The moral decay in this country continues...............subject matter of the following books:

 

Norwegian Wood: Features a lesbian sex scene between a 31 old woman and a 13 old girl.

Tweak (Growing Up On Methamphetamines): Features drug use and a gay orgy.

 

What were these teachers, librarians and school administrators thinking?

 

 

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/education/summer-reading-list-nj-kids-lesbian-sex-gay-orgies

What is far more frightening to me is that books depicting life and the real world are deemed controversial. And the contradictions are rampant: Don't do drugs, but don't read first-hand accounts of how they will destroy your life. Think, but don't read great or challenging writing.

The article doesn't say the age/grade this was for. Does anyone know?

 

Also, the article mentions that kids see worse/more on TV, internet, etc. I'm not sure that's a good response but it does bring up an interesting point: I see so many parents in the education world who fuss about every little thing the school/teacher has their child do, saying that it is bad for them, etc. But then those same parents don't even know what their child has posted on facebook or Twitter, what types of games they play on Xbox, or what they even do after school. It seems like so many parents are selective - ready to point out the faults of those in charge, but rarely ready to admit that they are just as responsible for problems their children face.

^I was wondering the same thing.

 

Let's not act like kids don't know those things either.

 

I also agree with your take Habib.

What is far more frightening to me is that books depicting life and the real world are deemed controversial. And the contradictions are rampant: Don't do drugs, but don't read first-hand accounts of how they will destroy your life. Think, but don't read great or challenging writing.

It seems most prefer the "ostrich approach".

 

 

 

 

Probably adding Tweak to my personal reading list after this thread.

It was assigned to incoming sophomores at Williamstown High School, so age 14/15.

 

You know, I don't have a problem with books mentioning drug use or homosexuality - even as a thematic element of the book. They are real things that occur in real life. I just question whether or not graphic description is necessary to the sexual encounters described in the books...particularly when the audience is one in its mid-teens.

It was assigned to incoming sophomores at Williamstown High School, so age 14/15.

 

You know, I don't have a problem with books mentioning drug use or homosexuality - even as a thematic element of the book. They are real things that occur in real life. I just question whether or not graphic description is necessary to the sexual encounters described in the books...particularly when the audience is one in its mid-teens.

Would you object to reading Ulysses by James Joyce at that age?

Would you object to reading Ulysses by James Joyce at that age?

 

Are we trying to make sure these kids never want to read a book again? :lol: There aren't very many high-schoolers at age 18 that I would suggest sit down and hack through Joyce.

Would you object to reading Ulysses by James Joyce at that age?

 

I object to it at any age. :lol:

Here's one synopsis of the plot:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Wood_(novel)

 

And another for those who don't like wikipedia: http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/murakamih/norwood.htm

 

And still another who wants to see what the novel is about: http://www.murakami.ch/about_hm/bookreviews/bookreview_norwegian_wood.html

Would you object to reading Ulysses by James Joyce at that age?

 

Haven't read it to be able to say. Again, though, I'm not necessarily objected to the fact that homosexuality, sex, drugs, rape, murder and other things like that are taught in books...I just don't know how graphic it necessarily needs to be, and likewise, at what the point it should start assigning it to be read.

I've yet to read "Norwegian Wood" but Murakami is the real deal. A lot of his stuff tackles the paradox of living in the most interconnected age in human history and yet many feel increasingly isolated from their fellow man. He might tackle that issue better than anyone I've ever read. People might not like some of his themes, but to my mind, it is impossible to deny his literary credibility.

I've yet to read "Norwegian Wood" but Murakami is the real deal. A lot of his stuff tackles the paradox of living in the most interconnected age in human history and yet many feel increasingly isolated from their fellow man. He might tackle that issue better than anyone I've ever read. People might not like some of his themes, but to my mind, it is impossible to deny his literary credibility.

Which one of his novels would you recommend to start with?

Are we trying to make sure these kids never want to read a book again? :lol: There aren't very many high-schoolers at age 18 that I would suggest sit down and hack through Joyce.

I object to it at any age. :lol:

:lol: :lol:

 

In 11th grade honors we read A Potrait of the Artist as a Young Man then turned around in 12th grade AP to read Ulysses. I wanted to swear off reading for life after that.

 

Looking back I think she was going for a BUDs class-type approach to reading. Weed out everyone who can't hack it and only the best of the best remain standing.

Haven't read it to be able to say. Again, though, I'm not necessarily objected to the fact that homosexuality, sex, drugs, rape, murder and other things like that are taught in books...I just don't know how graphic it necessarily needs to be, and likewise, at what the point it should start assigning it to be read.

I'm with you now. I'd probably still disagree to a point as I'm more inclined to lean towards the "if something great can be learned from it" camp. But if extremely graphic in depiction I could probably agree. Having never read either book in question I can't really say with certainty where I stand on them---though in general I'd probably be for both to be included on the reading list.