Deseret News | 'Twilight' loses luster with Deseret Book

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'Twilight' loses luster with Deseret Book

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Noooo!!!! | 9:02 p.m. April 22, 2009

But if she went to BYU, shouldn't her book be sold at Deseret Book?

Edward | 9:15 p.m. April 22, 2009

Maybe the book wasn't selling anymore so Deseret Book made a business decision to pull the book? Is this really news?

Anonymous | 9:16 p.m. April 22, 2009

If these Books were appropriate to shelve *before* why aren't they *now*?

Shouldnt they have read them and realized that some might find them risqu and automatically placed them online from the get-go???

Comments continue below

Ryan Jennens | 9:45 p.m. April 22, 2009

oh believe me, they were selling. Breaking Dawn has been at the top of the list nationwide for nearly 40 weeks now. Maybe they were just there too long. Other than that, it seems kind of stupid to pull it...

bettyjean | 9:54 p.m. April 22, 2009

Hello people, just go to another store. If one store doesn't want your money there are other stores that do. I don't know maybe Borders or Barns and Noble will still carry your precious "Twilight" series. Get a grip on reality.

anonymous | 9:56 p.m. April 22, 2009

Since i have the books, i don't really care if they pull. But i do have to say i was shocked that they would be pulled; they were starting to become more popular than Harry Potter.

Anonymous | 10:50 p.m. April 22, 2009

just because they were written by a mormon and just because they are "more popular" than harry potter does not mean that they are appropriate and that everyone should read them.

Concerned Mother | 11:11 p.m. April 22, 2009

Honestly, I was concerned about some of the content in these stories. I will sleep a little easier knowing that people out there agree with me. It's sometimes unpopular to voice what you feel when there's a book that's so popular. You don't want to be a downer.

This is a good thing | 11:30 p.m. April 22, 2009

I was always a little surprised that Deseret Book chose to sell these books, especially Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. It was like they didn't bother to read them and see if the content was appropriate. Reality check: it's not. Not for Deseret Book anyway.

who cares? | 1:26 a.m. April 23, 2009

what a non-story ...

What does ... | 1:57 a.m. April 23, 2009

Gail Wehunt think "deep" means, anyway?

Jillian | 2:07 a.m. April 23, 2009

This is very disappointing. I am LDS and have read all the books in the series, as have many people in my ward. There is nothing inappropriate in any of the books. Deseret Book has on their shelves other books that are being marketed as 'church books' that are actually quite explicit in certain sensitive areas. Anyone can walk into the store and pick these books off the shelf, yet the fictional Twilight saga has joined the ranks of banned books. It's another example of the objections of a few dictating the choices of the majority. It is unjust, unwarranted and should not happen.

Read the Story | 4:23 a.m. April 23, 2009

Did you all read the same story I did? Sales of this book series are lagging, so they pulled it from the shelves. They and the Church are not saying it's inappropriate or not. It's just not profitable right now.

I don't read the books, but I heard somewhere that the latest book in the series is not as good as the others. That makes the whole series damaged goods for now. Capitalism 101, people.

zgr | 4:55 a.m. April 23, 2009

I find it very odd that Deseret Book would pull the books. You can buy them at any Wal-Mart, etc -
I have read all the books and have found nothing wrong with them, and think its a little silly for them to pull them. It bothers me that a bookstore would pull something just because it might be controversial to some. If the series is not selling, then I guess that would make sense, but I doubt that is the case.

Zgr

no harm | 5:10 a.m. April 23, 2009

Novel Reading-

Discourses of the prophet Brigham Young-

I would have our people read novels
rather than read nothing at all.

jph 1223 | 5:22 a.m. April 23, 2009

I think Deseret Book can be a bit over the top in these decisions. I live in the East and the ladies at work love the Twilight series, so I've used it as a missioanry tool. Whenever there was an article about Stephanie Meyer going to BYU, I've shared it with them. My non-member co-workers also know that the Book of Mormon is not about vampires. My hat is tipped to Ms. Meyer and what she has accomplished.

? | 5:48 a.m. April 23, 2009

Not appropriate compared to what? It's a Young Adult fiction novel, appropriate for that age group.

Disgusted! | 5:48 a.m. April 23, 2009

Good job Deseret Book! Pull the books of the currently most popular nationwide author who has NEVER waivered in who she is - first a Mom, second an author, and that she is an active member of the LDS Church.
I think you owe this good woman an apology.

texian | 6:23 a.m. April 23, 2009

oh this is funny! I believe it was a business decision; if not, there are other stores like Wal-mart, where they are less expensive. If DB doesn't sell it, does that mean we can't read it? If that is the case, then what happened to agency? Just thinking . . .

This is News | 6:24 a.m. April 23, 2009

When the books consistently get more mature and the main character seems to be preoccupied with sex and they describe the breaking of furniture.... it is no wonder the books are no longer being sold at DB. And it would make sense they would pull the entire series even if the first books were more tame. I just wonder why DB is pulling punches by saying they have a diverse customer base. They should just come out and say that the books have become more mature than what is consistent with a religious book store should offer.

Concerned Dad | 6:27 a.m. April 23, 2009

I will sleep a little easier knowing my teenage daughters won't be able to get their hands on this kind of smut. It doesn't belong in a church-owned bookstore. And it doesn't belong in a public library, as shown by the courageous move of Brockbank Junior High in Magna.

If we as parents are more vocal about our opposition to this kind of material, libraries and bookstores will be more reluctant to put it within easy reach of our children. Of course, I'm not suggesting outright book bans, but I do think we have a voice and should let it be heard.

Sara | 6:32 a.m. April 23, 2009

I think the books which are written for a teenage audience are extremely inappropriate. They are filled with mature themes, and infatuation which is dubbed as true love. My daughter read them before I did, and when I read them I was so disappointed in them. I feel that the stories are teaching young girls a twisted view of love. True love is a lot more giving and mature than it is portrayed by this author. I think that Edward's character is mature in a way, but Bella is completely immature and unlikeable. The books were entertaining and an easy read, but completely not worthwhile. kudos to Deseret Book.

Robert - St. George | 6:34 a.m. April 23, 2009

I am really surprised by the decision, but they can do as they wish. I didn't see anything wrong with the series of books, especially comparing them to Harry Potter. I am not LDS so I guess I don't have the inside feel for the decision based on the content of the books, but the author is active LDS so that was surprising. Maybe her being from Arizona makes her a bit more liberal than what Utah Mormons are use to. This one really stumps me. But then a lot of what happens in Utah stumps me. Gives me a chuckle now and then.

doing the two step | 6:39 a.m. April 23, 2009

wait is this not the same newspaper that a few days ago carried an article about books being recalled because they contained deadly chemicals, and did not people on these boards scream censorship despite the fact that newer copies of the books are widely available? Now people are making excuses for Deseret book pulling books of their shelves? Oh the hypocrisy of it all. Frankly I do not really care about their decision its their store and they can do what they want, its the silly comments on these boards i find disrupting.

Disgusted? | 6:43 a.m. April 23, 2009

A private company can do whatever they want and sell whatever they want. Just because she is an active member of the church doesn't mean her material is appropriate. You owe all of us an apology for such a ridiculous comment.

P0rn for Women | 6:43 a.m. April 23, 2009

These books are for women what p0rn is to men. It appeals to a woman's emotional intimacy issues and fills the same needs that men find served in illicit images. Good for Deseret Book.

Re: This is a good thing | 6:50 a.m. April 23, 2009

These books are just fine. I am amazed at all the people who censor books yet spend their time watching soap operas and reality TV. Soap operas are more explicit than the Twilight series... My own mother in law would not allow any TV on, except for her soaps and the Jazz games. But, she faithfully watched those soaps for years. And yes, I am LDS and have read all of them...

don't over react | 6:54 a.m. April 23, 2009

I've worked in a bookstore around here and the books were extremely popular at first. Everyone who really wanted to read them has already done so. Seriously... you'd be surprised how quickly a store quits carrying a book after it's initial popularity runs out. This is just business and really... who is trying to stir up a hornets nest? Nothing to worry about!

ANOTHER CHANCE TO LOOK SILLY | 7:02 a.m. April 23, 2009

The Dew-run DB has had many misteps.Some of these have cost DB REAL sales,while doing nothing for the "purity" level of the society they serve.Puritan steps that just make the organization look pea-brained do no one good.I'll not attack Ms.Dew personally,but I do not believe her outlook is the best for a company striving to COMPEETE in this commercial world.Frankly,I do not have a clue why anyone would want to go into DB and PAY MORE for anything another store would carry.I ONLY vist their outlet store now.Even that is a shadow of its former value to me.

Mother's Dream | 7:02 a.m. April 23, 2009

Thank you Deseret Book! It's time we as members of the church take a good hard look at what is in media and literature. This book has no place in an LDS bookstore. It has sensual content,as well as violence that is bizarre. Do we really want to sexualize our children this way? Make no mistake, many children are reading this as well. And,am I the only person who read the passage where the heroine gets her leg broken by being stepped on? Come on people!
jph1223, using this series as a missionary tool is a bit over the top! I know that these books are popular among many Latter-day Saints, but that doesn't make them appropriate. Many members today have such low standards that they can't see the rattlesnake in the picnic basket. My hats off to Deseret Book!

bravodeseretbook | 7:06 a.m. April 23, 2009

DB is not obligated to carry whatever popular tripe that comes on the market, even if it comes from a BYU grad. Thank you DB!

Knowwhat | 7:10 a.m. April 23, 2009

Get a life people, I don't think this decision by DB inhibited your ability to buy the book.

Why sell the Bible then? | 7:10 a.m. April 23, 2009

The Old Testament is filled with stories about incest, bestiality and other inappropriate things. I don't know if children should be exposed to that stuff either.

Austen | 7:10 a.m. April 23, 2009

Very surprised Deseret even sold them...LDS writer choosing blood drinking vampire to portray as "good" and "desirable"...Good for Deseret

JALong | 7:13 a.m. April 23, 2009

I have read the first three books and my 14 year old daughter read all four. She felt that "Breaking Dawn" was definitely inappropriate--especially for teenagers.

Wow | 7:16 a.m. April 23, 2009

To all you concerned parents out there, I have a news flash for you...your child unless they are home schooled and locked away from the rest of the world they are going to see and hear much worse. Sex is not taboo, I do not mean to suggest free love, children should be raised by their parents in what they feel is an appropriate moral standard. However there are people who seem to take this to the absolute extreme as if by doing so they can protect their precious darlings from everything out there. 'Smut' I hardly think so, Stephanie Meyer I think is pretty accurate with the teenage angst many of us felt when it came to the opposite sex. My daughter read all 4 of these books without her mother or I having to push her to read which was a first, and when questions come up we answered her questions honestly. I had a mission companion in the MTC who could not teach about chastity because his parents never talked about sex or allowed him to go to sex ed class. Please folks it's a natural part of life, teach it don't fear it

Doodles | 7:16 a.m. April 23, 2009

I am glad there are still a few discriminating readers left who can tell the difference between soft porn and English literature. Twilight is a series of soft porn for girls and women who imagine themselves as the lackluster heroine whose infatuated boyfirend rescues her from the doldrums of real life to an exciting sexual fantasyland. I would never have these books available to young women as I find them them far from "virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy."

With virtue one of my paramount values, there is much in our culture that I do not recommend. Kudos to Deseret Book for having the courage to take these books and any other of their nature off their shelves. How often does this happen? I think that it does not happen often enough. With so many great books to choose from, must we sink to this level for "entertainment?"

sl | 7:17 a.m. April 23, 2009

LDS should stop wondering when the "great Mormon writers and artists" are going to come along (some do wonder about these things). In a puritanical publishing and marketing climate, it ain't going to happen.

Money the made | 7:25 a.m. April 23, 2009

I think the money was already made on the series so why keep it in the store? Readers can borrow copies from the library, friends or neighbors so buying them isn't necessary. I don't think it has anything to do with finally deciding they were in appropriate, they aren't bringing in as much revenue, and that's what business is all about.

Yes, I am disgusted! | 7:30 a.m. April 23, 2009

If the material was so inappropriate, why did DB carry them at all? Easy to pull the series after the profit checks are in the bank.
Please save us from the self-righteous Utah parents who refuse to parent their children by telling them - "no, you can't read those books" instead of pulling them from a public library?!

"Concerned Dad"... | 7:37 a.m. April 23, 2009

...is clearly a troll. To call these books "smut" is the height of religious-crusader parody. I'm LDS, I read the first book (turned out to not really be my cup of tea), and I can say with good conviction that these pages are harmless. *Spoiler Alert* The worst thing that happens in these books is a kiss, with no tongue. Teeth, maybe, but no tongue.

Joe | 7:42 a.m. April 23, 2009

This story shouldn't shock anyone! The last book had FAR to many sexual references to be carried at DB. Good thing their are book stores on EVERY CORNER!

If anyone is angered by this, grow up and walk across the street to Barnes and Noble.

I find this article to be shallow and NOT NEWS. My favorite part is when the writer interviews the girl that hasn't read the books, but heard they were good from friends.. I am dying for real news and so is this writer.

It was a business decission | 7:43 a.m. April 23, 2009

Stop your gripping already. This had nothing to do with censorship. It that were the case DB would have never sold it in the first place. The first book has been out how long? Come on wake up now that the DVD for the first movie is out the sales are dropping so why burden the in-store inventory with an older series when they can replace it with someting newer that is selling better. You can still order them online or you can go to Borders.

Jana | 7:44 a.m. April 23, 2009

I haven't read the books but my young adult daughters found the main relationship disturbing. They felt that it was unhealthy to portray an abusive relationship as desirable. So, I support Deseret Books decision.

Diversity Double Speak | 7:44 a.m. April 23, 2009

"Our top priority is to meet the needs of our customers, who increasingly represent a variety of viewpoints..."

Coming from Deseret Book with probably the most monolithic homogeneous target audience imaginable, what does this statement even mean?

Blessings | 7:44 a.m. April 23, 2009

we will get rich blessing if we do not read this book.

Big Deal | 7:46 a.m. April 23, 2009

The next news story should be about Fanzz stores no longer carrying Kent Benson jerseys. Somehow readers would turn this into some racial slant against people who are large, white, slow, and washed up. It's understandable to see why Fanzz would make a business decision to carry other jerseys that meet their goals and so it is with other business decisions, including Deseret Book which is owned by the LDS Church. QUIT CRYING EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!

Non-issue | 7:46 a.m. April 23, 2009

Deseret Book selling the book is not a religious endorsement. Get over it. Go buy your books somewhere else. You'll probably pay less anyway. I read the first two books and thought they were ok. I would't think they really fit into the Deseret Book "type" though. I also don't need to know every book that Deseret Book decides to stop selling. They probably make decisions like this weekly.

Calm down people | 7:47 a.m. April 23, 2009

"don't over react" 6:54 a.m. has it right. Those of you trashing DB need to stop jumping to conclusions about why the book(s) were pulled. I tried to find very popular book on Amazon (John Adams by David McCullough hard back) and ended up buying it online from some obscure book store. Should I accuse Amazon of some conspiracy because I couldn't purchase it directly from Amazon?! If you can purchase the Twilight books for less at larger retail outlets, DB is probably not be selling as many at their stores and thus chose to stop carrying the series follow the money. On another note -- I've read the Twilight series and am LDS. The first three were entertaining - though the books do present a distorted view of relationships; however, it IS fiction after all. The last book was so stupid I couldn't believe any editor would recommend printing it in its present form. This ruined the series for me and I tossed out all her books -- will never read them again. Also read The Host -- had to force myself to finish that book. Tossed it too. To each his / her own!

Janet | 7:52 a.m. April 23, 2009

I am a non Mormon member of a mostly Mormon book club and was surprised that the same mothers that were very careful about what their young girls read had no concern about the message these books were sending. I think they did not read the book with the same mind set they would use on other books because it was written by a Mormon. There is nothing wrong with the books and they are a good story but like all books they need to be read with the same concern that the parents of young girls use on all books and pay careful attention to what the message is to the younger reader. In this case a young girl is willing to go against her parents, the advice of friends and Edward himself that he is not the best choice for her and bottom line give up her life for love. Yes it all works out but what if it didn't and can you trust your child to choose another Edward, the odds are against that happening you just need to watch the news to know that. These books are for teenagers and not pre teen

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