This Month's Book

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyers
please read along with us

It was an interesting winter for me and my book group. We spent it with vampires and werewolves; and I think we all loved the company. In fact, I personally feel a little lonely without my constant companions.

We are talking about, of course, the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I was a little surprised at the suggestion. Isn’t that a teen
book, I thought? But, really, that is what makes belonging to a book group great; you read books that you might not ordinarily read. I have never been a fan of Anne Rice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and only mildly enjoy the song, Werewolves of London. Is this a book I would dare pick on my own? Umm, no.

The story starts with our femme fatale, Bella Swan. She has just moved from the perpetually sunny town of Phoenix, Arizona, to the ever rainy
town of Forks, Washington, to live with her father. Bella is sure she will be miserable, that is until she meets Edward, the inhumanly beautiful, immortal, vampire. At first, it seems that Edward is completely repelled by Bella. We soon find out that this is not true. Edward is wildly attracted to Bella and the scent of her blood. This does nothing to deter Bella from Edward and she is willing to sacrifice her mortality to be with him.

Much of the story is heady, teenage stuff, which begs to ask the question; is it a book for us grownups? Certainly if you have a teenage
girl, this is a great way to get inside her head. Meyers’ characters instantly bring you back to those years of angst, uncertainty and low
self-esteem. In some ways, it is an uncomfortable trip down memory road. However, the depth of her writing is limited prose, often deft
and repetitive. I found myself skimming through parts of the book that seemed to re-tell the same situations over and over again. At times,
Meyer can be captivating, providing drama and excitement for the reader, but one can’t help but feel that after the third and fourth books that we have been here before.

Probably the most contentious subject for our book group was that of Bella Swan as heroine or victim, good role model vs. bad. I have to say
that much of Bella’s actions and decisions were concerning. At best, Bella is an honor student, wise beyond her years. At her worst, she is
an insecure, often mindless girl who will do anything for her boyfriend Edward, even die. It can make the mother of many a teenage girl cringe.

I often found myself quite frustrated with Bella’s self deprecating view of herself. . But as a former teenage girl myself, these are many of the feelings I felt at this age. What I think the book lacks is a stronger sense of self for Bella.

For the group, Twilight was a hit, with many of our members becoming full on fans. Some wore Edward shirts and other described the strong
feeling they developed for the characters. The lovin’ didn’t stop there, as I write this, we are planning a screening of the DVD.

At the end of the day, I would recommend the book, and have done so to friends. As a book club read, it provides great fodder for discussion
and great theme for snack and cocktails. Bloody Mary anyone? And hey, isn’t that what really drives a good group?

Jennifer Sloat

Next Month's Book

Love the One You're With
by Emily Giffin

Read along with us!

If you click the book cover above you can buy the book for our bookstore.