Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Online Book Discussion: Twilight


On January 8th, we will have an in-person discussion of the Twilight Series at the library, but we can start talking about it now! I'll print out all comments about the books and bring to the in-person discussion. We can also record the discussion and post it here as a podcast for those who can't make it to the library.
For the online discussion, I want to break it down into four discussions, so that there are no spoilers for those who have not yet read some of the books in the series. So, add your comments below to talk about ---specifically---the first book in the series, Twilight.
Today, I received a copy of a book called
A New Dawn, which is a collection of essays about the Twilight series by authors of other teen books. As I'm reading it, I'll add some ideas from their essays into our online discussion. It looks very interesting!

6 comments:

Michelle said...

Twilight is an easy and enjoyable read. Its first-person viewpoint keeps the the pages turning. This isn't a masterpiece of literary achievement, however. You have to take it for what it is –- a unique and entertaining, if not flawlessly written, story. However, it's a fun book to get lost in and comes to an end much too quickly!

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I just finished A New Dawn and it was both interesting and entertaining. Several authors discuss different themes from the first three books (I think it was published before Breaking Dawn was released). Some of these authors I know and love from other works and they tend to make very funny points. One author discusses the vampire/werewolf connection in film and books, another talks about how the role of vampire has changed over time. One essay is a funny mock debate between two professors and two internet bloggers about whether vampires were suitable for teen audiences. I really enjoyed the book and I think if you want to add a little humor or discuss whether vampires or werewolves make better boyfriends you should give it a try. Also, one of my favorites: Is Edward actually a sociopath?

Anonymous said...

My question is: what's all the fuss about? All I know about the series is that a girl falls for some vampire. What's the very first book about???

Debnog said...

Greetings Twilight newbie!

I think that the fuss about the books stems from the personal writing and the tangible characters in the books. Essentially, they are just very readable books. They are engrossing, light reads.

The books are narrated by the main character in the first person, so you (the reader) feel like you are experiencing the story firsthand. I think that's a part of it's appeal.

The other BIG PART of the books appeal is ROMANCE! I've said this before and I will say it again: Twilight is not a vampire horror novel. It's a vampire romance novel. Above all else, it is a romance, with adventure and thrills mixed in. Edward and Bella are just one of those literary supercouples like Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Cathy and Heathcliff. And WHY is their romance so addicting to read about? Because of the danger-twist. He's a predator, she is the prey. It's forbidden love...and that's always appealing.

I hope that answers your question, dear reader. I've thought a lot about this very concept: Why ARE they so popular? What makes us love these books? For me, it's simply this: the characters are so real and amusing and like-able, they become a part of my world.

Elephantsfly125 said...

Hi im Crystal,
I love the twilight series!
I have read the WHOLE series 6 times! now on my 7th i have purchased many apparel and accesries from the twilight clothes line!
I have a face book just search my name CRYSTAL RENO and my e-mail is xxelephantsmurfxx@hotmail.com
just talk to me cause i love to talk Twilight™! (: