In 1915, Robert Frost wrote The Road Not Taken, a poem that – to borrow the concluding line – "has made all the difference" in my life.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Back before my wife and I started our family, I would go mountain biking with a group of friends every Sunday and we would inevitably seek out new trails in the wilderness, be it a barely visible deer run or a path that we created ourselves with a machete and some pruners. And – oh! – the wonders we discovered because of this decision: the remains of old farmhouses hidden deep in the woods, overgrown tunnels from a long abandoned munitions plant, a secluded pond in an ethereal sunlit grove...
It seems that I've always chosen the road less traveled – even when it comes to reading. I subconsciously stray away from books that are hugely popular – especially those that become multimedia spectacles. Part of this may come from my years managing bookstores in the late '80s and early '90s – it's the overkill effect – when you hear about a specific book every day for weeks or months at a time and you see mountains of that book in your bookstore's backroom every day, sometimes the last thing you want to do is read it. Jean Auel's The Plains of Passage (1990) – couldn't read it. Alexandra Ripley's Scarlett (1991) – couldn't read it. Robert James Waller's The Bridges of Madison County (1993) – couldn't read it. I'm not saying these books are somehow deficient, far from it – they were all phenomenally successful bestsellers. It all goes back to the Frost poem: sometimes the joy of discovering an exceptional read comes from just that – discovering it. When looking for a book to read, I want my experience to be an intimate thing - like stumbling across that tranquil pond in the sunlit grove, not having my decision process sullied by national bestsellers lists or multimillion dollar promotional campaigns that pummel you from all sides with slick commercials and flashing neon slogans and mountains of merchandise...
Which leads me to the Twilight saga. Yes, I did read all four novels – and I enjoyed them for what they were: that is, entertaining (albeit derivative) young adult reading fare. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of school-age kids – and most of them know that I'm a book reviewer – and during the time that these Twilight novels were being released (especially Breaking Dawn) I suddenly became really popular with a handful of teenaged girls who were hoping that I could procure copies before the official release dates. (No luck, sorry girls!) I really have a lot of respect for Stephenie Meyer - she has inspired so many teenagers (as well as adults) to read, and in this world of video gaming and texting and short attention spans, getting millions of teens to read four shelf-bending novels is a laudable feat indeed. And hopefully after reading the Twilight saga, many of these young readers will continue their love of paranormal fantasy for years to come...
I didn't LOVE the Twilight novels but I embraced them for what they were – and then the Twilight juggernaut started rolling. The movies, the t-shirts, the posters, the jewelry, the purses, the dolls, the perfume, the pens, the calendar, the notebooks, the lunchboxes, the bedcovers, the board game, the umbrella, there's even Twilight adhesive bandages (in a decorative tin!). Cue the overkill effect!
Will I be going to see New Moon? No.
Am I Team Edward or Team Jacob? I'm Team Frost – and that has made all the difference...
I totally respect your point and most of the time I feel the same way. I am willing to give some super-popular books a chance though, especially if a friend suggests them.
I liked the Twilight series because it yanked me back into my own teenage memories and allowed me to lose myself, but I don't need to run out and get panties that say Team Jacob to prove it!
PS. Where did you say they were selling those bandages? 
Melissa_W
on
You're welcome Paul 
I read (and enjoyed) the series for the length of time it took me to read the books and I went to see the movie adaptations because I have a friend who falls on the Twihard side of life...but once I was done with the books I was like, meh...not much meat here. I do appreciate how Twilight (and Harry Potter) have gotten more and more tweens/teens/adults reading but the overt obsessions and fixation on finding "more books like Twilight" does get to me.
I love that Robert Frost poem and haven't read it in years! Thanks so much for that! '"Again, another wonderful and insightful article. When I first heard of Twilight, it was in relation to the movie. I loved the title, because I love the word, which conjures up such a beautiful scene in my mind. Having no idea there was any books related to it, I never gave it a second thought.
When I subscribed to Romantic Reads and started enjoying the bn book clubs, I discovered Twilight, Edward and Jacob. The topic in one book club was "Who is your favorite vampire?" I believe. Every other line I read was about Edward and then Jacob, although I don't think Jacob is a vampire, but it went on and on and the conflagration almost swamped me. Well, I thought, I'd better check this out! I must have been hibernating or living under a rock somewhere, cause I'd never heard of it.
So, I'm checking it out and I'm all geared up to read it ... and I was stopped cold. You see I don't read Young Adult books. No matter how good they are. I haven't read a Harry Potter, although I've saw a couple of the movies and liked them. I just find it hard to relate to the characters. Their not in my age group and there's not enough meaty content for me to grab ahold of. Because although, their for young adults, it's not the young adult period in the time that I grew up in. Maybe that's it. It's the kids of today's time period and the world their growing up in.
My little cousin and I did discuss this at Thanksgiving, because she's into the Young Adult paranormal books and has saw the first movie. She's also read the first book. Since she's a reader she plans on reading the other books, but before reading the second book, I'm sure she will see New Moon first. She alluded to this. Anyway we discussed the vampire aspect and werewolf parts, which I could relate to.
Another reason I'll never read the Twilight series or the Harry Potter books, is because the characters have now had a face put to them since the movies have been made. I like to put what's in my mind's eye to the characters before any actor/actress inputs their interpretation. Once this is done, I basically doomed never to read the book.
I do give much praise to the author for bringing the joy of reading to the Young Adult audience, because I think it's imperative that children read and learn to enjoy the written word. Using their imagination for something other that video games is a worthwhile activity. Brava Ms. Meyer!
As for all of the products that Twilight has spawned, I have no problem with that. Let the kids enjoy it! I enjoyed mine when they came out. From Barbie to The Jackson Five and so many others. This is their time. I've long since mellowed out from that ... or have I? Hmmm? I've gotta say that if The Black Dagger Brotherhood ever comes out with any merchandise, I'll buy some. Yep, I sure will! I love that series! Somewhere the kid in me still lives!
