Smoking’s a non-issue, so let’s talk about books

Well, I really just don't know what to talk about today, since the smoking thing has really become a non-issue lately. So, I'm going to tell you about my favorite hobby in the whole world. Books!

I love to read. I have been an avid reader since the third grade. When my class would take our weekly trip to the library, I would pick out the thickest book, since I would probably finish it the same day if not. During the third grade, I managed to read a children's version of Black Beauty, Moby Dick, Oliver Twist and many other classics.

Since then I have devoured any book I can get my hands on, but my favorite genre, much to the dismay of my intelligent co-workers, is romantic fiction. Specifically paranormal romantic fiction. I love reading adventure stories with a little bit of fantasy mixed in and when you read a romance, you're guarenteed a happy ending. That's the definition of a romance novel as defined by the Romance Writers of America. It must have a happy ending. I love just getting away from everything I have to do, and all my obligations and just reading about some other place and time. It's how I relax.

It sometimes drives my husband nuts, since he can't quite keep up with my book obsession. This year, he bought me an early Christmas present of a series of books by Sherrilyn Kenyon, one of the best paranormal romance writers in the business. There were roughly 20 books in the set and so far I've read all but two of them. I got them not quite three weeks ago.

I am hoping to pass my love of reading on to my son, since I feel like a lot of what I know I've picked up from simply reading everything I can get my hands on. One thing that really bothers me about books, though, is when people get the brilliant idea to ban a book, just because they disapprove of something in it. Once it's gone, all the potential knowledge contained within those covers is lost. Farenheit 451, anyone?

In a small town near where I grew up in W.V., a group of parents are asking for Pat Conroy's fantastic novel, Beach Music, to be banned from the school library. Granted the book is graphic in the way of the movie Braveheart - the story would not be the same without the graphic portions of it giving meaning to the rest - but the parents of some students in a senior level college credit course were offended by the novel after the teacher assigned it to their children.

But what I don't understand is why haven't the parents taken the time to read the entire book, rather than only parts of it, and sit down with their chidlren to discuss what it means. I've read the book they are trying to ban, and it holds an honored place on my bookshelves as one of my all-time favorite books ever. And believe it or not, it wasn't a paranormal romance. It was just a fantastically told story about the trials of one Southern family.

If you've read it, please tell me what you think. Do you think the parents are right to try to ban the book, or should they realize their children know these things already and just talk to them about it? If you haven't read it, please do, but be forewarned, it is graphic in places, with swearing, violence and sex. But each instance plays a small role in a larger story of how a family's love for each other helps them overcome all the bad things that have happened over the years.

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