“TWILIGHT” SERIES ON LIST OF CHALLENGED BOOKS
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer Hillel Italie, AP National Writer
NEW YORK – Stephenie Meyer, the hottest author for young people since J.K. Rowling, has a new link to the creator of “Harry Potter”: a place high on the list of books most complained about by parents and educators.
Meyer’s multimillion-selling “Twilight” series was ranked No. 5 on the annual report of “challenged books” released Wednesday by the American Library Association. Meyer’s stories of vampires and teen romance have been criticized for sexual content; a library association official also thinks that the “Twilight” series reflects general unease about supernatural stories.
“Vampire novels have been a target for years and the `Twilight’ books are so immensely popular that a lot of the concerns people have had about vampires are focused on her books,” says Barbara Jones, director of the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
Christian groups for years have protested the themes of wizardry in Rowling’s books, which don’t appear on the current top 10.
Topping the 2009 chart was Lauren Myracle’s “IM” series, novels told through instant messages that have been criticized for nudity, language and drug references. Last year’s No. 1 book, “And Tango Makes Three,” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, is now No. 2, cited again for its story about two male penguins adopting a baby. Third was Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” for which the many reasons include drugs, suicide, homosexuality and being antifamily.
Also cited were such perennials as J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” (sexual content, language), Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” (language, racism), Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” (sexual content, language) and Robert Cormier’s “The Chocolate War” (nudity, language, sexual content).
The ALA recorded 460 challenges in 2009, a drop from 513 the year before, and 81 books actually being removed. The ALA defines a challenge as a “formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.”
For every challenge tallied, about four or five end up unreported, according to the ALA.
BID ON PETER FACINELLI AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF “NEW MOON” ON EBAY
It seems that Peter Facinelli’s heart is as big as the Cullens’ bank accounts. His friend, Rob DeFranco, currently has a couple of autographed “New Moon” items on eBay signed by Facinelli with the proceeds going to benefit the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. There is a copy of The Twilight Saga: New Moon: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion with a copy of New Moon. Visit the auction on eBay if you are interested!
CASTING INFORMATION FOR “BREAKING DAWN” AUDITIONS
Do you have plans to audition for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”? If so, you might be interested in these guidelines posted for aspiring actors hoping to snag a role in the yet-to-be-officially-announced installment of films in the series.
CARLISLE CULLEN RANKS #1 IN FORBES’ FICTIONAL 15 LISTING
Dr. Carlisle Cullen, age 370, was ranked as the #1 wealthiest fictional character by Forbes Magazine in their Fictional 15 listing with an estimated net worth of $34 billion (USD). Next on the listing was Scrooge McDuck with an estimated net worth of $33.5 billion. Here’s what Forbes had to say about the good doctor:
Immortal vampire and small-town doctor has quietly amassed a fortune over three centuries. In 1670 received generous handout from Italian friends; put savings in bank, reaped billions in compound interest. Made shrewd long-term investments in steel, gold, oil, thanks to prescience of daughter turned financial advisor Alice; saw recessions coming, invested early in Wal-Mart, Apple. Earned doctor’s salary for 340 years without paying for groceries, health care expenses. Avoids sunshine and public displays of wealth, but owns several valuable properties, including yacht, private island, collection of Renaissance art. New member. (For more on Carlisle Cullen, see “Blood Money.”)
Featured in the Twilight books and films.
DAVID SLADE TWEETS ABOUT “ECLIPSE” SCORE AND GOSSIP
David Slade took to his Twitter account to make a quick comment about working on the musical score for “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” and the gossip surrounding reshoots for the film. Here’s what the “Eclipse” director had to say:
In London overseeing the film score with Mr Howard Shore and enjoying all the gossip flying around. Onwards to the Eclipse!!
SUMMIT RESPONDS TO “ECLIPSE” RESHOOT RUMORS
We mentioned the rumor that has been circulating that Summit has been looking to have Chris Weitz or Catherine Hardwicke direct the reshoots for “Eclipse”. Gossip.com has debunked this rumor and any reshoots to be done will be directed by David Slade. They report on their site:
David Slade is 100% directing them, like he did the entire movie, and the studio is “very happy” with his direction of the film, which internally some say could be the best of the series.
As for the timing, speculation that there will be three rushed days of 18-hour shoots is incorrect. The Summit rep tells Gossip Cop that it’s a two-and-a-half to three-day shoot, and that “very little” actually has to be reshot.
But the biggest misconception concerned the specific scenes alleged to be those in need of a reshoot. The rep confirms to Gossip Cop, “None of the meadow or action scenes are being reshot.”
Asked to comment on today’s alarmist rumors, the authorized rep for the studio tells Gossip Cop, “Reports much like the one earlier today are ploys to drive traffic without any merit and without any support from the studio on what is actually going on or true.”
TWILIGHT LEXICON SPONSORING “FACE PUNCH” TRAILER CONTEST
The Twiligh fansite, Twilight Lexicon, is sponsoring a contest for the best trailer for the fictional movie, “Face Punch”. To refresh your memory, “Face Punch” is the movie that Bella, Mike, and Jacob go to see in Port Angeles. They couldn’t use the movie title that Stephenie Meyer used in the book because it was actually the name of a film and Chris Weitz came up with this one. If you are interested in entering the contest, check out the rules and deadline information on their site.
SNL HOST POSSIBLE ADDITION TO ROBERT PATTINSON’S RESUME?
OK! Magazine reports that SNL’s executive producer, Lorne Michaels, is trying to book Robert Pattinson as a host for the next season of the show. They are already booked through the rest of this season, but have hopes to have him host in the near future. Michaels told the magazine, “We asked him this season,” Lorne told OK! Monday night at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents An Evening with Saturday Night Live in NYC. “And then he did Jimmy’s show and that went well for him.”
PETER FACINELLI IN CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE ON MAY 1
Peter Facinelli will be on hand at Governor’s Square Mall in Clarksville, Tennessee on Saturday, May 1 from noon until five o’clock to sign autographs and take photos with fans to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Fans may purchase autographs for $25 or have a photo taken with him for $40.
I’m not surprised about the “Twilight” books being on the ALA’s most-challenged list, although the reason of sexual content is a bit laughable since the only sexy times in the books took place between married, consenting adults and proved the point that unprotected sex can (and often does) result in pregnancy. Their heads would probably explode if they ever took a look at the fan fiction for the series or opened up a Sookie Stackhouse book!
I have to say that I love the Forbes listing of the wealthiest fictional characters. We knew that the Cullens had money, but $34.5 BILLION is some serious bank!!
I’m hoping that Lorne Michaels can work something out to have Robert Pattinson host SNL. He seems like he has a great sense of humor and it would be interesting to see him in something other than a dramatic kind of role.
I am so bummed that I will have to miss Peter Facinelli’s visit to Tennessee because I’m going to be out of the state. I love that he does so much work for charity and gets the fans involved at the same time.
So, what do you think of today’s Twilight news? Let us know what you think in our forum. We’d love to hear from you!
