From: James Elliott <libraryjim>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:48:31 -0500 (EST)

I didn't read her message that way. What I heard her saying was that the 'character' or background of the author, while important in a literature class, is not that important in the enjoyment of the book. That we should judge the work on its merit and not the character of the author.

She could have thrown in other authors as well for example, such as Poe = Opium addict, John Kennedy Toole = suicide/depression.

No, athiesm is not the 'third rail', but to those who 'yell about' the overt Christian message in books such as the Narnian Chronicles (yes, I've heard those complaints!), the militantly anti-Christian / anti-religious message of "Dark Materials" could be just as troubling.

Politics intruding in children's lit is nothing new, however.

But my take on Ms. McTighe was that the work can be judged on its own, not on the character of the author.

Jim Elliott North Florida

----- Original Message ----- From: Pamela S. Turner <pstrst at pacbell.net> To: Christina McTighe <christina.mctighe at gmail.com>, Wendy Lanehart <WLanehart at crrl.org> Cc: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Sent: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:12:05 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Movies-to-books: controversy over The Golden Compass

I appreciate the tolerance expressed by Ms. McTighe, but the implication, witting or unwitting, is that being an atheist like Mr. Pullman is not far removed, morally, from being a violent sexual offender or a pederast. Wow.

Is atheism the third rail of American culture?

Pamela S. Turner
Received on Wed 14 Nov 2007 05:48:31 PM CST