I am listening to the Audiobook, [I]Twilight[/I], by Stephenie Meyer. I am excited to see the movie! I’m not a fanatic… I mean I don’t have pics of me holding an apple nor do I have a fascination with all things vampire… but I really got addicted to this book. I need to finish it before the movie comes out next month.
Any Twilight Readers?
:waving: Me! Not my usual read either. The middle school students at my school are reading it and got me hooked. I hope the movie does not steal the innocence of the relationship. It is very well written.
I -was- a Twilight FANATIC. But I am now just a fan. I’m only kind of excited for the movie, I don’t like some of the changes they have done, but in a short clip I watched, the characters were dead on and I was so happy about that.
The book is like crack. I remember reading it and thinking “this is an alright book, it doesn’t seem like anything special…but I. NEED. MORE!” :teehee:
My favourite of the series is the third book, Eclipse, but they are all pretty great.
I’ve only read the first book and I loved it. I’m not what you would call a fanatic, but I am going to see the movie! 
“Eclipse” was my favorite, too. Our “young teachers” have also read the books and we are going to start “lunch bunch” book club for middle school to discuss them and compare to the movie.
CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS
I never heard of this series until I moved to Utah, where it’s touted as the be-all-end-all of books because the author is Mormon.
I have a fascination for vampires and vampire stories so I decided to read the books. I wasn’t very impressed.
Unfortunately, the most interesting characters were NOT Bella and Edward, but the characters of Jacob (and the rest of the Native American group) Charlie, Jasper and Alice.
The storyline itself was mediocre. In other vampire stories I’ve read, the vampires with a conscience sometimes try to exist on animal blood, but never make it for one reason or another…reasons that are fully developed and explained. It surprised me that nobody (like, say, Bella) ever really asked if there were any consequences to denying the craving for human blood and trying to satisfy it with animal blood. I expected a gratuitous explanation, at least.
Also, I know the Cullen family was attempting to keep up appearances, but don’t vampires have better things to do than continuously attend high school?
Along with the Cullens keeping up appearances, Edward’s explanation of why his family has to leave is because Carlisle can’t continue looking like a late 20-something when, according to the townspeople, he should be approaching 40 soon. Yet, that excuse is thrown out the window when, in an attempt to have a “happily ever after” ending, the family moves back to town and Carlisle resumes his post as a doctor at the local hospital. What, the townspeople suddenly won’t question Carlisle’s age because Bella and Edward finally surmounted all the obstacles keeping them apart?
I also have a problem with Edward. He’s way too controlling of Bella. He also continuously keeps secrets from her “for her own good.” Considering this is a series geared towards a teenage audience, I’m not certain this is a very good example of a relationship to be promoting towards teenage girls. Personally, I felt Bella and Jacob had a healthier relationship, because Jacob INCLUDED Bella in any plans or decisions that had to do with her.
From a literary standpoint, it felt like Jacob and Bella had a stronger and more real relationship; they just interacted more naturally through their dialogue and their described action. Bella and Edward felt forced together. It was really an oversight on Meyer’s part not to recognize this, but as a writer myself, I suppose I can understand the overwhelming need to follow an idea (ie. that you WANT two characters to be together) rather than let the characters speak for themselves. And yes, I understand that she “explained” Bella and Jacob’s “connection” in the last book but that was just…well, I found it stupid and contrived.
Finally, I was VERY disturbed by Bella’s attitude towards sex. First of all, it’s perfectly ok to promote waiting until marriage to have sex. However, when Bella finally agrees to marry Edward (at age 18, no less) considering her feelings about marriage (her feelings being that she wishes to avoid it altogether) it feels like she’s agreeing just so she can finally get bitten and laid. Again, how is this a healthy relationship?
And then, when Bella finally DOES get Edward to make love to her on their honeymoon, there is a lengthy scene in which Bella gets ready for the big night. In it she’s going through several pieces of lingerie that were packed for her by Alice and gets embarrassed at the sight of them. She also starts to have a panic attack at the thought of the night to come (pages 82-83 of [U]Breaking Dawn[/U]):
[I]“My breathing started to accelerate again and my hands trembled–so much for the calming effects of the shower. I started to feel a little dizzy, apparently a full-scale panic attack on the way.”[/I]
A little while later, after they HAVE had sex, but Edward is reluctant to do so again because his strength left her with bruises, she goes on to describe this (page 101 of [U]Breaking Dawn)[/U]:
[I]"I’d taken to to wearing some of Alice’s lingerie collection to sleep in at night–which weren’t so revealing compared to the scanty bikinis she’d packed for me when it came right down to it. I wondered if she’d seen a vision of why I would want such things, and then shuddered, embarrassed by that thought.
I’d started out slow with innocent ivory satins, worried that revealing more of my skin would be the opposite of helpful, but ready to try anything. Edward seemed to notice nothing, as if I were wearing the same ratty old sweats I wore at home.
The bruises were much better now–yellowing in some places and disappearing altogether in others–so tonight I pulled out one of the scarier pieces as I got ready in the paneled bathroom. It was black, lacy, and embarrassing to look at even when it wasn’t on. I was careful not to look in the mirror before I went back to the bedroom. I didn’t want to lose my nerve."[/I]
If you have to be embarrassed by sex or the trappings of sex (ie., lingerie) with the man you love, you’re probably not mature enough to be having sex AT ALL. Again, considering that this series is geared towards a teenage audience, and mostly towards teenage girls, I think this attitude is deplorable. It’s basically saying to these girls to yes, wait for marriage (which I DO think is a good message) but is also saying that even if they do wait for marriage, sex is still dirty.
All in all, this book was relatively well-written. Not prize-winning writing, but well enough to keep the story moving and to keep the reader’s attention. Unfortunately, it felt like all the wrong aspects of the story were emphasized, while the interesting parts (like the werewolf situation) were de-emphasized. Personally, I just don’t get how this book made it so far.
Oh yeah, and the guy they got to play Edward in the movie reminds me of Johnny Bravo with his hair. :teehee:
(And just in case you’re wondering, I have a degree in English Literature and applied various literary criticisms to critiquing this book.)
very small possible spoilers
haha, ok you said a MOUTHFUL. Alot of which I agreed with, one main reason I am no longer a FANATIC of the series is the way everything ended in the last book. It was just too neat and perfect, and very uninteresting. However i greatly enjoyed the first 7 chapters of the final book. I felt they were perfect, and matched well with the other books. It flowed.
I kind of disagree with your stance on sex. We are taught nothing but COVER UP, SEX IS DIRTY, PROTECT YOUR VIRTUE OMG! I am 24 and married and still become fairly embarrased about certain things regarding sex…lingerie being one of them. We have it ingrained to NOT be sexy and showy and stuff that when it comes down to it, it can be hard to shake some of those old habits.
Especially if you consider Bella and Edward’s relationship was SO restricted before the wedding. She was always wrapped in a blanket just for making out… it never went beyond kissing. Suddenly she’s able to go farther… go all the way and while she feels ready and wants too… it’s nerve racking and can be embarrasing… especially when you feel so inadequate and have no idea what you are doing.
I was fairly annoyed however that she could go into great lengths to describe battles, and fights and negative things, but yet she doesn’t describe one second of positive parts of their congugal relationship. Yes it’s a teen book, I don’t expect a play by play… but give us something, it can be so tame, but so positive. Just wish she hadn’t skipped it completely.
I am decidely a Team Edward supporter, but I can’t for the life of me explain why. If this were real he would be the most awful boyfriend and I wouldn’t want my child going anywhere near a guy so controlling and tempermental. But somehow she managed to make it clear, (at least to me) that Bella and Edward NEEDED to be together, even though Jacob was the clear, realistic choice.
I am so disappointed in how she chose to end the series, She had already written the major parts of the final book, and the publishers didn’t want them getting married in highschool so she had to add in 2 more books. She ended up creating entirely different relationships and connections in those two books, and barely acknowledged those in the final book. She was so determined to have it end in the way she already wrote, that she failed to see how it just didn’t work anymore. But she plowed ahead anyways, gave loose connections and wrap ups to take care of any details that developed in previous books, that weren’t intended to be part of the last… and everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow. I hated it.
*sigh
I was pointing out that I think the attitude of sex in this book perpetuates the “SEX IS DIRTY” stance, and I don’t think that’s a good message to send to teenage girls, especially since the sex in this book IS between two married people.
Especially if you consider Bella and Edward’s relationship was SO restricted before the wedding. She was always wrapped in a blanket just for making out… it never went beyond kissing. Suddenly she’s able to go farther… go all the way and while she feels ready and wants too… it’s nerve racking and can be embarrasing… especially when you feel so inadequate and have no idea what you are doing.
I can see how the impending experience of sex for the first time can shake someone up, but it seems to me that if Edward wasn’t such a controlling and self-absorbed a**hole, he could have helped her through it a little more.
And I’m sorry, I just can’t fathom being able to be that close with another person, in the most intimate way possible, yet being embarrassed to show a little T&A through some lacy fabric to THAT SAME PERSON. And no, I didn’t have some radical upbringing, I was raised Catholic and my parents avoided having to discuss with me anything to do with sex.
I am so disappointed in how she chose to end the series, She had already written the major parts of the final book, and the publishers didn’t want them getting married in highschool so she had to add in 2 more books. She ended up creating entirely different relationships and connections in those two books, and barely acknowledged those in the final book. She was so determined to have it end in the way she already wrote, that she failed to see how it just didn’t work anymore. But she plowed ahead anyways, gave loose connections and wrap ups to take care of any details that developed in previous books, that weren’t intended to be part of the last… and everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow. I hated it.
You know, honestly, it felt like the end of the first book was supposed to be the end of it, period. The ending was so ambiguous that it felt like we were supposed to assume he bit her. My husband read the first book (but couldn’t stomach the thought of reading the rest because he HATED it) and we both agree it seemed like she (or the publishers) realized the first book was a bit of a success and so wanted to draw it out.
Oh gosh I can’t even finish the darn book, it is so bad IMO.
Beside all the stuff folks have already mentioned about the message it sends, it glamorizes controlling, potentially abusive behavior, it also glamorizes the “boyfriend-is-the-center-of-my-world” attitude.
Not to mention it is very poorly written.
One of my friends was tryng to defend the atrocious writing by reminding me it was written for kids.
Well, Harry Potter was written for kids too and she didn’t dumb it down.
Ugh, Ugh, Ugh.
While I certainly agree that it is not a model piece of literature… it is fun, fluff. I read alot of Chick-Lit just for the fluff; the ‘I don’t have to think about it’ kind of read. It is entertaining and that’s why I like it. If you are really only about serious pieces of literature, this series is not for you. I guess I’m a fluff girl alot of the time. When I read a literary classic, it’s for an entirely different reason. Did that make sense?
I DID love the Harry Potter series just as much as my son. We read all of the books together!
I definitely agree. It’s easy reading that is surprisingly addictive. It pulls you in, so maybe fluff with a hint of substance.
I tend to read across the spectrum. Presently I am reading two books. Jane Eyre, one of my old favourites, for nights when I have time for a couple lengthy chapters, and a Fear Street book for nights when I only have time or brain power for short, fluffy chapters.
I’m not sure if I want to pull out Twilight before the movie comes out. I think the less fresh the book is in my mind when I see the movie, the better it will be… Tho I have read it at least 5 times since August 07, so I practically have it memorized. :teehee: