David Walliams in the bin

[carlitaclarita]

To throw all our David Walliams books out? I can’t even bear to take them to charity shops and I’m annoyed I even own them and annoyed they were so heavily pushed in schools.

Lumping JK Rowling in with authors who were crap human beings is a bit much, considering the 'controversy' surrounding her, is her defending women's rights, and using her wealth to support women fighting in the courts for those rights.

Of course people will want them. Some people. We’re not talking Jimmy Saville here. Stop being hysterical.

Totally agree. JKR is a fabulous person who does enormous good for women and children.

Oh. Well then

And actually I've never liked his writing. Many of his characters are truly repellent

What anti-trans rhetoric?

'Hysterical.' Lol.

His reputation is in the gutter right now. Why do you think people want them? He's been dropped by his publisher for a reason.

Those who wanted them before it was well known he was a wrong 'un would have already got copies. I can't imagine anyone right now relishing in introducing their kids to him as an author?

The person on this thread who works in a charity shop says they can't shift them and bookselling aps are offering less than a penny.

If you can possibly think outside of your echo chamber, you would be aware that not everyone condemns him about what he has done regarding unproven sexual misconduct allegations. Personally I couldn’t give the shiniest of shits. It’s not like there’s been some trial all over the media and he’s been found guilty. A lot of people don’t know about the allegations. So, I’m sure his books are still being sold in charity shops all over the country.

Yes and Walliams is no comparison, he doesn’t even come close. I think his books are honestly tripe and I’ve always avoided them. My mum isn’t very well read so has bought them for DC because she knows they like books and knows how popular his have been. She even bought the new one at Christmas. I’ve asked her not to, they don’t even read them.

Not sure where I stand on binning them. I have books by some very questionable characters but their work is brilliant to be fair- genius level in some cases. Walliams obviously isn’t. Just seems a waste to chuck books away.

AKA telling the truth rhetoric

Ok cool. You sound really patronising with your 'if you could possibly think outside your echo chamber'.

I'm glad you're 'sure' that lots of people are still buying his books in charity shops.

Also thanks for informing me you 'don't give the shiniest of shits'

Yes the books are inappropriate YANBU

What's it to you, slag?'

• what age group is that book for? Unbelievable if a 7+ book...

@Shadyborder those are truly shocking. How on earth did they make it through editing?!

It's mad what you can push when you're a celebrity isn't it! 'What's it to you, slag?' is from Billionaire Boy which Amazon shows as suitable for 7 to 10 year olds.

No need to chuck the books away, they'll burn well.

On a site I looked at Billionaire Boy was suitable from age 12+ so that's down to Amazon to check suitability.

That's even worse for the environment, at least recycle them.

Toilet paper?
Fish and chips wrapping?
Bury them in the garden to rot down?
Papier mache Xmas decos?

I’ve decided they are going in the recycling. Best place for them.

Regarding the separating the art from the artist type debate, it’s not easy but in some cases I can appreciate the art despite the artist and in other cases not. In DW’s case, he’s not even an artist (in the broad sense of the word) and it’s highly likely all ghost or co-written anyway so who cares.

Ultimately, I think the best approach is to let the target audience decide. If children still want to read them, if they enjoy them and if the books are playing a part in fostering a love of reading in young people then I’m all for them.

The books are incredibly successful for a reason - a lot of children enjoy reading them. Adults deciding to throw them all in the bin in our race to be the most outraged and morally upstanding citizens, virtue signaling and sanctimonious in many cases, is ridiculous. When the children stop enjoying them they will stop buying them (or asking for them to be bought).

How incredibly wasteful.

I work in a kids charity shop and I bin any David Walliams and Matt Lucas books we receive!

Why?

Like the nazis did to books they didn't like

Nobody is suggesting ransacking houses and forcibly removing books to throw on a bonfire in the town square.

I was thinking more along the lines of people quietly culling their own shelves of dry paper no longer required and popping them in the wood burner.

More of a choice involved.