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Of course you've heard of Harry Potter. Who hasn't? But have you been introduced to Bella and Edward? They're the leading characters in Stephenie Meyer's incredibly popular "Twilight" novels, which have been creating quite a stir
lately at Watermark Books & Café. Tuesday morning, when "Eclipse"--the third
book in the teen/adult crossover series--went on sale, it was greeted by a small
but enthused mob of readers eager to answer the all-consuming question: what
will happen next?

Readers have been drawn in over the last year as the word-of-mouth on the
"Twilight" books has spread; many folks who wouldn't expect to enjoy tales of
the fledgling love of a Washington State girl and her secret vampire boyfriend have found themselves totally captivated by Meyer's careful handling of her story,
which goes beyond the usual chestnuts of horror tales and romances. The vampire elements just add spice to what is, at heart, the story of a young woman facing the perils and promises that come with growing up.

The really exceptional thing about the "Twilight" audience is this: many mothers
and daughters are reading the novels together; though the stories are focused on
teenagers, their appeal is broad and deep. Two different sets of Watermark staff
members are reading the books with their daughters—Lisa J. on the book side and
Debby in the café—and so are Jill Dizmang and her daughter Josie Seery. Jill
leads the discussions at our monthly Literary Feast dinner-and-a-book-club
events, and she remembers how Josie loved the first "Twilight" book instantly
and clamored for the second. Her requests had no effect until Jill picked up
"Twilight" herself—and then stayed up all night devouring it. The two came in
bright and early the next morning for the sequel. (And isn't there something
just perfect about buying a vampire novel at dawn?)

I asked the mother-daughter pair what they liked best about Meyer's books: Jill
says she really appreciates how the novels explore the many sides of
adolescence, even the uncomfortable parts, in ways that ring true and that give
parents and kids common ground and safe terrain for talking over intense
relationships. Josie says she likes how the characters solve problems
realistically—and not too easily. Nothing's too quick or too pat, including the
grief that characters feel over their romantic dilemmas. She also liked how
Bella and Edward's story showed that sometimes "opposites really do attract."

(Illuminating side story: even as Jill and Josie and I were discussing all this
in the bookstore, a friendly stranger who spied their just-purchased copy of the
new book, "Eclipse," jumped in to offer his heartfelt recommendation. Kyle
Little said, "Those books are great! They're filling the void that the end of
Harry Potter has left in my life!" That, my friends, is evidence of a spreading
phenomenon. Stephenie Meyer is bringing her A-game, and Ms. Rowling had better
be watching over her shoulder.)

Love for "Twilight" and its sequels has grown steadily, and it promises to
embrace additional readers of diverse ages as Meyer plots to continue her story
in future volumes. If you're looking for an honest, engrossing, and somewhat
supernatural read for yourself or for your friends and family, give these books
a look. You may find that once you take the first bite, you can never go back.

Mark David Bradshaw, August 10, 2007

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