reality and escapism go hand-in-hand

during these trying economic times, amazon and Border’s reps are observing trends in buying: customers are turning to economic titles and cookbooks to try and understand what’s happening in the financial world.  cookbooks are popular with the tightening of household budgets which translates into less eating out.  fiction is on the rise with particular attention to thrillers since sometimes we all need a break.  noticing any trends at the circulation or reference desks?

Oregon Mom wants to ban and burn “The Book of Bunny Suicides”

A Halsey, Oregon parent wants to remove a popular cartoon book out of the Central Linn High School Library.  Taffey Anderson says The book of bunny suicides  by Andy Riley is not appropriate for anyone, especially children.  She read through the book her 13-year-old son checked out of the school library and what she saw convinced her to never return it. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 20, 2008)

Anderson contacted the school principal, Julie Knoedler, who told her about the district’s book-challenge policy.  “The Book of Bunny Suicides” was purchased, [Knoedler later] said, as part of program to encourage reluctant readers. The book was on a young-adult reader list recommended by the American Library Association, she said, and is in several school libraries in Oregon.”

Anderson contacted the Albany Democrat-Herald newspaper to share her disgust with the book last week. In Sunday’s edition, she said she planned to burn the book, regardless of what the review finds.  “They’re not getting this book back,” she told the newspaper. If the library replaces it, “I’ll have somebody else check it out and I’ll keep that one. I’m just disgusted by the whole ordeal,” she said.  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 21, 2008)  (via Shelf Awareness, Oct 22, 2008)

SIL has this title available in our adult nonfiction collection: 741.5973 RILEY.