Anyone read the "Twilight" novels?

[ProfessorAlan]

Interesting column by Donna Freitas in today's (8/8) Wall Street Journal about the abstinence message in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series of teen vampire novels. Here is the penultimate paragraph:

"As clergy and parents and even a few teachers struggle to make a case for abstinence among the young, it way seem strange and unexpected that Ms. Meyer has served up one of the most compelling and effective arguments for abstinence in mainstream American culture--through a teen vampire romance. It may also be that she is trying to stay true to her faith's teachings on sex even within her fiction [Note: earlier in the column, Meyer is described as "a young, Mormon mother of three"]. Regardless, Ms. Meyer has somehow made not having sex seem like the sexiest decision two people can make and has conveyed this effectively to her teenage audience."

[Tarin]

Thought I'd give them a try. They're on my to-read list.

[righter1]

I've frequently seen these in the stores, but I don't read anything with vampires (unless Merry writes it!) and don't read teen stories any longer.

However, I'm glad to hear a mainstream author has made the choice to inject their personal values into their books! Gives me hope since I'm doing the same with the novel(s) I'm working on currently... at least in my series. The other book's just different... :rolleyes:

[righter1]

Thought I'd give them a try. They're on my to-read list.

You'll have to let me know if they're worth the time. If so, I may have to break my 'no vampires' rule!

[PattyU]

I read the first book. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as good I hoped. Another mom at my son's preschool had raved about the books. It was before the books were so well known. The mom and I have similar tastes in books, so I had hoped to be blown away. I wasn't, but I did like Twilight. I may read the other eventually. Righter, I don't think you would have a problem with these. They aren't really gory. The vampires are struggling for redemption or at least against their strong desire to kill. The books are not horror novels if that's a concern. At least, I don't think they are. I remember a thread a while back that made me a little confused on what constitutes horror. Anyways, they are more about relationships and than vampires.

I can see the abstinence message.The male vampire character does choose to protect the girl he loves by not having sex, but the only reason they abstain is because the vampire desire to kill would take over if they got carried away. I think (at least in the first book) that the characters would go further if they could. I don't know if I agree that the book makes not having sex sexy. They can't go further even if they get married unless she becomes a vampire or possibly dies. On one hand, I appreciate the self-control maintained by the characters, who love one another. But because there is no reasonable end to the suffering, it almost makes one wish they could go further physically.

[JoyG]

I've read the entire series. I enjoyed the books and thought they were well done.

I found them all to be really romantic without being too sexual. I'm surprised they were marketed to YA, because even if there wasn't premarital sex, I thought the feelings and emotions were a little mature.

The last book, which was just released Friday, was a little bit of a disappointment to die hard fans, but I won't put any spoilers out there.

[tlm]

At least, I don't think they are. I remember a thread a while back that made me a little confused on what constitutes horror. Anyways, they are more about relationships and than vampires.

I have seen a couple of her interviews and thought the books reminded me of a youth version of Forever Night--to which I was once totally addicted to (forgive the preposition thing). The sexual tension and the desire for redemption sounded similar.

I am interested in hearing more because I haven't had a chance to get the books yet.

Though she has ended the series, she plans to write more books from some else's point of view.

[vintagexxxshimm]

To the person that said they didn't read these books because they were about vampires, if Stephenie Meyer hadn't called them vampires, you would have never known that was what they were. It takes a completely different take on what vampires are, basically just humans with alot of extra strength and powers and then they drink blood.

I know that I personally LOVE these books, I can't even tell you how many times I've read them. Stephenie is an amazing author. I think that the newest book is the best out of the four of them, and I highly recommend them to anyone!

[PattyU]

I enjoyed The Host by Stephanie Meyer more than Twilight. I liked Twilight. The Host is about the aftermath of an alien invasion. I don't think Meyer was trying to maintain an abstinence message. While there are no sexually explicit scene, I believe the main character's "host body" had sex outside of marriage before the invasion. The sexual relationship is suggested. The Host is not a young adult book.

[Charis]

I've read all the Stephanie Meyers books, and liked them quite a lot.
I think that the abstinence message comes out the strongest in 'Eclipse,' which is the third in the Twilight series. You get a good idea of Edward (the vampire's) moral code, and it's much more Christian than Bella's (the human).
There's also a really good scene near the beginning of 'New Moon', where another one of the Vampires, talks about his hope that his soul will be accepted by God.
Over all, I wouldn't say that Meyer's was really pushing abstinence or God; but they are part of her worldview, so they showed up in her work.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Bella is very boring though, isn't she? A typical Mary Sue, a female version of Eragon.
Blah.

[obsessivewriter]

I have started the first book in the series. I haven't gotten very far yet, but so far they seem okay. I'm not too thrilled to be reading a book about vampires, but we'll what happens.

[ProfessorAlan]

I'm not too thrilled to be reading a book about vampires, but we'll what happens.

I like some vampires novels, so I'll probably pick it up, even though I am neither the age nor gender of the target audience.

[pajarita_deDios]

Interesting column by Donna Freitas in today's (8/8) Wall Street Journal about the abstinence message in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series of teen vampire novels. Here is the penultimate paragraph:

"As clergy and parents and even a few teachers struggle to make a case for abstinence among the young, it way seem strange and unexpected that Ms. Meyer has served up one of the most compelling and effective arguments for abstinence in mainstream American culture--through a teen vampire romance. It may also be that she is trying to stay true to her faith's teachings on sex even within her fiction [Note: earlier in the column, Meyer is described as "a young, Mormon mother of three"]. Regardless, Ms. Meyer has somehow made not having sex seem like the sexiest decision two people can make and has conveyed this effectively to her teenage audience."


I totally agree, I was shocked but I think it was pretty ingenius of her.

I however, had a hard time with my thirteen year old cousin reading them, as I found a lot of the love scenes even without sex, to be pretty detailed. Over all, though, I loved the books, I was hooked.

I can't wait for the films!

[JCsAngelPen]

I've read all but the last book (on the wait list at the library!) and I adoreee the books. YA is my special genre, so they are perfect. I so appreciated the clean language and lack of graphic scenes--traits most YA books do not employ.

I'm surprised they were marketed to YA, because even if there wasn't premarital sex, I thought the feelings and emotions were a little mature.

Joy, I understand what you're saying, but the fact is--these books are tame compared to the rest of the YA section. Bella is not all that mature, and the fact that Edward is ancient makes it totally understandable that he values marriage--while Bella doesn't. But the thing is, teens read about couples living together, having kids, no consequences, and topics that should be way to mature for their age. They're not anymore. I think Twilight is perfect for young adults. In fact, the greatest benefit I've seen is the increase in girl's ideas that they deserve respect from guys. They actually want to have a high standard for guys!!! As a YA writer hoping to get out an inspirational message, I am thrilled to see that such a book is so popular!

[JCsAngelPen]

Bella is very boring though, isn't she? A typical Mary Sue, a female version of Eragon.
Blah.

Ah! *feels mortally wounded* j/k.

I love Bella. Mostly, because she's me. She's just like every girl who picks up the book--and that's why we love her. It gives us hope that a guy could love us unconditionally too.

[pajarita_deDios]

I defintely found Bella's attitude more than a little annoying in the begining, but after getting through the first book, I think Meyer did a great job of following through with her character as someone who is absolutely capable of thinking the way she does. Possibly not so original, (her mother was a hippie free spirit, thus forcing her to be the grown up, and making her a super mature teen without much enojoyment from young people activity) but it's all apart of getting into the narrative, isn't there a saying that goes "an audience will forgive anything but a bad story"? I think it applies here, because the over all story is interesting, the small things can and are ignored.

[JoyG]

I'm currently reading the Host by Stephanie Meyer. That story sucked me in right away just like Twilight. I'm really enjoying it.