I still remember being dinged by the science teacher in middle school for lugging around Samuel Butler's "The Way of all Flesh". He told me I had no business bringing that kind of disgusting pornography onto school grounds. I asked him if wanted to write a note to my parents or to the principal, but something in my tone must have given my intent away, cause I could not get him to criticize Samuel Butler as a pornographer in writing.

Here's a fun quote from Cornel West's new book:

“The basic problem with my love relationships with women is that my standards are so high -- and they apply equally to both of us. I seek full-blast mutual intensity, fully fledged mutual acceptance, full-blown mutual flourishing, and fully felt peace and joy with each other. This requires a level of physical attraction, personal adoration, and moral admiration that is hard to find. And it shares a depth of trust and openness for a genuine soul-sharing with a mutual respect for a calling to each other and to others. Does such a woman exist for me? Only God knows and I eagerly await this divine unfolding. Like Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship in Emily Bronte’s remarkable novel Wuthering Heights or Franz Schubert’s tempestuous piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat (D.960) I will not let life or death stand in the way of this sublime and funky love that I crave!”

Good luck with that.

Decline of the West

eta: He's getting divorced for the fourth time.

Ah, sixth grade, when I got put in the far back corner next to the classroom bookcase. I don't think they heard a peep out of me all year, as I worked my way through 5 grades worth of readers and the entire encyclopedia.

"WE are the ones who make the decisions regarding what Erin is capable of reading. WE have discussed material in books with her. WE decide what she can or cannot read. And WE have decided she is capable of reading this book."

The library wants to take the above away from me, apparently.

I had an experience similar to yours in the library, by the way. They wouldn't let me browse the adult (gen., not sexy adult) books after I'd worked my way through the children's room.

To a parent like me, who encourages my child to read at every turn (and takes an exceedingly light touch with guidance), seeing the library (which has no problem sending me a bill with book titles when the books are lost) running interference is disappointing. Fortunately, my kid is more than happy to talk to me about what she reads.

It took me a while to understand that books lying around weren't mine for the taking. I'd pick a book up from school, and if I finished it at home, that's where I put it down. I also acquired more than a few books of friends. Libraries I returned to. Friends if they remembered to ask. Otherwise? My book collection burgeoned.

I haven't read Wuthering Heights but aren't you supposed to not model your relationships off it?

Like Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship in Emily Bronte’s remarkable novel Wuthering Heights

PUPPY. KILLER.

I get the feeling that people who cite this book don't remember it very well.

I get the feeling that people who cite this book don't remember it very well.

Or they're thinking of the Olivier movie.

Christopher Pike

Oh lordy. That brings back memories. "Remember Me" and "Weekend" are the most vivid, probably b/c I owned them and therefore read them each many, many times.

I didn't ever get in trouble for reading in school, that I remember. My mom did once try and get me to stop reading Judy Blume books b/c she felt they were a little age-inappropriate. I'd read a bunch by then, anyway, and kept on reading them behind her back.

In elementary school we had designated reading time.

The only version of Wuthering Heights I'm familiar with is Monty Python's semaphore version.

eta: Oh, and that Kate Bush song.

the entire encyclopedia

Oh, good! I've always been afraid I was the only one who read the encylopedia for fun.