The best book challenge ever.

So entertaining, for so many reasons.

In Arkansas:

A Bentonville man asked the city to pay his two sons $20,000 and to fire the library director for including what he called "pornography" in the Bentonville Public Library collection.

"The Whole Lesbian Sex Book" by Felice Newman was removed from the library shelf after Earl Adams of Bentonville complained it is "patently offensive and lacks any artistic, literary or scientific value," according to a letter he wrote and faxed Feb. 16 to Mayor Bob McCaslin.

His 14- and 16-year-old sons found the book while looking for information on... wait for it... wait for it... military academies.

From one of his complaints:  "My sons were greatly disturbed by viewing this material and this matter has caused many sleepless nights in our house."

Sleepless nights.  Heh.

If they found the material so disturbing, why did they look through the book?  Criminy -- just look at the cover, for Pete's sake!  It's quite clear what the book is about.  It's certainly not about military academies, at any rate.

Here's what I want to know -- is this the same Earl Adams of Bentonville?  (Second item.)

Anyway, on April 3rd, the advisory board voted to remove the book from circulation and replace it with a similar resource -- if possible.  If not, the book will be returned to the shelf.  Adams said if that happens, the Christian community will take legal action.  (And they might protest!)

The city attorney has said that the book is not pornography, that Adams' request for money made her "question his motivation", so, basically:  Bring It.

Comments

[Kelly Fineman]

Dear library:

Please take the lesbian book off your shelves. Because of this book, both of my boys are now blind and have hairy palms, to say nothing of their severe sleep deprivation after spending many nights perusing its pages. Which are now a bit sticky. There is no need for a public library to have such a book. That is why God invented the Victoria's Secret catalogue.

Signed,
A concerned parent

[hope]

"Which are now a bit sticky."

Dear Library

This is obviously a ruse to avoid replacement costs for a damaged book. Don't
let Mr. Adams get away without paying.

Signed,
A concerned patron

[Jen Robinson]

I wonder if the guy sent his kids to the library in search of a book like that, as a solution to his bankruptcy problem.

[Andrew Karre]

Man, those poor kids. I'm thinking school is a bit awkward right now for the Adams boys.

AK