But every year, the freedom that the black and white pages of a book afford us is threatened. In response, school councils, administrators, PTA groups and teachers tear books from shelves on grounds of inappropriateness, profanity or a host of other reasons. All are viable reasons, but it is not the fault of the author or the publisher.
Literature is a mirror of society.
Books that embrace hedonism, sex, graphic violence and drug use may be uncomfortable, but it's all part of the human experience. Even as a freshmen in college, I read it and was shaken, but rightfully so. Don't yank the books, they have more power in the hands of a reader than on the shelf. This weekend, bookstores and libraries across the nation will begin a celebration of the freedom to read with Banned Books Week. Read it, and appreciate the freedom you have in doing so.