No, we have not read them. No plans of doing so right now. Label me fanatic, that’s fine. But I’m more than a bit struck with weird things going on in the world today…. I know my dd feels it too. Like this huge black cloud wanting to envelop us. I’m not prophesying doom and gloom. Every prayer and reading in the Liturgy of the Hours, esp. since after the election, reminds me of just how much God is in control and I’m not fearing His abandonment. But there is a sense of something not quite definable (or maybe it IS definable but I don’t want to define it for you)…. that’s hovering, or waiting…
A few months ago a friend of my daughter started reading Twilight and was encouraging her to read it. Thankfully my daughter isn’t so easily swayed anymore by peer pressure and conveyed her disinterest — the young lady didn’t insist so nothing more was said. Again and again since then the subject has come up between her and several more girl friends, and she still hasn’t changed her mind (too many things to keep her busy, especially a course right now on Anglo-Saxon literature that is MUCH TOO enjoyable for her to consider additional reading). Meanwhile I’ve kept my radar up since seeing the books at B&N and Borders, wondering when I’d start hearing about it from the moms. I’m sure I need not mention how much I respect and love and admire the ladies that post there. Their opinions hold a lot of weight with me. Interestingly enough, there are parallel discussions all over the blogosphere and other online lists I’m on, so I’m compiling the links here — for further discussion with dd should the need arise. We may or may not decide to read the series, but I am definitely on guard about it.
In terms of choosing literature, my main objection is not so much any sort of evil depicted in these stories — though those of course are always cause for scrutiny. But some authors have dealt with these and beautifully (CS Lewis and Tolkien come to mind), and that’s the point. There are literally THOUSANDS of books out there that are so much more worth reading… and there is NEVER enough time to read them all (Lord, is there a library in heaven? Would we even care?)… proof: the TALL piles of books on both mine and dd’s bedside tables. Why waste time on subpar stuff?
(Maria’s dd) Michelle Rioux’s review at The History Place (membership required)
Catholic Mom at Catholic Media Review — along with some giddy teen comments; why am I not surprised?
You Are What You Read and Eat, from Nancy — I second the recommendation for Regina Doman’s books, which my dd loves
Julie in CT, who recommends the books for teens only for 17 and up — my dd knows girls 12-16 that ARE reading the books sans advice from parents… it’s that insidious thing going on again… like how to boil frogs and all that…
Very thorough reviews and commentary from Spes Unica
The Best Thing Since Harry Potter? from Clare Cannon
from Sarah Reinhard at Just Another Catholic Pondering (added 12/2/08)
___________________
What about the movie?
Catholic Media Review on the Twilight Movie
and a must read from Steven Greydanus at Decent Films — I’ve been waiting for this review and I wasn’t disappointed!!
Thanks for this Stef. I was just doing a post and found that you had written this. I have linked you. Gosh – with this and the Levi ads etc – I sometimes think the world is going crazy!
Thank you so much, Stef! I had not heard of these books until I read your review. Interestingly, my dd brought up the books today as her friend is reading them and wants to share them with my dd. This was a great place to come and find out about these books. Perhaps we will try a little Jane Austen (we just visited her home in Bath … what a great introduction to solid literature).
Stef, Thanks for the link to my review! I’m jealous, Carole, that you were in Bath recently. I haven’t been there and to Jane sites since the 1980s. Would love to bring my girls there when they are a little older.
This is a great compilation, Stef. I’m glad you put it together. I was rereading the new posts at Spec Unica today and saw this link in a comment. Having grown up in a highly LDS community, I found it very interesting. Haven’t seen that others are addressing this aspect, but it seems very plausible.
http://writetools.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/twilight-preaches-mormonism/
Hi Stef – thanks for posting the reviews to check out. I am the one that wrote the blog in Mary M’s comment. Thanks for posting it. I think you are right to be on guard, if and when you read them. They are engaging, and a quick read…but in no way comparable to the other fine authors you listed.
Thanks, Stef. Yes, my dd was encouraged by a friend to read the books. Her friend loaned all 4 of them to her. She began reading, but mid-first book thought that something just wasn’t right – her spiritual radar really went off. She asked me about them, and I did a quick speed read of all 4. The heroine in these books cares nothing for her soul, for eternity – lies to her mom…So, how does this all line up with our scriptural injunction to “Think on that which is holy, pure, just, …etc>?” You are so right -there is just too much actual good literature out there to waste time on this.
Regarding the Twilight Saga…
My daughter and all her friends started reading these last year. I let her know I didn’t approve, but I didn’t stop her from reading. However, I read the entire series myself to be prepared for any questions.
What I found was not what I expected. I was worried about sexual inappropriateness for my 14-year-old. There was some of that. But what I wasn’t prepared for was Meyer’s allegory for LDS beliefs.
This series lays out many LDS teachings by representing them in unlikely ways:
*Dreams = links to tribe of Joseph/Joseph Smith/ongoing revelations
*Meadow = reference to grove where Joseph Smith received revelations from an angel, Moroni
*Cullens = Nephites/LDS Church
*Vampire = glorified body/becoming godlike
*Drinking animal blood = pure diet
*Ephraim Black = link to tribe of Ephraim (decendants of Jospeh, believed to have birthright over tribe of Judah)
*Quileutes = Lamanites (ancestors of Native Americans)
*Imprinting = promised marriage
*Mental preparation – learning the LDS faith
*Cliffdiving = baptism by immersion
*Esme Island = LDS Temple
*Honeymoon = Endownment Ceremony
*Birth Scene = Sealing Ceremony for Celestial (eternal) Marriage
*Becoming a vampire = resurrection/becoming immortal
*Charlie’s “need to know” status = milk before meat method of teaching LDS doctrine
*Renee’s distance = shunning for her divorce/leaving church(?)
*Alistair = Anglican Church
*Stephen & Vladimir = Orthodox Church
*Volturi = Catholic Church
*Denali’s = LDS branch
*Wanderer’s = missionaries/other sects
An interesting analysis of Twilight by Edwin Arnaudin can be found at: http://etd.ils.unc.edu/dspace/handle/1901/469
I assume I am going to go and watch Twilight again. I really liked it!!