Why Take Twilight Seriously? 3 Reasons.

Any new web site or blog on the subject of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is obliged to explain both why the topic is sufficiently important to warrant serious attention and what perspective the writer will bring to the subject that hasn’t been covered elsewhere. Here are my three reasons for starting a Twilight Saga blog:

(1) First and most obviously, these four books (five counting Midnight Sun and I do count it as part of the series) are the best selling books of 2008 and 2009, and, excluding Joanne Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, of the 21st century. As I write this, the four Twilight books and a package collection of the four are five of the top ten books at Amazon.com and four of the top five.

Not impressed? Southern Review of Books noted this week that “Sales of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Series books accounted for about 16 percent of all book sales tracked by the USA Today bestseller list in the first quarter of 2009. That’s about one in seven books.” The USA Today story by Anthony DeBarros, Carol Memmott and Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY notes that the Twilight Saga’s four published novels takes the top four spots in the year’s first quarter. And, again, as I write this, the four top spots on the USA Today list of the top 150 best sellers in this country are the Twilight novels.

Southern Review also notes that this isn’t just a United States tweeny girl phenomenon. Citing The Book Seller.com, he notes “[French corporation] Lagardere has disclosed 2008 sales figures for Stephenie Meyer’s vampire series, reporting that she sold 29.7 million copies in the U.S. in 2008, and another 2.3 million copies since then. Hachette UK sold another 3.7 million throughout their division, and Hachette in France sold 830,000 copies of her work in 2008. The U.S. breakouts are 10.07 million copies for Twilight; 6.95 million copies for New Moon; 5.03 million copies for Eclipse; 1.46 million copies for The Host; and 6.23 million copies of Breaking Dawn.”

Why another Twilight blog? Because it is the best selling book series of the day, and, once more nodding in the direction of the Hogwarts franchise, with that one exception, it ranks with the best selling series in publishing history. Not bad for a debut effort from an unknown author.

(2) That being true, so what? Why another weblog when there is a glut of Twilight fan sites?

In short, because these sites and blogs around the world and the critics at large do not discuss the books as books, except superficially or as an aside amidst commentary about their valence and value qua cultural artifact. Inevitably, the readers of the book are dismissed as psychologically immature or deficient human beings responding to story elements that will satisfy the needs their young lives or neurotic condition require. Ms. Meyer is generally dismissed as a hack who cannot be taken seriously as a writer much as her audience is assumed to be almost exclusively young women, however implausible that is even on the surface given the books’ sales.

This is a very low road to take when discussing books people love or a writer that has clearly demonstrated a remarkable ability to connect with readers profoundly. As Bum Phillips is reported to have said about the Houston Oilers’ Earl Campbell, “He might not be the only person in his class, but it sure don’t take long to call roll.” Ms. Meyer’s books and the millions of readers who love them deserve a serious look at what makes these books work and why readers respond to the stories the way they do.

(3) I think the Twilight Saga novels are an excellent platform from which to jump into discussions about the intersection of literature, faith, mind, and culture in 21st century America. I hope you agree and that you will join me here for these conversations.

After the holidays, I hope to explain what I bring to the table and my first thoughts about Twilight and the critical response they have received. Thank you in advance for stopping in as time allows and for sharing your thoughts.