One of my favorite blogs is PostSecret. I like reading all of the anonymous little secrets people mail in because, secretly, I'm just a little creepy that way.
I thought I would disclose my own little secret as I sit and have breakfast, traveling back to the family. Early last semester the girls in the lab were all reading Twilight. I scoffed at them, telling them that my life was sufficiently dramatic without having to worry about the drama of some starcrossed teenagers. I think I even once scolded them for discussing the tribulations of Bella and Edward instead of paying attention to what we were doing and for coming to work sleepy because they had been up all night reading.
This week, I bought a copy before the fight down and read it in about 24 hours, ending up feeling sleepy the next day. Before I board my next flight to return home, I am going to buy a copy of New Moon.
Let's all not judge Dr. Isis. Let's not judge. And if the lab women are reading this, let's all agree not to discuss my dirty little secret in the open.
Comments
Hi Isis,
I have two teenage girls. Forced to endure "Read it, mom!" until I wanted to poke my eyes out, I relented. And while it was not a good book in the way books are supposed to be good, I found myself enchanted and can remember the page, probably the paragraph, where I fell in love.
The book puts spells on people.
Wait, I'm a scientist, I can't believe I just said that! See,it must work by unknown and unmeasurable forces of the supernatural.
I've found that some people like New Moon better but my daughter liked it least of the four. Yeah, she went to bookstore blitzes for the books, no surprise.
Posted by: sciencegoddess | June 27, 2009 9:11 AM
I am an unabashed Harry Potter nerd, but I had been resisting Twilight, mostly because I heard the stories about people being up late finishing them and I was still in school. I may have to try them now, though. Perhaps the goddess will be willing to let me borrow her copy??
Posted by: Minerva | June 27, 2009 9:14 AM
sciencegoddess is right the books are not in any way shape or form well written or good in any traditional literary sense, but they are enthralling and addicting. I really enjoyed them and even found Twilight fanfiction addiction, but I felt like someone might take my feminism card and my diplomas back for reading them.
Posted by: Kate | June 27, 2009 10:13 AM
There are better vampire books!!!!!
Have not read Twilight, but my mom did, and got similarly addicted. I did see the movie---ok--- the Rifftrax (www.rifftrax.com) of the movie (which was HILARIOUS).
For example, the Anita Blake series by L.K. Hamilton is really good (and decently written) up until the later ones, when it's just sex scene after sex scene (I like a good sex scene but maaan, when it's every damn page...)
Also the The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris books are pretty decent, and have been made into a TV show (True Blood).
And neither of these series goes into the 'creepy high school' theme-- every character is a consenting adult, and the lead females are generally kicking some serious ass.
Posted by: antistokes | June 27, 2009 11:35 AM
No shame in enjoying a good story, Isis! I am the guilty party in my own lab for getting everyone else hooked. Just because a book is well written doesn't mean it is a good book. Twilight is a good story, so what if it isn't a 'good book'? And that is not all...just a few weeks ago I stayed up until 3 am reading Meyer's 'other' book, The Host.
I have to argue with antistokes, though- perhaps you should read the book before you make a judgement? LK Hamilton's series are good, too, but I wouldn't put them above Twilight.
Posted by: Tina | June 27, 2009 12:00 PM
"LK Hamilton's series are good, too, but I wouldn't put them above Twilight. "
Really? Huh, maybe I should check out Twilight.
O another fun read are the Mercedes Thompson books by Patricia Briggs, although they are more about werewolves than vampires.
Posted by: antistokes | June 27, 2009 12:09 PM
I'm almost finished with the last of the four, snarking my way through all the cliches and tropes and breathless descriptions of vampiric perfection.
My eldest daughter is annoyed that I'm not impressed by Edward but is also happy because she can discuss the story details with me. So I expect that your lab mates will be happy of the chance to do the same when the others aren't around.
Posted by: Janice | June 27, 2009 12:38 PM
I find this comic to be a frighteningly accurate depiction of my experience with the Twilight books, as do most people I know. Warning: The second comic on that link contains spoilers (but you have to scroll down to see it).
Posted by: RF | June 27, 2009 12:52 PM
RF, your link is broken.
Posted by: J. J. Ramsey | June 27, 2009 1:46 PM
I admit I haven't read 'em. But I bought the first three for a young person in my life.
I understand the abstinence as a kind of extended foreplay. I understand the extended foreplay as a mechanism to engage readers. I understand adult women reading these and enjoying them, including our adored Dr. Isis and many scholars who write here.
But... here's what I don't quite appreciate. Does not this guy Edward manipulate Bella? She doesn't become strong in herself but rather, gives over the control of the relationship to him. She isn't growing stronger in who she is but rather in the end, her own identity transforms to be... Mrs. Vampire. His identity remains Mr. Vampire.
So I think it's a great fantasy but I question it as a motif for young people.
For more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-seltzer/twilight-sexual-longing-i_b_117927.html
I hope that many of us (especially the fathers among us) whose daughters like the books are noticing these themes and talking with our daughters about them. Even humorously -- "Muffin, I know that werewolf Jacob is cute, but I'm going to nix any dates with werewolf boys. You'd be getting rides from them all the time but you ought to go places on your own. Where shall we ride on our bikes today, Muffin?"
Posted by: Gingerale | June 27, 2009 2:52 PM
i've never read any of the twilight books (mostly because i know i would also become a sleep-deprived zombie after marathon reading sessions), but i do read postsecret religiously! it's an amazing project that can illicit some unexpected emotions, you would be amazed at how you can be moved with just one sentence from a stranger.
Posted by: eri | June 27, 2009 6:11 PM
For those of you who are interested in the books (but don't want to spend the hours to read them) and who enjoy a little snark, then these recaps are for you. [As a disclaimer: I read the books, became addicted to the books, but still recognize that they are hilariously awful.]
Posted by: Amanda | June 27, 2009 6:19 PM
Y'all are gonna make me read these books. I resisted all the Facebook chatter about them, even my daughters' recommendations... but can I also resist Dr. Isis?
Posted by: Donna B. | June 27, 2009 10:20 PM
No one resists Dr. Isis. Surely you all have learned this by now.
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | June 27, 2009 10:29 PM
\geekwarning
Resistance is futile...is Dr. Isis the Borg (or perhaps the Borg Queen)? If so, then count me assimilated...
\endgeekwarning
Posted by: antistokes | June 28, 2009 8:53 AM
I resisted reading the books for quite a while, scoffing at my friends and the ladies younger than me who were enthralled. I found the first book cheap, and, as I can't turn down a good book bargain, decided to give it a whirl. The books are downright awful. I hate the messages, can barely stand the characters, the writing and editing are horrendous. And yet, I blew through all four books. I think the pages are laced with heroin, because I do feel the desire to reread them. I kind of want to write a article on how bad a message the books send to our lovely daughters out there (and to ourselves).
Posted by: ktbug ladydid | June 28, 2009 9:01 AM
Oh, man. Can I just declare to the internets that I have not read the Twilight books, have neither read the Harry Potter books or seen the movies, and I cannot stand the Lord of the Rings stuff.
Okay, I think I've covered all the books/movies that everyone holds so dear. Success!
Posted by: unbalanced reaction | June 28, 2009 7:29 PM
...
While I have zip interest in the Twilight milieu ...I do find the PostSecret concept very intriguing.
A review of one of the PS books by my net alter-ego is found here.
...tom...
.
Posted by: ...tom... | June 28, 2009 9:02 PM
I am also an unabashed Harry Potter nerd. I got my arm twisted into reading Twilight a few months ago and...I hated it.
(1) The author isn't much of a writer. People say HP isn't serious literature, but at least JKR knows how to describe things.
(2) The story line isn't that compelling. "Gee, Dad, I can't resist his magnetic attraction...must be love!" *rolls eyes*
One of the few books I never hope to pick up again in my life...
Posted by: UnlikelyGrad | June 29, 2009 9:28 AM
LinkedIn has a gadget from Amazon that you add to your site to show people books you are reading/have read/want to read. You can post reviews and recommendations along with the list.
I think it would be fascinating to have this widget on more sites, because you learn so much about people based on the books they read and love. I am a mystery whore - I love to solve the puzzle (kind of like science and medicine). During the summer I really like chick-lit mysteries (whipped cream for the brain, easily digested but pure, empty calories).
Current recs: For chick-lit mysteries, check out the Pepper Martin series (www.caseydaniels.com). Pepper is a rich-girl-on-the-rocks who has to support herself giving tours in a historical cemetery in Cleveland. After hitting her head on a tombstone, she develops an ability to talk to ghosts and becomes "PI to the dead."
For more serious fans, "Star of the Sea" by John O'Connor is a murder-waiting-to-happen set on a leaking ship bringing immigrants to American during the potato famine. Descriptions of steerage are not for the faint. The historical details are interesting as well.
Yes, I do read really, really fast. I have to pack two average-sized novels for each day I spend in an airport. I am currently lusting after a Kindle or an Ipod touch with the Kindle reader app just to lighten my load.
Posted by: Pascale | June 29, 2009 10:30 AM
I would like to add Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking series to the list of actually well written vampire chick-lit. It's teenager-free, the main character and her best friend both kick ass, and there's a load of fashion humor that I think Isis in particular would enjoy.
Posted by: Claire | June 29, 2009 11:18 AM
Thanks Claire. Our local bookstore had that series on the shelf next to Pepper Martin, but I hadn't taken the plunge yet. Good to know there's another series out there to take up.
Posted by: Pascale | June 29, 2009 12:58 PM
Thanks for the recs, Pascale. I am also a fast reader (think: 3 or 4 novels for a cross-country flight) and love mysteries.
Posted by: UnlikelyGrad | June 30, 2009 8:58 PM
Dr. Isis, I share your dirty little secret. I am a philosophy masters student with some hot research topics under my arms but still do give in to some teen romance. oh, well...
Posted by: Maíra | July 8, 2009 11:13 AM