I had no plans to read it. I often walked past it at Barnes & Noble and made bold and incorrect assumptions about its fan base. But then this article piqued my interest and I couldn’t resist.
What am I talking about? Stephanie Meyer’s vampire saga Twilight of course. This four-book young adult phenomenon has critics making comparisons to the power of Potter…Harry Potter, that is. (I’m here to tell you that J.K. Rowling has nothing to worry about.)
What intrigued (and scared me a little) was that Twilight has attracted a large audience of middle-aged women. What does that mean? Who likes reading about vampires? Busty matrons that work at Renaissance Faire all summer speaking in faux British accents? That definitely isn’t the crowd that I hang around! (Not that there's anything wrong with busty matrons!)
Still, I bit (pardon the pun) and picked up a copy. I’m a sucker for, at the very least, understanding a pop culture blockbuster. It took a few pages, but very quickly I figured it out. Twilight is escapist literature in every way. It’s mind candy for those of us who like to read, but sometimes need a break from thinking. It’s filled with drama and romance and teen angst.
And then there are the characters. Bella, a beautiful, yet supposedly klutzy young woman who kinda hates the world and everyone in it. Edward, a drop-dead gorgeous high school guy who happens to be a vampire. It won’t ruin the plot to tell you that they fall in love. There are, of course, complications, which is what makes it fun.
I have had some of the most animated book discussions ever about the Twilight series. Once you find a Twilight mom, it’s hard to calm them down. They gush and rave and reluctantly admit to ignoring laundry, dinner and children just to finish another chapter. I haven’t seen people this excited about a bestseller since The DaVinci Code!
Is Twilight great fiction? No, but that’s OK. Not everything is or should be. I’m a firm believer in supporting anything that gets people opening up a book and escaping into another world.
Oh, and for me, here’s the best part about it: Twilight is the first book that my teenage daughter and I both read and enjoyed. Usually, in literature (and in fashion), my stamp of approval is the kiss of death. Twilight was the rare thing we could agree upon. Bonus!
Come November 21st, there’s a good chance that you’ll find me and a friend or two in line to see the Twilight motion picture. Why won’t I be going with my daughter? What, are you kidding?! Now that’s fiction!
What about you? Are you a Twilight mom? Are you on “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob”? (You have to read Twilight to understand what that means.) Comment below or e-mail me at misscrankyblog@yahoo.com .
