people have nothing better to do than object to a book? "

Hell....that's what I thought back when I was in school!

I'm glad to see book bannings are becoming less frequent though.

With all the problems in schools today, internet content, and violent video games, all those people have nothing better to do than object to a book? What century are they living in?

I was surprised by some of the grounds for challenge. I mean, insensitivity, really? That's just silly. The others just make me angry.

I'm surprised there has been a decline in the number of challenges over the last 10 years. I expected to see the opposite. Maybe there might be some classics left by the time my kids get to school.