Guantanamo Bay's Prison Library

Gitmo library selection
(Image: The New York Times)

One does not associate the Guantanamo Bay prison with sensitive readings of world literature. Yet, the high-profile incarceration camp does have a library from which its allegedly jihadist-inspired prisoners can withdraw books. The story about the library, its curious book collection, and its regulations, appear in today's Miami Herald.

Some of the donated titles, such as Catcher in the Rye, Little Women, and Frankenstein, seem unlikely to generate interest among Gitmo's incarcerated population. I'm trying to imagine them pondering the prose of Murakami or the poetry of Shakespeare, both of whose works are available to the prisoners. Maybe they'll compare notes on the Bard: one never truly knows. However, I do think a book discussion group is out of the question.