Hi Everyone,
Our last book club met on October 20, 2009, at my house. Ginnie, Cheryl, Jody, Lori and I were in attendance. The book we discussed was Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, the young adult book rage at this time.
As intimidating as the number of pages in the book may seem for young teens, the Twilight books are favorites among my students at school this year. It was the number one book students read for my summer reading requirement (among those who actually did it). In addition, like Harry Potter before it, the Twilight books turned to movies are increasing its popularity even more. So what is the draw? At book club we attempted to analyze this very question.
Yes, the first movie was great. I enjoyed it immensely. The story of vampires mesmerizing beautiful young women with their tantalizing charm is age old, but it still works. The Twilight producers just placed the story into a setting where all teens can connect, high school. Feeling the odd girl out, having just moved to the state of Washington to live with her dad, Bella takes quickly to her lab partner, the also odd but alluring Edward. The movie uses winsome gazes and transfixed stares to lock you along with Bella into the clutches of Edward.
The book does the same. As Edward admits his obsession for Bella, her smell, her mind, we like Bella are attracted to his magnetism. The pages turn fast, very easy reading for reluctant readers who want to be part of the latest book craze. Jody made a very observant analysis of the book; however, what message is Bella’s fixation for Edward sending to young girls? It reads as if it is okay to be passionate to the point of mania. In Twilight, Bella never steps back from her feelings for the dangerous Edward despite the warnings from her friends. Instead, she continues to want more, even living-death if that is what it takes for her to be with him always.
I intend to see the next Twilight movie, New Moon, but doubt if I’ll read the book. I will, on the other hand, recommend the books to my Secondary Reading students, and like Harry Potter, I’m glad I took the time to read the latest in today’s pop culture.
A very interesting vocabulary word from Twilight was brought to our attention by Jody at the October meeting. Get this! The word is “misogynistic” meaning a hatred of women and girls! I didn’t know there was a word to define it. All of us have known men in our lives, workplaces, churches, communities who we know deeply hate women. Now we have a word for them. Other forms of the word include misogyny, misogynist. The accent is on the second syllable when you say the word.
Our next meeting will be on November 21, next Saturday. The book is The Little Country by Charles de Lint. For our meeting we are going to spend the day on the Butler Symphony Holiday House Tour then have our book talk during lunch. Tickets are available at May’s Music store $15 presale and $18 on the day of the tour. We will meet at the Clearview Mall in the TJ Maxx side parking lot at 9:50 A.M. leaving by 10:00 A.M. for the tour. Hope to see you there with or without a book!
Yours in reading,
Tammy
Tammy
No comments:
Post a Comment