I finished the Twilight Books!!!

I have finally finished the Twilight Book Series!

I originally read them to see if I would allow my 12 year old daughter to read them. I know they seem to be all of the hype in the pre-teen/teen crowd but they weren't really ever meant to be a teen novel. The author meant them to be adult fiction. However there are lots of adult books I feel can be appropriate for teens/pre-teens. So... I started reading...

It is my opinion that these are truly adult novels. They are a serious love story and for the most part it is all very sweet and innocent but still it is a love story. Have you seen the Spiderman movie? There is a love scene in the movie and it is a bit tense - however the whole movie isn't about that. It is one scene - or maybe a few scenes. But this book is ALL love story. It isn't a really great story with a bit of love thrown in.

I read all 4 of the books and felt that the adult content grew with each book, especially the third and fourth book. I have heard people say that the 4th book contains the more "older" material but I honestly am not sure that the 3rd book isn't the same. Because of this content I just couldn't let Meaghan read them. (Although after telling her this, she said she didn't want to read them anyway as she had two other series she was in the middle of! LOL Funny how these things work out the way they do!)

I however really enjoyed these books. The author has a way of really bringing you into the story. You feel like you know the characters very well at the end of the series. I couldn't seem to put book 3 down!

Being a parent has been difficult with respect to knowing what movies, books, magazine, etc. that you will or won't let your children listen, read, etc. to. I guess I never really thought about that much when I was pregnant or they were toddling around. It is all too real now. I feel like I have to scrutinize everything. You cannot turn on a radio station or the TV and not hear the word B*st*rd, B*tch, or the like. I am amazed at what can be talked about on radio and TV shows.

I don't claim to be perfect and I certainly know my children get exposed to lots of things on their own very well however I don't have to hand it to them, pop it in the video player, turn it on, etc. Do I think it is a bad thing if your children read these books? No way. Just like I don't think it is bad if you let your children read any other book or watch any other movie my kids haven't been allowed to read/see. Each child is so different and so is each family. I really feel that that HAS to be geared on a more individual basis. What I might think is adult content for my family may totally not be the same for you.

It is like PG-13 movies. I know some parents that won't let their under 13 children watch any of the PG-13 movies. I have chosen to allow my children to watch several of them. Do I feel judged by these parents? No. We each have to do what we feel is best for our children. My opinion is just that - an opinion. One thing I think we need to do as parents is stop criticising other parents and their parenting methods. If it works for them and their children are healthy and happy - so be it. God didn't make us the same and he definately didn't make our kids the same.

Ok... enought ranting. I guess just want everyone to get along. It is in my nature. I love learning from others who have different view points from me. I have grown in so many ways from them. I never want people to stop sharing what they believe, just because it is different than me. I am who I am because of this.

So, now what shall I read next? I wanted to read the Inkheart series next but not sure... maybe something else is calling my name. Whatever it is - I better think quick as I have a lot more books to read to get to my 50 for the year!