Peyton Place and Spencer’s Mountain ( pre-John Boy Walton) educated me to adult relationships when I was in 7th grade. I would use brown paper bags to hide the covers when I read them in school, and these books showed me a brand new exciting world of adulthood.
The Other Side of Midnight and Jaws were the first two books in which I came across any explicit content whatsoever. These I read surreptitiously. Certainly no harm was done. I agree this is an "as ever" issue.
At the same time, when I was a very young teen I was not discouraged from reading a slew of romance novels by authors like Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt, which were never explicit but often sent twisted messages about emotionally abusive men being attractive. In one I recently reread, the protagonist ends up with a man who attempts to rape her, and the reader is supposed to feel good about it. This kind of messaging can be powerful IMO.
On the topic of these covers, though, I'm trying to figure out what the publishers are thinking. OTOH, I'd think given the current climate, they'd want to avoid controversy like this. OTOH, maybe it's clever marketing designed to create this brouhaha.
Oh, Shogun was the rage when I was in college. Who in their right or left mind would have enough time to read that book AND watch the mini-series? It was a book that was hard to come by. I also read Clan of the Cave Bear, but was a bit older than you, when that was read.
In high school over one boring weekend visiting relatives, read The Thorn Birds. Considered racy, back in the day, and of course a mini-series too! Thanks!
John another brilliant article. I quote you but dont get an impression that the whole text is not relevant to me. I think its the best that can get.
'I don’t know, maybe I’m romanticizing things in my old age, but I think there was something meaningful about being able to explore the adult world through books without my parents necessarily fully knowing what was going on. I’m sure I didn’t understand huge swaths of these books, but that seemed okay to me. I was a kid, I wasn’t supposed to know much of anything yet, and how else was I supposed to be figuring things out other than reading a bunch of books?'
Johan its kind of seminal work. Believe me. yes the whole article. And you are not sure. Be sure. I think the world has sensitized to much on adult content. So much that even the children have become somewhat sensitised. Yes the world needs to realise that Children just dont understand huge swaths of any of the adult content. Yes as a child and teen ager my whole sexual fantasy would revolve around just getting a chance to kiss a girl of my age. That is about it. I used to watch a lot of holly wood movies and any scenes that may be put as adult content would just never register. Now as a grown up dad with two young daughters I wonder what the world has come to. We are no more a relaxed society. There is too much interospection. Therefore I read the message in your article and that is please give children a break. But yes be vigilant to protect them. Great article. I want you to write something that Elon Musk on X has highlighted and that is more explicit sexual education or at least its practice by WOKE movement. I am liberal but I feel Elon Musk is right to get offended as I would be too. What the expert psycologists say. Why now. Anything changed since I have grown up?
I was reading James Joyce at 13 & 14. Did I understand all of it? Probably not, but I had the time and the inclination to work through something like that, so I am glad that I did. Would that I have the time now.
I have a 12 year old, who while not quite as precocious , is reading above her age. We are blessed with librarians who take an interest, and know what she is reading, so are happy to allow her. As a parent my rule has always been "if you can read it, it's appropriate". If I was ever tempted to stop her reading anything it was the endless Rainbow Fairy books. I didn't, though, but also didn't hold back about my opinions, and why I felt that way and I'm glad because I have a keen reader and we can happily discuss books together, and I have a kid who is quite capable of deciding what is appropriate for herself (and sets stricter boundaries than I would).
There are a lot scarier things out there for kids than books, and some of the best things we can do for kids is to enable them to know they can make judgments they can trust and can have open conversations where they will be listened to. Books are a great trying out ground for this and I'll take the benefits over the danger my kid will see a drawing of a penis any time.
Michener’s “Hawaii” was probably one of the first adult books I read, around 7th grade. I think my mother probably thought, “Oh good, I won’t have to tell her about sex.” And she never did.
The Women's Room - sex and empowerment? My parents had no idea. I also read the Clan books and yep, wow. My theory about reading "up" a level is that you only recognize what is happening in the story when you are ready for it. (I was a reading fiend who couldn't believe I could get books out of the adult section of the library. As exciting as a bank robbery!) I surely read a lot of passages that first time through made absolutely no sense. I just skimmed to the part of the story that I was interested in. Later on, loved the risque stuff. Still do.
Funny you should mention Exodus - reading that at 13 lead me to other Leon Uris novels as well - Mila 18, QB7 and Trinity. The others I remember reading around that time were MASH, East of Eden and All the President’s Men.
When I was in middle school, it got around that there was a steamy sex scene in Puzo’s The Godfather, in the library. So kids started visiting that location & reading, my brain insists but IDK, page 26. But being the nerd I am, I wasn’t satisfied with just that, so I checked the book out.
My dad, who gave me a big stack of classics every year on my birthday, saw me with it & sat down. He asked if I didn’t think that book was a little old for me. I said no. He hesitated for a long time & then said okay & walked away.
And I promptly lost interest in the book. It wasn’t in fact where I was developmentally, tho I couldn’t have put it in those terms, it just got stupid and boring, imo. But letting me find that out for myself was a really wise move on my dad’s part. He trusted my judgement, or at least it felt like that (maybe he was just at a loss what to do lol?) & I’ve carried that little glow ever since.
(If it’s not clear, btw, this story is in support of the idea that kids are asking for less spice. Shock value gets old really really quickly.)
Oh, my, Clan of the Cave Bear. I also read Flowers in the Attic. Oh somehow stumbled into a soft core romance book, Shanna, that titillated me no end. I’m a firm believer in letting teens go where they will in reading, and a lot of it will likely be dreck, but so what?
My mom’s copy of Judith Krantz’s Scruples — the first time I ever encountered a description of an erect penis. I think I was 12 or 13. Less sexy, but younger, I also devoured every Agatha Christie mystery in the house, which were sometimes creepy/grisly (And Then There Were None) but more critically opened my eyes to glamorous midcentury England/Europe, totally alien to my life as a child on the west coast in the 1970s. I also think I read Sophie’s Choice when I was maybe 15?
There was a copy of Death Be Not Proud in our 6th grade classroom. So I read it. That’s what I did, I read whatever I saw. I can’t think of anything I read that traumatized me, but I’m sure lots went over my head.
Peyton Place and Spencer’s Mountain ( pre-John Boy Walton) educated me to adult relationships when I was in 7th grade. I would use brown paper bags to hide the covers when I read them in school, and these books showed me a brand new exciting world of adulthood.
The Other Side of Midnight and Jaws were the first two books in which I came across any explicit content whatsoever. These I read surreptitiously. Certainly no harm was done. I agree this is an "as ever" issue.
At the same time, when I was a very young teen I was not discouraged from reading a slew of romance novels by authors like Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt, which were never explicit but often sent twisted messages about emotionally abusive men being attractive. In one I recently reread, the protagonist ends up with a man who attempts to rape her, and the reader is supposed to feel good about it. This kind of messaging can be powerful IMO.
On the topic of these covers, though, I'm trying to figure out what the publishers are thinking. OTOH, I'd think given the current climate, they'd want to avoid controversy like this. OTOH, maybe it's clever marketing designed to create this brouhaha.
Oh, Shogun was the rage when I was in college. Who in their right or left mind would have enough time to read that book AND watch the mini-series? It was a book that was hard to come by. I also read Clan of the Cave Bear, but was a bit older than you, when that was read.
In high school over one boring weekend visiting relatives, read The Thorn Birds. Considered racy, back in the day, and of course a mini-series too! Thanks!
The Exorcist.
I read a lot of the same books when I was young. I still remember them with a feeling of warmth!
I was raised religious and I will never forget the copy of The Shining I hid between my bed and the wall when I was 12.
John another brilliant article. I quote you but dont get an impression that the whole text is not relevant to me. I think its the best that can get.
'I don’t know, maybe I’m romanticizing things in my old age, but I think there was something meaningful about being able to explore the adult world through books without my parents necessarily fully knowing what was going on. I’m sure I didn’t understand huge swaths of these books, but that seemed okay to me. I was a kid, I wasn’t supposed to know much of anything yet, and how else was I supposed to be figuring things out other than reading a bunch of books?'
Johan its kind of seminal work. Believe me. yes the whole article. And you are not sure. Be sure. I think the world has sensitized to much on adult content. So much that even the children have become somewhat sensitised. Yes the world needs to realise that Children just dont understand huge swaths of any of the adult content. Yes as a child and teen ager my whole sexual fantasy would revolve around just getting a chance to kiss a girl of my age. That is about it. I used to watch a lot of holly wood movies and any scenes that may be put as adult content would just never register. Now as a grown up dad with two young daughters I wonder what the world has come to. We are no more a relaxed society. There is too much interospection. Therefore I read the message in your article and that is please give children a break. But yes be vigilant to protect them. Great article. I want you to write something that Elon Musk on X has highlighted and that is more explicit sexual education or at least its practice by WOKE movement. I am liberal but I feel Elon Musk is right to get offended as I would be too. What the expert psycologists say. Why now. Anything changed since I have grown up?
I was reading James Joyce at 13 & 14. Did I understand all of it? Probably not, but I had the time and the inclination to work through something like that, so I am glad that I did. Would that I have the time now.
I have a 12 year old, who while not quite as precocious , is reading above her age. We are blessed with librarians who take an interest, and know what she is reading, so are happy to allow her. As a parent my rule has always been "if you can read it, it's appropriate". If I was ever tempted to stop her reading anything it was the endless Rainbow Fairy books. I didn't, though, but also didn't hold back about my opinions, and why I felt that way and I'm glad because I have a keen reader and we can happily discuss books together, and I have a kid who is quite capable of deciding what is appropriate for herself (and sets stricter boundaries than I would).
There are a lot scarier things out there for kids than books, and some of the best things we can do for kids is to enable them to know they can make judgments they can trust and can have open conversations where they will be listened to. Books are a great trying out ground for this and I'll take the benefits over the danger my kid will see a drawing of a penis any time.
Five smooth stones was a real eye opener about race and relationships.
Catcher Joe n the Rye was impactful also.
Michener’s “Hawaii” was probably one of the first adult books I read, around 7th grade. I think my mother probably thought, “Oh good, I won’t have to tell her about sex.” And she never did.
The Women's Room - sex and empowerment? My parents had no idea. I also read the Clan books and yep, wow. My theory about reading "up" a level is that you only recognize what is happening in the story when you are ready for it. (I was a reading fiend who couldn't believe I could get books out of the adult section of the library. As exciting as a bank robbery!) I surely read a lot of passages that first time through made absolutely no sense. I just skimmed to the part of the story that I was interested in. Later on, loved the risque stuff. Still do.
Funny you should mention Exodus - reading that at 13 lead me to other Leon Uris novels as well - Mila 18, QB7 and Trinity. The others I remember reading around that time were MASH, East of Eden and All the President’s Men.
When I was in middle school, it got around that there was a steamy sex scene in Puzo’s The Godfather, in the library. So kids started visiting that location & reading, my brain insists but IDK, page 26. But being the nerd I am, I wasn’t satisfied with just that, so I checked the book out.
My dad, who gave me a big stack of classics every year on my birthday, saw me with it & sat down. He asked if I didn’t think that book was a little old for me. I said no. He hesitated for a long time & then said okay & walked away.
And I promptly lost interest in the book. It wasn’t in fact where I was developmentally, tho I couldn’t have put it in those terms, it just got stupid and boring, imo. But letting me find that out for myself was a really wise move on my dad’s part. He trusted my judgement, or at least it felt like that (maybe he was just at a loss what to do lol?) & I’ve carried that little glow ever since.
(If it’s not clear, btw, this story is in support of the idea that kids are asking for less spice. Shock value gets old really really quickly.)
Oh, my, Clan of the Cave Bear. I also read Flowers in the Attic. Oh somehow stumbled into a soft core romance book, Shanna, that titillated me no end. I’m a firm believer in letting teens go where they will in reading, and a lot of it will likely be dreck, but so what?
My mom’s copy of Judith Krantz’s Scruples — the first time I ever encountered a description of an erect penis. I think I was 12 or 13. Less sexy, but younger, I also devoured every Agatha Christie mystery in the house, which were sometimes creepy/grisly (And Then There Were None) but more critically opened my eyes to glamorous midcentury England/Europe, totally alien to my life as a child on the west coast in the 1970s. I also think I read Sophie’s Choice when I was maybe 15?
There was a copy of Death Be Not Proud in our 6th grade classroom. So I read it. That’s what I did, I read whatever I saw. I can’t think of anything I read that traumatized me, but I’m sure lots went over my head.