For Fans Only! What's the Appeal of Twilight?

[Mickey]

This is a discussion for fans only. If you want to talk about your problems with the series, go and find a thread that deals with that. (Trust me, they're out there!)

We've been discussing the popularity of the Twilight series and I'm curious about what fans think the appeal is. With so many options out there for entertainment, why do you Twilight has become so popular? What is it about what Meyer did that captured the imagination of so many people?

[Amy]

This is really hard to put into words, but I'll give it a shot :) For me when I read the series, each book sucked me into the story, and I couldn't stop reading until I got to the last page. I started reading them fairly early - right after New Moon came out, so I had to wait the agonizing year for Eclipse and then again for BD.

For me, I think the appeal was the love story. Here was an average girl whom the beautiful, chivalrous man fell in love with, and this was no ordinary love, this was fate - soul mates - destiny. It was like her blood was created to appeal to him so he could overcome the monster in him to find happiness with her; they were "made" for each other. I also can't ignore how darn sexy Edward is without trying - all the whispers in her ear, running his lips along her jawline, etc. I think most women want a man who is that devoted and in a sense, worships her.

Well, there was a stab at trying to explain what drew me to the series!

[Heidi]

Mickey wrote: "why do you Twilight has become so popular? What is it about what Meyer did that captured the imagination of so many people?"

I think at the end of the day something has to become popular and Twilight happened to be in the right time and place. Theres always going to be books that become popular, and there are always going to be the nay sayers that say that this or that book is much better then the most popular book.

However, what I think Stephenie Meyer tunes into a lot of people who are hopeless romantics. A place you can go away from earth and lose yourself in seeing love for the first time again. The first time you exerience love as a child its intense, its amazing, its insecure, its a million things. It allows you to get swept away with the story.

I too could not put the book down when I first started to read it. I read it the second I was on break at work. Any day off was spent curled up with the book either at home, out with friends, at the beach, at a coffee shop. It was a means of escape from the real world for a short time. It allowed me to get away from mundate life. And I would also venture to say the books to me are just filled with hope.

[[deleted user]]

I think it's so popular because if the story. For me, I fell in love with the relationship between Edward and Bella. I think what they have is so beautiful. Just the amount of love at two people can have like that is amazing. I've read a lot of books, and none of them have a romance like Edward and Bella. When the movies started to come out, I fell in love with one song from Breaking Dawn Part 2: A Thousand Years Part 2 by Christina Perri. This song is so beautiful, and say so much amp out their relationship. When Christina wrote it she was think of Edward and Bella the whole time. I don't think anyone could have done a better job than Christina. She really captured their love when she wrote this song.

The day we met
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew it I found a home for my
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

[Cecilia]

Agreed so far. Overall endearing love story, capturing adventure, and well a good world to bury yourself into.

I too had to wait for all the books to come out after twilight.

[Jordan]

When I first picked up the book, it was at night time and it was really late. I pulled an all-nighter reading this. (It still took me 3 days to read cuz i'm slow) but it sucked me in! The characters (Edward in particular) make me swoon! I love E and B's relationship. I think it is to die for. I think Stephanie's story on how she came up with the series is amazing... Everything about this series is appealing to me.

[[deleted user]]

Jordan wrote: "When I first picked up the book, it was at night time and it was really late. I pulled an all-nighter reading this. (It still took me 3 days to read cuz i'm slow) but it sucked me in! The character..."

Yeah I was the smart one who started with Eclipse before reading the whole series. Once I started reading it was like a drug. I couldn't stop reading.

[Jordan]

Abby wrote: "Jordan wrote: "When I first picked up the book, it was at night time and it was really late. I pulled an all-nighter reading this. (It still took me 3 days to read cuz i'm slow) but it sucked me in..."

haha! don't worry, when i was reading breaking dawn, i peaked to see what the last page said and it ruined the ending, but whatever

[[deleted user]]

I love the ending of that book. I cried during that part in the movie.

[Jordan]

I know! I was worried for that part in the movie, cuz it's like, for me, the best part in the book, so i was like "they better not mess this up" but it was perfect!

[[deleted user]]

I love that Bella finally shares her meomory with Edward. It was the most beautiful way to end the series.

[Jordan]

I know. Because in the whole series he thought she could move on, but now he knows how in love she is with him!

[Mickey]

Amy wrote: "...this was no ordinary love, this was fate - soul mates - destiny. It was like her blood was created to appeal to him so he could overcome the monster in him to find happiness with her; they were "made" for each other."

I think that the idea of a soul mate and destiny is often discounted today in an effort to plug this new version of love, which is "healthy" love, but I think people still want stories that are about a more intense form of love than what that espouses.

I'm trying to think of another equivalent couple in literature who could be described as "made for each other", but I can't come up with a couple that fits.

[Tricia Drammeh]

For me, there is just something so amazing about the setting. Stephenie's writing is very vivid. And, I could watch the movies again and again just to see the breathtaking scenery.

[Cassie]

I liked the fact that it's about vampires and lust/blood lust, without it being about evil monsters. The "evil" that exists in them is entirely internal.

The romance adds to it too, of course. I haven't read too many, but the vampire romance novels I've read all involve the vampire seducing or hypnotizing the girl into falling for him. It's not genuine enough for me. Bella was "dazzled" and whatnot, but it was entirely under her control.

There's also the writing style. I LOVE excessive adjectives. Everything needs to be described in order for my to be truly engulfed. It's somewhat as if Stephenie Meyer modernized VC Andrews' writing style, and she did it beautifully.

[QR]

I love the series. It's funny the response I get from people when I tell them I'm excited for the movie to come out, they go: "You like Twilight? I thought you were smart and mature or something." *sigh*

The reason I love the series is mostly because I love the characters. Particularly Bella and Jasper.

I seem to not understand why so many people think of Bella as some passive do-nothing when she constantly risks her life for love and her family. And even when the love of her life leaves her, she endures. She deals with it and tries to move on for her parents and Jacob. (I hate when people say she's weak when Edward was much worse off during the break-up than Bella was.) She fell in love despite being broken-hearted. Edward, too, being all alone for a century and finding love, and you gradually see it change him. I read bits of Midnight Sun when Stephenie posted it on her site and I was surprised at Edward's character; he lit up anytime he was around Bella. And by the end of Breaking Dawn, spoiler alert, he accepts who he is. When he'd always hated himself. Jacob too, he grew up and took responsibility. Jasper's character was excellent, seeing his backstory in Eclipse, how he developed a conscience despite being a vampire. So mostly character development for me and watching them grow.

I find the power-struggle between the Volturi and the Cullens very interesting. Aro is such a fascinating character. The vampire talents are pretty cool.

The dichotomy between something being wrong but feeling right; so the whole forbidden fruit of love theme was really interesting.

I guess when it comes down to it I loved the series because I love Bella. She's a great character, I don't really understand why people call her a Mary Sue or a shitty protagonist. She's awesome. She's a fighter and has flaws. I picked up on them at least. No one else seems to have...

I also love Meyer's writing style. I kind of like the fact that it was improper; it was in first-person and it was just like how an intelligent teenage girl with upscale writing experience would write the book. It felt SO real and relatable I bought into it.

Also and I don't mean to offend anyone, but with all the garbage out there on TV and even in current literature, shitty movies, and politics, Twilight feels like an escape from it all. There is barely a mention of the poor economy or idiot politicians, so it is nice to experience a new, vampire-style politics. It is also incredibly creative.

I thought the series was beautiful, and if someone wants to counter-argue I'm always happy to retaliate :)

www.puffpost.tumblr.com

[Feu d'Issey (Laura)]

Tricia wrote: "For me, there is just something so amazing about the setting. Stephenie's writing is very vivid. And, I could watch the movies again and again just to see the breathtaking scenery."

I agree, the setting itself is so atmospheric, in both the books and the films. Every time we drive through/past a patch of pine forest - one of us has to make a Twilight reference.

[Tina J]

I've thought long and hard about this long before this discussion appeared.
The only thing I can put it down to, is the fact that it was about 'Forbidden Love'.
A vampire being with a human goes against nature, (well, vampires actually existing goes against nature, but that could be debated on a different topic, lol)
so Edward and Bella 'couldn't' be together.
But loved each other too much.

A bit cheesy, I admit......but I think that's what attracted me to these books.
Not the best books ever, but I enjoyed them none the less!

[Amy]

All of this discussion is making me want to re-read the series for a 3rd time :)

[Ronel]

i love the story because of the love that they have for each other. This is not a love you find everyday, its not something one can explain... the love he has for her is so pure and true. you dont see that at all anymore. no one loves as they love in this saga.. that's what makes this so appealing.

[Ji Soo]

I think I love how Stephenie created a magical word for me to go to when everything in the real word is plain boring. I think she gave us a new way to see love. Whenever I felt sad I could sit on a corner with Twilight in my lap and transport myself to Forks. (This will sound completely cliche, sorry haha) people come and go but she gave me something that will be always there for me. I think Twilight got so famous because of how the readers felt after finishing. I dont know if I am the only one that gets that dreamy love feeling every time I finish Breaking Dawn or starts reading the whole saga again.I see this saga as an escape to our caotic real life where true friendship like Alice's and Bella's is hard to find, or where everlasting love is believed to be unreal, where finding families that are as close as the Cullens is extremely rare. PS If you read this ,Sorry for this long sentimental rant(:

[Tricia Drammeh]

Jisookimm wrote: "I think I love how Stephenie created a magical word for me to go to when everything in the real word is plain boring. I think she gave us a new way to see love. Whenever I felt sad I could sit on a..."

You're absolutely right. A good book provides a world you can escape to and get lost in time and again. Everyone needs to forget reality sometimes. I'm glad you found an escape in Twilight.

[Amy]

Anna-Kathrin wrote: "Mickey wrote: "Amy wrote: "...this was no ordinary love, this was fate - soul mates - destiny. It was like her blood was created to appeal to him so he could overcome the monster in him to find hap..."

I've read it - it's one of my favorites as well :) Another book I need to re-read soon!

[BubblesTheMonkey]

I love books that give me chills or keep me reading through the night. That's exactly what the Twilight series did. I believe that a major factor would be the "page-devouring" plot.

[Mickey]

Anna-Kathrin wrote: "You should read Wuthering Heights then. :)

“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”"

I read it a long time ago. I'm probably due for another reread soon, but my recollection is that their connection was based on how similar they were to each other. I don't think that Edward and Bella had the same kind of connection. (In fact, I've always thought that Twilight turned the two most similar classic romances on their heads. I think Bella and Jacob's relationship is more like Heathcliff and Cathy (from Wuthering Heights) or Rhett and Scarlett (from Gone with the Wind). In Twilight, Bella ends up with the Linton/Ashley figure.)

[Angela]

vampires and humans falling in love etc, I'm fascinated by it and adore the twilight series

[[deleted user]]

Abby wrote: "I think it's so popular because if the story. For me, I fell in love with the relationship between Edward and Bella. I think what they have is so beautiful. Just the amount of love at two people ca..."

I also think its a wonderful love story. Probably the best one I have ever read. So I also fell in love with the relationship between Edward and Bella. I really like Bella Swan but not the one in the movie so much but the Bella in the books.

[[deleted user]]

I read Wuthering Heights again since Bella read it so much and the Borders where we used to go had it with the Twilight books saying something like its Bella's favorite book. I also finally read Anne of Green Gables as there is some Twilight connection.

I had previously read Wuthering Heights when I was 16 and thought Heathcliff was a romantic hero. This past time I read it I thought he was one of the most vicious monsters I had ever heard of and I thought Cathy should have tried harder to get away from him.
He was cruel to everyone.

[Kirby]

Mickey wrote: "I think Bella and Jacob's relationship is more like Heathcliff and Cathy (from Wuthering Heights) or Rhett and Scarlett (from Gone with the Wind). In Twilight, Bella ends up with the Linton/Ashley figure."

oh, I had never thought of it that way- a very good point!

[Mickey]

~☆ Alice☆~ wrote: "I also finally read Anne of Green Gables as there is some Twilight connection."

What sort of connections did you make with Anne of Green Gables and Twilight? I've never thought of a connection before.

[Jennifer]

I think she is an excellent writer with an innovative story. Her books are fun. I love the vampire human thing, and I like her portrayal of vampires. They are wonderful stories that work well as movies. They are books definitely worth reading!

[Layla]

I think when you break it all down it's the allure of a pure love story. Why has Romeo and Juliet withstood the passing of time, Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, etc.? Because at each novel's core is a beautiful love story.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Mickey, I read something about the wedding dress being like the one in Anne of Green Gables. I think it was in the Illustrated Twilight or something like that. I have also read Twilight Tours before making the journey there. I watched a DVD made in Forks for the fans. It was one of those things but I think The Illustrated Twilight. sorry that I have a bad memory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What sort of connections did you make with Anne of Green Gables and Twilight? I've never thought..."Twilight Tours: An Illustrated Guide to the Real Forks

[[deleted user]]

Twilight Tours: An Illustrated Guide to the Real Forks

On second thought I don't think this is the right one. Will have to go look at my collection and brb.

[[deleted user]]

Sorry, I can't determine which book it was or if I read it online at her site but I will ponder upon it so I can let you know. I did finally read Anne of Green Gables due to the mention in something Twilight of her wedding dress.

[[deleted user]]

I think the description of the wedding dress is at the beginning of Anne of Green Gables. I was very happy that I read it.

Somewhere I have a picture of me in front of Bella Swan's truck in Forks. They now have 2 trucks as they got the one from the movie also.

[Tricia Drammeh]

Wow, Alice. You've been to Forks? I'm so jealous. I would love to live in that region, not because of Twilight, but because it just sounds like a place I could really love. I think that's one of the reasons I love Twilight. Stephenie's description the lush greenery, and thick forest, the cliffs, and the rain (ah, all the beloved rain!) reaches me on a primal level. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in the Midwest.

[Mickey]

I think it's cool to be able to visit sites related to favorite books or authors. I always seem to live close to authors' childhood homes. I lived for a few years in John Updike's boyhood town and spent another few years in the same Pittsburgh neighborhood where Annie Dillard grew up. At the moment, I live a few blocks from where David Sedaris grew up.

My best fan moment was visiting Boris Pasternak's summer house outside of Moscow. It's interesting how being in "their" space gives you a different perspective of them. I haven't been to any places from books except a tour I took around Moscow to the places mentioned in Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita.

[[deleted user]]

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

Now I think this is where I read it.

[Jordan]

~☆ Alice☆~ wrote: "The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

Now I think this is where I read it."

I've read that. It explains alot from the series.

[[deleted user]]

Tricia wrote: "Wow, Alice. You've been to Forks? I'm so jealous. I would love to live in that region, not because of Twilight, but because it just sounds like a place I could really love. I think that's one of th..."

Hi Tricia,

Yes, I was amazed that my husband agreed to take me 2 years ago and I loved it. If you want to read some excellent descriptions about rain then try Before I Fall. I really enjoyed the rain descriptions so much. There are also some great ones about deja vu.
I have been twice now as we had to evacuate due to the Waldo Canyon fire and of course I wanted to be where there is constant dizzle or a hard down pour but there wasn't on our last trip. It was too sunny. If you get to go make sure you go when the rain is starting up. For 25 years I wanted to move here to CO but now I want to live where it rains all the time! Especially since the wild fire.


Before I Fall

[[deleted user]]

Mickey wrote: "I think it's cool to be able to visit sites related to favorite books or authors. I always seem to live close to authors' childhood homes. I lived for a few years in John Updike's boyhood town and ..."

How wonderful! I bet Moscow was fantastic. I lived in Suffolk for a year and read my first Norah Lofts while living there. I didn't realize that she would become my favorite writer until I got back to the states and kept reading her books. She mainly writes about Suffolk.

Mom told me that we left for Japan from Port Angeles and I had never realized that before. I really didn't like Port Angeles as its kinda moldy there but Forks was perfect. I think constantly about the shell shop at Port Gamble and no idea why. Its almost as much of an obsession as Twilight.

I have to check out Annie Dillard now as I don't know who she is.

[Jordan]

Mrinal wrote: "its written in a very amazing way....
it m,akes u believe vampires and werevolves r for real
and the best part it makes u love all the characters especially edward cullen"

I totally agree! I actually went through this whole embarressing stage where I wanted Edward to be real so bad... well, lets just say it was crazy lol!

[deedee]

I think the appeal is the love story. And i'm probably not the only one to say this.
Anyways but yeah, the main character Isabella Swan is not only beautiful ( didn't need to see the movie to know she was beautiful ) but sympathetic, self sacrificing, peaceful and smart, but also she was seen as very clumsy, petite, different, and silent which gave her a feel of vulnerability.
The bland, suffering in silent girl who knew almost nothing of love and who now lived in a boring town with her father found herself tangled with a gorgeous, mysterious boy, who like her was different. The development of the story and the characters had the readers want what they people in the book had. If it wasn't Edward then it was Jacob. If people didn't want two very different guys but both equally hot then they had the regular human school boys at their feet. If they didn't want Charlie then they had Carlise who both were very different but both loving... and basically come on. if you didn't want werewolves. Hey oh look there's vampires :D
The fact is that something so otherworldly and lovely and adventurous could happen to one regular girl in a sunless town makes the reader want what the character (s) had.