Ban This Book

Recently the Irish Sun published a story under the title „Ban This Sick Book." In the story Majella Ryan a spokeswoman for the CARI children charity in Ireland claims that the organization will try to have Hugleikur Dagsson's book Should You Be Laughing At This? banned. The original title of Hugleikur's book is Avoid Us but Penguin decided to change the title for the UK and Irish market.

The comic books by cartoonist Hugleikur Dagsson's became a hit overnight in Iceland and was followed by a publishing deal with Penguin. There is very black humour in Hugleikur's works and he's not surprised by the fierce response in Ireland. „Perhaps these people are right. The stories are very tasteless, and I have no right to make fun of the things I do so I can understand that people are angry," says Hugleikur about the criticism of his book.

In the Irish Sun Majella claims she does not understand what made Penguin publish the book. „It's so terrible I don't know where to begin," she said. „It's obviously geared towards teenagers and is very insulting and gives them the wrong message," Majella adds and counts suicide, murder and incest as delicate subjects Hugleikur pokes fun at.

Hugleikur admits that he is somewhat pleased with the response. „It is good to get this point of view also, Icelanders are so cold and cynical and we get the irony and cynicism right away. At least these particular Irish people don't get it."

Hugleikur claims there is some truth in his stories, „this is the world we live in and bad things happen right next door." The book has been well received in the UK.