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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Books This Can Only End Well

Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 1:22 PM

3769/1244743205-01622.gif

A group in Milwaukee is suing a library for the right to burn a book by Francesca Lia Block because it's “explicitly vulgar, racial, and anti-Christian.” (I think that "racial" is supposed to be "racist.")

“the plaintiffs, all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged by this book at the library,” specifically because Baby Be-Bop contains the “n” word and derogatory sexual and political epithets that can incite violence and “put one’s life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike.”

The four plaintiffs are also suing for $30,000 each for the mental damages of "being exposed" to the book.

(Via Bookshelves of Doom.)

Comments (18) RSS

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i read lots of FLB books as a teenager (as all liberal, artsy girls do), and the only effect it had on me was my over-use of glitter in my make up and my desire to be an ~* urban faerie *~.

Posted by alithea on June 11, 2009 at 1:31 PM

Nah, lets throw the shriveled old hags on the bonfire instead. These women deserve to be burned alive. Fucking Nazis.

Posted by Rotten666 on June 11, 2009 at 1:35 PM

Burning IS the only way to destroy a witch.

Posted by Jesse on June 11, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Uhhh.... Why did they read it?

Posted by sepiolida on June 11, 2009 at 1:40 PM

#4 - it's not clear they did. I think they might actually be suing over it being displayed?

Posted by Dougsf on June 11, 2009 at 1:46 PM

Are they suing over the book being on the shelf? If I recall correctly, the cover is pretty abstract, so lord knows how they found that offensive. If they're suing because reading it traumatised them, reading the back of the book should have given them enough of a heads-up that they probably wouldn't like it.

Posted by duckgirlie on June 11, 2009 at 1:57 PM

ahhh not weetzie bat!

Posted by Josh Bomb

on June 11, 2009 at 2:09 PM

It's usually shelved in the YA section, right? I think it's also won awards for helping reluctant readers or something like that.

.

Posted by Secret Agent Lover Man on June 11, 2009 at 2:23 PM

And look! They don't want just to protect the rest of us from the vicious literature, they want money to make good the harm they suffered. Because we all know that 30 grand will assuage the emotional damage that just looking at at book can cause. Poor plaintiffs-I bet they get their girdle-clad asses handed to them in short order.
We're all exposed to harmful thoughts and ideas every day-just read the news sometimes. I wonder why they feel that this one title was so egregiously dangerous that it could “put one’s life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike.”
I've met lots of folks who incite violence after reading the bible, and none who did so after reading Weetzie Bat.

Posted by BakerB on June 11, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Filing frivolous lawsuits is a crime.

Posted by Move To Dismiss on June 11, 2009 at 2:32 PM

I thought it was a bunch of dudes filing the lawsuit because they SAW it on the shelves and it offended them to the tune of $30,000. Hey guys, guess what? I'm offended that I saw the phrase "Christian Civil Liberties Union" repeatedly over the last few days, so I think you owe me about $300,000. Pay up. God forbid you saw a book that contained a gay protagonist finding his true love while surrounded by and supported by a non-traditional open-minded family. THE HORROR!

Posted by Jessica on June 11, 2009 at 2:37 PM

#9 You are right on. I think they see themselves portrayed and it bothers them.

Posted by tabletop_joe on June 11, 2009 at 2:44 PM

Is this how it works? I am totally suing over Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Damn that book made my colon clench.

Posted by Reg on June 11, 2009 at 2:56 PM

@3:

But the only way to PROVE they're witches is to dunk them under water using the tried-and-true "witch=duck test".

Posted by COMTE

on June 11, 2009 at 2:58 PM

I'm pretty sure that anyone who hates Francesca Lia Block books also hates freedom. And kittens. And maybe even birthdays.

Posted by sarabethhayden

on June 11, 2009 at 10:05 PM

@15 you are totally right!
Weetzie Bat FOREVER!!!

Posted by Francesca Lia Block is my girlfriend on June 11, 2009 at 11:38 PM

My emotional well-being was damaged by the Bible.

Posted by Johnny on June 12, 2009 at 8:58 AM

Come this Sunday I shall burn a copy of the Holy Bible in retaliation for the psychic and emotional trauma its adherents have visited upon me. Verily.

Posted by FreudianShrimp on June 12, 2009 at 9:02 AM