For those of you who don’t know, Stephenie Meyer’s book—Twilight—was published in 2005. In it, she chronicles the story of a young woman who feels alone in the world, but finally finds her place with a family of vampires. The girl’s vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, is the ideal for millions of teenaged (and some not-so-teenaged) fans. It’s really no wonder why tourism in Forks, Washington has risen so rapidly since Meyer decided that her characters lived in and around the rainy town.
Thankfully, many of the locals have embraced their young adult literary claim to fame. Shops offer Twilight related souvenirs and there are photo opportunities everywhere. Edward Cullen is worshipped as a god here as well.
There were two things about our visit to Forks today that really made me think:
Firstly, I have to say that I am amazed that a book has made such a deep impact on such a small community. There are so many people flocking to this modest town just to take a picture next to a population sign or a rusty Chevy (Side note: They have the actual car from the movie! It was pretty cool! Not that I’m a fan or anything. That would be ridiculous. I’m clearly not a pre-teen. We went to Forks to visit the Timber Museum, but it was closed today). The fact that this previously sleepy logging community has welcomed Twilight fans with open arms is really wonderful.
The second little bit of observation I had was a little bit more selfish. I was feeling a tad homesick today, as I am prone to do. Forks is so very small. I live in Channahon, a town that is about 8 square miles, and it sometimes feels like I see the same 10 people every time I go out. I can’t even imagine living somewhere that is only 1/3 the size. So it made me a little nostalgic.
As a small town, Forks lives up to the stereotypes that Channahon never has. You could tell that the locals really knew each other and that, although they may live somewhere famous, they didn’t act like celebrities. They were just normal people who happened to live in the rainiest place in the U.S.
For Meyer, and I think for many other American authors, small town America is what exemplifies our country for us; we see living in close-knit communities with a Main Street and a small house with a picket fence as the ideal. Forks is one of those communities, but it is hardly quaint or quiet. Instead, tourists flood their parking lots and demand travel mugs with Robert Pattinson’s face on them. If I were a deeper thinker, I might see this as a negative part of our capitalist society.
Good thing I’m pretty shallow, because I certainly couldn’t go without a post card from the Timber Museum.
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