To a parent of a young teenage girl (and other adults involved in her life), the realization that she might start dating, even having sex, is a big spooky part of letting her grow up, and there are all these risks they have to let her take on her own (barring extremes or actually abusive situations, etc). So, the girl gets an image of dating/sex as a big risky new world where her parents can't help her, which of course sounds completely glamorous at that age.
Then, add the ego boost of having someone so completely into you that they will stop at NOTHING MUWAHAHAHA...excuse me : ) I think that sort of obsessive, single-minded attraction is especially appealing to teenagers, who are usually worried about their looks, worried that their crushes won't be interested in them, that they won't be good enough, etc.
I've actually read all of the Twilight books and enjoyed them, although I had the same thoughts as you in terms of the central relationship being really messed up. One little twist on the stalker-boyfriend thing was that she was the one who insisted on sex while he insisted on marriage, and he kind of used sex as a bargaining chip to get her to marry him...it was an interesting dynamic. Anyway, there are many hilarious moments especially in the last book, which is worth reading for the camp value if you don't want to read the two in the middle.
Then, add the ego boost of having someone so completely into you that they will stop at NOTHING MUWAHAHAHA...excuse me : ) I think that sort of obsessive, single-minded attraction is especially appealing to teenagers, who are usually worried about their looks, worried that their crushes won't be interested in them, that they won't be good enough, etc.
I've actually read all of the Twilight books and enjoyed them, although I had the same thoughts as you in terms of the central relationship being really messed up. One little twist on the stalker-boyfriend thing was that she was the one who insisted on sex while he insisted on marriage, and he kind of used sex as a bargaining chip to get her to marry him...it was an interesting dynamic. Anyway, there are many hilarious moments especially in the last book, which is worth reading for the camp value if you don't want to read the two in the middle.
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