Holly, Author at Awful Library Books

Unleash the Lioness

Unleash the lioness: A Women’s Guide to Fighting Off Violent Attack
Houseman
1993

Submitter: I am submitting this 90’s scare style book for women. The book lets the reader know that because you’re a woman you WILL be a victim of crime. So buy this book and take down an attacker with an umbrella. Oddly, this is a UK book that was found on a shelf here in this American library. I am sure those numbers at the back are no good.

Holly: Our girl on the cover has an umbrella and she’s not afraid to use it! I mean, that’s pretty good resourcefulness.

Friday Fiction: My Date with Satan

January 28, 2022 Holly Friday Fiction 11 comments

My Date with Satan: Stories
Richter
1999

Submitter: We are conducting a pretty thorough weeding of our adult fiction at our public library to make room for a new graphic novel section, and I found this short story collection as I made my way through the Rs. I have no idea how this “jewel” of a book survived in our collection until now.

Holly: Here’s a perfect example of “your mileage may vary.” Assuming submitter knows their community and their readers and their collection philosophy, this might certainly be an “awful library book” at their library! If nothing else, it’s funny, and sometimes we’re just after a laugh around here.

(Click through for full post…)

Millionaire Real Estate Stripper Gospel

January 7, 2022 Holly Working 9-5 15 comments

The Art of Becoming a Multimillionaire Real Estate Investor
Cherwenka
2018

Submitter: This book came from my public library. (In fact, it was purchased as a memorial book.) I came across this gem in my business section. I think the back cover speaks for itself: body builder to stripper to real estate agent who then marries his “African American Wife.” There’s a lot going on here. I’m also confused as to whether this is a book about real estate investing, a biography, or a gospel. Take your pick! In fact here’s more.

Holly: Is Magic Mike doing a bicep pose, or punching her in the breast? The link submitter shared is a 15-page short version of his story, in which he refers to himself (presumably in his stripper days) as a “lost sinner” – but he doesn’t seem too ashamed, given his choice of photo for the back cover of the book! I mean, real estate looks like a great career choice I guess…

Conference on Cassette

January 3, 2022 Holly Bleeding Edge 7 comments

Midwest Veterinary Conference: How to Legally Hire, Fire, and Avoid Sexual Harassment Liability, Part I
Ohio Veterinary Medical Association. Meeting (115th : 1999 : Columbus, Ohio)
1999

Submitter: We are weeding our collection at Ohio State University’s Veterinary Library and I came across a set of audio cassette tapes from the Midwest Veterinary Conference. Most of the topics aren’t as outdated as you’d expect for cassette tapes, but with this one I’m really hoping the goal has shifted from “avoiding liability” for sexual harassment, to actually avoiding sexual harassment! These are in a blank white case, so it seems we don’t have the original cover for the set, but here’s a photo of the tape.

Holly: I don’t remember how popular cassette tapes were (or weren’t) by 1999, but it’s an interesting format for conference session recordings. Within about five years it could have been digitized or moved along, though, probably. Is each tape a different session?

Friday Fiction: J.T.

December 3, 2021 Holly Friday Fiction 13 comments

J.T.
Wagner
1969

Submitter: This library book is still out there, living in a public library in NY. As soon as I read the first sentence inside the front cover, I knew I should submit it here. Published in 1969, it is a sad story about a sweet boy who is trying his best. The language however is so out of date it’s almost alarming! Pictures by Gordon Parks Jr. wouldn’t even have me keeping this, if it were in my library.

Holly: Apparently there’s a movie of this book, and you can watch it here. The shadowy pictures and the pure outdatedness (do kids know what a transistor radio is?) make this an easy weeder for most public and school libraries.

Daniel Boone

December 2, 2021 Holly Biography 9 comments

Daniel Boone
Daugherty
1939

Submitter: In Daniel Boone, Native Americans are variously described as savages, demons, “rats in the night,” “infesting the woods,” cat-eyed, and “as doomed as the buffalo.” White skin or white racial identity is frequently painted as superior to other races, for example: “The great landlords were demanding costly land titles and bringing in slave labor so that it was a disgrace for a white man to work with his hands” (page 25).

Women’s Guide to Handguns

November 1, 2021 Holly Ladies only! 3 comments

The Women’s Guide to Handguns: A Primer for Safe Self-Defense
Carmichel
1982

Submitter: First, this book is from 1982 and gun laws have changed in many states, especially our state of Massachusetts. That alone makes this an easy weed with a replacement. Second, I love how the opening starts out with scary statistics, a promise not to use fear in this book and continues on with more scare tactics. Not to mention condescending…

Holly: Handgun ownership by women is wayyyy more popular now than it was 40 years ago. This definitely needs to be updated!

Story of the Boy Scouts

October 25, 2021 Holly But it's Historical! 6 comments

Story of the Boy Scouts
Blassingame
1968

Submitter: Quaint Hardy Boys style illustrations and historical black and white photos accompany this book about the history of the Boy Scouts. While there are a few pictures of African American children and a boy with a turban on the cover, included also are some stories about the boys “howling like Indians” and “playing Indian” as they set up camp. One boy is described as a “cripple” who doesn’t look like “a man to lead” and grew up having to work with the girls in the sewing room rather than be outdoors with the boys. It’s a snapshot of the times, but there’s a lot that has happened in the 50+ years that have passed since this book was published. The kids in our library need more up to date info on scouting, and more culturally sensitive language. Girls can now join the Boy Scouts in their activities, and are no longer confined to the sewing room.

Holly: WorldCat’s description of this book says: “Discusses the origin and continuing growth of the Boy Scouts, relates true stories of Scouting heroism and adventure, and describes the many activities of Scouting.” I’m all for a history of the Boy Scouts, but respectful language is a must. Kids interested in scouting activities can definitely do better than this!