Good insight Donna. I agree about this book's potential negative influence on young women. They shouldn't want or need some man to make their life complete, safe, and free from the worry of making decisions. The mere thought of that actually kind of creeps me out.

On the other hand, I've got to disagree, at least somewhat, about the idea that reading anything is good. Sure, it's better than not reading, but continually reading simplistic trash isn't exactly broadening horizons. People need to continually challenge their intellect to grow, and that means finding entertainment, be it books, film, music, games, etc, that forces them to think about things in new ways. Twilight isn't going to do that.

To be honest, I had no interest in Twilight and would have happily gone through my life never really knowing what it was about, but then I found myself on an intercontinental flight and eager for ANY entertainment. So, there I was, watching the film version on one of those teensy screens.

On the one hand, I was rather absorbed. It was engaging enough and I like vampire stories enough that I got kind of sucked into it. But by the end, I felt sort of like I hadn't watched much of anything.

I have to agree with the issue of Bella being all damsel in distress-like. And that the vampires are all sparkly and beautiful when in the light is just weird. It's one of those movies/books that makes me glad I have boys.

Concerning Twilight... I've only read the title and will never see the movie. Concerning people reading less...eh, maybe less books, newspapers and magazines, but more reading on the internet. Concerning Dave's thoughts....I'd have to agree.

I like the fact that Siering highlights Hardwicke's differing take on the couple's sexual tension, i.e., one of mutual frustration vs. Meyer's depiction, in which Edward is "the decider." Great too that Siering surfaces the not-at-all trivial fact that Meyer's point of view is colored by her Mormon upbringing. However, Siering fails to recognize the fundamental trusim that fantasy almost always involves dominant and subordinate characters, whether they're opposite genders or of the same sex. So if there is a problem with the nature of the couple's tension, it's not as much a feminist failing, as it is a failing of that genre of fantasy. Siering might also go so far as to recommend similar mother-daughter reading material that meets her demands.

I bought Twilight (the dvd) because I thought that vampires would be destroying shit. I was wrong. Guess I should have started on the books first.

If you only read the first Twilight book and not all four, then her point might be valid. But without giving away any specifics, by the fourth and right now, last book, Bella not only stands up to Edward but becomes stronger than him. So, therefore, I don't think that Bella's character was portrayed the way she was at first because she was a girl. And if anybody is worried about sexism or that their daughters will want to emulate Bella, just have them read the entire series.

I have never bought that this book is sexist. Isn't the fact the the girl is the one pushing for sex and the boy is the one who wants to abstain at least a refreshing gender reversal?

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I'm just glad that anyone is reading. Twilight may not be my book of choice but if young teens are reading it fantastic. I can't really judge the whole aspect of whether Bella is controlled by the vampire guy since I haven't read the book or seen the movie. One thing that I find puzzling is why teenage girls like that edward dude. He looks like a heroin addict just saying.

I would like to point out that this time in Bella's life is one of the first times that her character has someone there to "take care of her." Most of her young life it seemed as though Bella was taking care of her eccentric, erractic mother. Also, Bella does take care of her father as well, even though it is in the domestic care-taker sense. I did not once feel that Bella needed someone to watch over her. It was more that it was nice that someone finally stepped up to take care of her for awhile.

I agree that it is certainly refreshing that a book for teenage girls encourages abstinence, rather than tempting its young readers with romanticized ideas about teen sexuality. However, I found it disconcerting that the true reason Bella was abstaining from sex with Edward was because she was not married to him, rather than because he would hurt her, as she had claimed in the earlier books. It is important that girls realize that the reason to abstain is because of the physical and emotional risks of teenage sex. Bella was still young and vulnerable when she consummated her relationship with Edward, and ended up pregnant because of it. I believe it is less important that a couple is married, and more that they are mature enough to handle the consequences, real and psychological.

Though I love the twilight books I have to say the way Bella comes across in the books is not something I was happy with. Though the movie does tend to skip so much of what Bella's character was the book shows she can be a strong person. The problem is that she is way to attached to Edward, I dont' like it when any book or movie that says a women has to be with someone or there life is worthless. I agree that it is not something that we should be teaching young girls, but it is a great way to talk to girls and boys about relationships.