- Democritus
lewd adj \ˈlüd\ Definition of LEWD 1 obsolete : evil, wicked 2 a : sexually unchaste or licentious 2 b : obscene, vulgar
Apparently we are purveyors of lewd novels *quizzical look* Or one lewd novel in particular. And here I thought we were a library. Seriously, just when I think the whole mainstream media storm in a teacup that is Fifty Shades of Grey couldn't possibly get any stranger, it does. Just to spite me, I'm sure. A couple of weeks ago I read an online NZ Herald article that called Fifty Shades of Grey 'lewd.' I was a tad bit surprised because it's quite tame in comparison to a lot of other erotic novels we hold. (I'm assuming mainstream media have never heard of Lora Leigh and other erotic romance writers like her?) Do I consider these books listed below to be lewd? No. I don't. Others would, perhaps. And I suppose that for as long as we have differences of opinion about what constitutes 'literature' or 'art' or 'good reading,' it's always going to be like that. Some part of me hopes that the 'lewd' label doesn't stick. In my mind it's as dismissive a term as 'mummy porn.' And you know my opinion on 'mummy porn.' No judgement there, right? Wrong. Mainstream media are totally judging your reading interests and sexual proclivities. It's no wonder fanfic writers and readers - and romance readers, for that matter, too - are leery of mainstream media. I was a bit Ragey McRagerson for a while, there, and then a colleague pointed out the quote above and I settled down. Everything else in the world is opinion. Now, though, I wonder what else we have in our libraries that might fall under the heading of 'lewd,' so I've rounded up 5 titles that contain people doing things/talking about doing things of an adult nature, and probably, enjoying it, too. How very dare they! Et voilà: 5 lewd books in our libraries.
