I have to say I’m a little embarrassed because I 1) do not have a teenaged daughter, yet 2) have read both books of the series published to date, and 3) even pre-ordered my copy of Breaking Dawn on Amazon. Yeah, I know……

This article is awful. You admit that you have not read the book(s) but go on to discredit the ‘hype’ around the Twilight series? I am not a teenager or young adult and really enjoyed this series of books. You don’t have to be a teenage girl to even know about or read this series of books.

“This craze for “Breaking Dawn” feels a bit more manufactured than real. Maybe I’m wrong - I hope so, because it’s nothing to snear at if a Mormon author’s books receive even a portion of the attention that the gore in summer movies gets.” What does this have to do with the books or the hype around the release of the next book? NOTHING.

What does being a “Mormon author” have to do with anything relating to craze surrounding these books?

I am a 30-something mother of 2 and I enjoy these books. The fanbase is not just tween/teen girls. Frankly I am delighted to hear young people are still reading and getting excited about books beyond just Harry Potter.

And you base your theory that the craze is manufactured on interviewing ONE bookseller who says that presales are less than HP - one of the best selling series of books of all time? I’m sure even 1/4 of HP presale is quite a large number of books.

I agree with lab below. If you are going to write an article about the books at least have the decency to read one of them…esp as the “Post Dispatch Book Editor”.

First, let me say, I’m not a teen and I wasn’t a teen when I first started reading these books. However, I did find them through a teen and am so glad I did. Stephenie Meyer is a fabulous author and if you would’ve taken the time to even start reading one of the books, trust me, you would see that; you would never want to put the books down.

Second, as was stated in another comment, before you decide to write an article like this, maybe try checking with a few more sources. Stephenie’s books actually knocked Harry Potter off the New York Times Best Seller List.

How’s that for “hype”?!

There’s nothing wrong with an adult reading books targeted to teens - as far as I’m concerned most of the designations of “children’s book” or “adult book” are mostly marketing decisions.

I’m not really criticizing hype about the book, it’s the midnight parties I meant to disparage (although only lightly)! Are that many teens really going to stay up to midnight for “Breaking Dawn”? My feeling is that booksellers need something for kids to get excited about after the end of Harry Potter, which usually drove profits in the children’s book segment for the year. When there was no Harry Potter title, the book industry usually couldn’t brag much about increasing profits for children’s titles.

None of that means that there is anything wrong with the books themselves the people who read them or paranormal romance as a genre. Vampires don’t turn everyone on - I prefer the real guys in TV’s “Supernatural,” but that’s just me.
I am curious whether boys or young men read these books. And are any of you who love the series going to stay up to midnight and go out in costume?

Have you seen the articles about Comic-con and the 6500 screaming fans, some of which waited for 12-hours to see the stars of the movie? Now, granted, that is the movie and you’re talking about the books, but I think that will give you an idea about the mania that surrounds Stephenie’s books. If I was able, I would definitely be out at the book release, but I know there will be thousands upon thousands of other people, male and female, waiting in the stores for it in my place all over the country. And no, even if I did go, I most definitely would not be going in costume, that’s just not my thing. All I’m asking is that you do a little more research before you write an article about books many people hold very close to their hearts. These books have touched many people, of many age groups, and those who have read them tend to get a bit vocal about incorrect or unknowledgeable information we hear. Please keep this in mind if you happen to write future articles on this topic, as I’m sure you will with the first movie coming out in December and hopefully more to follow after that. Also, trust me on this one, you would love the books if you actually did read them, so you may want to consider that as well. Thanks!

The Twilight books are above average. They’re not spectacular, and they’re not going to win any literary awards, but they’re definitely entertaining.

Sadly enough, what disturbs me the most about this entry is that the book editor spelled “sneer” incorrectly. To the best of my knowledge, “snear” isn’t even a word.

In defense of Jane, the TWILIGHT SAGA has been a big hit but not to the wide audience that loved Harry Potter. The audience for this book is mainly teen girls, young adult and adult women — female. Harry Potter hit young, old, male, female, almost anyone who could read. Because of the predominantly female readership, it does cut the sales and the attendance at parties to celebrate the event. I’ve read some parties have “boyfriend rooms” for the males that are “dragged” to the event with their girlfriends. Overall (and certainly not exclusively so all you guys out there reading this know that I’m not discounting your book buying), women buy and read more than men and especially teen male vs. female. The books have a strong romantic element and there is certainly suspense as to what is going to happen in the romantic triangle, but to me it doesn’t have the depth and character variety that made HP so special. Every publisher is looking for the next Harry Potter and I think readers are, too. There’s something special about sharing enthusiasm for a book with a group of like-minded. That’s what’s made it easier for the pubs of TWILIGHT SAGA and INHERITANCE TRILOGY (ERAGON, ELDEST, BRISINGR) to promote these series.

I am 25 and I picked up the first book on a whim because I like vampires. What I didn’t expect was to be back at the bookstore the next day to buy the next 2 books. I read them all in less than 3 days. I’m glad I waited so long to pick them up, since I didn’t have to wait as long as others for the final book.
I think these books reach further than just young teen girls and adult women, too. What guy can resist vampires, werewolves and testosterone filled fights.
Meyer actually wrote the first book for adults, but when it was picked up by Little, Brown they went back and edited it for content to target the YA audience.
Amazing book series! I will be up at Midnight Friday night to buy the book…..if I can find some place in Columbia, MO that is participating in an all-night party. No costume, though. I’ll leave that to the youngsters.
-25 and recommend to all ages

I am a thirty something mother of a thirteen year old boy and nine year old girl. I picked this book up with an open mind (I don’t usually read young adult) and I am hooked! My enthusiasm has spread to both children & we will be attending a party at Borders, I haven’t figured out if my pride will allow me to dress up - but, who knows? I couldn’t get into Harry Potter at all so I can’t compare, but I do think the book is worthy of the hype.