The Boys Consider "Banned Books Week!"

First off, Larryville is in the midst of its own literary festival today--the River City Reading Festival--which raises the question: Since when is Larryville known as River City? Author Thomas Frank, author of the hugely popular What's Wrong With Kansas? is in town for the event, and Chip is expected to attend and answer Frank's titular question with a resounding: "Outside of Larryville, nothing is wrong with Kansas, my good sir!"

But primarily the boys are looking ahead, to the annual event known as "Banned Books Week" which kicks off on Monday, a celebration of our freedom to read what we want, when we want (during a designated week).

Chip: "This is such an anti-authoritarian event. It's obviously an attempt to 'stick it to the Man' by reading something He doesn't want us to read. But perhaps these books are banned for a good reason. For instance, Robie Harris's perpetually controversial guide to puberty, It's Perfectly Normal [#1 on the ALA's list of banned books of 06] attempts to describe a process that should be left for adolescents to figure out for themselves. It's so interesting to suddenly wake up and discover 'hair where there was no hair before,' as it's so well put in the Fuzzy Bunny educational videos. Why spoil the surprises?"

Richard: "Every year during Banned Book week I read a new title from the lists of frequently-banned books. This year it's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. I think it's primarily intended for little fat girls, but I assume we can all learn a few things from it."