“Racy” Twilight Books Banned From Schools In Australia

tabby
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 11:54 am: [report]

As a librarian, I say a big, fat NO to book banning of any kind. However, the witting in that series is awful and I wouldn’t want to buy it for my students (although it is so popular I had to buy it for them). There are ways around “book banning” that don’t get you in the press, namely just not buying the books. But if those school admins think that Twilight is “too racy”, then I have a huge reading list that will give them heart attacks.

Perceptible
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:02 pm: [report]

Wow, that’s great. Let’s stop kids from reading, but let them go home and play Grand Theft Auto. That sounds like a really good idea. Come on! It’s a book! It’s not Tolstoy but encouraging kids to read is ultra important! God forbid they might read a little bit about sex! Didn’t we get a copy of Judy Blume’s Forever when we were 12 and 14?! Did it make us run out and have sex? (Well, maybe it did for some, but not for me.) And anyway, should that be the decision of the school? I think not. I can’t think of a single book that should be banned from any shelf, school library or public library.

Meg
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:04 pm: [report]

But isn’t that pining away and subtle-sexuality-that-never-goes-anywhere kind of one of the best and worst parts of being in high school? The curiosity and restraint are just a part of teenage life, I think it’s silly to keep the books from high school kids. Maybe that’s why the books are so popular, because they are just suggestive enough that they keep you reading but nothing ever happens (like a lot of high school kids’ lives). The whole idea is like the essence of a crush when you’re young. Since a crush is usually based on fantasy, and plenty of unpopular or shy kids find someone to lust after without ever taking that step into reality, the whole Twilight series kind of appeals to a lot of high schoolers (usually innocent, curious and quick to develop crushes). Add to that the vampire obsession and you’ve got a bestseller.

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:08 pm: [report]

@tabby: This has to be the most irritating part of your job.

There’s nothing like people with poor educations trying to prevent anyone else from getting one (or a little light entertainment in this specific case).

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:19 pm: [report]

If “Twilight” is going to encourage teens to have sex with a vampire, I’d hate to see what teens would do if given copies of the Sookie Stackhouse Novels or anything by Harlequin “Silhouette”....

Shriekback68
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:45 pm: [report]

They should be banned because they’re crappy books that read as if they’ve been written by a low-grade moron.

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:46 pm: [report]

The writing is awful?  Why, because it was written in a way teenagers can relate to?  Because it doesn’t have to be dissected in order for the meaning to be extracted?  Because it allows the reader to relax and get lost in the story?

I’m sorry but as a mom I love this series (except for the last book, for that I send out a big WTF to Mrs. Myers).  My 14 year old daughter read Twilight before I did and she was so hooked on this series that we both read all four books one right after the other and had some really good discussions about it.  Any author that can open up a door like that for kids and parents is a hero of mine.

sadie
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:53 pm: [report]

If I had a a kid I’d rather them not read Twilight for a totally different reason. I wouldn’t worry it would encourage them to have sex. I’d worry it would give them messed up ideas about romantic relationships. I don’t really like not-so-subtle way the author likens male sexuality to vampirism. Men are predators and they want to ruin women with their fangs, er c*cks. A nice boy will fight his nature and spare women, who are always the helpless victims of male sexuality and are best off remaining pure and unruined by male fangs, I mean c*cks. Also, being a broody, creepy, stalkerish dude is idealized in this story. I wouldn’t want my son thinking it’s cool to act that way. I wouldn’t want my daughter thinking that behavior is sexy. I am not saying it should be outright banned, but I think an honest discussion of the author’s agenda is a good idea.

I Go To 11
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:55 pm: [report]

Do these people not realize that Stephenie Meyer went to BYU? That in and of itself should tell anyone that “racy” is not going to be an adjective used to describe these books, IMO.

*sam*
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:59 pm: [report]

I’m probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but, @kwi, “The writing is awful?  Why, because it was written in a way teenagers can relate to?  Because it doesn’t have to be dissected in order for the meaning to be extracted?  Because it allows the reader to relax and get lost in the story?”

If you think it’s great writing, then I’m sorry to say that you have terrible taste. I think this entire series just goes to show how we’re no longer challenging our students to try harder, but instead, dumb-ing everything down to their level. It’s like saying, “Oh Sally, is Shakespeare too hard for you to understand? That’s OK, he’s practically irrelevant anyway. Here, go read Cosmo, it’s *totes* more realistic.” It’s disgusting. When I was a child, my father read me Robinson Crusoe instead of Dr. Suess, and I remember my first chapter book being Sherlock Holmes. The fact that the classics are practically being abandoned and cast out as “too difficult” is disturbing. I’m terrified of what books my children will be regarding as “literature” if this trend continues.

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:12 pm: [report]

@sam:  *shrug* That’s your opinion.  We’re all entitled to our tastes.  Just because I like something doesn’t mean you have to.  And, lucky for me, just because you DON’T like something doesn’t mean I can’t.

Another great lesson I can teach my kids.

spatula
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:14 pm: [report]

I liked the books, and I’m an adult. I don’t think anyone is claiming they are any sort of ‘great literature’ or anything. They are entertaining.

pragmatryst
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:15 pm: [report]

@kw1223 “I’m sorry but as a mom I love this series”

Because a 17 y.o. old hanging out with a 104 y.o. geezer with sexual hang-ups is a good thing?

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:17 pm: [report]

@Pragmatryst:  No, because any book that promps my child to step away from the TV and the computer without my suggesting it is OK by me.

Queen Frostine
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:24 pm: [report]

I agree with Sadie and Pragmatryst, the relationship between a teenager and an older man who preys on her, stalks her, emotionally abuses her, threatens her, makes her isolate herself from her friends and keeps her under control is not healthy. Sex is fine, but abuse by a creepy old perv whose only quality is being handsome sans personality, is disturbing as a relationship model for young people.

*sam*
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:30 pm: [report]

@kw1223: (I’m going to pre-apologize for this, b/c it’s really bitchy…sorry) OR you could have encouraged your children to read more as a child by not indulging them with the TV/computer/video games, therefore allowing reading to be their main source of entertainment. I’m not saying you’re a bad parent by any means, my point is really that when parents claim that “anything that gets my kids to read is great” it makes it seem as though they’re complaining about something that was really easy to prevent in the first place. Maybe I’m just some sort of literature snob, (which is probably true, and I take all criticism of this fact willfully) but, to suggest that this series deserves praise saddens me. Whatever happened to great authors like Jane Austen or Charles Dickens exciting young readers? Nowadays it’s as though you have to use simple words and paint the reader a fricking picture and spell-out underlying symbolism for them to understand any of it. It’s just, really, really sad.

impoddity
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:39 pm: [report]

Didn’t we already go through this drama with Harry Potter? 

I agree that teens should be able to read challenging literature, complete with irony, metaphors and all that good stuff.  However if kids are reading, great.  I do believe that to get the full benefit out of any literary work it should be discussed, whether with peers or (preferably) an adult that can provide a more mature and circumspect prospective.

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:41 pm: [report]

@Sam:  I didn’t mean to imply that Twilight is the only series my daughter enjoys.  She does read a lot and Twilight is only one of the many books my child has chosen to read instead of playing on the computer and watching TV.  She knows her way around the library pretty well.  She doesn’t like the classics, and I don’t blame her because neither do I.  My point was supposed to be that I encourage her to read whatever catches her interest and this series just happened to be the one she wanted me to share an interest in. 

I really think that some of you guys are being seriously over critical.  It’s fiction.  It’s fun.  And obviously there are many parents who don’t have a problem with it.  If they did Stephanie Myers wouldn’t be anywhere near as rich as she is now.  :0)

*sam*
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:47 pm: [report]

@kw1223: Well, I’m really glad to know that she enjoys other books as well and regarding your previous comment about everyone having their own tastes, you’re absolutely right. I’m very well aware that not everyone has an appreciation for the classics like myself, but your original comment just reminded me of how they’re being tossed aside in favor of ‘simpler’ reading material. It’s a travesty in my eyes. Again, I’m sorry if anything I’ve said has offended you (or anyone else for that matter).

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:52 pm: [report]

@Sam:  No offense taken.  It’s nice to be able to discuss things, even differing opinions, like adults.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:55 pm: [report]

Wtf? Is this really a serious thing? I just can’t believe people would get so upset over a BOOK. This isn’t a pornographic novel, I don’t think they even say “sex” for god’s sake. They say “make love.” Kids and teenagers are reading books, if you have smart kids they’ll be able to separate fiction from reality. Do you check every single book your kids read? Every single on? Do you know what’s in books these days? Yeah, things so much worse that love and vampires. You don’t like these books, you think the writing is #&@$%? Don’t read them. Plain and simple. If you’re going to complain these books are bad for kids and teens then start complaining about a few hundred others, complain about all science fiction for all that matters because ya know, these are nothing compared to what’s out there.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:57 pm: [report]

The typos didn’t really help my case but w.e. I get caught up too easily and space it on my grammar.

alleigh25
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:09 pm: [report]

I personally had no problem with Twilight until I saw how incredibly obsessive many people (mostly girls) got about it. The first time I heard about girls (I’d assume mostly in the 15-25 age range…I hope) breaking up with their boyfriends for not being enough like Edward…especially since the impression I get is that Edward is kind of stalkerish, though I’ll admit I have read only an overview of the series, written from an anti-Twilight perspective. (I realize I didn’t actually finish that thought…there are no words to describe how much that infuriates me.)

As a general rule, I would rather a kid read a book with minimal literary value than not read at all. Twilight is no exception to this. There isn’t really anything offensive about it, although (without having read it) I would be a bit concerned about Edward’s stalkerishness.

I agree with the *sam*. Parents who say “at least their reading” could PROBABLY have done more to encourage their kids to read in the first place. But I’ll admit that some kids won’t, regardless. Everyone in my family is an avid reader with the singular exception of my uncle. His parents read quite a bit when he was a kid, and his sister read constantly, so it would be unfair to blame my grandparents for his lack of reading.

And that was a ridiculously long comment. I just happen to be very opinionated about reading and very annoyed by Twilight, so I had a lot to say (and even that is very condensed).

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:18 pm: [report]

When I read the books I didn’t really see Edward as being stalker-ish.  I saw him as being incredibly devoted and willing to overcome his own issues and put someone else’s happiness before his own.  I saw his family as being fiercely loyal to each other and accepting of someone different than themselves simply because Bella was his choice.  I think that for every negative outlook on the lessons of this series you can counter it with a positive one.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

_jsw_
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:37 pm: [report]

I think that most people fail to realize that the series is much racier in the Australian translation.

sadie
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:43 pm: [report]

OK if you want to call following a teenage girl around and breaking into her bedroom to watch her sleep “devotion”. Can’t wait to see if you feel that way once your daughter has suitors behaving that way.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:56 pm: [report]

Sadie, that’s where the fact that it is a book comes into play. Just because something is in a book does not mean it will happen. So Edward is a vampire, doesn’t that mean all stalker-ish people are vampires? Does that mean you’re going to date somebody and hey, guess what, he’s a vampire? I’s fantasy Sadie, not reality.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:57 pm: [report]

Also, @_jsw_, EXACTLY. The term “lost in translation”  fits all books perfectly. The version in America, is not the exact version that every single country on Earth gets.

*sam*
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:01 pm: [report]

@buhri: you do realize that they speak English in Australia, right? (in case you’re not getting where I’m going with this, I hope you do, but again, just in case) Therefore, there is no “Australian translation.”

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:05 pm: [report]

Nope, I think they spoke Kangaroo. Yes I know that, but it was the best phrase I could remember. My point is, stuff changes in books in other places. There, that’s prolly better.

Also, I think that came out too sarcastic, it wasn’t meant to.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:06 pm: [report]

Damn it, I meant thought, not think

Katrina
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:20 pm: [report]

Seems like someone confused the books with the crappy porn movie based on the books. I know I read FAR racier books in high school and even middle school.

kw1223
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:21 pm: [report]

@Sadie:  You’re right.  I’ve raised both of my children without teaching them common sense.  They will both be perfectly comfortable if they ever wake up to find a strange boy in their bedroom because it happened in a book.

sadie
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 07:23 pm: [report]

@Buhri We were just talking about how what goes on in the book becomes fantasy fodder for young readers. My point is it’s not good for teens to idealize Edward’s creepy behavior.

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:20 pm: [report]

@Sadie, thing is he’s not creepy, he’s a vampire, that’s his nature and I’m going to give the young kiddos some credit when I say they know the difference between a human and a vampire. They fantasize about a vampire doing those things, not a human. So maybe it slightly raises their expectations of how guys should be, is that really so wrong?

AChanceAtHeaven
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:37 pm: [report]

An’ driving his mate’s bingle a back of bourke to the big smoke,  the bludger tore of his daks, waving doodle, to the amusement of his cobbers. Damn ocker, an’ hoon, lairin’ it up! ‘Course, lognecks an’ lollies all around, after.

sadie
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:15 pm: [report]

Is it wrong for girls to have “raised” expectations of men behaving like total creeps? I’d say so.

MissChaotic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:22 pm: [report]

...but they won’t ban classics like “The Color Purple” which have blatant sexual scenes between two women. Right…

Buhri
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:35 pm: [report]

@Sadie, you’re really making young people sound like complete idiots. Also, I don’t know how many times this has been pointed out but I think I need to again, he is a VAMPIRE, and this is FANTASY. For goodness sake, teenagers may not be the most worldly people, but they’re also not so ignorant as to think that a blood sucker running to their house at the speed of sound, jumping into their room silently and staring at them is ok, or even ever going to happen. The thought that these books are going to teach them that is just silly.

alleigh25
wrote on September 15 2009 @ 04:29 pm: [report]

@Buhri—It’s not true at all that girls don’t fantasize about humans doing what Edward does. Like I said before, I’ve heard several occasions of girls breaking up with their boyfriends for not being enough like Edward. That’s an extreme example, but the fact remains that a lot of girls aren’t differentiating between real and fantasy as much as they should.

@MissChaotic—The Color Purple is banned in a lot of places. Lots of classics are banned for a multitude of reasons. To Kill a Mockingbird, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Roots…I have seen all of those books on numerous banned lists. So I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at…

As a general point…I’m 19, and I hate to say it, but Sadie isn’t really that far off. Teens really do idealize Edward, and they really do expect guys to be like that—not all of them, certainly, but a lot do. There’s nothing wrong with admiring traits of a fictional character—I’m sure there have been and continue to be lots of women wanting a Mr. Darcy—but it doesn’t seem to me (from my admittedly limited knowledge) that Edward is the sort of character girls SHOULD be admiring…and that many have gone from admiring to expecting is more problematic yet.

Buhri
wrote on September 15 2009 @ 05:01 pm: [report]

I really don’t see what’s so wrong about girls fantasizing about boys being like Edward. I can’t imagine anyone really thinking a girl will be okay with a guy jumping into their window and watching them sleep. Do people really believe girls think that’s ok? Young girls are not idiots, they know that’s wrong, so who cares if they get into the books a little bit and like to fantasize about Edward? He is not the only character they are admiring, there’s plenty others that are filling their heads which seems like something people are forgetting. How old was that girl who dumped her bf for not being like Edward? There’s a big difference between maturity and common sense and honestly, I couldn’t care less that girl left a boy over not being Edward. Girls dump boys all the time over stupider things. People are making something harmless into a monster, young girls are NOT stupid, and that seems to be the general thinking if you really believe that they’ll be ok with boys watching them sleep. This is harmless, especially compared to what’s on TV nowadays. do you let your kids watch Gossip Girl? Because that is pretty much porn. What about the new 90210? Do you let your kids watch anything pg-13? All of those are worse than these books, all of them are full of sex and alcohol and I bet your kids are fantasizing about those lives. So if people want to attack something harmless while the real monstrosity is happening on every tv in America, then that’s your prerogative, but I frankly think it’s cra.p.

alleigh25
wrote on September 15 2009 @ 07:51 pm: [report]

Well…I’m 19 and therefore most of the girls I interact with on a daily basis are Twilight fans. And I never said Twilight was the worst thing they could be reading. The problem isn’t and never had been the books (or movies), but merely the way people respond to them. Twilight has basically a cult following (to be fair, so does Gossip Girl). I have no problem with the books (or movies) or with people liking them. I have a problem with people becoming obsessed with them, and there are way too many who are.

And I think maybe adults underestimate how obsessed some girls really are. Yes, most just read the books and enjoy them, and that’s great. But even just looking at bumper stickers on facebook (of which at least half are about Twilight), or reading comments people make, or listening to people talk…seriously, sometimes the level of fanaticism is very disconcerting. And THAT is the entirety of my issues with Twilight.