Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My best friend is a fan, and I'd say that this type of book is for more entertainment than anything else. Although I will hand it to Meyer that she DOES have some really nice quips here and there.

Anyway, to each their own. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it, yeah?

:eek:
I talked to an 18-year-old colleague of mine yesterday. She told me that her class mates pin up Edward posters because they hope he will come and bite them at night!!!
She reads the books herself but was totally oblivious to the sexual symbolism! When I told her about it she was like "Seriously?"
So, is it a good thing that the symbolism is lost on them or does that make it even worse because they apparently don't reflect about anything and are happy to wait for the 'vampire' to take advantage of them?

They didn't pick up on the blatant metaphor? God.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by *Classic*Charm*

I should hope that parents have taught their daughters better than to think like that, and to passively accept that as a message.

If you read closely enough, you'll find that Meyer says (not explicitly, of course) that a real person like Edward is not possible. She credits his being "so perfect" to a combination of factors that simply aren't possible, that is,

1) his habits, manners and speech are those one would find in a person of another time (100 years ago or whatever it may be)
2) his ability to use hindsight and his self-control are characteristics of someone much older than 17
3) he's obsessive and passionate and ridiculous like a teenager
4) he has all sorts of impossible physical abilities.

He's an impossible being, even if you disregard the vampire stuff, and I think Meyer makes this clear, so to say that the "message" is that girls should wait around for some old guy to take advantage of them is, to my mind, a little far-fetched.

Admittedly, these books are being read by girls who I think are too young to be reading all the sex stuff.

Though, I'm confused on one part- what exactly about Bella and/or her attitude made you think rape? Just curious:)

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thanks Charm, sorry, I overlooked your post.
I agree with most of what you said.
After I read the first book, I don't find Bella that passive anymore and it doesn't make me think of rape anymore except in a very broad sense. She is on little nymphomaniac! So that makes her more active.
But anyway, I'm not comfortable with her attitude (or rather that of some kids/fans), anyway. I don't like the idea of kids (girls) passively waiting for the vampire to bite them/ lover to.. er 'take' them. What worries me is this whole passive attitude in girls/women, the way they hang around limply and wait for the guy to do stuff to them, as if they didn't have a will of their own or any desires of their own. Now that I've read the first book and seen the film, I don't think Twilight is 100% like that, seeing as Bella goes after Edward etc. BUT I read the quotes on the cover of either Breaking Dawn or Eclipse or whatever and they said something like "He kissed me blablabla, his lips were crushing mine etc."
Why not "I kissed him?" or "We kissed."? I mean, there are books from the late 60s that have got more active women in them, women who know what they want and go get it.
Look at those girls I mentioned in my previous post: If they want a vampire, why do they lie around limply in their bed and wait for one to come and bite them? Why don't they go out, catch one and bite him or bite him back if the bites them?

I enjoyed reading it alot..
i dnt think its bad.. i mean i was so interested to read every page .. so eager to know whats next..

ofcourse i prefer classics.. but really its fun reading it ..

They were perfectly okay.. New Moon is my fav.
Eclipse and Breaking Dawn were kind of disappointing though..

Some say the series is dull in language but I find Meyer's style rather enthralling, well, sometimes.

The girls over here are crazy about Edward, too.

Actually I enjoyed reading it, too. I'm kind of old to be reading this kind of book, but I was curious about it. It is very much meant for the teen-age girl. It's kind of a tribute to Meyers' writing that I found it enjoyable. No, Meyers is not great, but she's very readable,and not in that annoying romance style that I can't stand, although this is, of course a romance.

So why did I like it? Her characters were well enough developed to be somewhat interesting for teenagers. Mostly I thought Meyers excelled at sustaining that intense mood that accompanies falling in love. I haven't read the other books, so I'm wondering how well she is able to capture Bella and Edward developing an actual relationship.

One thing, I seriously doubt I will re-read this book. If I love a book I keep it because I want to experience re-reading it occasionally. And if it's a really good book, I enjoy re-reading every time I pick it up. With this book, while I enjoyed it, I cannot relate to Bella enough and I don't find myself eager to experience her world again. Maybe it's because of Edward-a thoroughly likable young man, but so intensely beautiful and otherworldly that I really cannot, at my age, find him believable. Give me a real, flawed but fascinating human being every time. The idea of living forever is not a big draw any longer, and I think that is part of the thrill for girls-'He's so gorgeous! And he lovers her! And they're going to live forever!!!"

I am really disappointed to find out she gets pregnant and has a baby at 17. I think it would have been very valuable for Meyers to have Bella want to experience life; and for Meyers to encourage her little heroine to find everything she needs in this adored, perfect male is a little creepy. I'm thinking "Stepford wives." And, you know, that's a little surprising, because when the book opens, Bella is not presented as being like most teenage girls, but as a rather mature young woman, who is emotionally self-sufficient. I guess Edward is supposed to be her soul mate, an idea I do not buy into at all. But, again, I' m disappointed that Bella did not even seem interested in retaining a vestige of her independence and a life outside of her relationship with Edward. I think if she had it would have made a better book.

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Originally Posted by SleepyWitch

thanks Charm, sorry, I overlooked your post.
I agree with most of what you said.
After I read the first book, I don't find Bella that passive anymore and it doesn't make me think of rape anymore except in a very broad sense. She is on little nymphomaniac! So that makes her more active.
But anyway, I'm not comfortable with her attitude (or rather that of some kids/fans), anyway. I don't like the idea of kids (girls) passively waiting for the vampire to bite them/ lover to.. er 'take' them. What worries me is this whole passive attitude in girls/women, the way they hang around limply and wait for the guy to do stuff to them, as if they didn't have a will of their own or any desires of their own. Now that I've read the first book and seen the film, I don't think Twilight is 100% like that, seeing as Bella goes after Edward etc. BUT I read the quotes on the cover of either Breaking Dawn or Eclipse or whatever and they said something like "He kissed me blablabla, his lips were crushing mine etc."
Why not "I kissed him?" or "We kissed."? I mean, there are books from the late 60s that have got more active women in them, women who know what they want and go get it.
Look at those girls I mentioned in my previous post: If they want a vampire, why do they lie around limply in their bed and wait for one to come and bite them? Why don't they go out, catch one and bite him or bite him back if the bites them?

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No problem Sleepy!

I see your point about the passivity, but if you go on to read the following books, you'll find that she's not passive. She definitely instigates, especially the whole biting thing. She wants to be bitten, but Edward won't do it. The terms "he kissed me", "I kissed him", "we kissed" are used interchangeably, despite that the book jackets only mention him kissing her.

I think the issue here may be misinterpretation on behalf of the readers, and I think the reason for that is that they're too young to see that Bella went after Edward, and that she instigates. It goes right along with what I mentioned earlier about the content being to mature for the girls reading it. And if they're seriously waiting around for a vampire to come bite them- their parents have taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by *Classic*Charm*

No problem Sleepy!

I see your point about the passivity, but if you go on to read the following books, you'll find that she's not passive. She definitely instigates, especially the whole biting thing. She wants to be bitten, but Edward won't do it. The terms "he kissed me", "I kissed him", "we kissed" are used interchangeably, despite that the book jackets only mention him kissing her.

I think the issue here may be misinterpretation on behalf of the readers, and I think the reason for that is that they're too young to see that Bella went after Edward, and that she instigates. It goes right along with what I mentioned earlier about the content being to mature for the girls reading it. And if they're seriously waiting around for a vampire to come bite them- their parents have taken a wrong turn somewhere.

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ok, I see.
Now I'm curious to read the other books because I want to know what makes those teeny kids tick (I'll be a teacher from September on, so I need to know about teeny culture even if I'm not interested in it myself). But I don't think I'll be able to finish any of those whoppers seeing as I didn't even finish Twilight.

I always am of the opinion that when it comes to twilight, it's either one hates it or one loves it. I deeply regret having wasted my time with it. It's no good. To put it bluntly, it's like a shoujo (for girls, mostly about juvenile love) manga/anime turned into a book. I may love anime but I'm serious in what I read.

I got that feeling- it would work perfectly as an anime. But it makes a rubbish novel.

Oh I'm not saying it's well written. Quite the contrary. The terrible grammar was really distracting- I wondered at times if it had even been edited.

I just found the story and the impossible romance addicting. They were my Christmas break fling- I'm past them now lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SleepyWitch

Look at those girls I mentioned in my previous post: If they want a vampire, why do they lie around limply in their bed and wait for one to come and bite them? Why don't they go out, catch one and bite him or bite him back if the bites them?

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I came across this thread whilst perusing the profile of one of my Litnet friends and it's one of the most hilarious on the whole forum.
The above extract is only one of many that has me laughing out loud.
How does one catch a vampire ? Are there special vampire nets such as those for catching butterflies only much larger ?
As for girls biting men, in my experience they usally do but the man, even if he isn't a vampire, always has to bite first.

What! Don't you want to fall in love with a vampire?

I think to catch one you have to smell really, really good. That's what Bella does anyway.

No, I think for a guy to catch a vampire you'd probably have to be really cool and play guitar, or be a beat poet, or something...:) Or to be a mafia don.