<p>There must be more of you out there, secretly reading these “teen” books and enjoying them. I can’t be the only one!</p>
<p>The Twilight series is not great literature, I’ll grant that - but the series is enormously entertaining and I think a slight step above a “beach read.” </p>
<p>Disclosure - I have not seen the movie. My 16 yr old D saw it, but has not read any of the books. She was not impressed by the movie, specifically by the directing. But in this thread, I’m interested in discussing the books, not the movie.</p>
<p>The further I read in the series, the more I realized that Stephanie Meyer was giving up all pretense of her characters being teenagers. Especially in Breaking Dawn, none of the characters acts or is treated like anything less than an adult, with the possible occasional exception of Jacob, Leah or Seth.</p>
<p>My chief complaint is that Meyer is excessively wordy. Her conversations go around in circles, and cover every nuance of the situation, leaving nothing for the reader to “figure out.” But then again, these books aren’t for deep thinking, they’re just a guilty pleasure. (Kind of like pop music).</p>
<p>I have teenagers at home still. One of them got me started and I devoured them like an open box of chocolates.<br>
Agree with your assessment that the characters don’t act like teenagers, but (spoiler alert) some of the main characters aren’t really teenagers at all, of course.</p>
<p>I can’t explain why I liked the books other than the plot was pretty original and I liked the PacificNW setting and people. Agree the writing is pretty weak, but who cares? I couldn’t wait to see everything unfold. I also skipped the movie, at the recommendation of my daughter. </p>
<p>I tutor some high school students and have found that this series has given me a connection with some of my students. It’s true teen romance, with all the angst and drama that goes along with it, but grows up in to an interesting thriller.</p>
<p>Apparently, junior high girls were buying shirts stating their alliance to a match for Bella: Edward or Jacob? And my relatives who live on the Olympic Peninsula say the traffic to Forks is unbelievable.</p>
<p>OK, I’ve admitted my guilty pleasure…Thanks for asking!</p>
<p>Yeah, me too. I am a closet twilighter. I read all four books and saw the movie. I am not sure why I loved them. It is almost a reverse or negative cinderella tale. I did enjoy the movie too. I thought it was well done except for the corny low budget not so special effects. Hopefully the next movie will have a better budget and better FX.</p>
<p>I’ve read everything but the last Twilight book. It’s not that I like them, exactly. They are awful! The views on gender alone gave me a migraine. But they are so, so addictive. Each one I’ve read I’ve finished in a day or so.</p>
<p>I read almost everything my D’s suggest. I’ve read all four but not seen the movie. I thought they were ok…liked Harry Potter better, but yes, they are entertaining. Will watch the movie on dvd.</p>
<p>I’ve read all four of them too. They were very addictive, and like ScottieMix, I finished each book in just a day or two. I haven’t seen the movie, and my D hasn’t read the books (though she wants to - just hasn’t had any free time) or seen the movie.</p>
<p>Scottiemix, read the 4th book. The gender issue improves, as does (spoiler alert!) the general imbalance of power that drove me nuts in the first 2 books. Also the age difference doesn’t seem nearly so creepy by the 4th book.</p>
<p>I read that Meyer was writing a 5th book, “Midnight Sun,” which was actually a re-write of the first book but in Edward’s voice instead of Bella’s. I thought that was an interesting idea. However someone leaked a draft on the internet and she decided not to finish it, at least not for now.</p>
<p>I would have at least tried reading them. but the library never had the first book on the shelves, and I wasn’t quite ready to put a hold on it. :)</p>
<p>I just read Twilight and a “teaser” for the next book was in the back. So I guess I’ll have to order that book from the library next!</p>
<p>Fun read for a snowy day, what can I say?</p>
<p>And one summer our family took a trip to the Olympic Peninsula and drove all around it. I remember Port Angeles, and the National Forest–hiking through glorious huge trees and greenery & moss over all. Definitely worth a trip, if you get out that way. Like a fairy tale setting!</p>
<p>My FIL lives in Sequim, WA so we are also very familiar with the area that is depicted in the books. This was a big thrill for my two daughters (they were able to personally relate to the locale). We visit every other Thanksgiving (it is a very long trip from South Florida for three days)! We have shopped in Port Angeles and Port Townsend and yes, it is overcast weather there a lot. This winter they have had near record snow and ice though.</p>
<p>Guilty, here. I also tend to read the books in one or two sittings. Really engaging! Obviously, the writing isn’t stellar, but they pull you in. I like the fact that the author wanted to give kids a perspective on celibacy (I think?). Nice to have that be a popular trend, even if it is in a vampire story. :-)</p>
<p>I never, ever read romances, and I’m finding I like that stuff a bit, too. </p>
<p>Embarrassed that I’ve put them on hold – the librarian & I laugh about it when I call to check if the next book is in yet!</p>
<p>After the first in the series popped up on the “Your favorite books in the last 6 months” thread, I remembered that the first two were sitting up in my D’s room- requested for Christmas, but she did not get to them over her break. SO…read number one last weekend, started number two Friday and just finished! Yes, they are “addictive” and no, certainly not great lit! Am very curious as to whether or not Bella will “do it”, but not sure that I eventually want to have to admit to having read all four! After all, I haven’t even told D yet that I read them before she did!</p>
<p>musmom2–I just read the 3rd one in a few hours–I think it’s more engaging than the 2nd. Think you’ll like it. Waiting for the fourth to come off of ‘hold’ at the library. Just as well I don’t have it now–need to get some work done! :-)</p>
<p>I too liked book 1 better than book 2!
Jolynne- Know what you mean about needing to get something else done. I’m actually relieved that the third one is not in the house!</p>