Jottings this has to be on the basis of a taught common core .” ‘ Nuff said .
Dangerous Books
Talking of school days , do you ever wonder how on earth you got through them without ending up a shivering wreck , living in a permanent state of shock , because of some of the dodgy literature you were forced to read in your English classes ?
Luckily , the educators of today have taken a step towards avoiding us being sued in the future for an historical failure to care for the snowflakes . The latest to adopt this sensible precaution is the Globe Theatre in London which has issued an alert aimed at anyone planning to attend its current production of Shakespeare ’ s “ The Merchant of Venice .”
The theatre ’ s website makes sure that those wanting to book tickets are aware that the play includes , “ colourism , racism , strong language , and scenes of a sexual nature ,” as well as “ antisemitism and bullying .” However , the Theatre has managed to hold back from including the phone number of the Samaritans this time , as it did it in a previous warning about “ Romeo and Juliet .” ( Yes , really !)
Those of us who read “ The Merchant of Venice ” as a teenager must now be feeling tremendous sense of relief that we emerged from the classroom unscathed by a text which could have blighted our adult lives .
But it ’ s not too late to take precautions against another play or book wreaking havoc with our well-being . Luckily , a new internet site has compiled a list of over 6,000 tomes which it has deemed to be in need of a warning to readers before Chapter One is attempted .
Booktriggerwarnings . com describes itself as “ a site dedicated to helping readers feel more prepared , better informed , and safer with their books .” So , no doubt you ’ ll feel suitably prepared to tackle ( or avoid ) Jane Austen ’ s “ Emma ” when you learn the novel includes examples of implied grooming and predatory behaviour .
The same applies to “ The Great Gatsby ” ( alcohol , cheating , murder , misogynistic violence ...), “ 1984 ” ( gaslighting , sexually explicit scenes , torture , violence ...), and “ Oliver Twist ” ( antisemitism , bullying , child abuse , discrimination , robbery , vulgar swearing ...) Even Harry Potter doesn ’ t escape ( bullying , child abuse , fatphobia , self-sacrifice , violence .)
Strangely , however , the site has nothing to say about “ Noddy ” ( illegal cab operations , road traffic offences , stereotypical police officer , gnomeism ...)
Meanwhile , volunteers who staff a small library in the US state of Maine are working hard to ensure that banned books have a safe haven in which to retire . It is located in a garden shed on Matinicus Island , 20 miles ( 32 kilometres ) off the coast , and its shelves are full of tomes which are unwelcome elsewhere in the country .
A recent acquisition has been “ And Tango makes three ,” a children ’ s book about two male penguins which raised a chick together , which the American Library Association says is one of the most banned books in the country .
They walk amongst us When Gerard Graham was released from prison in Peterhead last October , he couldn ’ t wait back home to Aberdeen 30 miles away . So impatient was he , that instead of waiting for a bus , he decided to take a taxi .
Or to be more accurate , he decided to Continued overleaf
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