Banned Books discussion

So when you say "Book you're hiding" do you mean to say that the book was written by the person hiding it or that it's just a book they were ashamed of other people knowing they owned?

Cause I know E.M. Forster books Maurice was found and published after his death and it was a book about homosexual lovers which really changed how his writing was received after his death because he, himself was a homosexual but I don't think he'd ever written about it before then.

Haha! Ya a book I own like that is probably The Perks of Being a Wallflower it looks harmless, but if anybody were to pick it up and read it...well

Any of the Sleeping Beauty books by Anne Rice. Those books will make your hair curl. Maybe that's the benefit of having an e-reader. You can always have the book on there but then reset it to make it look like you never got around to reading it.

Shannon wrote: "Any of the Sleeping Beauty books by Anne Rice. Those books will make your hair curl. Maybe that's the benefit of having an e-reader. You can always have the book on there but then reset it to ma..."

Haha! I never thought of it that way! I think I would have to say to add to this list The Parallel Universe of Liars which seems like a completely innocent book but...no

Gorfo, I think I've read that book. It's not really memorable, but the title seems familiar. I know that I disliked it even if the title was cool.

yep! The title pulled me in. But the book itself was a disaster

Somewhere on a shelf in my house there lies Anne Bishop's The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness It's absolute schlock with cloying prose so purple it's actually that color beyond purple from the dungeon dimension in Diskworld. Not that that vibrancy does much for variety, even the redundancy is redundant. You could easily died in a drinking game based on every time the author mentions "black eyes and golden skin". But the best part has to be the bizarro world themes about sex and gender relations. I can't really summarize it; everything is so extreme. so skewed you start to wonder about the author's personal life. It also has some incredibly cheesy cover art guaranteed to incite the amused interest of browsers. I should probably toss them already but I figure someday I'll come across the literary equivalent of the person who likes bad horror films and be able to pass it on to a new home.

I have a handful of erotic books hidden in the back of my closet under a pile of shoes I never wear. I'm embarrassed by it but no one who knows me would be shocked by it so it probably (hopefully) wouldn't change their opinions of me.

I know it has been a while since this thread was updated, but because of an incident at the DMV yesterday I am now hiding the book Fatherland. I got a used copy at a garage sale a few weeks ago and I was accused by the lady sitting next to me of being a Nazi.

So now in decades when I die (god willing) my kids will probably assume I'm a Nazi.

Shannon wrote: "Any of the Sleeping Beauty books by Anne Rice. Those books will make your hair curl. Maybe that's the benefit of having an e-reader. You can always have the book on there but then reset it to ma..."

I love those books :)

Dutch wrote: "Christine wrote: "I know it has been a while since this thread was updated, but because of an incident at the DMV yesterday I am now hiding the book Fatherland. I got a used copy at a..."

Maybe putting a giant swastika on the cover is NOT such a good idea. I would likely not be interested in reading a book that had a giant swastika on its cover (I'm German, I could just imagine all of the comments this would generate). And honestly, for me, swastikas on a book cover, although I can understand why they might appear, are a huge, huge turn-off.

Book covers that go for shock value are a real problem as they might get books banned that would likely have never even been thought of as being controversial.

I really enjoyed it (as I do most counter-factual fiction) and in terms of the actual content of the book is was pretty harmless. But, the cover is enough to evoke strong emotions in most people (I would think).

I believe that either later or earlier editions did have a different cover.

i wonder if the author of the swastika book cover book is upset. I mean, i dont think authors get much say in cover art. I'd be upset if they did that to me!

I know this one is sort of obvious, but I dont think I'd keep a copy of any VC Andrews novels lying around. Is it just me, or does it seem like she's really fascinated by incest, lol? As in, portraying it in a positive light? Just thinking about her book makes me shudder sometimes.

Virginia Andrews definitely loves the incestuous story lines! And here is a classic example of something I hate.... other people writing books in your name after you die aka the new Virginia Andrews, also Robert Ludlum!

I have the Kama Sutra for Women hidden in a draw, it is basically the kama sutra from a woman's perspective instead of a man. But I don't want my mum or nieces or nephews to find it!

Starry wrote: "Virginia Andrews definitely loves the incestuous story lines! And here is a classic example of something I hate.... other people writing books in your name after you die aka the new Virginia Andrew..."

I'm with you on those counts I have a copy of the Kama Sutra for women too and I keep it hidden under my matress.

i used to have the sleeping beauty books and don't remember what happened to them (perhaps they were 'acquired' by somebody that found them.) i have several books of 'erotica' that i keep in my bedside table, but i don't think anybody would be shocked if they found them. i recently traveled to England and "hid" the copy of The Communist Manifesto that i was reading. i would hate to have TSA agents think i was a communist! (i'm not -- i've just never read it before)

I read The Communist Manifesto for my PhD thesis, and I've also read other "controversial" books for education, enlightenment, sometimes for secondary materials for term papers etc. I was writing. And I am not going to hide any of these books. Who cares what others think of me? I might not necessarily take books that are banned into certain countries where having these books might get one arrested, but in my own home, I do not hide or attempt to hide any books.

i have no problem reading it on the train or at work, but the less interaction i have with the TSA, the better

Naomi wrote: "i have no problem reading it on the train or at work, but the less interaction i have with the TSA, the better"

What does TSA stand for? I am terrible with Acronyms. Oh, and one does have to be careful, but The Communist Manifesto is really quite mild when you consider it, certainly less problematic than many other political/philosophical books.

Gundula wrote: "Naomi wrote: "i have no problem reading it on the train or at work, but the less interaction i have with the TSA, the better"

What does TSA stand for? I am terrible with Acronyms. Oh, and one do..."

sorry -- TSA transportation security administration. those folks who pat you down, go through your luggage (occasionally) and x-ray you at the airport.

Naomi wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Naomi wrote: "i have no problem reading it on the train or at work, but the less interaction i have with the TSA, the better"

What does TSA stand for? I am terrible with Acronym..."

Yeah, they are annoying.

I don't like people judging me more than they already are. I also don't like strangers asking me about my book while I'm reading. So if I were more organized I would put a book cover on my books. I definitely would if it had a giant swastika on the cover. However, wasn't that a best seller when it came out? I can remember something like that so everyone knew what it was.

I reread that and it sounds really awful. I just meant that because I am very heavy I get a lot of people treating me like I'm stupid and I feel uncomfortable so I don't want someone to judge me more because it just makes me sad. I shouldn't care what people think but I do. I don't like being treated like a lesser human being.

I don't mind talking to people about my books but if I'm in the middle of reading and I don't have a lot of time to read, I just don't want to be interrupted. Plus I just like privacy.

Hopefully that sounds better. :)

Kelly wrote: "I reread that and it sounds really awful. I just meant that because I am very heavy I get a lot of people treating me like I'm stupid and I feel uncomfortable so I don't want someone to judge me mo..."

Kelly, I understood what you were saying right away. I generally don't like people asking me what I am reading when I am reading (if it's just distracting and often, it's a more obscure title or a children's novel, I get snarky comments, not cool). People often judge or make comments especially if one dares to think and/or act outside of the box.

Kelly wrote: "I don't like people judging me more than they already are. I also don't like strangers asking me about my book while I'm reading. So if I were more organized I would put a book cover on my books. I definitely would if it had a giant swastika on the cover"

the Communist Manifesto has nothing to do with Nazis; therefore no swastika. and it's exactly that kind of misunderstanding that makes me put my book away when i'm at the airport.

Naomi wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I don't like people judging me more than they already are. I also don't like strangers asking me about my book while I'm reading. So if I were more organized I would put a book cover ..."

I think Kelly was thinking of another book featured in the same thread, but earlier, Fatherland, which does seem to have a huge swastika on its cover.

Gundula wrote: "Naomi wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I don't like people judging me more than they already are. I also don't like strangers asking me about my book while I'm reading. So if I were more organized I would put..."

thanks for the clarification!! my apologies

Naomi wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Naomi wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I don't like people judging me more than they already are. I also don't like strangers asking me about my book while I'm reading. So if I were more organ..."

It's sometimes easy to lose track, I've done the same (repeatedly).

In Seattle probably no one would even notice me reading the Communist Manifesto. :)

I lose track all the time. Sorry to be unclear! :)

Kelly

haha! that's funny. i would love to go back to Seattle someday -- visited there about...25 years ago and really liked it, but haven't been back to the pacific northwest since. someday.
and i'll bring my copy of the communist manifesto so i fit in.

I have a whole stack of the Nexus fetish erotica novels piled up in a plastic tote at the back of my closet. I love some of the authors to death (Christina Shelly and Jennifer Jane Pope especially), but the covers/titles alone would likely be enough to have family members shaking their heads and crying it must be some sort of mistake. :)

In the 1970s my mother bought an Emile Zola paperback with cover art featuring three young ladies looking something like a cross between Cabaret and an S&M club. She jokingly apologised for it being so inappropriate but refused to cover it over.

I got hassled by some guy for reading a copy of Bitch Magazine last week. I'm hanging out at a Waffle House at 3am dude, are you actually surprised that I have no shame?

Polkweed wrote: "I got hassled by some guy for reading a copy of Bitch Magazine last week. I'm hanging out at a Waffle House at 3am dude, are you actually surprised that I have no shame?"
He was probably trying to chat you up but too dumb to know how :0)

Yeah, for my Human Sexuality classes I have had to read a LOT of books with "questionable" titles. My favorite was probably The Rape of the APE. It's a really old hippie book about sexual freedom, but the bolded title got a LOT of looks.

Oh, A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis was a pretty good one too. Yes, I am reading about penises. I am a young female acknowledging in public that, yes, I know what a penis is.

It's so annoying when people look at your book and are all "Wow, what's THAT about?" Usually I try to give the most graphic descriptions possible. Might as well give them what they want!

As for my future children, they'll probably know that their mother studied sex, so I doubt they'll be shocked by anything they find. At least they'll be able to write off any erotica as "Mom's research."

great discussion! half my bookcase would probably raise some Qs? lol i have several books - most are on my kindle for pc/ipod that are of the bdsm/s&m genre, some are listed on my "erotica" bookcase. need to add the rest.

my bookcase as a whole is wide-ranging from winnie the pooh [who i adore!] & several books about Hitler [who i detest beyond words] & works of the classics...

the one that may get me busted is a book of short stories called "best bondage erotica - 2011" it's HOT!

I am laughing SO hard! This discussion is SO refreshing! Mine aren't hidden-hidden, my kids know that their Mom is a bit of an odd duck :) I have The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander in my room in the closet, I proudly own the entire Black Jewels series on the main bookshelves, I have a few of the Kushiel series, again, twisted sexuality, whorehouses, S & M references, etc. I also have on my Pagan shelves I have a book called Sensuous Magic that explores ritual through the power of love. That one's also in my bedroom closet with the rest of my pagan books.

LeeAnn *the crazy, hell on wheels crip* wrote: "great discussion! half my bookcase would probably raise some Qs? lol i have several books - most are on my kindle for pc/ipod that are of the bdsm/s&m genre, some are listed on my "erotica" bookcas..."

Where's the Like button LeeAnn! LOL :)

And of course, we've ALL read The Joy of Sex, LOL

Polkweed wrote: "I got hassled by some guy for reading a copy of Bitch Magazine last week. I'm hanging out at a Waffle House at 3am dude, are you actually surprised that I have no shame?"

Being at Waffle House at 3AM is something to be more ashamed of than reading 'Bitch'. lol

I picked up a used copy of Twilight for $1 in a store that had an overstock of them. Hope to read it soon. I'm a middle-aged male who has never read anything with vampires and werewolves. Maybe I'll really like it, but for now I'm a little ashamed of it.

I used to work in a bookstore when I was in my early twenties so collected quite a bunch of books that my folks would wonder why and how I got them? I suspect my copy of Nancy Friday's Men in Love (that I got given by a friend) would raise a few eyebrows!

Well if people saw a book I bought today on a bookshelfSatan's Church they would probably assume I had converted to a Satanist.

That's unfortunate. I would read that title and assume you were a Christian reading about some heathens. :)

Polkweed wrote: "Somewhere on a shelf in my house there lies Anne Bishop's The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness It's absolute schlock with cloying prose so pu..."

ROFLMAO!!! I have almost the entire series & I for one, absolutely LOVE them :) It's fantasy for the sake of fantasy, & yes, even though the sex themes are twisted, it's interesting. If everyone was the same, how boring the world would be :)

Dutch wrote: "Gorfo wrote: "So when you say "Book you're hiding" do you mean to say that the book was written by the person hiding it or that it's just a book they were ashamed of other people knowing they owned..."

I read Delta of Venus just this past month for my 1001 Book list challenge, have not yet read O, but it's on my list. That one was, well.....an interesting collection, to say the least...

I loved most of Delta of Venus, although some was disturbing. I have mixed feelings about Story of O.