I bought & read all 4 books, saw the movie (on opening day w/ 6 other Moms), have the soundtrack and a poster (gag gift from a friend). It took me about 2 days to read each one, my house was a wreck! I think the DVD comes out in April. I'll be on that waiting list!!!

My DGD has read all 4 of them in about 2 weeks. She's re-reading the 1st one because there's no #5 to read.
Leslie

My dd (llyrs) has read all 4 and is looking forward to
Midnight Sun which she hopes is coming out in 2009. She said that book would be from Edwards perspective.

I read quite a bit of the first one, and then saw the movie. Of course the book was much more detailed, so I'd say it was more enjoyable by far.

One of older dd's friends is obsessed with a couple of vampires though. I know she's seen the movie 5 times by now. She's Nuts and in love! lol, ah kids.

Make sure you rad the 260-some pages of Midnight Sun online.

Anything that gets kids reading is fine with me!

We read all 4 of the books and I went to the movie with Jen TX, we enjoyed it. I'll go to the others, too, because I think they did a good job with the special effects and the cast is very good.

I'll look forward to the 5th book, but I don't want to read it until I can read the whole thing, Nikki! How can you do that? lol

I never read the books, but saw the movie with my dd#2. I thought that the acting was ok, but the two leads did nothing for me, although I have seen R. Pattinson in other things and it seems he can act. I really liked the other kids at the high school (they were funny and real). I saw it in a theatre with about a million teens. It was kind of funny to me.

My two girls read the books a couple of years ago and at the time they devoured them; they were the greatest things, but lately when they talk about them, they are just "ok". Kids that age are so finkle IMHO.
Donna

I loved all 4 books. The movie was good but the acting subpar.
Donna

Took my DD to see it... plus, I was curious about the hype. I have not read the books but she has. I found it an interesting take on modern vampires! I didn't like the fact that they glorified him somewhat by making him "golden in the sun". Shouldn't he have fried?? LOL. Definitely NOT the vampire movies of my time.

They did not 'glorify' him he was just showing her why they can not go into the direct sunlight.

Yes it is a modern view of vampires but also a modern twist of Romeo and Juliet.

My daughter and wife love the movie and books. My daughter has always hated reading but she all of a sudden jumped right in the books. Whatever it takes. I got drug to the movie when they saw it the second time. I don't understand all the hoopla but alot of people like it. I'm glad it has gotten alot of kids interested in reading the books.

Stephanie Meyer is no 'great' author, but she definately has light years more talent than I do...or most of us here, I'm sure. ;) That being said, although I could see things in the books that irked me, I absolutely love the whole Twilight ball of wax - books, movie and all. I look at the story construction from an authors point of view. She needed vampire characters who could interact with the other characters in the daytime. So she had to change up the whole reason vampires traditionally don't go out in the daytime. Therefore, 'sparkling'. It's as good a construct as any, I suppose.

One thing I particularly like about the story (besides their abstinence) is that Edward falls in love with Bella because of her kindness, unselfishness and intelligence, rather than her 'slickness' or looks. Of course, I see the 'formula for success' in the whole theme of an completely ordinary, even clumsy girl (like most girls of the age that the books are aimed towards) winning the heart of a spectacular looking, totally adoring, GOOD 'bad boy'. But, also, in the book when Jessica is talking to Bella about Edward and saying something to the effect that of course she likes him because he is so good looking, Bella sets her straight, too. She tells Jessica that while Edward IS totally handsome, it is the part of him behind the looks, INSIDE, (integrity, devotion, goodness) that is the best part of him.

I liked Bella in the movie better than Bella in the books, for the most part. And if Stephanie Meyer said one more time, about Bella's or anyone's 'mouth dropping open', I think I would have screamed out loud. But then she is not the only author to overuse - REALLY overuse - a phrase. LOL!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Bee Hive (my blog)

I hope this discussion is not dying...

I just had to add that I saw a gif today in a different forum that said "Thanks to Edward Cullen, I have raised my standards." LOL! The wording might be a little bit off, but that was the gist of it. I thought that was funny and pretty apt, too. :)