There is something about books, especially fiction books, that has always entranced me. I’ve always loved to read. My dad has read Little House on the Prairie, Lord of the Rings, and all the Chronicles of Narnia books aloud to me. A condensed copy of Jane Eyre and the Elsie Dinsmore books have been my favorites since I was 7 and 9.
Books tend to touch a bit of my soul. With every chapter, they cause me to cry profusely and stay up until 3:00 a.m. The books that I’ve read have become part of who I am. They’ve shaped my life. Because of this, choosing which books to read is very important to me.
In upper elementary school I discovered that good books could have bad words and I grieved over that. When in Middle School, “Christian” romance was my thing until I realized the danger that could be found in it. A year ago, I cut out romance from my reading diet because it was “awakening love” before it’s time, giving me a desire for what I knew was still a long way off. I haven’t been perfect with this resolution, but God is helping me grow.
As you can probably guess, Twilight is not on my book menu.
While girls that haven’t read a book since first grade are pouring over Twilight and devouring it like lions feasting on prey, I have found myself content to wait out the Twilight phenomenon full of teen girls swooning and screaming.
I see some serious red flags with the Twilight series:
1). The vampires. Vampires are known as demonic creatures… I mean, they feast on blood and are like giant mosquitoes. They also are dammed creatures without hope for redemption and yet, in Twilight they are portrayed as both good and evil. Nothing good comes from blurring the lines between good and evil.
2). I find what I know of Bella and Edward’s relationship quite creepy. He sits at her window and watches her sleep; I would consider that being a stalker, not being sweet. Also, he craves her blood. Even though he doesn’t actually bite her, he goes almost mad with the desire to do so. She also is willing to be dammed just so she can be undead with him… not exactly a model for Christian girls.
3). Edward is supposed to be supernaturally perfect. That just sets up an impossible standard for both women and men. The “inhuman” concept leaves no restrictions while real men do have restrictions. To set Edward up as the perfect man only leaves us to be disappointed that real men have faults.
4). I don’t do books with anything “steamy.” Why would I make my heart long to be held when I am not married and wont be so for a while? It will only make me long to find love and contentment in a man’s arms, and make me discontent with waiting for God’s best. I don’t see any reason to fill my mind with things that go against my personal convictions.
All in all, I truly wish that the women of my generation will set down Twilight and put their mind to better use reading a classic book like Pride and Prejudice. But better yet, I pray that my generation would pick up the best love letter of all and find true contentment with a supernaturally perfect Man… one who is actually real.
Written by Olivia Erickson, for more articles and thoughts by Olivia check out her blog nobody416.com
As I was reading this my mind flew to the time a few months back when my cousin turned to me and said, “I’m reading a real book aren’t you proud of me?” I had to tell her no when she told me that is was Twilight. I don’t understand the fascination… give me Jane Austen any day…
Great job on the review, Ma’am. For the demonic aspect, look at my comments on the adjoining page. I agree with much else you said, but I do think that two positive ideas stand out.
What was stated elsewhere about the “old-fashioned” parts of Edward’s character, and also something else not commented on much. In the fourth book, a recently married Bella chooses to keep the baby, even though it threatens to kill her, and there is no certainty she can be “changed” in time to not die from it. It is one of the most unabashedly pro-life storylines that I have seen in literature.
I just thought that I would point out the positive, so are as it goes. You are right though on the negative messages that are so strongly there, though.