Lolita and the Vampire

We are visiting Trent's mom in La Push, Washington--home of the Quilleute werewolves in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, "now a major motion picture." I'm reading the book because being here is a good excuse to read what is essentially a romance novel. After I expressed interest, Trent's mom bought me a copy at the Forks Thriftway, which is mentioned in the book. They stamped the title page with the store's name and address, so Trent suggested I can sell it on eBay when I'm done. Apparently a letterman jacket from the Forks high school went for $2,500. How crazy is that?

Forks is definitely making the most of their sudden fame--the Thriftway featured "Bella's Brew" and "Jacob's Java"coffee blends, restaurants advertise "Twilight specials," and two new Twilight-themed stores have opened. But people are also a little irritated that Meyer never visited Forks before writing the book. Trent's family--who are Makah, not Quilleute--thought it was hilarious that the Quilleutes are described as abnormally tall and handsome in the book, because Quilleutes tend to be built for canoeing in cold waters--short and round.

Although I'm enjoying the story--it's a good pageturner--I'm a little creeped out that this vampire, Edward, who is hundreds of years old, is going to high school and hitting on a seventeen-year-old. I mean, he may look seventeen, but he's technically an old man, right? That's a little disturbing in my view. Especially because he's always laughing at Bella, the seventeen-year-old. It is frustrating that this pattern of the paternal man and naive girl falling in love is still so common in our culture. Yet another generation of women is growing up with an unequal relationship as their romantic ideal. Fabulous.

For a different take on why the book's popularity with young girls is disturbing, check out this video from the delightful Sarah Haskins.