50 Shades of Controversy.
Erotica makes the bestseller lists? It was only a matter of time for the book challenges to start. This one, however, is a bit different, as no one—at least publicly—actually challenged the book.
Due to patron interest, the Brevard County Library system bought 19 copies of the book for the system. They processed, catalogued, and checked them out, but then—again, on their own, not due to any outside complaints—decided that the book was inappropriate, and so, once the books are returned, will remove them from circulation.
From the NYDN:
Walker himself told the Times he had not read the book. In conversation with the Daily News, he said, "We don't put pornography on our bookshelves," branding the book "mommy porn" before admitting, "I'm not sure what that is."
So what makes “Fifty Shades of Grey” different [than the Kama Sutra or Tropic of Cancer]?
“I think because those other books were written years ago and became classics because of the quality of the writing,” Schweinsberg said. “This is not a classic.”
And if the issue really is porn, most laws require a community standard test for that label. Schweinsberg said she takes that into account, but I would argue it is difficult for one individual to make that judgment. When a book is at the top of every best-seller list in the country, it may mean the community standard has shifted to accommodate it — whether we like it or not; whether we recognize it or not.
WFTV:
The ban irks some regular patrons, like Jaye Wright.
“I mean, I think people should have a right to read anything they want to read,” Wright said. “You could put a warning on it or something, but I don't think they should pull it off the shelves.”
...
“I think they should ship them up north, where they're more open-minded,” said patron Linda Burrell. “I mean, they should have screened the book first before they put it in the library here.
“I think it’s bad to ban any book,” said Shelly, a Cocoa Beach Library user. “If you want to read it, read it. If you don’t, don’t.”