Ephemera: Banned
A Shout-Out from John Oliver
It Used to Be…
It used to be that getting banned would help launch a book toward becoming a classic. Just look at Howl and how that trial made Ginsberg’s career. Alas, ’tis no more. My collection Make Something Up: 23 Stories You Can’t Unread was the only adult fiction banned widely since it’s publication in 2016, and that’s generated… crickets.
This week, a late-night show featured a book of mine in a segment on banned books. The money shot is at the 10:40 mark. And they say my name right. Let’s see if that moves the needle. Not holding my breath.
Friends say the film holds up beautifully on the at-home screen. Give it a look if you can find it.
The people banning books dont ever read, and they dont understand how anything works. The problem is that sensible people have better shit to do than play stupid games to win stupid prizes. The kids who want to read will get what they want to read regardless.
"Moms for Liberty" is the most unintentionally ironic name for a bunch of numbnuts ever.
Out of curiosity, do know what the straw that broke the camel’s back was when it came to ‘Make Something Up’ getting banned? Like any story or scene from a story in particular?