Boastwriters

'Fifty Shades of Grey' Author E.L. James at Barnes & Noble Union Square

E.L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey, the controversal book that has been banned from Florida libraries, as well as other public libraries across the country, speaks with over 600 women and men at Barnes & Noble, Union Square in NYC on May 10th, 2012.

James revealed she listens to the song Sexy by the Black Eyed Peas when she writes, and that she also "practices" with her husband to get some of ideas for the characters in her books.

~ Photos courtesy Fame/Flynet

Sissy Spacek Book Signing for 'My Extraordinary Ordinary Life'

Actress Sissy Spacek attends a signing for her book, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life, at Barnes & Noble at The Grove on May 10, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

~ Photos courtesy Fame/Flynet

Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez Book Signing at The Grove in Los Angeles

Actor Martin Sheen and son Emilio Estevez appear to promote their new book, Along The Way, at Barnes & Noble bookstore at The Grove in Los Angeles, California on May 11, 2012.

 

~ Photos courtesy Fame/Flynet

Too Hot to Handle: Some Libraries Pull 'Fifty Shades of Grey' from Shelves

I never thought I'd see the day when a public library would actually pull a book from its shelves to prevent patrons from checking it out, but that day has come.  It seems Fifty Shades of Grey is just too steamy to be kept in some libraries located in Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia - and I must say I'm outraged.  Since when is it okay for a public library to determine what I should and should not be reading?  

Let me say that I can fully understand those public libraries who do not intend to order it.  Public libraries have budgets and need to stay within that budget, so to skip ordering one book in favor of another book is common practice, and chances are that any book a patron wants to check out that is not owned by one library, can be sent to the library of the patron's choice from another library that owns it via inter-library loan. Public libraries do this every day, all across the country.  But when a book such as Fifty Shades of Grey has already been purchased for patrons and is then pulled from public library shelves, well...the only word for that is "censorship," and that word doesn't sit well with me. 

The reasons for pulling the book from the shelves are as shallow as they are pedantic.

Don Walker, who is a spokesman for Brevard County, Florida, and where the library put 19 copies of the book on the shelves, only to turn around and take them down after reading reviews about the book, said the novel was "semi-pornographic."  At least 200 notices were then sent to patrons who had put the book on reserve. 

I believe the bigger question now is what becomes of those 19 books that have already been ordered?  Talk about a waste of taxpayer money. 

Despite hundreds of requests from patrons, libraries in at least four Florida counties will not be purchasing the book, citing a limited budget or poor book reviews.  As I said before, the budget limits I can understand, but when a book is intensely popular and patrons are lining up at the door to get a copy, citing poor book reviews shouldn't come in to play.  As a former librarian and current patron at my own local library, I've read hundreds of books, and I can say without a doubt that just because a book may get poor reviews doesn't mean I (and other patrons alike) wont enjoy it - just as if a book were to receive stellar reviews, I still may end up thinking it would make nothing more than great kindling in the winter.  

In Gwinnett County, Georgia, which is located in the northeast area of Atlanta, all 15 library branches will not carry the book.  Said Deborah Gage, the county library director of materials management:

"We do not collect erotica at Gwinnett County Public Library. That's part of our materials management collection policy. So, E L James' three books in the trilogy fit that description."

A quick check of the catalog within my own public library gives me quite a few books which are  classified as "erotica," or "erotic fiction," including The Story of O, and Nine and 1/2 Weeks - which, like Fifty Shades of Grey, center around women who become embroiled in relationships shrouded by dominance and submission.

Paul Bogaards, who is a spokesman for Random House, said Brevard County is engaging in censorship by taking the book off the shelves - and I agree.

What about you?

Source: Fifty Shades Too Steamy for Some Library Shelves

Grateful Dead Drummer Writing Memoirs

What a long, strange trip it's been, and founding Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann is putting it all in a book.

Kreutzmann has been writing his memoirs for St. Martin's Press, and the currently untitled tome is scheduled to be published in 2015 .  The book will include reflections on his friendship with the late Jerry Garcia, as well as memories of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers.

Kreutzmann, 66, helped to form the Grateful Dead in the mid-1960s, along with Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir and Ron "Pigpen" McKiernan.  Since Garcia's death in 1995, Kreutzmann has been touring with his own bands and playing with a wide variety of musicians, from Phish and Journey guitarist Neal Schon, to Lesh and other former members of the iconic band.

Red Carpet Premiere of 'What To Expect When You're Expecting'

 

Chase Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, film director Kirk Jones and Elizabeth Banks at the premiere of  'What To Expect When You're Expecting' in New York on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Fame/Flynet

In New York on Tuesday, celebs walked the red carpet for the premiere of What To Expect When You're Expecting, a film adaptation of the bestselling book of the same name written by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, and originally published in 1984.

With over 14 million copies in print, the New York Times bestseller has been listed as one of USA Today's 25 Most Influential Books of the past 25 years.

The film, which opens nationwide on May 18, stars Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chase Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and Rodrigo Santoro.

~ photos courtesy Fame/Flynet.