twilight

Though I am thousands of miles away I felt drawn in to this month’s book club book…or in this case – books. There’s nothing like teenage vampires to get a discussion going! Funny enough, it’s very likely that as I write this, the ladies are gathered in a circle chatting about all four books (and the hint of book five that is already on the internet).

I will admit that I happily cruised through the first book, Twilight – barely putting it down to get a few hours of bumpy red-eye plane ride sleep. The book was well written (well enough for entertainment) and had a good pace. That alone usually keeps me along for the ride. And a good vampire story is always fun! In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I finished Fledgling by Octavia Butler. (Her vampires were very different and it was fun to compare and contrast while reading.)

Only one thing bothered me about the book - Bella’s adoration of Edward’s body. Now, I have read all about how teenage girls have a fascination with looks so I know I am supposed to find this believable. And believe it or not, I do remember what it was like to be a teenager and remember a good number of my friends with posters of “hot guys” hanging on their walls. But honestly, I really never understood my friends fascination with Fabio and I still don’t get all gooey excited about Edward’s dreamy eyes. Sorry. Of course, there is also the argument that vampires draw you in – make you want them so badly that you can’t think of anything but giving yourself up to them. So in the end I find Bella’s adoration feasible, but still annoying.

The sexual energy in the book was fun, but just a tease. I can understand the need to have books for teens that are not seething with sex, but still tantalize the urge (see the very well written Atlantic Monthly article about Twilight and teens written by Caitlin Flanagan http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200812/twilight-vampires). Yet I couldn’t help but realize that I’ve gotten to a point in my life where teen romance just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Then again, knowing that I read Harlequin Romances from the age of thirteen on, I’m not entirely sure it would have done it for me then either.

Overall, I would give Twilight a ‘thumbs up’. Good brain candy! And soon I’ll start the second book….