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Original poster

+++++ WARNING - ROALD DAHL, MY UNCLE OSWALD ++++++

161 replies

Somanybabyseagulls · 19/10/2006 09:53

11 year old dd came home from school yesterday with this book. She didn't read the back or flick through inside but hadn't seen this in our local library before.

This book was apparently his foray into adult writing. References to 'huge and long-lasting erections' are made in the first few pages, you can guess the rest. Anyway, I have obviously complained to the school and I am destroying the book. The school obviously apologied and like many of us assumed that any Roald Dahl book would be suitable for any school library.

Please be aware that this book was supplied by a reputable school book supplier (the school would not give me their name) so I urge you all to contact your school library to ensure no one elses child has access to this book.

OP posts:
Socci · 19/10/2006 10:04

Message withdrawn

misdee · 19/10/2006 10:05

There was a waiting list for 'Forever' as well.

KathyDCLXVI · 19/10/2006 10:05

In a year or two they'll be handing round 'Lace' or whatever the modern equivalent is.... it's not going to do them much harm.

Original poster
Somanybabyseagulls · 19/10/2006 10:05

Thank you Daisy. I will leave it at that then.

OP posts:
madmarchscare · 19/10/2006 10:05

Just said that PF. I remember watching that when I was probably only about 12/13

PretendFriend · 19/10/2006 10:05

There are 16-year-olds at this school, presumably - shouldn't they be allowed to read it either?

Philomena · 19/10/2006 10:06

Good grief - it is totally unacceptable to destroy a book.

Surely a secondary school library would need to have books for all age ranges? Is there a sixth form at the school?

Agree that the book probably isn't appropriate for younger children but Judy Blume books (for example) contain references to erections (remember the book Forever?) and were eagerly read by all of us girls in school.

Does banning a book not make it all the more desirable? I remember someone bringing in a bonkbuster type novel to school during our last year of primary. It was confiscated and we all went to whatever lengths possible to get hold of the book via other means!

alligator · 19/10/2006 10:06

what????? you are destroying the book???? Way too much of an over reaction IMO. Obviously the school should have checked the book before putting it on the shelves but that is no reason to destroy something taht is not your own property. Roald Dahl has written loads of stuff for adults. He is well known for his wierd and slighty macbre stories.

TheUnholyTrinity · 19/10/2006 10:06

I would like to understand a little nmore as to why it's soooo terrible that your daughter has accidenty read about a huge and long lasting erection, Have you taught her sex education yet?? It isn't some kind of evil thing that must never be mentioned.

so the book is unsuitable but a little too much fuss perhaps

Flamebat · 19/10/2006 10:13

My sunday school bought me Forever at 11 (To be fair, we just requested a book and I don't think they checked it ).

She's 11, she's reading. Its not like she's reading The Cement Garden.

If she was uncomfortable with it, then she would stop (or at least I would have stopped reading a book I didn't like). Its not going to make her go out and fondle her classmates to find their "huge and long lasting erections".

(and I can't not mention it - book destroying is like destroying photos... I can't understand how anyone could do it).

HumphreyComfreyCushion · 19/10/2006 10:14

I'm surprised that the school were unaware that Roald Dahl wrote adult material.

He's not exactly an obscure, unknown writer is he?

I think the school librarian slipped up there.

He did write for 'Tales of the Unexpected', adapting his own short stories.

I can see why the OP doesn't want her child to read it, but I think it should stay in the library for the older children to read if they want.

It is obviously completely unsuitable for a primary school library, but why shouldn't older teens have access to adult literature?

I think it would be an over-reaction to destroy it, and I'm glad the OP has decided to just send it back.

(will it be wrapped in brown paper and string and discreetly slipped under the door of the headteacher's office? )

satine · 19/10/2006 10:15

Gawd, I think this is quite an over-reaction. Unless you keep her like a nun, I'm sure she will have been exposed (as it were) to many references to sex, penises, erections etc. I think a note to the school is really all that's necessary. By destroying the book and reacting in this manner, I think you're sending the message to your dd that there is something mightily interesting and forbidden here.

zephyrHellcat · 19/10/2006 10:24

I seem to remeber a book called Forever, was that the book with 'Ralph'??

PretendFriend · 19/10/2006 10:28

Forever is by Judy Blume, and in fact that was another instance where parents went nuts when their younger kids brought it home in all innocence because it had s-e-x in it and all her others were definitely for children.

PretendFriend · 19/10/2006 10:29

It's still causing trouble apparently!!!

Flamebat · 19/10/2006 10:30

Yup - that's Ralph

sydneygirl · 19/10/2006 10:30

Yes - quite liked Ralph as a boy's name....but not after "Forever"!!

SoupDragon · 19/10/2006 10:31

Agree that it shouldn't be in a school library at all. If older children want to read it they can use the public library. The librarian shold have realised and the school supplier certainly should have realised but it shouldn't be destroyed.

It's tricky when popular children's writers write adult fiction as well. It's easy to spot a familiar author and think the book is suitable.

PretendFriend · 19/10/2006 10:33

Why shouldn't it be in a school library, soupy?

alexsCURSEDMUMMY · 19/10/2006 10:33

you were only allowed to borrow forever from the school library if you were in 6th form at out shool
but we just bought copies and passed it around!

what about 'beginners love' by norma klein which was published in the same sort of series? about two kids who are going out and she gets pregnant and has an abortion?

SoupDragon · 19/10/2006 10:34

Well, unless you're going to trust the librarian to ensure only suitable aged children take the book out, it's best left to a public library.

BipolarBear · 19/10/2006 10:34

Why is it "oddball" to object to destroying books?

PretendFriend · 19/10/2006 10:38

I agree that school librarians should know enough about the books to be able to stop a child taking a book that's not age-appropriate, but not that the book shouldn't be there in the first place.

MegaLegs · 19/10/2006 10:39

Forever was always popular in our school library too. I think the point is that the Judy Blume was written for kids whereas Roald Dahl's adult stuff is definately aimed at adults.

The same situation happened at our local library. DS1 found a 'new' Roald Dahl book, I didn't recognise the title, read the blurb and handed it back to the librarian saying it had obviously been put away in the childrens' section by mistake.

Socci · 19/10/2006 10:48

Message withdrawn