Young Adult Reader Club discussion

You knew this one was coming,hehe.

So what are your thoughts on this series and how do you feel about it's amazing amount of popularity?

When I first heard about the books I was rather repulsed by the loose definition of vampire that Meyer seemed to use. I had no interest in reading it, even with all the good press it was getting.

However, when I actually sat down and read them, they were enjoyable books (for the most part, I have issues with Breaking Dawn). I wouldn't classify them as great literature (or perhaps good literature) but they definitely are nice easy reads that get you emotionally involved. Extremely feel good too!

As for their popularity: I can understand (the age group it's aimed for tend to like vampire novels anyway and it's the new "fad" book, like Harry Potter). It's overwhelming to hear about it all the time, and some of the crazier fangirls give the rest of readers a bad name, but you can't really blame something for having popularity--unless you're blaming society :)

Brandi, I totally agree! I didn't want to read them at first either, but my sister kept insisting. So, I read them and went through the pretty easily. I enjoyed the story, but wouldn't say they even come close to To Kill a Mockingbird, or other books that are great literature.

I think because they are easy, enjoyable reads, I can see why so many teenage girls love them. I'm pretty sure I would have felt the same way at that age. They are so much easier to go through and understand than the books these girls are having to read in school, giving the Twilight books that much more appeal.

When I first read Twilight, I had no idea of the hype. I just saw the books in Borders, then saw them on my sister's shelves, so I borrowed them. I was hooked. Eventually Breaking Dawn came out and it just left a bad taste in my mouth, I mean Renesmee, come on. I then began to think about these books on a deeper level, and looked at them from a feminist perspective for class, and to be honest, what I gleaned disgusted me. I guess as a young woman raised in the 1990s-2000s, it doesn't really reflect my "women can do anything" philosophy.

I feel like these are books for the casual, non-reader. I'm not trying to say that everyone who reads these books and enjoys them are non-readers, obviously there are a lot of people on GR who enjoy them, and if they are on GR, they most likely enjoy reading on a more than casual basis.

I think however, Harry Potter will have lasting power and will probably go the route of the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and become a children's classic. To me, there is no comparison between the writing of J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer. Yes, they both turned on a generation of people to books, but I just don't know if Twilight is going to have the staying power that Harry Potter will.

April, it's interesting that Breaking Dawn left a bad taste in your mouth when that book has Bella being the most useful and strong and doing the rescuing instead of being rescued. Don't get me wrong, there are so many bad things about that last book, but I just wanted to hear your thoughts on that.

And to the general public: I've always viewed the Twilight series as more of a romance series than something that has multiple, deep levels (like Harry Potter). Like most romances, the lead female (our supposed heroine) needs rescued the entire time by the love of her life. It's just on the YA shelf because of the age group its aimed for.

Brandi, essentially it was the sex scene, where Bella ends up all bruised. There was a specific quote where she had said something about wearing a long sleeve shirt and make-up to cover up her wild night. I mean, I get that Edward's a vampire and he just can't help himself, but couldn't the same be said of a batterer, that they just can't help themselves when they hit a woman.
IDK I am probably just making a mountain out of a molehill, in interpreting that scene/chapter in that light.

I guess I can see how that scene could be interpreted as an abused wife, but I think there are too many elements that point away. I think the most vital is Bella wasn't actually hurt, just bruised. I get bruises all the time from things that didn't really hurt that badly or from constant pressure that I didn't even notice. I think Bella's reaction and Edwards "I'm not going to touch you" reaction try to show that this was not abusive.

If anything, Edward is the most abusive in the third book when he stops Bella from visiting Jacob. His controlling behavior is very emotionally abusive. However, he eventually learns to trust Bella and let her go, just as he learns to not hurt her when having sex.

Err..that was kind of rambling, but the end point is back to what you said: He's a vampire and he can't help himself. Yes, if that excuse was used repeatedly it would be abusive, but when he tries to redeem himself and does not continue the behavior, I think that's what keeps it from being an abusive relationship.

I enjoyed reading these books,but I definitely feel that there is some much better writing out there. I feel that the major popularity of the movies and the crazy fan girls have made it so it's almost embarrassing to say "yeah I read Twilight!".
I think that its good that it opened up reading to a group that might not have read that much otherwise,but this is far from classic literature for me.
I actually felt that the Host was better,but that may just be me.

I have a lot of respect for the Twilight series as I really didn't read that much before I read Twilight. But after I read it I became obsessed with reading again and haven't put a book down since. So yes I have a huge amount of love for the series however I agree that the crazy fan girls have given the series a bad name. I feel that they have almost ruined it for anyone who hasn't read it as well as for some of us who have. I also would never claim that it is great literature by any means but I feel it is a great book to escape into when you just want something to grabbed your attention.

I agree Michelle, before Twilight I hadn't been really reading that much,but once I did read it,it rejuvenated my book obsession.It may not be a literary masterpiece but I'm glad I read it!

I really did enjoy the Twilight series, but Breaking Dawn killed it a bit for me. It didn't flow as well and there were some situations that just didn't appeal to me at all. The baby thing.. yeah, I was ready to throw the book aside.

I agree Kristen, I felt like Breaking Dawn kind of took some turns that I was reluctant to follow,I still enjoyed the series as a whole though and if it wasn't for Twilight I might not have come across the Host which I LOVED!

I still haven't gotten past page 100 in The Host.. I know, I know.. I need to give it another shot.

I had that problem too though Kristen,I thought the beginning of the book was really slow and I put it down a few times,but once I got to a certain point I was hooked and I was really glad I stuck with it!

Yeah, I'm definitely going to have to give it another try when I have more time...

I loved the Twilght series, but yet again... I'm 12.. But I think I also liked it because everyone at school said it was great... I've found books that are better..

The series is great, but the last book deals with too many weird issues...

I loved Renesmee though..

I love the Twilight series, it is what got me into vampire novels, although I have been a fan of supernatural TV shows for years. I never read it as serious fiction but more as an escapism. I understand why people were not as keen on Breaking Dawn, in my opinion it was way too long and dealt with too many issues. I also felt it was the worst book for Bella's character.

I enjoyed the series like many, but I didn't get obsessed. I found the first two better than Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, though I liked them all.

Same with me Quinn. I'm glad I read them, but they aren't my favorite books ever. I still love Harry Potter, which I read first.

I agree Linda,I'm glad I read the Twilight Series,but they aren't my favorite books ever. I don't really see myself rereading them every few months or anything. I loved the Harry Potter books though,I want to reread them at some point,because I'm starting to forget details.

I loved Twilight, I think I could reread them but I have never actually reread a book. I love the Bella/Edward/Jacob love triangle although Edward will always be the man for her in my opinion. I also love Alice, I just think she is so cute, I love how crazy she can be.

My least favourite book is New Moon just because I found a lot of it quite depressing to read, I think Twilight will always be the best of the series.

So any thoughts about the New Moon movie coming out next week? people here are going crazy over it!

I'm going to see it. I haven't been counting down the days or anything, but I think it will be a good adaptation from the book.

The previews looked good,I'm going to go see it but I'm not like camping out or anything. I screen printed some T-shirts for my friends and that was about as crazy as I got with that.

A group of my friends are going to the midnight showing. The previews look great. We all believe it will better than Twilight. Or maybe we are hoping it will be better. Twilight has its moments of greatness, but it also had moments of cheesiness.

I'm going to see it twice. *twitch* And I'm going to two Twilight parties this week. *twitch* And I'm going to be reading the book this week. *twitch*

I honestly don't hate the series like some people do, but this is going to be a major Twilight-overload. I'm sick of it already!

That is Twilight overload Rachel! I don't know if I could handle that.I think going to the midnight showing with all those super fans will be enough for me.