subject: Preaching Negative Values To Today's Young Readers [print this page] What can be said of a novel preaching negative values as "cool?" A book featuring two antisocial, self-loathing, drug-taking girls portrayed as "heroes?" What message does this convey -- especially to the young reader with an impressionable mind? Here is a book that glorifies irresponsible behavior, man-hating, an anti-work ethic, degeneracy, bad language, filth, sadomasochistic sex and lesbianism -- all conveniently delivered under the guise of "comedy. " Yet what's funny about all this, I ask? Better said, this novel by Richard Perez called "Permanent Obscurity" currently being sold to young readers -- and even available at public libraries -- is a disgusting display and a firm reminder of why we need to safeguard our youth: implement certain strict "Adult Only" profanity warning labels on books or be more vigilant about the kind of books we allow our young people to access. Movies have a rating system -- from "G" to "X" -- why not books?
The story of "Permanent Obscurity," which should be rated "X" (at the very least), revolves around drugs; in fact, the book is a thinly disguised celebration of the joys of illegal drug-use and perverted sex (while pretending to be a "morality" tale). Dolores, the vulgar narrator of this tripe, is a lazy, foul-mouthed, Godless, good-for-nothing smoker of marijuana and an abuser of alcohol while her best friend, Serena -- equally lazy, foul-mouthed, Godless, and useless -- abuses alcohol and cocaine. Together, they drop "shrooms" and plot fetish movie escapades, featuring themselves as men-abusing dominatrixes. In fact, Serena already makes a living off sadomasochistic men through ads she places on Craigslist, preying upon weak-minded and obviously effeminate males -- making use of them as collared servants or slaves. One such servant to Serena is a sorry excuse of a married man who goes by the moniker of "Baby." The narrative style of this book is flip and casual, again underscoring that this behavior is fine -- even funny. As the book progresses, the drug-taking increases and the girls get into more debt with drug dealers who demand payment. To fend off the dealers, Serena blithely proposes that she and Dolores go into the pornography business together, making sadomasochistic films involving female domination. For this, they cull Craigslist ads again, coming up with the most pathetic male of all, a self-loathing and pathetic character by the name of "Dick." (Yes, this is supposed to be humorous.) And while Dolores and Serena continue their irresponsible behavior, smoking and snorting and carrying on, they plot and steal everything necessary to make their first production. (These adventures are cheerfully narrated by Dolores, using the most obscene language imaginable.) And -- to get back to the main story -- how does their first production go? Badly, of course. But this is just another perverted joke to the narrator, who then with her best friend decides they must dump any evidence of wrongdoing, like a sack of yesterday's laundry, even if that sack involves the remains of another human being. Sound like a nightmare? Reading this book truly is. And, to make matters worse, what happens at the end of "Permanent Obscurity?" In an ironic twist, the two girls are rewarded for their criminal and deviant behavior, of course! Get the picture?
On all counts this is an irresponsible, deplorable, propagandist and morally reprehensible book, and one the author should be ashamed of -- and even held accountable for. And, no, these are not proper role models for our youth; no, it isn't "cool" to plot, lie and cheat, imbibe alcohol, smoke marijuana, snort cocaine, shoot heroin, engage in anti-social behavior and sexual perversion of the kind described in this book -- even under the pretense of comedy. Young people need to know that making pornography is definitely not a responsible career option or even something fun. It's outrageous that such books like "Permanent Obscurity" are brazenly marketed to young people (and even teens!), while books promoting truly positive values -- Christian-based or otherwise -- are ridiculed and left largely ignored. "Permanent Obscurity" is truly a perverted and obscene book. And if there were a rating I could give it, it would be an "F" -- for Filth.
