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Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Bomb Book Club


I went to a book club with three close friends on Tuesday night. We started around 8pm and I didn't get home until 12:30am. I had so much fun and laughed so hard. It was just what I've been needing since, well, since Buddha was born. :) We discussed the Twilight series book #1, and Libby had awesome questions to ask us all. Naturally, we got off course a few times, chatting away about girl stuff, kids, men (our husbands, of course), being afraid of the dark, and everything else under the sun, but we always came back to Edward and Bella. Here's a few of the questions that elicited a good, healthy debate with our cozy little group. I'd love to hear all your thoughts.

1. How would you characterize Bella? Strong? Weak? Typical? Low self-esteem? Average?

2. Do you think Edward and Bella have a healthy relationship?

3. Will you want your hormonal teenage daughter to read these books?

4. What is it that makes us, as grown women, love these books so much?

5. What makes us love Edward so much? Or do you side with Jacob?

6. This is my question that has been burning me up since I read these books. I'm just curious what you guys think since there really is no way to resolve this issue. What does Edward do when Bella, being a normal teenage girl, menstruates? Why doesn't the author address this HUGE issue?

Okay, friends, hit me with your answers. We had a great time discussing these things at our book club. We're meeting again at the end of this month and any other time that we can come up with a good excuse to get together. It was the most exhilarating feeling to be able to keep the flow of female conversation going without any interruptions for diaper changes, snack breaks, squabble patrols, etc. Thanks girls, I had a great time and I can't wait until next time! And thank you, Papa, for letting me be "the girly me" for a night.

10 comments:

bethy said...

I started to read Twilight but found it a bit provacative for my taste. I was a little embarassed to read about teen love or any romance for that matter. I think that that's a great idea to have a book club and discuss literature though. Sounds like a great outlet.

Brooklet said...

I love going to our bookclub here in our ward- it has been a really fun outlet for girl time and discussing literature.

I can't stand bella. She is just not the type of girl I admire or can relate to. She's stupid, impulsive, selfish. And she thinks she is ready to make a commitment for eternity, when she is so indecisive about edward and jacob.
And enough with the getting into life threatening situations because she is such a clutz.

Okay, I have vented.

Heather said...

Twilight rocks!!!

Karin said...

OHHHH! Book club and Twilight! I love them both...but I kind of have this love hate relationship with the Twilight books. I love Edward, but I hate him for Bella. I think it is total infatuation on her side. I've heard the author talk about how this is TRUE love, but I think not. Maybe for Edward, but not for Bella. Jacob is so much better for her! Anyway, you can tell I have very strong opinions about these books. I could go on forever.

tara poll said...

I hope this is not blasphemous, BUT I am not the biggest Twilight fan. I read the first book. It was a really quick read, really entertaining, but when I finished my first thought was "did I really just read a book about a Vampire who glows in the forest?" I could not bring myself to read any more of the series. I guess my biggest problem with the book was that at the end I hadn't really learned anything new to improve my life. Don't judge vampires, I guess. I should say that I am the type who loves biographies, histories, etc. However, I love Harry Potter books too. I don't know what my deal was with Twilight. Just not my favorite. That is my 2 cents.

Ben & Jana said...

I'm so happy to see that you like these books! After months of my friends in our branch telling me that I had to read them, I started, and I really like them. I think she's an entertaining author, and fun to read. For our book club, we're supposed to be reading The Host- by the same author... I haven't read it yet. Have you?

Anonymous said...

I think I'm the only one in the world who has not read these books. I'm still trying to decide if I'm missing out.

Liz said...

You are missing out if you like light, fast, just-for-fun reading. If you like deep, thoughtful, brain-bending reading then you are missing nothing.

Anonymous said...

Answers to questions: Belle is rather weak and needy in character which is typical of a lot of teenagers from divorced homes. Not a healthy relationship as he is totally unselfish and cares more for her than himself but just the opposite of her end. Entertaining books, however - typical fantasy stuff. Edward is not around Bella when she menstrates!!! By the way - read The Host - much better book.

Marilee said...

I never really planned on reading the series until Peter gave me the first one for Christmas. I loved it! It is just fun and entertaining to read, and I think it is popular because it is a love story no one has told before - a GOOD vampire and a human girl. I think Bella has a lot of self-esteem issues, but most women do. Edward is a little too controlling for my taste, but I think women like his character because most women don't like men who won't take control of bad situations. In other words, we like a man to be a man. I think Jacob is selfish and at times manipulative so even though Edward's relationship with Bella isn't perfect, I am rooting for him!