tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post3720165836286558291..comments2024-03-18T17:05:21.126+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: Contains Language and sexUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-43372531959265681082011-02-13T13:03:04.478+00:002011-02-13T13:03:04.478+00:00Laurie Halse Anderson's 'Speak'?Laurie Halse Anderson's 'Speak'?Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-89084138210208362382011-02-11T11:28:45.158+00:002011-02-11T11:28:45.158+00:00Anne, I was thinking about what you wrote - didn&#...Anne, I was thinking about what you wrote - didn't you post it somewhere? I couldn't remember who it was who'd written about censorship, I kinda have the feeling you did an ABBA blog. The thing I did remember, but didn't want to be too lengthy, was the book about a girl who'd been sexually abused/raped, and it was objected to because of the subject matter.<br />My parents were enraged by the first novel I ever wrote because the character in it divorced her husband. This was an adult novel. She thought I was 'advocating' divorce. This, though I had been very happily married to the same man for years and years. I think the term 'moral panic' is appropriate, with the accent on the panic.<br /><br />And, as Gillian and catdownunder said, if kids grow up with no idea of what's going on round them, they are far more likely to get into trouble. Also, if their parents don't discuss drugs, for example, sensibly with them, they are far more likely to end up getting into trouble that way - and I don't mean getting the odd puff of cannabis or even trying out an E. And then, of course, there are the parents who are 'too embarrassed' to tell their kids about sex. I personally find this hard to comprehend - but that, of course, is why some people complain about my writing!!Leslie Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105465949970430998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-58728601406747346032011-02-11T11:09:25.032+00:002011-02-11T11:09:25.032+00:00Oh don't get me started. The unfortunate thing...Oh don't get me started. The unfortunate thing is that teachers and librarians have to run scared of parents who don't think little Tamsin will EVER hear the word 'fuck' if it doesn't occur in her reading matter. I've been told on the quiet that CROSSING THE LINE wasn't even considered for a certain shortlist - but only because of *ahem* the subject matter and language.<br /><br />As an aside, I run the tiny library in my kids' rural primary, just one morning a week. Last week I had two kids stop by the shelves, one of whom has real trouble choosing books because she's 'not allowed to read Harry Potter.' Oh, how about this? It's about a dog called Marley. 'I'm not allowed to read Marley.'<br /><br />MARLEY?<br /><br />Then there's the boy who was delighted to find a book called 'Taking Drugs' because he thought it might be some kind of instruction manual.<br /><br />Oh well, I know which of them will be better prepared to face life in the big bad world.<br /><br />Fab post, Leslie. But oh, drat, you got me started.Gillian Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143802491301982960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-40114792581845757012011-02-11T10:48:25.886+00:002011-02-11T10:48:25.886+00:00Wouldn't fiction be heartless if we wrote by i...Wouldn't fiction be heartless if we wrote by instruction. You write the story you write, if that's not what one stressed reader wants, let her read something else.Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642615452680721583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-79964993020681926312011-02-11T09:29:14.834+00:002011-02-11T09:29:14.834+00:00Spot on, Leslie. So often, the problems rest with ...Spot on, Leslie. So often, the problems rest with the adults. And I believe that many "..are afraid to have their fantasies of stainless childhood disturbed."Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-17913102217061123262011-02-11T09:24:48.467+00:002011-02-11T09:24:48.467+00:00Surely trying to protect children or young adults ...Surely trying to protect children or young adults from such things just makes them more vulnerable? The vicarious experience can be just as important as the real one!catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-67502896062655062712011-02-11T08:30:56.440+00:002011-02-11T08:30:56.440+00:00Well said, Leslie. I agree entirely, as I'm su...Well said, Leslie. I agree entirely, as I'm sure most of us here will. Of course children and teens want to see their feelings and considered realistically and sympathetically mirrored and explored. If the characters didn't make love in SR a good many readers would dismiss the book as naive, moralistic or unknowing.<br /><br />I've been on the (am on) the list of books banned in the US and wrote for <a href="http://newhumanist.org.uk/2404/banned-the-hidden-censorship-of-childrens-books" rel="nofollow">New Humanist</a> about censorship in children's literature - which extends far beyond sex and bad language, sadly.Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.com