READERS HOTLINE -- Books are the Leece of their worries

“Snow Falling on Cedars,” by David Guterson, is probably the best

story I’ve ever read about adolescent feelings between sexes, as well as

one of the better stories regarding the treatment of immigrant Japanese

in this country before and during Word War II.

It would be inappropriate for this book to be banned by our school

board. And I would certainly support the Newport Harbor High School

English teachers for recommending this book.

EDWARD MILLER

Newport Beach

I call for the removal of a trustee who clearly does not have the best

interests of this community in mind.

I’ve read one of the two books, “Snow Falling on Cedars,” by David

Guterson. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Whatever sexual content it had was minor as compared to the content of

the story as a whole, which was about prejudice against Japanese

Americans during World War II and also a murder trial.

I don’t recall sex having anything to do with the plot, although I’m

sure there was some as there is in any novel.

This is an excellent novel. I think every high school student should

be required to read it if such a thing is possible, so that they can

understand the historical time that was explained in this novel and how

our citizens were treated and how a grievous wrong was righted.

Wendy Leece either doesn’t understand how to read these books or is

only looking to be picayune about the minor details and overlook the

major details. I don’t see how she can continue to be a trustee and

represent this area. I certainly hope that the other people on the

Newport-Mesa school board overrule her ideas, which don’t belong in this

community.

DONALD ABRAMS

Balboa Island

Wendy Leece is evidently hot under the collar and starting a

censorship situation. I can only say that she evidently hasn’t read very

much if these two books bother her.

Why doesn’t she get going on some of the really good things --

Hemingway, etc., etc. She can have a field day.

This sounds very dangerous to me. It would seem to me that teachers

know some literature they’d like the kids to understand.

They’re not really sexy. They’re just sort of natural. I think it’s

appalling. I think she should get kicked off the board. That’s my

opinion.

NANCY KIRSCH

Newport Beach

I think that “Snow Falling on Cedars” is a very well-written book.

It’s very poetic.

I see nothing wrong with it for our schools. I haven’t read the other

book, “Of Love and Shadows,” so I don’t have any comments about it.

I think that one person on the school board should not be able to

decide for the teachers what novels are appropriate for the high school

students.

NANCY SUE MAIER

Newport Beach

I believe very strongly that the high school teachers should be able

to choose what literature they want. If they are award-winning books and

they deem them appropriate, I trust the teachers’ judgment.

I think Wendy Leece is putting her own personal opinions and values on

a whole school district.

I think she is totally out of line and inappropriate in doing so. I

would support the teachers of the district to use those two books.

JANET DICHIRO

Newport Beach

Is Wendy Leece aware of what’s on television these days as far as

graphic sexual content? I mean, I’ve read both these books, and I find

neither one of them offensive.

Next, she’ll be burning the books like the Nazis. I really find this

an extremely upsetting article. I can’t believe that one woman is

responsible for this kind of thought in this day and age. I think it

should be left up to the teachers and the school.

MARCIA MERRILL

Costa Mesa

It should be a standard that allows for the inclusion of books that at

some time or at some point were deemed of great literary value and won

awards.

TOM PEROUTKA

Corona del Mar

I agree with Wendy Leece. I commend her as being a school board

trustee when she says that it’s not appropriate for students to be

reading the books that were mentioned in the paper this morning on the

front page.

Just because they’re deemed of literary value and won awards, it’s not

appropriate for them to be reading things with explicit sex and sexual

meaning.

I do not think they should be used in high schools.

BETTY MORGAN

Balboa

I don’t think that Newport-Mesa school district needs a

self-proclaimed censor. These two authors are recognized around the world

as worthy writers.

The ultimate decision about what children should read should be their

parents.

ANNA BETTY GOLDMAN

Corona del Mar

I think Wendy Leece needs to look at her Bible and see if that has sex

and violence in it.

Maybe it should be banned from churches. I think that we fought World

War II to eliminate this sort of censorship that Hitler had.

She’s going right into this right-wing religious fascist area. She

needs to think twice.

ANNA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa