The section is just the specific course #.

We will read stories about the monstrous, the supernatural, and the horrible -- that is, stories that center their plots on some of the main issues that concern students of fiction, for instance, the differences between the real and the unreal, between life-affirming love and unhealthy seduction, and between artistic craftsmanship and mass appeal.

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I think Twilight could be quite instructive about that last distinction.

The last two, actually.

An honors course that's focused on supernatural tales (reading Frankenstein, Dracula, Turning of the Screw)

I think it might be kind of interesting to read Twilight immediately after reading Dracula in a college literature course. I rather hate Twilight, but it's actually ridiculously fun to talk/argue about. My wife and I do it all the time. She's a fan, and also an English teacher who defends it on two fronts - first, as good storytelling, if not good story (which, since I read the first three book in about three days is hard for me to argue - bad writing, but hopelessly addictive) and second as, essentially, bodice-rippers with teen appeal. Only without the actual bodice ripping, which actually, I think, increases the teen girl appeal. She recently convinced me to read Outlander, which I also didn't like much, which I think appeals to her in the same place.

Now, see, I like the Outlander series. There is no comparing that heroine to Bella, or Jamie to Edward. The Outlander couple is mature, competent, self-realized and it way passes the Bedchel test.

Twilight...does not.

Gris, does your wife follow Smart Bitches, Trashy Books? Because a bodice-ripper, if by which she means historical romance, really does not necessarily equal badly written tripe.

Oh god, Outlander is one of my favorite books ever. Claire and Jamie rock. And Diana Gabaldon actually knows how to write.

I'm with Amy on this one.

And also object to the term bodice-ripper as hopelessly outdated.

Love Outlander also, though now that I've read them all repeatedly, last time I tried to re-read I kept expecting things to happen that happen in another book in the series. But I'll buy the next one in hardback (or kindleback!)

I will say I never even finished the fourth book. Once they got to the colonies, she lost me a little. But those first three books still kill me, and I have the first Lord John mystery to read at some point.

So what you're saying is that I should add "Outlander" to my Kindleback?

Outlander was magnificent. Claire's voice is smart and witty and Jamie is just ... guh. It's a weird combination of romance and historical novel and (almost) contemporary fiction (it's first-person narration) and I loved it. So, yeah!