4 out of 4 stars
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I fully intended on going into The Banned Book about Love by Scott Hughes with an open mind. However, after reading about why it had been banned from Amazon and caused such an uproar that Hughes received such vile harassment, I prepared myself to read something that was going to make me angry, disgusted or just leave me shaking my head.
What happened was quite the opposite.
I was pulled into a thought-provoking, enlightening short piece of writing that left its mark on me and will probably change the way I think and feel about people for the rest of my life. I feel like it would have had the same effect on more people if they'd just given it a chance instead of dismissing it right off the bat.
Sadly, too many people in this world judge a book by its cover – or by its title in this case. Originally released under the title I Love Brock Turner, Hughes received a huge amount of backlash and hate from people who hadn't even taken the time to read the book and understand the message being conveyed. Despite money from each download being donated to charity, clearly displaying the compassion and good intentions of the writer, some people just couldn't look past the title of the book and what they THOUGHT it was going to be about.
This is not a story about Brock Turner. This is not a story about his case. This is not an essay defending his actions or exonerating him of his crimes. This is a non-fiction work about the human race as a whole. This is a book about you and me. This is a book about how we as people can make a difference.
The point that Hughes tries to drive home with this piece is that it's a lot easier to hate than it is to love. It takes strength, courage and understanding to love people despite their faults. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to hate someone. What he's not doing with this book is condoning the actions of a rapist, or of any lawbreaker. In fact, he states that he believes Brock Turner and other people guilty of such crimes should be punished, but they should be punished by the law, not by people forming a metaphorical lynch mob.
What Hughes is trying to make us realize is that nothing is achieved through hate. Hating a person doesn't change what has happened, or what will happen in the future. Hate doesn't lend its hand to helping anybody or righting the wrongs in the word. Hate is a waste of energy – energy that could be better spent loving and understanding fellow members of mankind.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I fully support the message being sent and the courage Hughes displayed by using such a controversial subject as an example. He delivers his point in such a clear, concise and empowering way that it enveloped me and truly made me realize how much hate there is in the world and that I, along with you, hold the power to change it.
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The Banned Book about Love
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I thought it was some kind of self-help book and would never have bothered with it if I hadn't read your review. I'll definitely read it now. Well done!
