HARUF’S BOOK BANNED IN VEGAS: In what may get the award for the most ironic moment in 2005, Kent Haruf’s tale of Colorado rural life has been banned in a Sin City high school. Here’s the scoop from the National Coalition Against Censorship newsletter: “Seniors at Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, must have been confused when their English teacher took away books they were still reading: Kent Haruf’s acclaimed novel, ‘Plainsong.’ At issue was a brief sexual passage. Without submitting challenges to the review to a review committee, the assistant principal ordered teacher Gerald McGee to ‘collect all the books, box them up, and put them away immediately.’ " To see what all the hubbub's about, read Haruf's book. Better yet, attend the "Reading Wyoming" session that discusses "Plainsong" on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m., at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette. Sponsored by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities.

- posted by Michael Shay @ 3:18 PM