Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I would try to laugh along. But I think people could tell I didn't really get it. Whenever the punchline was "Muggles" or "Hogwarts" or "Hedwig" I just didn't understand at all. I simply gave a polite smile and tried to avoid eye contact as the rest of the group guffawed. Thus was the life of a late Harry Potter adopter. It was an excruciating existence. I must admit, my ignorance was driven by stubbornness and pride. I remember saying to Nathan's Mum, "I just can't understand how a book that can be enjoyed by a 12 year old could possibly entertain me." How very wrong I was. Like most people, I eventually became hooked. I gobbled up the first 5 books in a matter of weeks. Finally I got the jokes.

And so, while again not a trendsetter I was hopeful that a book series as well received as Twilight by Stephenie Meyer would likewise hook me in. How very wrong I was. Okay, the storyline was fine. Vampires are fascinating. The idea of a vampire romance, while a bit freaky is an interesting concept. For me, my problem was with the writing. I don't know enough to criticise the writing from a technical standpoint - it was purely that Twilight was written in the first person. This is not a problem in itself - I loved Gilead by Marilynne Robinson for this very reason. It was the gag factor. For a number of years I have thought to myself, "I really don't want to know what's going on in the mind of 17 year old  girls." And after reading Twilight, this conviction has never been more certain. Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.

Here endeth my review.

My next late-comer book is Pride and Prejudice. On tape. I plan to listen to them during our long car trips this Christmas. Finally I won't be the one who doesn't get the jokes about Mr Darcy.