FOREVER

Forever, by Judy Blume. This is a book that my cousin Lisa got in trouble for reading...and I got in trouble because it was I who loaned her my copy of the book.

Over the last several years, I've thought about re-reading this book, just to see exactly how "bad" it really is. I had never had any luck in finding it (used copies at Amazon were at least $45 for a paperback version). This past Friday, however, Breakwater Bookland had a table marked "Teen Reading Month", and on the table, was Forever. I figured that since Bookland was labeling it a "teen" book, that it really couldn't be that bad, so I bought myself a copy.

It was BAD. I should have had my butt slapped hard for that reading that book, and especially for loaning it to my younger cousin. I absolutely could not believe that anyone would call that book appropriate for teenagers. I told Dwane that I thought Bookland should require an ID, and that people should be at least 18 years old before they could buy it. And, I think it should be wrapped in plastic like a nudie magazine. I thought it was just horrifying. Maybe I'm just a prude.

And the interesting thing is, I didn't remember the storyline of the book AT ALL. I remembered Ralph (after seeing it in print), but I didn't remember other character names, the plot line, NOTHING. The other thing that kind of tickled me is that there were phrases in the book that I never even would have understood as a teenager. In fact, I probably didn't understand them until I was married.

I am a HUGE Judy Blume fan. I think that Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is an absolutely beautiful book for pre-teen girls, and Eben and I have thoroughly enjoyed the Superfudge series. But Forever? I think it should be banned.