Page 5 of The Banned Books Club
“He’s an arrogant asshole,” Gia replied. “Thinks the world revolves around him.”
Eric moved closer to the fire and held his hands over the warmth. “He was raised with money. Isn’t that what you told me?”
“I wouldn’t define his parents as mega-wealthy, but his family was one of the more prosperous in town.”
“So he was spoiled?” Coty guessed.
Gia confirmed with a nod. “His parentsstillbaby him.”
Eric cracked open another beer before sitting back down with his wife. “Surely there are people in your hometown you’dliketo see.”
“My old friends and the people in my Banned Books Club.” She’d liked a lot of them, but it’d been seventeen years since high school and most had drifted away. She’d probably see those who remained—Ruth and Sammie at least.
“Coty’s been thinking about joining your club,” he said, once again slinging an arm around his wife.
“I’m always down for flipping off people who are trying to push their attitudes and opinions on others,” Coty said with a laugh. “What are you reading this month?”
“We’ve been picking from a list of books that were banned in the nineties, simply because there were so many back then. It was my turn this month, and I choseCujo.”
“What’s that?” Eric said.
Gia chuckled. He’d never been a reader. “A horror novel by Stephen King.”
Tucking her feet underneath her, Coty leaned into her husband’s body. “And how’s that going for you?”
“It’s good. It’s about a dog who turns into a killer after being bitten by a rabid bat.”
“Not sure I’d find that interesting,” Coty said with a scowl.
“A killer dog’s not for everyone. But you can always start next month. We’ll be readingWe All Fall Downby Robert Cormier.”
“What’s that about?”
“A gang of teenage boys who get into all kinds of trouble...”
“I bet that book’s going to be pretty disturbing,” she said, wrinkling her nose as if she wasn’t thrilled by that idea, either.
“Most banned books are pretty...something,” Gia said. “Scary. Thought-provoking. Challenging to the power paradigm—or the way things have always been. That’s why they get banned.”
Eric spoke up. “I read not too long ago that the Harry Potter books were banned.”
Gia considered opening another beer. The more she drank, the less she dreaded going home to Wakefield. Eric and Coty lived only a few blocks from her condo; she didn’t need to drive. But she decided against it. She wanted a clear head when she got back to her place so she could make her travel arrangements. “That’s right. In some places, anyway.”
“What could be wrong with Harry Potter?” Coty asked.
“Apparently, several exorcists weighed in,” she replied flippantly.
Coty looked confused. “Did you sayexorcists?”
“I did. They recommended the books be taken off the shelves.” Gia grinned as she added, “Wizardry and magic are Satanic. Didn’t you know?”
Coty rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me...”
“Nope. Now you understand why I started the group. Some of the books that have been denied were targeted for ridiculous reasons.”
“I love the way you’re willing to challenge authority,” she said.
Gia made a face. “My parents aren’t so excited about it. They never have been.”
