The Monster in the Classroom

Thus far, I have only read the first chapter, which was free from Amazon's Kindle web site.  This is what I can tell you thus far about Boy Toy by Barry Lyga.  First and foremost, no matter what flavor of kink you may or may not subscribe to, Boy Toy's opening chapter will probably make you feel a bit queasy, if not downright nauseous.  This is because the teacher who messed up the main character's adolescence is about to be released from jail, and his mother is absolutely beside herself with worry, grief, and fear.  And who could blame her?  The woman who ruined her little boy's adolescence and gave his childhood a premature, brutal ending is about to be out on the prowl.  This, by the way, is also why I hate the term "cougar" to describe a woman past her mid-thirties who has a predilection for younger men.  There is something deeply predatory about this type of person.  I see this sort of behavior--chasing after children--as disgusting.  What is described in Boy Toy has nothing to do with age play, and damn near everything to do with pedophilia.

That said, I understand why it might make some school librarians uncomfortable enough not to put it on their shelves.  Do I think it has a place in my school library's shelves and in my collection?  Absolutely!  Am I going to run right out and purchase a copy from one of my vendors?  Not just yet, as I'm still reading it.

Now I feel I have to get this off my chest.  Personally, age play does nothing for me.  Maybe it's because I, personally, am disgusted by women like Mary Kay Letourneau, one of my former high school principals (who married one of his former students--ick), and a local woman who molested two of her sixth-grade male students.  I remember when her trial was going on.  She was also someone who was very active in her church and within the religious portions of her community.  If she sees pedophilia as God's will, then I'll revert back to my filthy pagan ways.  Not to mention all those priests who prey upon their altar boys!  I also recall, from that woman's trial, that they had to have two beefy police officers escort her into the court for her arraignment hearing.  She was also wearing a bullet-proof vest.  What was I thinking?  "Head shot.  If you were really good and really fast, you could get in a head shot."

I'll have a full review after I download the full book, probably sometime in mid- to late August.  So far, I am deeply moved by the plot.  But I cannot say that this is a book I will enjoy.

A Forewarning

I have been working non-stop as a librarian since 1995.  I am a voracious reader who hates any form of censorship, book-banning, or any attempts to silence people, no matter what they are trying to say.  Some of my upcoming reviews will make people uncomfortable.  Some of them will not deal with BDSM or D/s, but will be works which have been banned or censored or kept out of public view for public reading consumption for various reasons--racist, Communist, homophobic, promotes homosexuality, promotes hatred, promotes religions besides Christianity/Judaism, and of course there's the porn, some of which may deal with BDSM and D/s, but most of which just describes sex, orgasms, and kink in general.

LET ME MAKE THIS CRYSTAL-CLEAR, DEAR READERS. . . YOU WILL DISAGREE WITH ME.  THAT IS PERFECTLY OK.  I MAY OR MAY NOT DISAGREE WITH YOU.  THAT IS ALSO PERFECTLY OK.  I WILL LOSE READERSHIP.  THAT IS OK.  BUT I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY VOICES TO BE SILENCED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER.  I WILL ALSO NOT TOLERATE ABUSE OR DIATRIBES BASED ON NOTHING BUT OVER-EMOTIONAL OPINIONS AND PLOYS TO TRY AND SWAY MY OPINION.  CLEAR?  GOOD!

Feel free to comment or e-mail.  It may take me awhile, but I will get back to you.  Yes, this also has a great deal to do with my current moderately-depressed state.  

Quick Update

So not only am I homesick and moderately depressed, I'm also pissed off.  While perusing a new acquisition today, I caught mention of a book by Barry Lyga, Boy Toy, about a young man who is raped by his teacher, who convinces him she's in love with him.  While attempting to download it onto my Kindle, I ran across another title, Sex Toys and Naughty Boys, which I also intend to review.  If I review Lyga's Boy Toy on this blog, it will be in regard to censorship, not kink.  The other title, however, will deal more with the kink than the censorship.  Or will it. . . . ?

A Wee Bit Homesick

Please enjoy the following musical arrangements.  I've been listening to folk music a lot lately, and am now quite homesick.  I'll be back later in the summer, after I calm down.

This one always makes me cry.  

I was raised on bluegrass and rock n' roll

May the river run wide run deep run muddy oh the river run long after I am gone. . .  . I miss him!

HER TEETH WERE GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my fondest childhood memories involved sitting in my parents' kitchen, with many other friends of my parents, all musicians, all married, and all of us singing bluegrass and staying up late, and all us kids used to go out and catch lightning bugs and play tag and run around barefoot.  No matter how hard I rock, no matter how loud I get, bluegrass and folk are what I listen to all summer long.  Thanks for listening.

Current Reading--Just Kids, by Patti Smith

I first purchased and downloaded this when I first bought my Kindle.  It was this and Stephen King's Full Dark No Stars that were my first official purchases.  I've started, re-started, and am now trying to finish this wonderful and touching memoir from one of my favorite Women.  I've known this song since I was 10.  I've been a fan of Patti Smith and her Group since I was 12.  They were, for me, the original Beat/punk band.  Look for a full review upon finishing this title.  For now, please enjoy this:

OK, OK, I Just Couldn't Wait. . . .

Patience is not my forte!  I joined FetLife and even joined a couple of groups.  I'd still like to read anyone's reviews, however.  Just curious.  Thanks again!

FetLife

I'm curious. . . .and yes, this will be a short post, because I'm tired.  Lace knitting isn't as difficult as I thought it would be, but because I'm still somewhat new to it (heh--Life theme, anyone?) I still pay scrupulous attention to my stitch-count and what my hands are doing, as well as stopping every five or so rows to make sure I'm getting the length right.  But I was trying to research the background of a blog post a friend sent me, and ran across something called FetLife.  I'm curious about this, but won't be able to sign up just yet due to time constraints and some work stuff I need.  More on that later, though.  If someone (or quite a few someones) can give me rave reviews--good, bad, ugly, but mostly honest--then I'll look into it.  Look, dear Readers, I'm not new to social networking.  However--if this thing turns out to be just as hideous and heinous as collarme.com or has way more smarm and "I'm-ever-so-much-better-than-you-because-I'm-from-London" horseshit I've read at informedconsent, I simply won't bother.  But I thank you dear Readers.  I thank you.