As I sit here waiting for my potatoes to cool down to finish making potato salad... I thought I'd post a shocking bit of news from my library finds this week. As a kid, I absolutely loved two authors in particular... Beverly Cleary (of the Ramona books - and others) and Judy Blume (of the SuperFudge books - and others). Of all the books I read as a young girl - these two authors have always stuck out as my favorites... which excites me to hopefully teach students of the age group that would be reading these books and others that have come out since my childhood that I can learn to love too.
Well, in my searching through the library catalog - I noticed that Judy Blume has written three adult novels since I last read any of her stuff. So, being that I loved her writing as a young girl - I thought it would be a natural fit for me as an adult too.
Oh my gosh, ya'll! I've never been more shocked in my entire life... now, I've read romance novels in my life - and Danielle Steel is one of my favorites... which is to say that she writes some things that might make me blush... but always does it in a fairly tasteful way that leaves a lot to the imagination...
Well, the Judy Blume book takes it to a whole other level... and honestly, I'm not sure I can finish the book - I've never read anything that graphic and disturbing to me. I don't know if it's because she is one of my beloved authors from my childhood that makes it even more shocking - or if I've just become more sheltered in my old age? I just honestly don't know what to say... because it IS that bad.
If you guys want to pick it up and see what I'm talking about, (and I don't recommend it!) the book in particular is called Wifey. I want to give her another shot with another of her titles called Summer Sisters... it certainly can't be this bad, can it?
Summer Sisters is very misleading as well. I thought it would be a fun, summer read a few years ago. I'd hate to ruin it for you, so I won't tell you what happens, but it wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure.
ReplyDelete-Danielle
I loved Judy Bloom as a kid as well and have heard her adult stuff is pretty smutty. That doesn't bother me as much as it bores me. I read so much Christian Fiction now more than anything. Oh and "The Friday Night Knitting Club" is really good!
ReplyDeleteThe first book I read by Judy Blume was titled Forever. I was in the 7th grade and it was the talk of the school. I searched high and low for the book. Found it - mom bought it. However, it didn't stop there - she read it. Want to talk about a my face turning red???!!!!.....and I'm black so imagine how difficult that was?! It was quite graphic - especially for a 13 year old girl and her mom. :)
ReplyDeleteDude. Wifey's been around for years. We pre-teens read it in secret from our moms to learn about, uh, stuff. ;)
ReplyDelete(And that was -- oh, Lord -- 25+ years ago)