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Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Series Is there anyone out there that has read these books?
Because of my job I try to keep up with the poplular kid lit of the day. I read the first Harry Potter and I didn't get it. I liked Lemony Snicket. So now the new thing is Twilight.... I thought I might like it. Vampires,werewolves, high school girls.... I read the first book and I'm about 50 pages from the end of the last one, I skipped the middle volumes. All I can say about this is I want Meyer's head! Bella Swan is the weakest female role model I've ever been exposed too. Edward is a stero typical controlling, borderline abusive boyfriend/husband. Is this really what girls are finding entertaining these days? The first time I hear mention of this crap in my classroom, we are having a Buffy Marathon! In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Oh come on...I know at least some of you people have seen the trailer for the movie at least!!!
I hope they at least give Bella a brain in that, doubt she'll have a spine though! In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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i just started re-reading 'the stand' so i won't be reading any new books until at least next june.  | |
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Anxiety said: i just started re-reading 'the stand' so i won't be reading any new books until at least next june.
I should read that again! I really liked that book and it's been like 10 years.In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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I like the Twilight books,
I don't understand why you think Bella is weak. She is fairly independant throughout the series, her main weakness is being accident prone. If anything she is headstrong and pushes for what she wants. She is the one who wants to become a vampire with Edward, against his wishes. She tries to save her mother from James the hunter. She is the one who goes to save Edward from death at the hands of the Volturi. She is only 17 at the atart of the stories and has to gradually learn of the vampire world She is torn between her loyalties and her loves- good stuff. I have to admit that I love vampires, my daughter and her friends do too. I'm not sure about the movie, the book is almost always better. My girl would walk out of a class if the teacher wanted to show Buffy.  [Edited 8/11/08 20:10pm] "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"-Dr Seuss
Pain is something to carry, like a radio...You should stand up for your right to feel your pain- Jim Morrison | |
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Sweeny79 said: Anxiety said: i just started re-reading 'the stand' so i won't be reading any new books until at least next june.
I should read that again! I really liked that book and it's been like 10 years.i read it in grade school and i wanted to read it again now that so many years have passed, not to mention there have been a lot of chapters restored to the book over the years that weren't in the original printings. | |
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they're written poorly/blandly. bella is NOT a good role model for the target market of this book- her singular drive through the books is to love edward more than anything else. what teenage girl needs to hear that perfect disney love is what she should strive for at that age.  i am looking forward to the movie though, just because of the actor who's gonna play edward.  | |
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evenstar3 said: they're written poorly/blandly. bella is NOT a good role model for the target market of this book- her singular drive through the books is to love edward more than anything else. what teenage girl needs to hear that perfect disney love is what she should strive for at that age.
i am looking forward to the movie though, just because of the actor who's gonna play edward. Most girls understand that it's just fantasy. Actually a lot of the girls like Jacob Black more than Edward. The female vampires are good strong characters. Especially Alice. I think seeing the actor that plays the part of James is worth the price of admission.  "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"-Dr Seuss
Pain is something to carry, like a radio...You should stand up for your right to feel your pain- Jim Morrison | |
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I tried. I got about halfway through the first one. It was a bit of a slog. I put it down just as it was getting interesting. But it wasn't interesting enough for me to want to finish it or commit to 2 or 3 other books.
It was all just a bland Buffy rip-off as far as I could tell. And I really didn't like the protagonist. | |
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Anxiety said: i just started re-reading 'the stand' so i won't be reading any new books until at least next june.
I've been picking this up and putting it down for about 2 years now. I want to re-read it. I just can't make myself commit to it. I read it about 15 years ago and loved it. But I just can't make myself. and nevermind about what i had here. i saw your answer to my question in a later post. [Edited 8/11/08 20:52pm] | |
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shellyevon said: evenstar3 said: they're written poorly/blandly. bella is NOT a good role model for the target market of this book- her singular drive through the books is to love edward more than anything else. what teenage girl needs to hear that perfect disney love is what she should strive for at that age.
i am looking forward to the movie though, just because of the actor who's gonna play edward. Most girls understand that it's just fantasy. Actually a lot of the girls like Jacob Black more than Edward. The female vampires are good strong characters. Especially Alice. I think seeing the actor that plays the part of James is worth the price of admission. and what about leah- there's another example, besides bella, of a girl who is utterly destroyed without getting to have the person she's in love with.  it's not about who girls like, it's just the message that bella as a 'heroine' sends out could have been a lot better, imo. it's somewhat redeemed in the last book, but not at all fully. | |
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Hmmm... I'm glad that there are various opinions on Twilight. I've been debating whether I should run out and get the series or not. My cousin's 15 year-old daughter is obsessed with them. My cousing just finished up Twilight and liked it as well. I like vampire novels and really liked Tara Vanflower's 2 so far. Perhaps I'll wait for the movie and make my choice then. Currently I'm finishing up The Chronicles of Narnia. I'm on book 6. hehe "When words fail, music speaks..." --- Shakespeare | |
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They suck.
I read the first one...I STRUGGLED with the second one, skipping the middle and reading the end, and I kept the third on in my locker for 5 months before giving up and returning it to the person who lent them to me. They're really contrives, cliched, and predictable. The story is a big  and none of the characters are appealing.
I just wanna bitch slap that mopey main character girl. Who ever said she was weak was right. Plus, she's borderline mary sue ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue ), as are MOST of the characters . And I don't see whats appealing about Edward AT ALL. I'm all about characters, you can make the crappiest, pointless story in the world but if the charactesrs are good, believable, likable (Or hateable if thats what you aiming for) I'm all over it. but...no...just no. I don't know why these books are so successful. And I'm a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. The exact target audience and those books make me puke. And Edwards gonna have blue balls soon if the main character girl keeps getting rubby with him and not doing him.
[Edited 8/11/08 21:27pm] [Edited 8/11/08 21:28pm] | |
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I've been wondering when the "Twilight" series would hit the .org. I enjoy reading them, but wish a better author had written them. I'm not even debating role models or any of that. I enjoy reading them. I'm not getting deep about them.  I'm firmly planted in denial |
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ToraToraDreams said: They suck.
I read the first one...I STRUGGLED with the second one, skipping the middle and reading the end, and I kept the third on in my locker for 5 months before giving up and returning it to the person who lent them to me. They're really contrives, cliched, and predictable. The story is a big and none of the characters are appealing.
I just wanna bitch slap that mopey main character girl. Who ever said she was weak was right. Plus, she's borderline mary sue ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue ), as are MOST of the characters . And I don't see whats appealing about Edward AT ALL. I'm all about characters, you can make the crappiest, pointless story in the world but if the charactesrs are good, believable, likable (Or hateable if thats what you aiming for) I'm all over it. but...no...just no. I don't know why these books are so successful. And I'm a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. The exact target audience and those books make me puke. And Edwards gonna have blue balls soon if the main character girl keeps getting rubby with him and not doing him.
[Edited 8/11/08 21:27pm] [Edited 8/11/08 21:28pm]  the characters tend to be flat as hell. and i so feel you on the mary sue thing | |
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Anxiety said: Sweeny79 said: I should read that again! I really liked that book and it's been like 10 years.i read it in grade school and i wanted to read it again now that so many years have passed, not to mention there have been a lot of chapters restored to the book over the years that weren't in the original printings. I also have to re-read that with the new restored chapters. MyeternalgrattitudetoPhil&Val.Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" Val"sporking is spooning with benefits" | |
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ok, i will try not to threadjack now... 
i've been following this book series in the media ever since it started becoming hot hot hot this year. i've noticed them in bookstores for a couple of years now, but didn't pay them much mind. i just get the idea that people are clamoring for a new harry potter franchise, and everyone's figuring this might as well be it. i think i'm gonna hold off for a while. i love vampire books when they're done well, but i'm just not feeling all the hype. maybe i'll check out the first movie when it hits dvd, and if it tickles my imagination i'll pick up one of the books. i just think the author and her publisher hit at the right time and place for a new young adult fantasy franchise, whereas the harry potter books took off based on the quality of the content. i could be wrong! | |
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I had a lot of problems with it especially being that these books are geared toward young readers. I read 3 of the 4 because someone told me they were so great. IMO she was wrong. The first one was okay but I struggled through the second one and forced myself through the third just out of curiosity.
Bella is the most annoying protagonist I’ve come across in years. I actually wished her death several times. I don’t understand Edwards attraction to her whatsoever. I’m not bothering with the latest book. The trailer for Twilight looks like they captured the look but I’m not interested in a film adaptation either. Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
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shellyevon said: I like the Twilight books,
I don't understand why you think Bella is weak. She is fairly independant throughout the series, her main weakness is being accident prone. If anything she is headstrong and pushes for what she wants. She is the one who wants to become a vampire with Edward, against his wishes. She tries to save her mother from James the hunter. She is the one who goes to save Edward from death at the hands of the Volturi. She is only 17 at the atart of the stories and has to gradually learn of the vampire world She is torn between her loyalties and her loves- good stuff. I have to admit that I love vampires, my daughter and her friends do too. I'm not sure about the movie, the book is almost always better. My girl would walk out of a class if the teacher wanted to show Buffy.
[Edited 8/11/08 20:10pm] Why? 
Buffy was a strong role model forgirls...she cared about what her responsibilities were, her family, her life.... All Bella cares about is Edward... I get the writing style... Bella is drawn so blankly that any girl could easily insert herself into Bella's place and experience the romance with this supposedly mystical creature....but that's what pisses me off about these books...why does a girl need that? Why are we training our girls to need that? Remember Buffy even staked Angel and sent him to Hell before she let him fuck with her and her's. Bella is ready to throw her parents away like trash. Jacob is the only even marginally forgiving person in the series...but he turns into a tool once he is "imprinted". Gag... I hate that this passes as entertainment let alone literature. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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evenstar3 said: they're written poorly/blandly. bella is NOT a good role model for the target market of this book- her singular drive through the books is to love edward more than anything else. what teenage girl needs to hear that perfect disney love is what she should strive for at that age.
i am looking forward to the movie though, just because of the actor who's gonna play edward. Yeah he is hot.
I'll see the movie too... it's a strange hate filled obsession at this point. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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shellyevon said: evenstar3 said: they're written poorly/blandly. bella is NOT a good role model for the target market of this book- her singular drive through the books is to love edward more than anything else. what teenage girl needs to hear that perfect disney love is what she should strive for at that age.
i am looking forward to the movie though, just because of the actor who's gonna play edward. Most girls understand that it's just fantasy. Actually a lot of the girls like Jacob Black more than Edward. The female vampires are good strong characters. Especially Alice. I think seeing the actor that plays the part of James is worth the price of admission. Bullshit. I know plenty of grown women who don't see the dif. Little girls don't see the dif either. And yeah...The James guy is hot too.
Sorry if I seem militant about this... I just wish the media could, would help teachgirls to stand on there own instead of reinforcing that a girl/woman needs a man, who happens to be smarter, faster, stronger, not to mention more beautiful than her or else her life isn't worth living. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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evenstar3 said: shellyevon said: Most girls understand that it's just fantasy. Actually a lot of the girls like Jacob Black more than Edward. The female vampires are good strong characters. Especially Alice. I think seeing the actor that plays the part of James is worth the price of admission. and what about leah- there's another example, besides bella, of a girl who is utterly destroyed without getting to have the person she's in love with. it's not about who girls like, it's just the message that bella as a 'heroine' sends out could have been a lot better, imo. it's somewhat redeemed in the last book, but not at all fully.How is she redeemed? Because she would rather carry a life sucking monster to term other than abort! That'sanother HUGE issue I have with this crap! In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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ToraToraDreams said: They suck.
I read the first one...I STRUGGLED with the second one, skipping the middle and reading the end, and I kept the third on in my locker for 5 months before giving up and returning it to the person who lent them to me. They're really contrives, cliched, and predictable. The story is a big and none of the characters are appealing.
I just wanna bitch slap that mopey main character girl. Who ever said she was weak was right. Plus, she's borderline mary sue ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue ), as are MOST of the characters . And I don't see whats appealing about Edward AT ALL. I'm all about characters, you can make the crappiest, pointless story in the world but if the charactesrs are good, believable, likable (Or hateable if thats what you aiming for) I'm all over it. but...no...just no. I don't know why these books are so successful. And I'm a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. The exact target audience and those books make me puke. And Edwards gonna have blue balls soon if the main character girl keeps getting rubby with him and not doing him.
[Edited 8/11/08 21:27pm] [Edited 8/11/08 21:28pm] I skipped the middle ones.... God Bless you for even trying! They get busy...after they are married. More crap...In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Nothinbutjoy said:
I've been wondering when the "Twilight" series would hit the .org. I enjoy reading them, but wish a better author had written them. I'm not even debating role models or any of that. I enjoy reading them. I'm not getting deep about them. I can respect that. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Anxiety said: ok, i will try not to threadjack now...
i've been following this book series in the media ever since it started becoming hot hot hot this year. i've noticed them in bookstores for a couple of years now, but didn't pay them much mind. i just get the idea that people are clamoring for a new harry potter franchise, and everyone's figuring this might as well be it. i think i'm gonna hold off for a while. i love vampire books when they're done well, but i'm just not feeling all the hype. maybe i'll check out the first movie when it hits dvd, and if it tickles my imagination i'll pick up one of the books. i just think the author and her publisher hit at the right time and place for a new young adult fantasy franchise, whereas the harry potter books took off based on the quality of the content. i could be wrong! Timing is a HUGE part of the hupla.... no doubt. I just hate the lasting damage that can occur to girls if they buy into this now.  In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Sweeny79 said: ToraToraDreams said: They suck.
I read the first one...I STRUGGLED with the second one, skipping the middle and reading the end, and I kept the third on in my locker for 5 months before giving up and returning it to the person who lent them to me. They're really contrives, cliched, and predictable. The story is a big and none of the characters are appealing.
I just wanna bitch slap that mopey main character girl. Who ever said she was weak was right. Plus, she's borderline mary sue ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue ), as are MOST of the characters . And I don't see whats appealing about Edward AT ALL. I'm all about characters, you can make the crappiest, pointless story in the world but if the charactesrs are good, believable, likable (Or hateable if thats what you aiming for) I'm all over it. but...no...just no. I don't know why these books are so successful. And I'm a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL. The exact target audience and those books make me puke. And Edwards gonna have blue balls soon if the main character girl keeps getting rubby with him and not doing him.
[Edited 8/11/08 21:27pm] [Edited 8/11/08 21:28pm] I skipped the middle ones.... God Bless you for even trying! They get busy...after they are married. More crap...
I might actually borrow the last book and try to read it. I read the wikipeadia entry on it, it looks like a heavy handed anti abortion book. (I am anti abortion, mind you. But it looked preachy)  [Edited 8/12/08 22:53pm] | |
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ToraToraDreams said: Sweeny79 said: I skipped the middle ones.... God Bless you for even trying! They get busy...after they are married. More crap...
I might actually borrow the last book and try to read it. I read the wikipeadia entry on it, it looks like a heavy handed anti abortion book. (I am anti abortion, mind you. But it looked preachy)
[Edited 8/12/08 22:53pm] She skips right over the sex.... they kiss...next chapter it's morning.
It IS an anti abortion book. That's part of why I was so mad when I started this thread. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Anxiety said: i just started re-reading 'the stand' so i won't be reading any new books until at least next june.
Amazing book! I love Stephen King. I think I've read everything he's ever written. I really enjoyed his last book Duma Key. Great story. I haven't read the Twilight series. Seems like it might be more of a teen book for my liking. | |
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