Let's take a trip down memory lane.
Remember this:
See it? Right there next to 1984? Practically shoving Captain Underpants off the table? Yes. That's The Actual Letters. And yes, it was banned. And yes, it was banned at Barnes and Noble. And okay, it wasn't a company wide thing, just the downtown Seattle store. And no, I don't think I'm at liberty to provide details of the circumstances which lead to this photo. Now, if someone from the B&N crew recalls and would like to share the story, I won't stop them. I may even elaborate.
For those of you who have never heard of The Actual Letters, you really missed out on something special. The era was 2004 to 2005. The city was Seattle (as mentioned previously). The resultant plague of irrational need to draw black masks on seemingly innocent sheep gripped the city (at least the 7th and Pine area of downtown). And the city (at least the 7th and Pine region) loved it.
Sadly, if you weren't there and weren't fortunate enough to find yourself working at a call center for an international shipping company in the subsequent three years, you missed out. Happily, the book is still in print. Though, come to think of it, there is now a company wide ban from Barnes and Noble that keeps it off their shelves. But you can order it online. In fact, you should. You owe it to yourself. Like those kids from the 1990's who wanted to relive the 1960's. Granolas I think they were called. You owe it to yourself like pop culture owed tie-dye and dancing bears to the Granolas. Visit the links below and treat yourself.
