hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
Thanks for the info. I think that their love does not need to be explained. Their interactions are bizarre but clearly they are into each other like only crazed teenagers can be, especially ones with super powers 😉
Twilight
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Blondie Bear
Zydrate Addict
I'm a Literature person (have an M.A. in British Lit, planning to pursue my PhD . . . about as literary as you can get), and while I haven't read these books, I've heard enough about them to make me absolutely not want to touch them ever.
1. The stigma against Fantasy literature is already bad enough without adding more mindless drivel--which, from what I've heard, is all this is. This seems to be the sort of book that critics EXPECT from a Fantasy writer (completely overlooking Tolkien or Dunsany or Orson Scott Card, just to name a few, of course) and will use to "prove" that Fantasy is a retarded, mind-rotting genre that has no place in the halls of serious literature.
2. The things I've heard about her "adaptations" of the vampire myths have sent me (and my fellow Fantasy-loving co-workers) into yelling rages. They don't have fangs? And they can go out in the sun? And they SPARKLE? Are you SERIOUS?! Who's going to take any classical vampire seriously after THAT?! Besides which, none of us wants to assign Dracula and have to listen to our students whine about how the vampires are "all wrong" because they're not like Stephanie Myer's (cause these kids won't even have read Anne Rice, which I would MUCH prefer to Stephanie Myer).
3. Her apparent lack of a strong female character (from all I've heard, Bella is ANYTHING but strong) and the misogynistic slant to her writing (again, I've only HEARD) go against everything I believe in.
So, no. I won't be reading the books or watching the movie. In fact, I'll be over here in the hole I dug in the backyard while the Harry Potter thing was going on. And if anyone in my literature class next semester tries to compare Edward to Dracula, I will throw an eraser at him/her.
1. The stigma against Fantasy literature is already bad enough without adding more mindless drivel--which, from what I've heard, is all this is. This seems to be the sort of book that critics EXPECT from a Fantasy writer (completely overlooking Tolkien or Dunsany or Orson Scott Card, just to name a few, of course) and will use to "prove" that Fantasy is a retarded, mind-rotting genre that has no place in the halls of serious literature.
2. The things I've heard about her "adaptations" of the vampire myths have sent me (and my fellow Fantasy-loving co-workers) into yelling rages. They don't have fangs? And they can go out in the sun? And they SPARKLE? Are you SERIOUS?! Who's going to take any classical vampire seriously after THAT?! Besides which, none of us wants to assign Dracula and have to listen to our students whine about how the vampires are "all wrong" because they're not like Stephanie Myer's (cause these kids won't even have read Anne Rice, which I would MUCH prefer to Stephanie Myer).
3. Her apparent lack of a strong female character (from all I've heard, Bella is ANYTHING but strong) and the misogynistic slant to her writing (again, I've only HEARD) go against everything I believe in.
So, no. I won't be reading the books or watching the movie. In fact, I'll be over here in the hole I dug in the backyard while the Harry Potter thing was going on. And if anyone in my literature class next semester tries to compare Edward to Dracula, I will throw an eraser at him/her.
B
Blair Waldorf-Bass
I just found a new best friend! :)
Tueuse de Vampires
Totally agree. I even read the first one to see how it is and it SUCKED. Seriously, as someone who has read a lot of vampire literature (see, some kids still read Anne Rice ;)) I was so overthrown by those wannabe-vamps. I loathe Twilight.
hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
Ha ha, I totally just got to the part where we discover Edward glows when he is in sunlight. That has got to be the dumbest shite I have ever heard. Hilarious.
C
Crazy Flakes
Not glowing....*DAZZLING*.
B
Blondie Bear
Real vampires DON'T SPARKLE.
B
Blair Waldorf-Bass
LOL, I know! It was terrible.
SpikedBuffy
Love Isn't Brains
The series is actually called The Twilight Saga
Yes, Bella is written as a klutz who falls down a lot and sees herself as the ugly duckling. This however does not mean that she is not a strong female character. Strong female character does not mean physically strong. You have to look at the character and what she does in all the books. She wants to protect the Cullen family by honoring the Volturi's wishes.
I feel that if you understand the fact you are reading a book about vampires (and hey, guess what, they're not real!) You can believe anything you want about them. Whether they have fangs, or sparkle in the sun. I'd say the most important thing you should focus on is how this particular family of vampires chooses to live, against the taking of a human life for dietary needs.
In terms of Edward and Bella's relationship, there is a clear part in the story where their relationship turns from infatuation to love. In the chapter "Balancing" from Twilight Bella explains that their relationship is balancing on a point, and their date for hanging out in the meadow is probably going to make them fall of their point and plummet into a relationship. When you read everything that happens in the meadow scene, you can see that they are clearly starting to trust each other more and have begun to love each other.
Yes, Bella is written as a klutz who falls down a lot and sees herself as the ugly duckling. This however does not mean that she is not a strong female character. Strong female character does not mean physically strong. You have to look at the character and what she does in all the books. She wants to protect the Cullen family by honoring the Volturi's wishes.
I feel that if you understand the fact you are reading a book about vampires (and hey, guess what, they're not real!) You can believe anything you want about them. Whether they have fangs, or sparkle in the sun. I'd say the most important thing you should focus on is how this particular family of vampires chooses to live, against the taking of a human life for dietary needs.
In terms of Edward and Bella's relationship, there is a clear part in the story where their relationship turns from infatuation to love. In the chapter "Balancing" from Twilight Bella explains that their relationship is balancing on a point, and their date for hanging out in the meadow is probably going to make them fall of their point and plummet into a relationship. When you read everything that happens in the meadow scene, you can see that they are clearly starting to trust each other more and have begun to love each other.
Crazy Flakes
Velma
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this. I happen to think that Bella is the furthest thing from a strong character, female or otherwise, and it's not because of physical strength. First, she falls in love with Edward for nothing more than his looks, and not once in any of the four books did they give another good reason for her infatuation with him, in spite of the fact that they got married and were supposed to be "true loves." Then, she gives up all of her friends and starts basically ignoring her father most of the time so that she can spend every waking moment with Edward.
And don't even get me started on what happens when he leaves. She seems to enter a catatonic state for multiple months, and eventually throws herself off a cliff because she thinks that getting herself in trouble makes her "hear Edward's voice," only feeling even a little bit better when she finds Jacob because she apparently can't function on her own. Oh, and there's the scene in Breaking Dawn where she has an erotic dream and when she wakes up, she starts sobbing and begging Edward for sex. I'd bring in the whole "giving up on college to get married to Edward and have sparkly vampire sex all the time" thing, but that's not really a sign of a weak character...that was her choice and I'm not gonna argue with it.
Sorry about the rant, I just loathe Bella's character.
hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
Good thing I had read all four books 😉 just joking now I am just really confused considering I am still on the first book....and by the by I would totally give up friends and ignore my father for glowy, or should I say dazzling vampire sex 🙂
Lou
Scooby
I think Bella is a strong female character.
At least in the first book. (Since I haven't finished the others)
She's certainly no wimp. In fact, given that this is the Buffy Boards, I'd say she's got more backbone than Buffy did when she was with Angel...just without the nifty super powers.
I can't honestly say WHAT I liked about the book. But, I can say that I'm an AWFUL, HORRIBLE reader. I read slowly, very slowly, as I'm easily distracted and often have to read things over and over.
Usually, I give up and walk away.
Aethra kinda made me curious though. And I gotta say, I LIKED it. I might have loved it. But, I still am not sure why.
Sure, it's not Great Expectations. But, you also must understand that I'm not much of a "vampire story" liker.
As for her "theories" on vampire mythology. I've CERTAINLY seen worse. I liked her theories better than Moonlight's. In a weird way, I thought they actually make more sense than turning to dust in the sun. I've never quite understood why the sun would make someone turn to dust. I CAN understand why you'd avoid it if it shined a giant light on you that said, "THIS GUY IS A FREAK!"
I also liked the back story more than I probably should have.
I have to admit, it may have interested me more than the Fanged Four. Well, Dru and Spike had a good back story, up to a point.
As for the movie, I'm a little scared.
1.) I'm not sure that a story told in the first person relates well on screen. There is too much about what Bella is thinking that is necessary to the story, that I'm not sure can really be portrayed on screen.
2.) The trailers don't seem to "fit". I can't put my finger on it yet, but they seem "off".
I think I will probably wait for the DVD to see the movie, unless we end up with LOTS of free time.
But, I DID enjoy the book. I CAN say, it had good imagery. I like imagery. It makes things easier for me to read when I don't have to try and picture the place in my head on my own.
As for being drivel, I suppose I like drivel. I can say that most of the movies that win all the awards are NOT things I'd wait in line to see. Or even watch on the weekends on TNT. I usually look for stuff that will whisk me away from real life and not totally fold into itself under it's own weight and Twilight did it.
At least in the first book. (Since I haven't finished the others)
She's certainly no wimp. In fact, given that this is the Buffy Boards, I'd say she's got more backbone than Buffy did when she was with Angel...just without the nifty super powers.
I can't honestly say WHAT I liked about the book. But, I can say that I'm an AWFUL, HORRIBLE reader. I read slowly, very slowly, as I'm easily distracted and often have to read things over and over.
Usually, I give up and walk away.
Aethra kinda made me curious though. And I gotta say, I LIKED it. I might have loved it. But, I still am not sure why.
Sure, it's not Great Expectations. But, you also must understand that I'm not much of a "vampire story" liker.
As for her "theories" on vampire mythology. I've CERTAINLY seen worse. I liked her theories better than Moonlight's. In a weird way, I thought they actually make more sense than turning to dust in the sun. I've never quite understood why the sun would make someone turn to dust. I CAN understand why you'd avoid it if it shined a giant light on you that said, "THIS GUY IS A FREAK!"
I also liked the back story more than I probably should have.
I have to admit, it may have interested me more than the Fanged Four. Well, Dru and Spike had a good back story, up to a point.
As for the movie, I'm a little scared.
1.) I'm not sure that a story told in the first person relates well on screen. There is too much about what Bella is thinking that is necessary to the story, that I'm not sure can really be portrayed on screen.
2.) The trailers don't seem to "fit". I can't put my finger on it yet, but they seem "off".
I think I will probably wait for the DVD to see the movie, unless we end up with LOTS of free time.
But, I DID enjoy the book. I CAN say, it had good imagery. I like imagery. It makes things easier for me to read when I don't have to try and picture the place in my head on my own.
As for being drivel, I suppose I like drivel. I can say that most of the movies that win all the awards are NOT things I'd wait in line to see. Or even watch on the weekends on TNT. I usually look for stuff that will whisk me away from real life and not totally fold into itself under it's own weight and Twilight did it.
SpikedBuffy
Love Isn't Brains
🙂 No, sorry Dlou, vampires aren't real. Should we have the talk about Santa Claus now? 🙂
When it's stated that there's no apparent reason that Bella loves Edward besides his 'good looks' you have to remember what it felt like to be seventeen. Don't you remember only liking that one person because they were just drop dead gorgeous? There wasn't a reason behind it, you probably didn't even know the person, you just liked them?
And with that thought, here's where I segue into "It's a book written for teenagers." Teenagers feel what they feel and are very emotional about it.
Now, for the movie, I have fleeting seconds of being worried, and then I watch the trailer or one of the tv spots and all is forgotten because I"m drooling all over the place. Oh my Edward, I'm so excited for the movie. I already have my tickets for the showing on Friday morning. Hello! 🙂
When it's stated that there's no apparent reason that Bella loves Edward besides his 'good looks' you have to remember what it felt like to be seventeen. Don't you remember only liking that one person because they were just drop dead gorgeous? There wasn't a reason behind it, you probably didn't even know the person, you just liked them?
And with that thought, here's where I segue into "It's a book written for teenagers." Teenagers feel what they feel and are very emotional about it.
Now, for the movie, I have fleeting seconds of being worried, and then I watch the trailer or one of the tv spots and all is forgotten because I"m drooling all over the place. Oh my Edward, I'm so excited for the movie. I already have my tickets for the showing on Friday morning. Hello! 🙂
Lou
Scooby
I kinda felt like she loved him for more than he was pretty.
There was the mysterious part. That's always a draw. She just seemed curious at first. I would be too if I were her. Here she was seemingly the center of all attention when she didn't want to be, but there were these four mysterious and gorgeous people who acted oddly that no one seemed to give a second thought to. And Edward was certainly a weirdo at first. I'd have been curious.
She certainly had reason to be even more drawn in just because of how he acted and the things that happened. In fact, if I were her, I'd have been playing Nancy Drew all over town.
By the time they really started "dating" or at least hanging out more, I thought there seemed to be more than just he was cute. I mean, what are relationships based on anyway? There's the attraction, sure. But, then you have to find the other person interesting. He was certainly interesting and he seemed to find her interesting. That may even be an understatement. You have to have things to talk about and be honest. They seemed to have that.
Granted, I had to worry about things like finances and whether or not the guy I was dating was ever going to make any money and whether or he wanted kids. But, that doesn't seem like the biggest deal for a 17 year old girl. Plus, the money part is already taken care of, it seems. And she likes the in-laws....well, most of them anyway.
I'm just saying, given the circumstances at hand. I think it can be said that there was far more to their relationship than just "Edward's Dreamy".
There was the mysterious part. That's always a draw. She just seemed curious at first. I would be too if I were her. Here she was seemingly the center of all attention when she didn't want to be, but there were these four mysterious and gorgeous people who acted oddly that no one seemed to give a second thought to. And Edward was certainly a weirdo at first. I'd have been curious.
She certainly had reason to be even more drawn in just because of how he acted and the things that happened. In fact, if I were her, I'd have been playing Nancy Drew all over town.
By the time they really started "dating" or at least hanging out more, I thought there seemed to be more than just he was cute. I mean, what are relationships based on anyway? There's the attraction, sure. But, then you have to find the other person interesting. He was certainly interesting and he seemed to find her interesting. That may even be an understatement. You have to have things to talk about and be honest. They seemed to have that.
Granted, I had to worry about things like finances and whether or not the guy I was dating was ever going to make any money and whether or he wanted kids. But, that doesn't seem like the biggest deal for a 17 year old girl. Plus, the money part is already taken care of, it seems. And she likes the in-laws....well, most of them anyway.
I'm just saying, given the circumstances at hand. I think it can be said that there was far more to their relationship than just "Edward's Dreamy".
Crazy Flakes
Velma
Okay, I love Robert Pattinson. No, not just as Edward...I love the guy. First, there was his whole rant about how every page was like, "Edward was so beautiful I creamed myself" (his words, I swear! I'll find the direct quote later.) Now, I saw this interview where he said:
"...when I read [Twilight], it seemed like I was convinced [author] Stephenie was convinced she was Bella and it was like it was a book that wasn't supposed to be published. It was like reading her sexual fantasy, especially when she said it was based on a dream and it was like, 'Oh I've had this dream about this really sexy guy,' and she just writes this book about it. Some things about Edward are so specific, I was just convinced - I was like, 'This woman is MAD! She's completely mad and she's in love with her own fictional creation.'"
The best part? Afterwards, someone went out to prove what Rob said was true and made this little number:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n14/infava/pictures/smeyerbella.jpg
I agree with the relatable thing, but Stephenie Meyer is certainly no Whedon. The books are fun, yes, but, as Blondie said before, they're also mindless drivel. Buffy is intelligent and layered. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, when it comes to writing, Twilight is to Buffy as Glitter (sparkly pun absolutely intended) is to Citizen Kane.
Sorry I'm ranting so much about this, guys...it's just that everyone in my school is constantly obsessing about Twilight and saying they're genuinely great pieces of literature, and I'm SO sick of it. Unfortunately, I'm only brave enough to complain about it on the interwebs.
"...when I read [Twilight], it seemed like I was convinced [author] Stephenie was convinced she was Bella and it was like it was a book that wasn't supposed to be published. It was like reading her sexual fantasy, especially when she said it was based on a dream and it was like, 'Oh I've had this dream about this really sexy guy,' and she just writes this book about it. Some things about Edward are so specific, I was just convinced - I was like, 'This woman is MAD! She's completely mad and she's in love with her own fictional creation.'"
The best part? Afterwards, someone went out to prove what Rob said was true and made this little number:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n14/infava/pictures/smeyerbella.jpg
I agree with the relatable thing, but Stephenie Meyer is certainly no Whedon. The books are fun, yes, but, as Blondie said before, they're also mindless drivel. Buffy is intelligent and layered. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, when it comes to writing, Twilight is to Buffy as Glitter (sparkly pun absolutely intended) is to Citizen Kane.
Sorry I'm ranting so much about this, guys...it's just that everyone in my school is constantly obsessing about Twilight and saying they're genuinely great pieces of literature, and I'm SO sick of it. Unfortunately, I'm only brave enough to complain about it on the interwebs.
B
Blondie Bear
*HUGS* You can complain to me ALL DAY. :)
B
Blair Waldorf-Bass
LOL, I think I'm going to save this. :)
hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
I cannot deny that the book is mindless drivel but at the same time I am finding myself more and more intrigued by Edwards character. I think I am falling in love with him 😉
definition of insane
Hostile 17
I'll admit...I chose to stay away from Twilight for a very long time. Until the temp agency threw a receptionist job my way that meant I could spend hours reading a book and answering the phone. I've got Breaking Dawn to go and then I will probably at some point see the movie, but it's not exactly a must do on my list.
Yeah, as a story it's kinda annoying, it panders to teens and has this very strange following that defies logic, reason and history (from a mythological sense), but then I've also read books where the Greek Gods are controlling "Dark Hunters" and and slayers are werewolves. But I admit I love it a little. It's that mix of trash and fantasy that is absolute escapism. It's all in the name of entertainment these days. It'll work of it's hype alone and be a massive success whether it ought to be or not.
Yeah, as a story it's kinda annoying, it panders to teens and has this very strange following that defies logic, reason and history (from a mythological sense), but then I've also read books where the Greek Gods are controlling "Dark Hunters" and and slayers are werewolves. But I admit I love it a little. It's that mix of trash and fantasy that is absolute escapism. It's all in the name of entertainment these days. It'll work of it's hype alone and be a massive success whether it ought to be or not.
yellowcrayon
Scooby
Well, I found a copy of Twilight in a bookstore a couple weeks ago, while waiting for DH to finish an interview. I actually opened it and started reading it. I got to the point where she got to Washington, or wherever and was just appalled by the horrid writing I had been presented with. Also, the intense annoyance and potential hatred I had for little miss Bella.
So I looked it up on wikipedia and read plot summaries for each book. I thereupon immediately swore never to touch those books again (lest I be defiled 😉). And I'm not someone who's a literature snob. Okay, well, I am. But behind closed doors I read Eragon, which reminds me to someday sneak in Brisingr behind DH's back. 😉
But still, I was not exactly... impressed with what I saw. Read, whatever. I also watched the trailers for the movie and wanted to shrivel up and disappear. The lines were just... awful, imho. "I know what you are..." *shudder*
So, while I cringe every time someone mentions Twilight and try hard not to enter homicidal rages when the face of Edward Cullen stares back at me, trying to dazzle me, as I stare at him from the red light where I'm stopped... I fully understand that y'all can genuinely like and appreciate it and it doesn't mean you're evil people. It only means the Stephenie Meyer is an evil person who has somehow ensnared you with her bewitched books. 😉 J/K on that last bit, jsyk.
So please, enjoy your book. It is just simply not my thing. I shall return to my feud with Edward Cullen and try not to imagine Cedric Diggory coming up to poor Harry and saying "Do I dazzle you, Harry?"... 😉
Well, the thread asked for my opinion, and I gave it. 😀 Anyway, please go ahead and enjoy your books and be happy about it! I know my tastes aren't the same as everyone's (ie, I willingly and gladly sit through every single minute of A&E's 6 hour Pride and Prejudice segment).
So I looked it up on wikipedia and read plot summaries for each book. I thereupon immediately swore never to touch those books again (lest I be defiled 😉). And I'm not someone who's a literature snob. Okay, well, I am. But behind closed doors I read Eragon, which reminds me to someday sneak in Brisingr behind DH's back. 😉
But still, I was not exactly... impressed with what I saw. Read, whatever. I also watched the trailers for the movie and wanted to shrivel up and disappear. The lines were just... awful, imho. "I know what you are..." *shudder*
So, while I cringe every time someone mentions Twilight and try hard not to enter homicidal rages when the face of Edward Cullen stares back at me, trying to dazzle me, as I stare at him from the red light where I'm stopped... I fully understand that y'all can genuinely like and appreciate it and it doesn't mean you're evil people. It only means the Stephenie Meyer is an evil person who has somehow ensnared you with her bewitched books. 😉 J/K on that last bit, jsyk.
So please, enjoy your book. It is just simply not my thing. I shall return to my feud with Edward Cullen and try not to imagine Cedric Diggory coming up to poor Harry and saying "Do I dazzle you, Harry?"... 😉
Well, the thread asked for my opinion, and I gave it. 😀 Anyway, please go ahead and enjoy your books and be happy about it! I know my tastes aren't the same as everyone's (ie, I willingly and gladly sit through every single minute of A&E's 6 hour Pride and Prejudice segment).
Sweetescape
Eragon! if you liked that try "the age of five" Trudi Canavan there AMAZING!
Randy Giles
Two sides to every soul.
I don't understand why every female lead character *has* to be such a strong person. Not every girl is a strong person, just like not every guy is.
Even though Bella sometimes annoys me in the books, especially how she goes into hysterics whenever she's away from Edward for any extended period of time, I like her because she's heavily flawed, and she acknowledges all of her weaknesses, but she's still a good person and I think I'd like her if she was a real person. I think it's somewhat refreshing to have a character who could just be any random person. Not that Bella doesn't have her strengths, and it's not like she doesn't put up a fight when she wants something.
Even though Bella sometimes annoys me in the books, especially how she goes into hysterics whenever she's away from Edward for any extended period of time, I like her because she's heavily flawed, and she acknowledges all of her weaknesses, but she's still a good person and I think I'd like her if she was a real person. I think it's somewhat refreshing to have a character who could just be any random person. Not that Bella doesn't have her strengths, and it's not like she doesn't put up a fight when she wants something.
I think the necessity for a strong female character is the extreme lack of one in popular entertainment today. The main readership of this novel are young teenage girls, it is written specifically for them. They need strong female role models, these kids don't have a Buffy to look up to they have Paris Hilton, Gossip Girl and those vapid whores of Laguna Beach and the Hills who, and I quote, 'love not caring'. All these women display a life that isn't real, one of endless money, fashion, clubs and drama and no reprecussions for their actions apart from a bitchfest. That's what kids are seeing and emulating. Twilight has mass appeal and with that comes power. The girls reading these bookd need Bella to be a strong female character.
SpikedBuffy
Love Isn't Brains
I remember reading all those things about Rob and how he didn't really care for the books all that much. He was labeled a "Dark Sider" (those of use who love Twilight saga, but have lost faith in Stephenie Meyer after reading Breaking Dawn).
It's okay though, cuz he still rocks it as Edward. It's his job.
It's okay though, cuz he still rocks it as Edward. It's his job.
hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
Okay so I totally just finished reading Twilight and I am utterably and completely enthralled. Oh how fickle I can be. I love love love Edward. Um, say what you will but I love him. I cannot wait to start reading New Moon. I am picking it up today so that I dont have to wait much longer. Jeez, waiting for my lunch is like watching paint dry. I know that some have had negative things to say about the book but when I finally got to the baseball game I was totally involved. I loved the way the suspense was written and needless to say I am hooked. Oh man, this is so gonna be Harry Potter all over again for me.
SpikedBuffy
Love Isn't Brains
hannahfngrl26
Captain Forehead
I just cannot wait for the movie. I keep watching the trailer over and over. I am being ridiculous right now. I am so engaged my man is reading the books so he can have some idea what I am talking about. Oh my god, can it please be Friday already. I just hope I am not disapointed.
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