Catching up with 'Twilight'

Breakingdawncover At Salon, Laura Miller parses the popularity of the "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. She's frustrated by the protagonist's quiet passivity, finding her no match for another vampire-smitten heroine — "Bella Swan is no Buffy Summers." And she notes that the romance, especially the aspects she considers "anti-feminist," are part of the books' appeal:

The traditional feminine fantasy of being delivered from obscurity by a dazzling, powerful man, of needing to do no more to prove or find yourself than win his devotion, of being guarded from all life's vicissitudes by his boundless strength and wealth — all this turns out to be a difficult dream to leave behind.

Not to be anti-feminist, but I wouldn't mind a little boundless strength and wealth guarding me from life's vicissitudes.

Anyway, the girls were out in force for "Twilight" at Comic-Con. Our blog Hero Complex got the whole story, including a video interview with Robert Pattinson, who plays the vampire Edward Cullen in the upcoming film.

The fourth book in Meyer's series, "Breaking Dawn," goes on sale tomorrow. Many bookstores are staying open late tonight for special buy-it-at-midnight sales. Parties are planned at Vroman's in Pasadena (wear your prom dress) and the Barnes & Noble at the Americana in Glendale, where the raffles and face-painting begin at 8 p.m.

Carolyn Kellogg