Value in frivolous reading?

I'm the last one on Earth I thought would read or listen to Harry Potter or Twilight books. But I couldn't resist it...I listened to the audible version of the last Twlight book...aaaawwww, Happily FOREVER after! Ya, I know, I can't get that 18 hours of my life back.  However there IS redeeming value in these books that kids and adults alike are voraciously consuming is that they emphasize doing good and self-sacrifice for others' sake, loyalty and forgiveness, and even sexual abstinence until such moral time (marriage) has arrived to allow a step over that line. Additionally, a value for human life in spite of it going against the vampire nature, and a love for family.  Our kids are going to be drawn to such things as the Twilight series and Harry Potter, and so along with the positive fact that they're READING SOMETHING, and the Potter series jacks up their vocabulary quite a bit, both series regularly have characters facing anihillation as the cost of doing right, and yet they choose right every time, and bonds of friendship hold over the most trying of circumstances.

Most of us read the Lord of the Rings series (or watch the movies), which has all manner of magic in it, VERY scary evil antagonists, as well as these noble character studies. I don't think it's inconsistent to add the Potter, and (argh) even the Twilight series on the list of "acceptable reading material."  There are issues in each of these books, as are in most books we let our kids read, that would necessitate a discussion, but that doesn't negate the overall good, and perhaps if you kid hasn't caught the reading bug yet they will by reading these books.

(I have a personal rule-I try to at least equalize my serious reading with my "frivolous" reading, though I have to say that Dan Simmon's Hyperion series has given more more theological fodder for thought that any book I've read in YEARS. As long as we don't abandon the Truth we live by when we read fantasy/sci-fi and as long as we keep our brains turned on and constantly working, and have regular conversations with our young teens who may be reading these books, I see no harm in allowing them on the reading list.)

 If you've firmly grounded your youth, there's no danger, in my opinion.  Just keep checking in and promoting discussion.  It's hard to have those discussions if you haven't first read/listened to the books.  And a safe way for your youth to enjoy these books would be to listen to them audibly as a family. www.audible.com is my fave monthly book club for audio books.