MOMania

By Jeff

February 13, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this

FAIR WARNING: SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THIS POST!!!

Breaking Dawn, the most recent (I’m not saying ‘last’ because Meyer is working on at least one more, from Edward’s perspective), is the ONE I think younger readers would have the hardest time with. Not only do you have some relatively graphic, brual sex (I’m not talking erotic stories here, but the images are pretty clear), but you also have an EXTREMELY graphic birth scene that is far worse than normal in terms of graphics. (As is, even if you have witnessed an actual human birth, this particular scene might be too graphic for you.)

Beyond those particular scenes though, the book is on a par with the rest of them, meaning I really wouldn’t have a problem with my kids reading them in the later ES years.

As far as the romance-type stuff goes, the books are no worse than Nicholas Sparks, and nothing more than kissing happens until Breaking Dawn. That said, if you wouldn’t let your 5th grader read Sparks, I would suggest that you not let them read Meyers either.

Of course, I personally was reading Clancy in those later ES years, and had read Without Remorse by 8th grade. Now, if you want to talk about books that no one below HS should read for any reason, I would nominate THAT one! (Briefly: Torture, gang rape, rape, drugs galore, extreme violence - including a shotgun blast with the guy being left for dead, a ‘bang stick’ shotgun blast to a guy’s stomach, precision knife kills, etc)

By DB

February 13, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this

Ooh, the “Twilight” series! Hehe — I’m actually the one that started reading them in my house, and then passed them on to my 17 yo daughter. We both enjoyed them, and went to the midnight premiere of the movie back in November. However, the books did spark some interesting conversations on the nature of healthy love vs. the obsessed and hysterical. Without giving away plot lines, in “New Moon”, (vol. 2), I spent the first 1/3 of the book wanting to smack Bella silly for her catatonic obsession. THIS is the kind of thing that parents of younger girls need to be wary of — thinking that Bella’s obsession is a healthy reaction to the ups and downs of relationships.

The last book (vol 4), “Breaking Dawn”, is, IMHO, simply too intense and gory for the younger set. The childbirth scene was unnecessarily graphic and gruesome, and the rest of the book has a lot of imposed tension on “oh, no, we will die, but we will fight to the end!” It’s a pretty dark book, for most of the read.

The books have been touted as “moral” because there is no pre-marital sex. Personally, I’d like to think there was a bit more to morality than sex. IF the book encourages discussion of what makes up a healthy relationship, then I’m all for it. But I think the younger ones would have a lot of trouble working their way around Bella’s self-esteem issues, and I’d hate for young girls to identify Edward’s control-freak issues with romantic love.

By JJ

February 13, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this

I read part of the first book, and haven’t had any desire to pick it back up. It just didn’t do anything for me.

However, my nieces LOVE it. My oldest niece has NEVER read a book in her life, hates reading. But she read all four books in two weeks. So we were happy for that.

The youngest niece never read the book. Both nieces have seen the movie at least 6 times. My brother has been three times.

My daughter has no interest in the series at all. She likes other books like James Patterson, and some of Jodi Pichoult (sp).

Now if you want a real good read, read “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Pichoult (sp again). I couldn’t put it down. I read that book in about 4 days.

By Jesse's Girl

February 13, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this

I have offered my books to our oldest…but she’s too busy with homework and sports to sit and read that much! Personally…..I would throw Edward to the ground and have my way with him:) THAT is the appeal for every woman that reads the series. He is impossibly sexy….impossibly unattainable and we are all in love with him! It speaks to the unspoken in all of us “settled” women. We are happy…for the most part…and have made our choices with sound mind and body. Again…for the most part. But for every one of us good girls….there has been or will be one man in our lives that stirs something in us. We see him and we know instantly that if he asked…we’d have to think for a second about running off with him. Its the fantasy every married, or spoken for, woman has. Edward is the literary version of that man.

By Michelle

February 13, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this

I think each parent should decide how mature their child is and how they think they would be able to interpret and/or relate to the books they are reading. I’m certain that each household has different levels of what/how they discuss issues (i.e. love, sex, drugs, lying, stealing, etc.) What some families discuss openly and freely, others are reluctant to even acknowledge. I think that would also ring true for book reading.

I don’t really know anything about the Twilight series. I will say though that my sisters’ have allowed their daughters to read them and they are both in junior high/late elementary.

I was (and still am) an avid reader! I LOVE to read. If it were my child, if he wanted to read a book that I felt was beyond his level, I would have to look at it first. If I felt he could handle the content, etc. I would allow him to read it.

By Becky

February 13, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

Like JJ, it didn’t interest me, but my niece(15) has read all of the books, been to the movie & loves everything abut them…

JJ, I’ve read a few books by Jodi Pichoult & loved them..So did the 15 year old niece..

Like Michelle said, I love to read..My entire family loves to read, so most books aren’t off limits to any child in our family..

By jct

February 13, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this

I agree with Michelle parents should assess the maturity level of each individual child to what they should be reading. I have a niece who was a very mature reader at a young age. I think the most important part is to read the book as well as the child so that you can discuss themes and characters.

I love the ‘Twilight’ series. I read all 4 books in 5 days. However, I think that Bella is a little off her rocker in book 2 and thought Edward is way too possessive in book 3. That being said, I have had some very interesting discussions with my 19 y.o. niece over what is a healthy relationship and boundaries in relationship.

My step son read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ two years ago. We had the liveliest conversations about what he thought the book was about and how see say the characters. It was interesting to see the literary world through his perspective.

I think no matter the age of the child, when they are reading popular books that it would behoove the parents to at least read the cliff notes (do they still make those?) so that you can be engaged with your children in a different way. Theresa, I hope Lili is on the mend.

By DB

February 13, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this

@Michelle, I’m all for allowing kids to read as much as possible, and I agree that it all depends on the child. I was a little taken aback when my son’s 4th grade teacher recommended that my son read “The Giver”, and while I didn’t snatch it out of his hands, I did ask her if she didn’t think the theme was a little intense for an 8/9 year old. She smiled and said, “Yeah, for most kids, but I know you and he talk books all the time, so I wasn’t worried.” (The scene I was particularly uncomfortable with was the euthanizing of the twin baby).

Our family tends to make sweeps through the book store, and on one family trip, my then-13-yo daughter picked up a book, “When Dad Killed Mom.” Well, other than the fact that the title gave me pause (!), I picked it up and read it, and then quietly slipped it in my purse for a while. I actually wrote the author to ask him about the inclusion of one of the subliminal themes in the book, having to do with the possible sexual abuse of one of the daughters by the father, because I was at a bit of a loss to know how to discuss it. The author was very gracious, and noted that he was constantly amazed by his college students’ essays alluding to sexual abuse, and that he had included it because those who DO suffer through situations such as that identified with it and didn’t feel so isolated (it’s not a hot topic in children’s literature, obviously), whereas those who didn’t have a clue what sexual abuse was tended to take the passages at face value and didn’t read anything into them other than “the Dad was weird.” Sure enough, when my daughter read it, she didn’t see anything in it, which was a vivid demonstration to me on how many levels a book can be read and understood.

@JJ, my daughter LOVES Jodi Picault, too, and has read them all.

By JJ

February 13, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this

Becky, have you read “Nineteen Minutes”?

I read “My Sister’s Keeper” and didn’t like it at all. That was a sad story and it almost tainted me against reading anything else she wrote. But my Mom gave me “Nineteen Minutes”, and it was a page turner!!!.

I understand “Vanishing Act” was pretty good too. I want to read that.

By sierra fadley

February 13, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this

if some one is OBSESSED let them because i am obsessed with edward i cryed when he left bella behind he is sweet when he wants to be but thats my oppinion!!!

By JJ

February 13, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

Theresa How’s the baby?

NewMom How’s your Grandmother-in-law?

By sierra fadley

February 13, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this

if some one is OBSESSED let them because i am obsessed with edward i cryed when he left bella behind he is sweet when he wants to be but thats my oppinion!!!

By LM

February 13, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

My daughter read the first one when it came out, I think she was 7th grade.

I am a avid reader, I get it from my Mother who is a avid reader, and hope in time my daughter will enjoy books as much as I do.

As to the apporiateness of a book, I follow the line my mother took with me. If I wanted to read a book, it was apporiate. Her feelings were that by reading I was building up my imagiation and my volcabulary. It didn’t matter what book I read, if words were used that I was not familar with, I was to look up the words. There were a lot of books that were either graphic in violence or sex, or both, but in the end they were just words, I had to make the images in my head, unlike tv or movies where the images are made for you. My young brain could not make some of the images as graphic as what I have seen on TV or in movies.

Don’t get me wrong, I like tv and watching a movie, but nothing will ever replace my love for a book, dosen’t even have to be a good book.

By Becky

February 13, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this

JJ, no I haven’t read that yet..I don’t buy books new, I wait for them to be at the thrift store..Then I look for a wide variety by not so famous writers…

I’m off here for today, so hope that all have a great weekend & a Happy Valentines Day..Love to all my blog friends..

By JJ

February 13, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this

Becky - Unless it’s a book I really, really, REALLY like, I don’t buy them either. I usually borrow from friends or my Mom. Mom is an AVID reader too, and her house looks like an extension of the local public library. Both parents were big readers. I guess that’s why I love to read so much, and so does my daughter.

By CleverShrew

February 13, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

I think the Twilight books are absolutely fine for someone that age. The “building sexuality” really would not be evident to a child who has not experienced those feelings before, to them it would be like a falling in love thing, like a fairy tale. Sometimes i think, as adults we over-analyze everything. We are older, and have had more life experience, so when we read books, we can fel the sexual tension, eroticism, violence or whatever. A child will generally not make that leap. The Twilight books are wonderful. they are very tame and sweet. The Breaking Dawn portion that Jeff described is a little gory, but no more than is seen on TV nowadays everywhere you look! And I think a child wouldn’t even really “get” it enought to be grossed out. And yes, there is sex, but it is not described, and there are no sex scenes. So yes, it’s appropriate. The writing is well done, and IMHO reading of ANYKIND should always be encouraged.

By LM

February 13, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this

JJ

Glad to hear your take on My Sisters Keeper, read it was not sure I would go for any other by her. I will try out a few others.

I also think you and I might be sisters. My mom has walls of books, it I am not sure what I want to read next, she offers up several suggestions.

By JJ

February 13, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

LM that’s funny. I’m always getting books from my Mom.

By FCM

February 13, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this

@ Jeff—Myers is currently working on a different project. Due to manuscript leakage the ‘5th book’ is on indefinate hold. Very sad…she has the manscript on her sight. I loved it.

I have seen Twilight twice…It is in the cheap seats and if my daughter (9) earns the right (behavior) she is going to see it over the weekend for the first time.

I find only one thing in the movie (and books) reprehensible: Ed in Bed. (Movie has been out for 2 months so not a spoiler). I am ok with this because we have already talked (and will repeatedly) as to why this is unacceptable. Although, this was handled in a very appropriate way. I have seen much worse on a Disney movie.

I have read all the books 2 times and am looking forward to sharing it with my daughter.

Twilight is just Romeo and Juliet with a twist. I could even see it being a High School reading list book—-quick call that nut in Gwinnett so she can get that banned!

AND now that I think about it that movie—even the old one before DeCaprio— had more sex than Twilight!

By FCM

February 13, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this

er I meant site.

By DB

February 13, 2009 1:53 PM | Link to this

@FCM: Actually, Romeo & Juliet came out in 1968, just before the MPAA came out with movie ratings. So what we see on DVDs now isn’t exactly what was on screen back then :-) It’s been slightly re-edited since then, to cut a few shots of Leonard Whiting’s cheeks :-), and now has a rating of PG. (Olivia Hussey wasn’t allowed to see the movie, because at 15, she was too young for the nudity — of her own breasts!)

But, PG stands for “Parental Guidance”, which is really what we’re talking about, here. Some parents are ok with certain kinds of nudity and violence on film, others aren’t. If we’re careful about what movies we allow our children to watch, why aren’t we equally careful about the books our children read? At some point, the kids ARE going to read whatever (does anyone remember the secret copies of “Love Story”, “Coffee, Tear or Me” and “Rosemary’s Baby” hidden in closets and in dresser drawers? :-) But as long as parents are prepared to discuss the issues that come up with them and share our own values vis-a-vis the storyline, it’s all good.

I read “Midnight Sun”, and it was my understanding that it started out as a help for the actor who played Edward, to give him a look inside Edward’s head. But, as manuscripts are wont to do, it grew—and grew—and grew. It was leaked to the public, but frankly, Stephenie Meyers was naive to think that it wouldn’t be (hello? JK Rowling, anyone?)She even anticipated it, since copies were coded, and she knows exactly who leaked the version that hit the internet. So — why code copies if you know they’re gonna leak? Hmm. Personally, I think she just got tired of writing it, and decided to opt out of the project by declaring that “she couldn’t go on with it” after such rank betrayal. I mean, it’s an interesting concept, but I’m pretty sure you couldn’t make three more books from Edwards POV! Better to move on to other projects.

By FCM

February 13, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

@DB—I can see the logic behind your Midnight Sun arguement. However, I would really like to know what was going on with Edward during the ‘lost’ year…We know very little…Basically a combo of Book 2 & 3 from Edwards POV would work for me…Especially since the only part of Book 1 I need from his POV is the part she posted—-the part before he and Bella have real action/dialogue.

By DB

February 13, 2009 5:20 PM | Link to this

@FCM—Basically, he was wandering around in South America feeling sorry for himself and waiting for Bella to get old and die so he wouldn’t feel guilty anymore :-) Interesting concept: If your body gets vampire-frozen at 17, does that mean you are emotionally 17 forever? I mean, does your brain ever reach maturity where the impulse control centers have matured? Meyer created an interesting hero — a hottie 17-yo with the mind and sensibilities of an Edwardian gentleman (the age, not the boy!).

Yeah, interesting that the manuscript stops just as we get insight into his head from the book, eh? At that point — what are she telling that’s new? How much fun it is to sneak in Bella’s bedroom in the middle of the night and watch her sleep? (frankly, the idea of someone staring at me all night while I sleep creeps me out! :-D )

Ah, well — it’s a fun read! But even my 17-yo daughter commented that she liked to read about Edward, but in real life, his “I know what’s best” attitude would get old, fast!

BTW, one of my favorite parts in the movie was Bella’s first visit to Edward’s house, and seeing all the mortar boards the Cullens had collected in numerous graduations over the years!

By FCM

February 13, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this

I loved that part too!

I sort of felt like Edward was emotionally frozen at 17…well as a romanticized version of Victorian Era 17 year old ‘man’—-I say man b/c in that time period he would have had more responsibility and been more man than your avg 2008 (or even genXer) 17 male.

I felt that Bella was all paranoid about getting older (manifesting itself in her body image) but it was really about ‘out growing’ Edward. Her emotional growth would change over time….as would other aspects—-I mean it can’t just be me who is no longer thinking/acting a 17 year female as I get older.

I think that was part of the appeal for me. That they both would never lose that innocence of first love…that it would be the ideal.

JG—-I had to chuckle at your post. I saw an interview with Donny and Debbie Osmond. They asked Donny had he ever been tempted by the women that throw themselves at him. He said “yes sure, all the time. However, it was his commitment to Debbie and God that kept him from acting on the impulse.” Now anyone of our generation should know the Osmonds have always been this sort of ‘ideal family’ in some strange way. Here he is admitting to this human flaw.

Shoot I am single and Rob (Pattison) is legal….Just kidding (I think). Oh, yeah that was a topic last summer….the Mrs. Robinson syndrome.

By Penguinmom

February 13, 2009 7:27 PM | Link to this

My 7th grader also reads well above his grade level. I still preview most books he reads because I don’t want either of us to be blind-sided with any topics that will need to involve discussion.

Very occassionally, I have had to set a book aside as one he doesn’t need to read until he’s older. For example, Inkheart was one that I set aside when he was in 4th grade but that I’ve now let him read. It was just too depressing and dark. He’s currently trying to slog through InkDeath just to find out what happens to one of his favorite characters.

Since he’s a boy, he hasn’t really had an interest in the Twilight series. I’m planning on reading it at some point but there’s no rush for him.

I think it’s a parent’s job to really know what your kids are reading so that you can judge the appropriateness for your own child. Some kids can read a book and not be bothered by it at all while others really take it to heart and can’t shake the images their mind has created. It’s up to parents to know their child well enough and to research the book’s content well enough to judge it for themselves.

By deidre_NC

February 13, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this

i keep thinking i need to read it…lots of the young girls at work were addicted…and my 16 yo daughter read them all in a couple of weeks. she hated the movie tho. my family is all major readers..i read gone with the wind at the age of 8..the first ‘real’ book i ever read and remember it saying the ‘breeze blew thru her shirt on her breast’ or something like that and smickering..lol..geeze…my daughter has read books i read since she was 8 or 9..all my kids did. i cant reemmber ever telling them they couldnt read something because it was too old for them or whatever. i did read harry potter first just due to all the religous hype—i didnt want her at the age of 6 or 7 getting that confused over the god thing…but i didnt see any reason not to let her read it and we all—all 5 of my kids and i-read the books all at the same time and the yearly movies became a family tradition thing. im like the poster above’s mom—if my child wanted to read a book i pretty much let them. i have always held with the belief that no matter what you read there is something you will learn from it. we have read all of picoults books..all the patricia cornwell books…geeze no way can i name them all. i used to buy and my house tells that story-i have a million books-now i go to the used book store-city lights in sylva nc…my 2 girlfriends and i have a running tab there…we usually keep a credit as we buy them—return for credit..but we also use the library all the time. they will order from a neighbor library if they dont have what you want.

well this became a reading tangent…i say if a kid wants to read it and is able to understand then by all means let them read. nothing a kid can do is better than reading.

By Kay

February 16, 2009 7:35 AM | Link to this

I have not read these books, but based on the previous comments from grown women, there is NO WAY I would encourage my 5th grader to read this stuff. It is emotional pornography. Protect your daughters’ minds and hearts. With news that a 15-year-old had a baby with a 13-year-old in Britain, do you people realize that books like these are part of the problem?! Our culture is headed the way of Britain’s unfortunately, with their teenage pregnancy rate skyrocketing - the vast majority of them out of wedlock. No, there are many things a kid can do that are better than reading this trash…like taking out the trash for starters.

By CleverShrew

February 16, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this

Kay,

I would say that you need to get your head out of the sand. Number one, you have not even read the books, so you have no right to make any judgements on them until you have done so. Number two, I have read them all, and NOWHERE in the book does Meyer advocate having sexual relations out of wedlock. And number three, teen pregnancy is a problem because of the kids themselves. Kids that age will experiment, not because they read it in a book, but simply because they feel like it. Also, I would even venture as far to say, that close-minded parents like you contribute as well. Parents that have not talked to their precious one about protection, birth control, etc. Probably just told her to abstain. That is all well and good, and I wish more children would, however, one must be practical and at least educate them in the case of somthing happening.

By CleverShrew

February 16, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this

oh, and also, our society heading the way of Britains?? More like Britain heading in America’s society’s direction, as we have more babies born out of wedlock, and to teenagers, then anyone else.

By DB

February 16, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

Kay, I tend to agree with clevershrew — Americans aren’t in any position to point to Britain’s teenage birth rate and cry “Shame!”, since our own in the highest in the world (55 per 1,000, as opposed to Britain’s 29 per 1,000). However, it has been decreasing for teens since 1990, and that rate doesn’t take into account teens who are married.

Personally, a book like “Twilight”, with a hero who only kisses and insists on waiting until marriage for anything else is far preferable to me than reading about Bristol Palin, Jamie Lynn Spears and Keisha Castle-Hughes, along with a myriad of other celebrities, who casually have babies out of wedlock. So while you are throwing out the trash, make sure you throw out the TV and never allow you child to go to the movies, either.

By FCM

February 16, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

Well, I did take the 9 yo to the movie this weekend. I asked did she want to read the book and got the answer “No it is too big”….any book over a certain length is intimidating to her. She only got comfortable with Chapter books (without pictures) around Christmas. Although Reading is her best subject and she reads above grade level. She did fine with movie, even the graphic parts, and only rolled her eyes with a ‘yeah mom’ when I mentioned the Ed in Bed being out of bounds….So I will being nightly head counts when we hit that stage…..Plus I pointed out her room is farthest from an entry, and over a steep drop for a reason.

DB—I don’t recall the books you mentioned ‘hidden’. I did have VC Anderews’ books at about 7th grade and up. I did not have to hide them but feel sure my parents swiped them and read them to know what I was reading about. They probably waited for questions that never came.

Kay—-you must be that twit from Gwinnett in another name….You condemn the book without reading it. That is beyond stupid.

Books about teen romance are not the cause of teen pregnancy. Teens unable to deal with their hormones are. The past Christmas our Clergy did the Mother Mary sermon…about how she was found great among God and how (she the Clergy) felt that she should live up to that standard when she was a teen. That it was this story that kept her from teen sex. I told her she would be surprised….I heard the same story/lecture in Christian camp as a teen and had the opposite reaction. I could not handle the pressure of being that good in God’s eyes that I could be destined for some great plan of His….That was one of the many reasons I decided to have sex when I did. I really saw it as something to get rid of rather than to cherish and keep. That from a Bible story? I have since realized how WRONG I was—-and changed my life in the process (all before children) but I digress.