Always Pouting’s Reviews > Beloved > Status Update

My local “school board” is hell-bent on banning this novel. Raise your flag high, A.P.! 👍🏻💪🏻

Here's a quote from my local "paper": "Board member [name struck to prevent embarrasment] said he reviewed some of the passages in question.

'I read a handful and I had to stop," [he] said. "I was saddened. It was disheartening. It was horrific, dehumanizing, defiling humans, and it was vile. The passages I read had that effect on me.'"

Wow. A "handfull" and "had to stop". Maybe he should have tried "Last Exit to Brooklyn".

What age group are they trying to ban it for? I can understand being horrified reading it, I thought the book wasn't getting to me but then the night I started it I had such a bad nightmare I woke up in the middle of the night.

I do think though that people shouldn't turn away from things and the whole point is to have that kind of effect! I don't know why he would want to take that away from kids

I've never heard of Last Exit to Brooklyn, would you recommend it?

High schoolers are the demographic this person wants to “protect” (they’re also trying to ban the Kite Runner). Last Exit is by Hubert Shelby., Jr. It was published in 1964. I have the Grove Press paperback from that era. It’s pretty “raw” and disturbing. Big on “shock value” and of questionable “redeeming social value”. I’m by no means a prude or squeamish, but can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone really. Proceed with caution would be my advice.

If you had nightmares with Beloved, you’ll definitely have them with “Last Exit”. “The Road” is like Mother Goose compared to “Last Exit”.

Jay wrote: "High schoolers are the demographic this person wants to “protect” (they’re also trying to ban the Kite Runner). Last Exit is by Hubert Shelby., Jr. It was published in 1964. I have the Grove Press ..."

I mean I think high schoolers are old enough to be able to read this or Kite Runner and be fine. People are so melodramatic, I'm sure kids have seen worse online. I know I had.

I don't know why I had a nightmare honestly, I feel like this wasn't as disturbing as other things I've read. Who can tell with brains though I guess 🤷‍♀️

I think I have Requiem for a Dream by him but I haven't gotten around to reading it because I saw the movie and it was off putting. Not sure I want to read either honestly if its just about being disturbing for the sake of being disturbing.

I’m not familiar with Requiem. I was “done” with Mr. Selby-not Shelby, my bad-after Last Exit. I agree that high schoolers (at least juniors and seniors) are probably mature enough to tackle difficult themes and not cone away “warped”. Certain “adults”, on the other hand…