by Bellatrix

Created on: November 27, 2011

Almost all Americans know of the Twilight series. They may not have read the books or seen the movies, but most have at least heard of them. As of October 2010, the first novel, Twilight, had sold 116 million copies worldwide in at least 38 different languages. The series also spent 235 weeks on New York Times' Best Seller list for children’s series. The first novel, Twilight, won Best Children’s Book of 2005 and Best Books of 2005. The second novel, New Moon, ranked number one on the New York Times best seller list in 2008. The third novel, Eclipse, ranked number one Best Selling Hardcover Back list Children’s Books of 2008. The fourth novel, Breaking Dawn, won Children’s Book of the Year in 2009, leading Stephenie Meyer to win author of the year. The Twilight series has become one of the most popular love stories in modern culture, and this leads one to wonder why. Why was Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight so popular? Why does every teenage girl now want a perfect Edward Cullen as a boyfriend?

To answer these questions, let us start from the beginning. The Twilight Series was written by the author Stephenie Meyer. When asked where she came up with the idea from Twilight she said it had come to her in a dream in June of 2003. Two years later, the first novel was published and reached number five on New York Best Seller list within a month of its release. New Moon was published a year later in 2006, then Eclipse in 2007, and finally Breaking Dawn in 2008.

I remember reading the Twilight when it first came out, and instantly falling in love with Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Every teenage girl dreams of falling in love with the perfect boy. Romance novels have become the most popular genre in modern literature, and what genre is Twilight? Romance! Girls dream of love and forbidden romance. Romeo and Juliet is the perfect romance novel example. Why is Shakespeare’s novel the most famous love story is history? Sure Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of all time, but if he were to write a story about ants would it have been as popular? Probably not. Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight for an audience of young girls. Young girls want romance.

People still wonder though how it is so popular. Unlike Shakespeare’s beautiful writing and talent, Stephenie Meyer has often been criticized for poor writing. Critics complain that Bella’s character has no depth and is stripped down to a minimum, but that’s really what most of the readers enjoy. They love the fact that Bella is an average girl and isn’t described as very much more than that, because they can easily put themselves in her shoes as they read. They can easily imagine their lips touching Edward’s every time the two’s kissing scenes are described. Even if Stephenie Meyer doesn’t have the talent of Shakespeare or George Orwell, she knew how to write a book for young girls. 

The reason the Twilight series is so popular is statistics. Teenage girls like romance novels, especially when it’s a romance that is forbidden. When Twilight hit the shelves and young girls realized this, they never wanted to stop reading. I was heartbroken when the series ended. I wish that I could forever read above the love that grows between Edward and Bella, as do many of the Twilight readers.

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