Apple Blossom Books LLC

A local family bookshop for every budget.

Breaking Dawn Midnight Revelry

I returned home from the midnight release of Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in what is known as the Twilight series. Author Stephenie Meyer is catching up to "you know who" in name recognition,  with articles in the New York Times, a three page profile in Time magazine this past spring and numerous television interviews. There is a website (twilightmoms.com) started by moms who love Twilight-that has ten thousand members. Girls as young as 11 are fans as well as women in of all ages.  If you haven't heard about this series yet, check it out.  It is a great love story, with forces of good and evil.  The story moves, moves, moves and did I mention it's a love story?

I want to thank Candy Pearson of Apple Blossom Books for making tonight's event possible.  It was elegant and fun. When asked how she got the idea for a bridal shower Pearson said, "It just made sense to me.  The third book ends with Bella's engagement, so what would her friends do but throw a party."  Pearson is a reader first and having read all of the books she knew the bridal shower idea was unique. "As I read through the Independent Booksellers' listserve, no one else mentioned the bridal shower. I think we are the only one in the country."

I wanted to share my experience and make a journalistic attempt at the evening's events. At first I thought I'd just send my piece via e-mail to the local papers.  Then I saw the blogs.  I've never blogged in a forum such as this, and I didn't intend to set up a blog at 12:30 a.m., but here I am.  You can be sure that I won't be giving away any spoilers regarding Breaking Dawn.

I am not alone in being up late tonight.  Tens of thousands of readers across the country have gotten their books and have rushed home to start reading. One young woman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is probably reading by flashlight, tucked in her sleeping bag on the grounds of the EAA- Airventure- the experimental aviation world's annual convention, held this week in Oshkosh, WI.  Eighteen year old Michela Alexander hadn't planned on making the trip to EAA this year. When her mom found out about the bridal shower for Bella (the main character in the series) Michela literally hopped into a plane (her uncle's) and flew to Oshkosh. She and her mom found their way to Appleblossom Books.  Not only was the midnight party a celebration of much anticipated book, it was also Michela's 19th birthday when the clock struck twelve.  She might just break dawn, reading and watching the sun rise over thousands of wings of planes on her birthday.

Michela wasn't the only out-of-state guest at the shower.  Olivia and Victoria Cooley of Geneva, IL were in town visiting their aunt, Priscilla Grittner, who helped them secure the coveted spots as guests at the shower.  They were pretty sure their local big book seller wouldn't have had as perfect of a book party as they attended tonight in Oshkosh. Most of the young women in attendance agreed that while Bella has her own reasons for marrying right out of high school, they intend to go to college first.

It was a festive atmosphere at Apple Blossom Books. A group of about thirty guests had prepaid for their books and were treated to a bridal shower with thematic cupcakes, beautiful flower arrangements and the customary shower games: fill-in-the blank for the expression of love, match the lovers and name their book, make a bridal gown out of tissue paper, brainstorm marriage advice, and bridal bingo. In between guests made their predictions about the book. That is not to say that cell phone clocks were not waved back and forth as the time drew near.

Just minutes before twelve o' clock, the boxes of books were brought out. Digital cameras flashed photos of the cardboard shipping boxes. One box was given away, which caused everyone to want one. Luckily each person got a poster wrapped with a ribbon, decorated with a rose petal and a tiny heart. (There was also chocolate on hand for any extreme emergencies.) Readers hustled out to cars and began reading immediately. It will be the quietest "sleep over" in history for one Neenah family having a "read over" since no one plans to sleep.

It all happened so fast. After weeks of planning, the books were out the door. Readers bonded through the shared experience of the night. Their love of a good story- of Edward, Bella (and Jacob) brought them out tonight. Just as J.K. Rowling has been bringing readers together at midnight for the past few years, Stephenie Meyer has woven her magic. We are wedded  to her characters, their place, their time 'til death do we part.

Article and Photos by Janet Wanamaker

Date: 08/02/2008

It’s all about the book!

We played traditional shower games and some with a twist.

How romantic...the candles, the flowers, the cake!

Let the revelry begin!