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Steve Martin Celebrates as Florida Schools Ban His Novella 'Shopgirl' Amid State Censorship Law Enforcement

Martin mocks decision to remove his book due to explicit content, as the move is part of a larger campaign that saw 300 books being banned from Collier County schools under a state law making it easier to challenge titles that "depict or describe sexual conduct".

Overview

  • Steve Martin responded positively to the banning of his novella 'Shopgirl' in a Collier County, Florida school district, delighting that more readers might purchase a copy as a result.
  • 'Shopgirl', a bestseller and adapted into a 2005 movie, is a tale of a love affair between a department store worker and a wealthy businessman, and was removed for depicting alleged 'sexual conduct.'
  • The banning of Martin's book is part of a broader move in Florida, with a state law (HB 1069) enabling easier challenges to school library titles that allegedly depict or describe sexual conduct. Consequently, over 300 books were banned from Collier County libraries.
  • Prominent authors whose books were also banned include Toni Morrison, Stephen Chbosky, Neil Gaiman, John Green, Angie Thomas, Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, and Judy Blume; this impacts a diverse range of literary genres and voices.
  • Opponents of the new legislation and book banning, including author Judy Blume, argue that protecting children implies educating them and supporting their reading choices.