Hmn it seems that we have an even greater interest to mortals as of late. Fascinating and entertaining on my part: I get more attention now. But it is irritating, the thing that has caused the hype: the Twilight series. I have finally read the first book and watched the movie. Therefore I believe that I have a valid opinion to give.

Stephanie Meyers is not above me in skill, and I barely consider myself an intermediate level writer. She took a cliché story and added her own version of vampires to it. I personally do not like her version of vampires, particularly the shiny skin and no fangs, and partially the "vegetarian" thing. I was terribly bored through the first half of the book, and disappointed with the climax of the story. To me it seemed too soft, but then this is geared towards the preteen and young teen age range. Not to mention I really don't like Bella: she's one of the most whiny narrators I have had in a book. I have no interest whatsoever in reading the last three books.

As for the movie, it followed the book pretty closely: which is probably why I was bored to death with it. I swear it felt like I had been sitting there for four hours instead of two. Romance movies just aren't my thing....

Unlike with the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, I did not come away with any life lessons to apply to myself. The one they mentioned on the Special Features of the movie is good for someone still struggling with Middle School angst. However, with Anne Rice (Particularly "Interview with the Vampire") I came away with (nonreligious) lessons that actually helped me grow up a good deal. This series isn't something more than entertainment, and thus has little value to me. I feel that the hype over it is unnecessary.

But there you go: my opinion on the phenomenon of a set of books that I certainly don't consider literature.