- . Digg It
- . Sphere It
- . E-mail This
- . Save to del.icio.us
- . Permanent Link
Flesh Kabobs
Because We Said So discusses the whens and whys of censoring
Erika Schickel: I just got done with a weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where I lead a panel with several authors, one of whom was Steve Almond, who read from his latest book, Not That You Asked, a piece about how to write a sex scene. As he read a long list of words you should never use: "No: Flesh Kabob, Manmeat, Tube Steak, Magic Wand. Especially No: Hairy Taco, Sperm Puppet," I looked out to the audience to see my twelve year-old daughter laughing her ass off. There wasn't much I could do to protect her, but then I realized it was already too late. She is already in the know. Now she wants to read more Almond. I am a huge fan of his, but not sure if she's ready for his adult themes. I'm adding this to my mental list currently under consideration. My precocious girl also wants to read Cormack McCarthy's The Road. I'm thrilled, but frankly a little worried. Time to censor? I never thought I'd see the day.
Neal Pollack: Erika, I think it's time to let her go. Yes, Almond is a dirty boy, but so what? The onset of puberty is the end of Where The Red Fern Grows time. She may absorb some of the naughty words and sex scenes, but a lot of the really adult themes will pass right over her head. We read what we're ready to read; the rest just kind of flows in and out. As for The Road, she's totally ready for that. Yes, it's disturbing. Yes, it's mannered and pretentious. But so is most of Los Angeles, and you let her leave the house every day.
Neal Pollack: Erika, I think it's time to let her go. Yes, Almond is a dirty boy, but so what? The onset of puberty is the end of Where The Red Fern Grows time. She may absorb some of the naughty words and sex scenes, but a lot of the really adult themes will pass right over her head. We read what we're ready to read; the rest just kind of flows in and out. As for The Road, she's totally ready for that. Yes, it's disturbing. Yes, it's mannered and pretentious. But so is most of Los Angeles, and you let her leave the house every day.
What People Are Saying…
Leave a Comment