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'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer - Hachette Books
Critics of the Twilight series suggest (sometimes often) that there is only one type of fandom of the series: that which consists of young, teenage girls. However, the demography of a Twilight fan might be slightly more complex and vast than critics of the series and its popularity would like to admit.
Take the so-called "Twilight Moms" out there. Plenty of women (married, mothers, and/or career women) love the series. Finding the powerful love story and precious (yet, at times, subtle) intricacies of the storyline and plot to be compelling and very pleasant to admit to imagination, Twilight Moms are able to overlook the fact that the setting for many of their favorite scenes takes place in a high school cafeteria and that we meet Bella Swan as she undergoes a bit of teenage angst and adolescent alienation. The charm and wit of Edward Cullen and Jacob Black, for Twilight Moms, takes precedent. They allow themselves to, quite simply, become submerged into the sea of emotions that the narrator Bella Swan takes us through in the series.
Or the Twilight men, for example (yes, there are actually many male fans of the Twilight series). Sure, they may have been encouraged to read the books by their sisters, girlfriends, or perhaps their Twilight Moms at the outset, but men are no categorical exception to the fandom of Twilight. Sporting t-shirts such as those that say "I'm her Edward" or "Team Bella" and the like, these men have been seen standing in the long lines awaiting the premieres and opening nights for Twilight, waiting for an autograph from a Twilight cast member or Stephenie Meyer, or contributing fiercely to fansites and blogs about the series. Twilight men, quite frankly, can at times be even bigger fans than women.
Of course, there are the so-called "Twilight Teens" - girls, if you will, between the ages of as low as 8 or 9 and up to 19 years old. Teen fans love the characters not only for their encapsulating dialogue and flow, the heart-racing circumstances and adventures of Bella Swan, the Cullens, and the La Push family, but they also identify with the plights of the age-groups involved in the series, particularly those of Bella Swan in her struggle to make a place for herself in the confusion of her new world. Women, generally, as well as these teens profess that they find a piece of themselves in the mental wanderings of Bella Swan, as thread through the spindle by Stephenie Meyer with intense and passionate thoughts, words, and actions. Yet, even the teens are not categorical. While there are those who are very loquacious of their love of Twilight, there are also a good many who would not be compelled to shout at the sidelines of the premiers as well (but we love 'em all).
Of course, also, there are those who are none of the above. Twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings, married, un-married, etc. Men, women, Caucasian, African-American, Muslim, Hispanic, Asian, purple, polka-dotted; you name it.
While the teen demographic might be the most obviously prevalent of the out-going Twilight fans, they are certainly not alone. While critics might suggest that there is only one type of fan of the series, the fact is that the fan-base of the series is quite expansive and diverse.
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Comments
I am a Twi-Wife! And you're right; there is no stereo-type necessarily correct. The love story is powerful enough for every age!
Thank you! I've been waiting for somebody in the media to realize that Twilight's appeal goes way beyond teens. The movie is still running in a theater near me, and has a steady audience every day of middle-aged women in the middle of the day when their kids are in school. Both the books and the film with its perfect casting have an unusual staying power, because the story line is so powerful.
As a married mother of four and a big Twilight fan, I was so happy to read your article! At last ... someone realizes that it is NOT just teen girls who enjoy these books and characters. And by the way, my husband has read them all and enjoyed them too!
Great article! I'm an unashamed Twilight addict and I'm 30! I've been married for 12 years, and we have four children - my husband has read the entire series as well, and now our oldest daughter (12) is beginning New Moon after reading Twilight! Our 9 year old wants to read it, too! My 53 year old mother has even read the books! The demography is definitely large - thanks for representing us all!
has a teen of 15... i love all of the books they make me so happy when i read them.I dont even whant to stop to take a break!!!!
I'm 51 & a die-hard fangirl! Read the books 10+ times & counting & saw the movie 9 times. I belong to the Adult Twilight Fansite which has a diverse age group of ladies too. Clearly-this series envelopes the whole age spectrum! I don't like the negative spin on my age group either. Just because we're "mature" doesn't mean we haven't forgotton what it felt like being a teenager in love for the first time.
Thank goodness... we're not alone LOL
Nice one!! I'm classed as a career woman, not a mother and not a teen....I'm 36 and a huge fan...so are the majority of my male and female friends who are of a similar age..
Nice one! I'm classed as a career woman, 36 yrs old and not a mum. I'm a huge fan as are most of my friends who are of a similar age. Male and female!!
I'm 30 years old, married with no children, and I LOVE the Twilight series. Apparently, I don't fit in with any of the groups described above.
I'm 23 years old and a career woman and absolutely love the Twilight Saga. I've read each book (including Midnight Sun) twice. My room mate is a 24 year old male also read and loved it and my father...that works for the FBI and is retired military read and enjoyed it. So there!
I love that you wrote this piece - it is so true. I am a 28 year old mom/wife/career woman and I love the twilight saga - it is a saga that i can not put down and feel the need and urge to read it over and over. I have yet to read anything that captures me like this series.
I'm a 49 year old mother of 2 daughters. My 13 year old read Twilight at school in a reading class. She has me and the rest of my family in love with the series. We've read the books and saw the movie multiple times. I wonder what Bella and Edward are up to today???
Thank goodness for this article. I am 20 years old and thought that I was too old to be reading a "tween" book, but Thank goodness that i am not alone and that the Twilight Saga is enjoyed by many not just a bunch of 12 yo. girls!!
To Katie:
I apologize for seeming to dis-include women above 25 who are not mothers. They are also very much in the demographics of a Twilight fan. Per your wonderful comment, I have added "or" to the sentence about Twi-Moms and career women.
I hope that this clarifies the analogy, and that it helps to assure you I meant to include married later twenty-somethings (like myself ;-)) in the description as well.
Thanks for posting!
Amanda Bell
I am 49 years old and love the series. I have read the books several times. I'm in love with Edward (Robert)....I just have to forget that I'm probably older than his Mom!
You are right! I am a 30 year old Twilight fan, happily married , and with a successful career. Still, I love Twilight.
I am a registered, card-carrying Twilight Mom! I was so relieved to find others that were so strongly impacted by these books. Thank you for the article. It speaks to the fact that good stories transcend gender, age, and racial lines.
I always knew there were more than just tween-girl-fans out there. I am one of those people who likes a love story without all the blatant sex and foul language. I find this series very refreshing. Yes, I am also a mother of a 15-year-old. This gives us one more thing to talk about and it also opens up other topics for discussion between us. Thank you Stephanie Meyer...and if you read this, please consider completing Midnight Sun. Regardless of how you think it is at its current state, we still think it's awesome.
I'm 29 (A month from 30) and a mother of a 10 yr old. She could care less about the movie but as for me I LOVE IT!!! lol... I also have many others around me my age that love it as well. This series appeals to those of all ages.
The *largest* Stephenie Meyer/Twilight fan site in the world is actually one that's dedicated to all of the adult fans of the Saga.
twilightmoms dot com
=)
My 33 year old married daughter got totally obsessed with it and from all the reviews I thought it was just for teens. I read it to see how much help she was going to need, BUT, call for me some help now. Robert is the hottest man I've seen since Elvis and the story is good too!!
i am a 25 yrs old mother of three and i love the series, however i do wish a some points throughout the story that it could just be geared toward an adult audience as to go into more detail.
I'm 25 and I had been hearing about the Twilight Saga for a while when a friend of mine told me I just had to read them. I kept resisting because I thought they were suppose to be for young girls. From the minute I picked up Twilight I was totally ADDICTED. I have now read each book 3 times. I now have passed my books around to other friends and get them all hooked. Now there is a group of addicted 25-30 year old friends, male and female, that get together and talk about these books, watch the movie (we're having a DVD release party), and buy the merchandise. No one is too old or the wrong gender for Twilight!
Thank you! By drawing attention to the fact that the Twlight Saga is not a teen fad & Im not alone...My sister got me started reading the series(ive never liked to read)& I was hooked for the first page. It let me have an outlet from the stess life sometimes puts on everyone. It gave me something to look forward to after a day of work & full time single mom of 3. Edward & the whole series is a better addiction than whats out there!
51 almost 52 year old lady here. Love Twilight. It's a timeless story with great characters. I'm old, a twilight fan and proud.
It's soo true that Twilight is not only for teens! I am 25 and love it, after seeing the movie my sister and I bought the books. We took our mom to see the movie and even got our grandma to read the books and they are both fans now.
I am 36 years old. I am a mother of five children. I am an absolute Twilight fan. I actually enjoyed the book because it transported me back to my highschool days! However, the relationship between Edward and Bella is so much more than a highschool crush and therefore reminded me of my relationship with my darling husband.
I am 40, career mom, succesful executive and I am a big fan, have read the 4 books twice already and I am deeply in love with Edward Cullen/Rob Pattinson, not a fit.
Oh I was so pleased to see other adults liking everything about Twilight! I am 54 yrs old and have an 11 yr old daughter, so it's nice to take time and enjoy a good book, movie and talk with those who like the same things as you do. Go Twiight!
I'm turning 40 this year and am totally obsessed with all things Twilight. I have more friends over the age of 30 that are crazy about it than my 17 year old daughter. This series has brought us closer together, able to talk about love and relationships easier....it's been great! My son who's 11 loves it too. My sister...neighbors...even hubby likes the movie! YEAH TWILIGHT!!!
I am 34 years old and I've become completely consumed by Twilight. Thanks to Stephanie for creating wonderful characters, incredible storylines, & bringing Edward Cullen to the world. This saga is definitely not just for teens. Anyone (regardless of age) who appreciates romance will enjoy this story. My 61 year old mother has fallen for Edward and all things Twilight too! Thanks to Amanda for bringing this topic to life.
I am a 26 yr old teacher and was encouraged to read the books by my students. I am a totally twiaddict! my kiddos and i are constantly discussing the books and have gotten other teachers at our school to read them too. i have probably read the series 4 times at least.
Thanks for bringing up this topic! I'm 37 and am in LOVE with the Twilight Books! Almost completed them for the 4th time! Bella & Edward's world is a nice escape from my duties as a wife, mother and teacher. All of my friends are TwiMoms, too.
I'm 46, my best friend is 38, her husband thinks we're nuts, and we love Twilight...the series and and the movie. I believe it's a woman's fantasy to find a man as devoted to a woman as the men in Twilight...not just Edward, but ALL the men in Twilight. It's great fun!
I'm 46, my best friend is 38 and her husband thinks we're nuts. We love Twilight, the series and the movie, and are eagerly awaiting the sequels. I believe it's a woman's fantasy to have a man feel for a her the way the men of Twilight feel for their women...not just Edward, but all the men of Twilight. It's all great fun!
I'm only 10 and im OBSESSED wit the twilight saga!! I have read them all and im waiting for the debut of Midnight Sun. It's suprising that Stephenie can come up with 4 books off of a dream of the meadow scene! Stephenie is truly amazing and talented.
Dont freak out that i'm young... But feel free to be jealous.. XD
I absaloutly love Twilight, Im Canadian and in Hawaii at the moment and i just went to hottopic and pre-ordered the DVD :] and Also i have all of the book's and also two other duplicate's of Twilight :) Im a Over-Obsessed Twilight Fan. You can ushally find me on the Twilight Page on Facebook :] But not for another two weeks :( Since im on vacation :]. I'm known as the News poster, but i havent posted in awhile. I told Heidi one of the twilight admin on the facebook page i would be on when i get back from vacation! Lauren and Heidi,Fallon and Kristn i belive are the Twilight Admin's on the page :). It's absaloutly amazing :) I'm 15 turning 16 in about a month and a half :]. Kudo's to all the Twilight mom's and all the guy's who read Twilight. It's not just for s! :) <3
Keep Strong!
- Tanya May.C
I'm 16 and completely in love with all 4 books!!!! My dream is to one day meet Rob Pattinson!!! I envy the fans that are in their early twenties because you have way more of a chance with him! hahaha TWILIGHT = LOOOOOVVVVEEEE
I am 24yrs. old and I actually am the one who got my 14 & 8yr. old sisters-in-law into the Twilight Saga! I am completely obssesed with it!!! I've read each book 10 times, I have 3 Twilight shirts along with Twilight jewelry...and I can't wait for the Twilight DVD release parties!!!!!
I believe I can sum up my feelings for this article by saying this: thank you! I'm sure I speak for the majority of the fandom when I say we aren't all between the ages of 8 and 14. Did I already say thank you?
I am 32 and luv the series (and Rob) too! ha! A mom from my daughters school lent me the book and I was thinking I dont like vampire stories now I have had my 18yr old neice, and five 30 something girlfriends and a 24 yr old coworker read the series and we all love it!!
not only that but the fans who are tweens are not all immature, squeeling fan girls who obsess over the saga for more trivial aspects of it, but there are some who appreciate the literature, story, themes, and art of it.
Iam 52 years old and am a obsessed Twilight, New Moon fan.I have see the movie many times and read the series 4 times.I think every woman no matter what her age loves the way Edward is sexy, mysterious,romantic kind,gentle. and tender. He is understanding when it counts and tough when necessary. Every womans dream of the perfect man.
im a 18 yr old muslim and i adoreeeee twilight
love sees no age race sex or religon!love stories are so universal!!!!
o and might i add . . .TEAM EDWARD WOOHOOO!!!!
Thank you for calling attention to those fans that are not calling attention to themselves. I am a 42 yr old mother of two with a very busy full time job, and I LOVE Twilight. It all started with Romeo and Juliet when I was 12. The story of Edward and Bella just strikes a chord with me and I can't get enough of it!!!
I am so glad to see all these over 30 Twilight addicts like me. I think Stephanie Meyer's has brought women and girls of all ages together in a great way. We all want to think that perfect guy could really exist! I'm 47 and my almost 20 yr. old daughter enjoy talking about Twilight and umm yeah how beautiful Rob Pattinson is. I'm sorry, I know it sounds bad for a woman of my age, but the kid has got it!!! It is so nice to finally come out of the closet! hehe!
I'm 31 and can't stop reading anything Twilight related whether it's the books, or reading New Moon movie updates online. I can't wait to get the Twilight DVD as soon as it comes out.
you know twilight came along when I needed it the most and I have to say it saved my sanity its a fun place to escape to when your life is in the toilet like mine was, so to Stephenie Meyer thank you a lot for writing such a wonderful series. And by the way thank you for letting me see I already had my Edward sitting right beside me all that time
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