Books That Suck--LOLOMGWTFWWJD

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by 33girl

And I thought they didn't get busy in the Twilight series until after they were married. WTF? How is that "sexually explicit"?

They didn't, and it isn't. They barely kiss ever. Whoever is making these statements isn't reading these books. They don't even know what is in them. I think they assume that if kids like them, there must be bad stuff in them.

My daughter had to read TKAM for 8th grade English and AGAIN in 10th grade. I don't know if they changed the curriculum in between or what, but I don't think a kid needs to read the same book twice for school.

My daughter has read some books with some pretty adult subject matter. She's a pretty mature kid and we have good, open communication. We frequently discuss topics from them when she's done reading.

[KSig RC]

On the one hand, I'm very VERY glad this isn't a thread about people talking about books they hate, because it generally turns into a "classics I didn't understand" contest. Then the Ayn Rand or Bronte Sisters a-holes show up and I just want to punch myself in the dick.

On the other hand, the Twilight novels should be banned for awkwardly pushing of pro-Mormon weirdness and generally douchey one-sided estrogen fantasy. So understandably, I'm torn.

[gee_ess]

As a young English teacher in rural Missouri, I taught The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier to my freshmen classes. I gave the choice of 4 books and warned them that if they read The Chocolate War to be prepared for some rough language and renegade thinking. (the novel takes place in a Catholic boys' school and one of the main character says, "Jesus was just a guy with a good PR man."

Anywho, everyone settles in...until the night before the test. Evidently, a local preacher's daughter was panicking the night before and cramming to get it all read. I am not sure exactly what went down between father and daughter (did she find it timely to complain about the novel as she was getting in trouble for being behind in her studies? who knows?)

But, the next morning the father was waiting at the office with the book. He had stayed up late and underlined the objectionable parts throughout the entire book (he could have taken the test) and she was excused from taking the test. He demanded the book be pulled from the classroom.

But here's the kicker: My principal totally backed the parent. He questioned the validity of the book, had me pull it from my shelves, forbid me to ever teach it again,etc. When I showed him it was on all national book lists, had won awards, his response was, "Those lists are made by people in New York. They don't have the same values as we do."

I brought the teacher's guide and pointed out all of the thematic points of the novel. I argued that certainly a parent should be allowed to censor what their child reads, but not keep a book out of the hands of every other student.

The discussion was heated. We went to the library and I pointed out the word "bastard" in Of Mice and Men. His response, "That's a classic. It doesn't count." I even pointed out the school board policy that stated nothing can be taken out of the curriculum without board approval. His response, "I have the power and the board will support me unconditionally."

So, I was in real quandry. Did I take it to the newspaper? Yell "Censorship" and get all sorts of headlines? It was really a tough situation. It was a tiny town, and we were young. My husband's career was very visible and having a rabble rouser for a wife was not going to be helpful.

So, I kept quiet. ( I know, I was a coward) But I did put it on my classroom library shelf and continued to let kids check it out individually because that felt like a small victory.

I still get worked up when I think about it today...oh, and the principal never read the book. He made his decision based on that one man's opinion and would never back off. It was a real shame because so many young boys really related to that novel and finding books that appealed to 14 year old boys was tough.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

On the other hand, the Twilight novels should be banned for awkwardly pushing of pro-Mormon weirdness and generally douchey one-sided estrogen fantasy. So understandably, I'm torn.

Teenagers in earlier generations got through First Love from Silhouette and Sweet Valley High...not to mention some of those hideously drecky things from the 1950s...so I think they will all survive Twilight. It's the 30-40something women getting psychotically excited over these books/movies that concern me. I watched the movie at a friend's house, and we were both like "THAT was it?"

[epchick]

Originally Posted by AGDee

They didn't, and it isn't. They barely kiss ever.

They most definitely do have sex in the book (and they kiss.... A LOT). It doesn't go as graphic as "and he stuck ___ into ___" but they do speak a lot about Bella/Edward sex and Rosalie/Emmett sex.

I wouldn't call it "sexually explicit" but for a book geared towards tweens, it is a little much.

[ASUADPi]

You gotta love how a PICTURE BOOK, a picture book, is being challenged.

Oh but wait, it is being challenged by all the homophobic people who live in the United States.

Since I'm such a rebel rouser, I should totally read that book to my students.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by epchick

They most definitely do have sex in the book (and they kiss.... A LOT). It doesn't go as graphic as "and he stuck ___ into ___" but they do speak a lot about Bella/Edward sex and Rosalie/Emmett sex.

I wouldn't call it "sexually explicit" but for a book geared towards tweens, it is a little much.

Not until after they are married though. The kissing in Twilight is very tentative because Edward isn't sure he can kiss Bella and maintain control. If anything, the book is quite violent!

[VandalSquirrel]

If To Kill A Mockingbird was banned we'd have a lot less people in law school claiming that is what inspired them to be lawyers...

I'd like anything by Nicholas Sparks to disappear, and the movies. I'm biased like that and admit it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Teenagers in earlier generations got through First Love from Silhouette and Sweet Valley High...not to mention some of those hideously drecky things from the 1950s...so I think they will all survive Twilight. It's the 30-40something women getting psychotically excited over these books/movies that concern me. I watched the movie at a friend's house, and we were both like "THAT was it?"

I swore by Sweet Valley High. It was right up there with "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret." I swear!

I have been trying to watch Twilight for the past month or so on HBO OnDemand. I can't get past the first 30 minutes. Then I tried to watch the sequel or whatever and got disinterested early on, as well. I'll just take everyone's word for it as it pertains to the novels and the movies.

[annabella]

I went to a conservative Southern private school, and let's just say the library was "limited," and leave it at that.

That said, our teacher read our fifth grade class To Kill a Mockingbird (at least I think it was fifth—it was definitely a grade where we could understand what was going on, but still young enough to be read to as a class). Reading the book later, I realized she'd skipped some pretty key parts.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by agzg

It was required 9th grade reading when I was in High School.

Same here.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Not until after they are married though. The kissing in Twilight is very tentative because Edward isn't sure he can kiss Bella and maintain control. If anything, the book is quite violent!

I wonder if they're just after Twilight because it's so popular? I wonder if House of Night/Vampire Academy/Dark Visions are still on the shelf, because those were MUCH worse in terms of language (f-bombs like crazy), violence, and explicity. They are still, by no means, the same as an adult romance novel, but I don't think I would let a highschooler read them (maybe a senior).

The music director at my church, who is about as uber-religious as they come for Lutherans, LOVES Twilight. AGDee is right - the kissing isn't usually anything more than kissing until after they're married. And the first time they have sex, it takes you two paragraphs to determine whether it really happened or not, because there's no ACTUAL mention of it.

[Ghostwriter]

I thought this was going to be a "book that sucked" thread and I was going to nominate "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. Guess I just did. Wonder why "Huckleberry Finn" wasn't on the list as it has the n-word all through it?

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I'd like anything by Nicholas Sparks to disappear, and the movies. I'm biased like that and admit it.

I'm with you on that one. Books and movies.

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

I thought this was going to be a "book that sucked" thread and I was going to nominate "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. Guess I just did.

I thought the same thing and was going to nominate Mercy by Jodi Picoult. I'm a bit reluctant, though. Mercy was so bad I couldn't finish it. So, maybe once you get past the crap (I gave up around 75% into it) it gets better. I woudn't know.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

I thought this was going to be a "book that sucked" thread and I was going to nominate "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. Guess I just did. Wonder why "Huckleberry Finn" wasn't on the list as it has the n-word all through it?

I read Beloved in college, and man, that was tough to get through.

I'd like to nominate Old Man and the Sea, by Hemingway, in the "Books that Really Suck" category.