Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

This is a very timely, relevant, irreverent and somewhat disturbing read. Its overrunning theme is about banning books and how a little library of ‘safe’ books has its effect on a whole range of townsfolk.
The story is well written, using good humour about this serious and outrageous theme. However there are very dark edges, in particular the chapters that focus on the ineptness of some men and how they view women, and the issue of racism, slavery and injustice.
There are many characters throughout - almost every chapter introduces a new one - and it can get a little tricky trying to remember names, but overall it works.
It could also be viewed as a little cliched, as the author touches on many current topics and stereotypical southern US characteristics. A good read.

Helen
I really enjoyed this book. I found it easy to get into and I found the characters engaging. I felt the book dealt with significant and sensitive current issues very cleverly and with some humour at times. The fact that some of these scenarios are undoubtedly reflected in real life is frightening but the author did illustrate how easily rumours and misinformation can spread. 9/10

Chris
I really enjoyed this book. The use of the library books to tell the different stories of the inhabitants of the town was novel although I did find I was mixing up the names of people at times. Discovering about the politics in the Southern States was enlightening I hadn't realised just how far behind the times they are. A well written book and the characters were very well portrayed. I gave the book a 9.

Arleen
I enjoyed the book but found the number of characters and stories confusing in the second half. I give it a 7.

Mabe
I found this an easy read where interesting points were made about how the southern states of the US have such an appalling take on people's life choices etc. Than goodness I don't have to live amongst them!
I score it a 8

Carolyn
I enjoyed the book. It was easy and quick to read. Although it tackled some serious subjects it was humerous as well. There were a lot of characters and I did find it difficult to recall who was who sometimes. I score it 7.

Eve
An easy enough book to read. Almost like a number of short stories. Some if the stories quite funny. It was cleverly constructed and the results not always what you might think.
The fact that the book was set in the southern states if America made it a little difficult to understand at times, due to the culture of the area. Also the cast if characters was large and could be complicated.
I was surprised how many books, some used in this story are still banned in some states of America.
I would give this book a score of 6

Kirsty
I was completely intrigued when I read the back of this book especially considering I volunteer at 'Lighthouse Library' in Burry Port which actually started off very similar to Lula Dean's Little Library, although thankfully not as restricted!!! I really loved everything about this book and it was such a thought provoking eye opener especially in this day and age where people want to ban books and tear statues down!! I really like the fact that Kirsten gives each book a title that is one of the banned books on Lula's list and that we get to meet so many characters in Troy, Georgia. This book has a little bit of everything in it from friendship, heroism, history, family, strength, fun and most of all it is about standing up for what you believe in. I absolutely adored the unique storyline and thought the whole book was extremely well written!! Kirsten's descriptions ensured I felt like I was standing next to each and every one of the characters as their lives changed and all thanks to one personal lending library. There was a massive variety of characters from all genders, sexes, class and colour as well as those of different working backgrounds and sexuality. I was absolutely fascinated with the historical elements, as well as some of the banned books and ended up doing some of my own research which led to some more shocking discoveries!!! There is a lot of serious topics discussed in this book but also lots of fun and humour and I found it to be a lovely, eye opening and thought provoking read which should be made available in all libraries and schools in all countries! I loved the majority of the characters, especially the fact that although the "antagonist" is female there were also many female "heroines". I never did understand why people wanted to pull down statues and always said that it wasn't going to make any difference to the past and they would actually help people learn from the past and learn more about their history by being there. However, after reading this book I do see the other side of the story and how others would feel that these statues are celebrating people who have done wrong in the past. I will never agree on banning books though!!! This is definitely the perfect book to pick as a book club read as it is filled with controversial and intriguing subjects!!! I would definitely read more books by this author!

This one is getting a 10/10 from me!!! I'm just gutted I missed the meeting for this one as I bet it was very interesting!!!

Sonia
This was an easy to read and well written book. I thought it was and interesting storyline but eventually the premise of people finding the right book to connect with their lives was a little trite for me. I also found it quite confusing to remember who was who and how they related to each other. It was a fascinating insight into the book banning phenomenon in as much as I felt she was not really driven by moral outrage but more by wanting to make a name for herself and to feel important. The list of books that were banned was very surprising and to learn that some of them are actually still banned in parts of the US is astonishing. I would give it a 6.

Average score : 7 out of 10

Is this a novel, or is it morality tale? Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is evidently trying to be a story that makes a point, but in the end there's very little story and too much point.

As other reviews have mentioned, the main issue with this book is that it lacks any nuance. Sure, it tries, as it presents a range of characters all with different perspectives and political views. But, as the story goes on, you begin to notice that all the characters are moving in the same direction, that is, Left. Essentially, in this story, you're either Progressive or you're a Nazi. There's no real, lasting, middle ground.

There are so many other things I could discuss, like the enormous cast of characters that makes it hard to keep anyone straight, the way it takes ages to get to any real story, the overly simplistic read-one-book-and-you're-not-homophobic-anymore view of literature. Even if the book wasn't so overtly political, I still wouldn't have enjoyed it. As is, though, it was endlessly frustrating.

In a small southern American town , a local woman, Lula Dean, decides that things in the world are going to hell in a handbasket and she is morally obligated to fix it. She takes it upon herself to go through the public library and then the school library and scour every pornographic, disgusting, unAmerican and dangerous book like Lord of the Flies, The Diary of Anne Frank, Tom Sawyer. After thinking about it for a while, she decides to build a cute little lending library in her front garden and fills it with wholesome literature like she read that made her the perfect person that she is. She goes about finding books like "The Southern Belle's Guide to Etiquette, Buffy Holiday Goes sto Europe! and 101 Cakes For Your Family". It turns out that her library is a huge hit with the town. Books are being snapped up much to her delight. She sees this as support by the community and their wanted to go back to the way it used to be.
What she doesn't realize is that one of the town's teenagers in the middle of the night has switched out the dust covers of these ridiculous books with classics, gay romance, Black history,spell books and more. One by one the townspeople find their lives and relationships changed in unexpected ways.
I found this book to be an easy read that sometimes made we laugh out loud and sometimes groan with recognition of the folks from my childhood growing up in a small southern town. I worry that if you didn't grow up as I did, some of the absurdities will seem false but trust me when I say her voice and descriptions are true. I can reccomend this entertaining and easy read.

A modern satire dealing with many current and historical issues. It delivers a strong morality message wrapped up in a folksy small town story. I am sure this book will appeal to a wide audience.

As you can guess from the title, the main theme of Lthis novel is book banning, which sadly gets more common even in parts of the so-called civilised world. It's set in Georgia, in the deep south of the USA. Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy (we find out later why this is) Lula Dean have lived in the little town of Troy all their lives. Beverly is on the school board – a position Lula covets – and Lula has found satisfaction and fame by setting up a ‘concerned’ citizens group, which goes around removing and banning from school and public libraries any book they consider unsuitable or ‘pornographic’. Many of them are books that Lula has never even read.

When Lula is banned from the public library, she retaliates by setting up her own little library of ‘wholesome’ books in a cute hutch in her front garden. But unbeknown to her a couple of local rebellious youths switch the books inside the dustcovers for others: books on race and racism, on alternative lifestyles, on gender discussions, gay romances, classics, black history etc. In other words, all the topics which Lula so vociferously condemns, along with the people they describe.

This turns out to have unforeseen consequences, both for the people who borrow these seemingly ‘safe’ books and for the town as a whole. Most of the people who read the new books have their eyes opened in one way or another. But when, finally, Lula discovers the deception and blames Beverly, it has near fatal consequences.

My verdict
There’s lots to recommend in this book. In places it’s hilarious, but equally also pretty serious. But the main thing is that it’s cleverly written with a light hand, and that makes it an easy and enjoyable read, without being too inconsequential. The descriptions of the people and places are good, quite vivid. And Lula, with her dreams of a ‘Gone with the Wind’ past that never was, is particularly well-drawn. I thought it was just a shame that the author has made sure there is a feel-good ending for everyone, even Lula, because to me that felt like a cop-out!

The American author, James Patterson, says of this: “Kirsten Miller has that rare ability to take a serious subject and make it very, very funny. I enjoyed this novel and you will too.” And I did enjoy it. If it had had a stronger ending I would have rated it higher.
Review by: Freyja