Carrie, from Mother to Daughter (Long Post, Invitation to Dialog and Debate)

[eye8urcake]

Background: I read ridiculously fast. My kids throw books at me just to bet each other on how fast I can read them. Basically, what this means is that I read -everything- they read, which in the end is a good thing because I'm very aware of what's going into their minds and how they choose to entertain themselves.

I'm ashamed to admit I actually enjoyed the 'Twilight' books, though I couldn't tell you for the life of me -why- given they were so trite and so milquetoast, though perhaps it was out of a sick desire to see Jacob wolf (dog?) out and eat the vampire. I not only read their Harry Potter books, I read them aloud and did voices, which, I'm proud to admit, have been given way higher marks than -any- of the film versions to date... though my children said my Dobby was more of a Gollum and it really creeped them out.

However.

My daughter, who is 15, reads some of the most poorly written, crybaby books I think I've ever had the misfortune to extend my book addiction toward reading.

Emo, with a capital moo.

It seems like the drivel her school library serves up is required to focus around misfit kids who have everything handed to them and lovely little home lives but who still, in the end, decide to blow up the school or kill their boyfriends or develop drinking and drug problems. Some of these books actually seem to revolve around nothing more plot-driven or thought-provoking than reveling in kids who are just @$$holes to be @$$holes.

Maybe I'm just jaded. Maybe I'm spoiled. Maybe I'm right. I really don't know.

With the help of Mr. King and 'Carrie', I've decided to tackle this problem in a proactive fashion. Plus, I think in the end I'm going to look like a damned good mother because I'm not Carrie's mum. Nothing wrong with a little win/win, methinks. I gave her my new hardcover copy of 'Carrie' and she's reading it.

Verdict to come later in this thread, hopefully. My eleven year old has since stolen my new copy of 'Firestarter'... I knew she would, if I stuck it under her DVD of 'The Black Stallion' >.>

My question, or discussion/debate point for this thread is this:
Is there an appropriate age to start feeding kids Mr. King's works?

I'd actually typed up my own entry into what I hope ends up being a good discussion and then decided to retract it until we got a conversation going because... I'm Michelle, and I'm a wordslut and, dammit, I'm going to learn to have some willpower and leave some words for the other folks!

Anyhow, here's hoping y'all have opinions on this, because it's something I've actually wondered about ever since I stole my dad's annual sci-fi digest thing and hid under my blankets with a flashlight to read 'The Mist' when I was... eleven!

Walk well, friends.

[Moderator]

The "right" age is going to be different depending upon the kid. Ultimately, it would be up to each parent because they're the ones who know their kids best and what they can handle. And sometimes the kids know better what they can handle. How do you think your daughter would react to Carrie?

[bugaboosy]

i agree with miss mod ... i have long been worried about the trite that my daughter has been reading and secretly harboured a hope that she would turn to SK for reading fun but left it to her..what did it was after she watched carrie for the first time....that movie did it!!! she has since watched more than she has read but still its a start and she is now a dedicated SK spotter in movies lol
she has read carrie and started misery another firm fav of hers to watch ...
reminds me of the books we had to read at high school ...the outsiders or go ask alice..i loved the books but wondered what was it about our class that made them think drugs and gangs??? lol hmmm

[no bounce no play]

It seems like you have open communications with your kids (Good job, Mom!) and if something in an SK book disturbs them, they'll talk to you about it. If they were able to read The Outsiders and the Twilight saga without causing brain damage, I'd think they can handle SK I was at an impressionable age when I read Carrie and Carrie's mom disturbed me but if y'all watch The Big Bang Theory and you find Sheldon's mom funny, I don't think your kids will have any problem you can't handle.

I don't know how you feel about cussing... I'm not even sure if SK's characters cuss much, I don't notice cussing anymore since Eddie Murphy wore out all the good cuss words... I'm guessing its not a consideration, since you referred to yourself as a wordslut rofl.

Under the Dome seems to have bothered a bunch of people, you might could read it first before giving it to your kids.

[Doc Wilson]

Every kid is different. When my kids were old enough to keep up with King's vocabulary, I considered them old enough to read them. Its not like its porn.

[GNTLGNT]

You are going to be the best judge of their maturity level and whether or not it's appropriate...go for it!

[eye8urcake]

I wasn't really asking in the context of 'should I or shouldn't I', just as an attempt to begin a conversation on this sort of question. My kids read because I read and, since they do seem to (at least to some extent) respect or value my opinions and tastes, it's natural that they're interested in what I'm reading. I'm not one who follows suggested ages to a T anyhow, either, in terms of toys or movies or games or anything else, but am curious as to whether others were more inclined to do so and why.

Frankly, it's actually rather nice to see that other adult readers share the same non-critical ideas I do, and, after perusing the forums more thoroughly after making my curiosity post, it's nice to see so many teenagers and young adults who enjoy the writings of the same authors I do, as well. Generally speaking, I pay so little attention to what the people around me outside my family think (if you lived here, you'd probably understand why) that I'm amazed at how nice it feels to find a group of solid, sane, like-minded individuals that it appears I can blurt whatever comes to mind with and who won't gasp and tut-tut. Thanks!

Re: Ms. Mod - I hope she's appalled by the way Carrietta was treated, both by the shallow fools at the school and by her own psychotic mother, though, I hope she can look at all of the antagonists with some kind of compassion, especially the mother who was obviously mentally ill. When I read things like this, I like to put myself into the shoes of all the major players in the stories, even... the distasteful as well as the sympathetic. In a way, using 'Carrie' as an example, I hope that she sees how treating other people can make them feel and that, even if exaggerated and given a touch of the metaphysical in this particular literary instance, such behavior truly is hurtful and truly does result in consequences. Honestly, I think I steered her toward it because even the 'villains' are more realistic and sympathetic to me and the lessons are -definitely- not outside the scope and understanding of most kids her age.

Re: bugaboosy - I remember reading 'The Outsiders' and 'Go Ask Alice', and completely forgot about them! Thanks for the reminder... will pass those along as suggestions, as well, since they're amazingly timeless and very, very well-written.

Re: no bounce no play - Carrie's mom reminds me of half my damned family growing up. I was literally 'sneak' baptized one hot and steamy summer when professional disaster caused my parents to have to pass me around for prolonged visits whilst they found us a new nest to roost in. I never had any idea 'Baptists' came in so many flavors nor how many different ways I could nightmare the Apocalypse into being until participating in one aunt and uncle's set of beliefs. Another set decided I needed to give the Pentecostal church a go and go I did, though I sort of wished I could have understood the bit that was in tongues. Short jaunts through a Unitarian church, a visit with an LDS family friend, and I was back home, watching Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker with my newly-reborn mother, who then proceeded to declare a Jihad on the rest of my family when she didn't appreciate my spiritual journeys. I developed a rather informal set of my own spiritual and religious views which I've since shared with my kids, with the understanding that I expect them to decide their own views when they're old enough and have spent some time exploring their own selves enough to develop a belief system... though, unfortunately, the adults in my town don't share my view, having branded my oldest (who gets straight As at school, does volunteer work when needed, and has never been in any trouble, in school or out) 'possessed' at an open invite 'revival' sponsored by our friendly neighborhood Baptist chapter at the town's community center. I think she'll just see Carrie's mom as a more extreme example of what one is capable of doing, even to those they love, when justified by religion.

My husband quotes a song, by Dr. Know I think, that to me, says it all: God told me to, so it must be right.

Also, 'Under the Dome' was -spectacular-. The kids would see or hear me gasp, or smile, or chuckle, or cringe and inevitably ask me why, while I was reading it. This led to me backing up to read through whatever said passage was, with a quick background explanation of it so they didn't get it -entirely- out of context, and they, too, saw the ridiculous similarities between the characters of that book and our ridiculous little satire of a township.

I had a huge belly laugh when it was pointed out to me during one of these instances that the Chairman of OUR county commissioners is indeed, named Jim.

Ha.

Thanks for the discussion, all of you!

[fushingfeef]

As long as the kid is reading, I think it's a good thing. My mom was a bit prudish regarding television and movies, but for some reason she had no problem with books. I think books have an aura of legitimacy about them.

[Renzo]

SK books come in various sizes, themes, depths and maturity levels. There are a few of his novels I wouldn't be crazy about letting children (under 13 or 14) read. Of course, every child is different and so it is up to the parents on how best to gauge what their child's mind can handle. In today's society, I wouldn't trust most parents to make the right call in this matter anymore, which is sad.

Also, let's try to tone down the "crazy religious" people train of thought here. There are crazy people in all walks of life and it is the PEOPLE who are crazy, no one else.

[feeblepizza]

I started reading SK when I was around 9. My mother ultimatley decided that I should be able to read them, and it was a good decision, because now I AM HOOKED. Ultimately, however, it is the decision of the parent. Should your daughter be reading Carrie? It's up to you.