Twilight

[Joreads]

what happened to reading books cos you enjoy the story? The majority of the world doesnt give a {expletive deleted} about literary form & technique. It doesnt really matter. People read for enjoyment, the same way they listen to music for enjoyment, or do any past-time for enjoyment, relaxation or escapism from the mundanity of life for a while. If you enjoy picking apart the bones and examining why a writer does such and such a thing thats fine, whatever floats your boat, but there is no need to belittle & deride people for having no interest in doing so.

I for one cant stand joyce & would far rather pick up grisham. Have no time for mozart & want del amitri & the beautiful south instead. I would frankly kill myself if i woke up one day & everyone was poring over milton & listening to beethoven.

here here

[kevinthediltz]

I am not trying to get Meyer banned. I just think that if you dont like the books she writes, dont read them. If you do. Thats fine by me. Just please dont call her a good writer. She writes an enjoyable story yes, but its just not skilled writing.
Read it if you like it. Dont if you dont.

[DrkAngL]

It's one thing to read what you enjoy, but to say that Stephenie Meyer is a good writer is simply false.

i disagree.

[Joreads]

I am not trying to get Meyer banned. I just think that if you dont like the books she writes, dont read them. If you do. Thats fine by me. Just please dont call her a good writer. She writes an enjoyable story yes, but its just not skilled writing.
Read it if you like it. Dont if you dont.

Surley if you like her books you are allowed to call her a good writer is that not a matter of Opinion. For the record you are right she is not a great writer but she makes my good list.

[kevinthediltz]

Surley if you like her books you are allowed to call her a good writer is that not a matter of Opinion. For the record you are right she is not a great writer but she makes my good list.

I can agree with that. If someone enjoys her writing and wants to compliment it thats fine by me.
Just no comparing her to Steinbeck or Orwell ok?

[Joreads]

I can agree with that. If someone enjoys her writing and wants to compliment it thats fine by me.
Just no comparing her to Steinbeck or Orwell ok?

Hey we agree on that

[JBI]

Hey we agree on that

In a sense I agree with you, and sympathize with your perspective, as you realize it isn't great, but it is good fun, except that Twilight is so god awful (I tried reading it in French, and it was just dreadful) that I can't seem to understand any case for it. Generally speaking, popular literature is often rubbish, but this one in particular seems everything I loathe wrapped up in one bundle. At least Harry Potter tried to be clever at certain moments (tried, it seems never to be very clever at all, and more preoccupied with British style humor some 50 years dead), this text just comes out way too didactic - perhaps I may try it in English some day, but I doubt it.

[*Classic*Charm*]

In a sense I agree with you, and sympathize with your perspective, as you realize it isn't great, but it is good fun, except that Twilight is so god awful (I tried reading it in French, and it was just dreadful) that I can't seem to understand any case for it. Generally speaking, popular literature is often rubbish, but this one in particular seems everything I loathe wrapped up in one bundle. At least Harry Potter tried to be clever at certain moments (tried, it seems never to be very clever at all, and more preoccupied with British style humor some 50 years dead), this text just comes out way too didactic - perhaps I may try it in English some day, but I doubt it.

A fair assessment, and I think the most reasonable position you've stated on the issue so far It seems to be the type of thing that has to strike you immediately or some reason or other, otherwise it's not going to be worthwhile for you. If you didn't have an interest in it as soon as you started, it's not going to get any better. I think the majority of readers around here will agree- it's poor quality writing but it still manages to hold some sort of attraction for many readers, and that something is what gives the work it's sole legitimacy in the world of fiction.

I do have to turn off my brain when I read it though- the grammar drives me INSANE.

[Joreads]

In a sense I agree with you, and sympathize with your perspective, as you realize it isn't great, but it is good fun, except that Twilight is so god awful (I tried reading it in French, and it was just dreadful) that I can't seem to understand any case for it. Generally speaking, popular literature is often rubbish, but this one in particular seems everything I loathe wrapped up in one bundle. At least Harry Potter tried to be clever at certain moments (tried, it seems never to be very clever at all, and more preoccupied with British style humor some 50 years dead), this text just comes out way too didactic - perhaps I may try it in English some day, but I doubt it.

I agree with JBI and I think that this is the point people who have enjoyed the book have been trying to make. It is not nor will it ever be a classic it is just good fun or at least it was for me. I can understand why you didn't like it and I respect that but respect is a two way street we should also respect people right to read them and like them.

Charm I also agree with you the grammer is aweful but we all need to turn the mind off every now and again.

[Akeldama]

we all need to turn the mind off every now and again.

That's certainly debatable.

[Zee.]

I don't think there is much to argue. Twilight may be an enjoyable read but yes, it is poorly written, and could never be compared to faulkner, steinbeck etc, those who argue that it is are, most of the time, 13 - 15 yr old girls who haven't read too much outside of books like twilight. So really, there is no argument.

Also, to address the comments about escaping "life"

I don't read books to escape life. In my opinion, there's something very wrong if you need to read a book to do that. To open up your mind to "other places" of course, I do that a lot - and books allow me to do that. But books are more than just a means of "escape", to me anyway.

[Joreads]

That's certainly debatable.

Not it is more a personal preference like the authors we read

[Dark Lady]

I haven't read this whole thread through properly but I find what I have read vaguely amusing. I read the Twilight 'Saga' as I believe it is now being called. I liked it but obviously it has no real literary merit. I was going to compare it to junk food. No nutritous value but good to indulge in once in a while etc. but I've thought of something more accurate.

I'm sorry if I offend anyone by saying this but I think it's the female equivelant of soft-core porn. Obviously some girls do like your regular visual porn but I do think for a lot of women/girls sex is quite a different thing than it is for guys. It is less visual and more emotional/mental. I'm generalising horrendously here, of course, and like I said I apologise for any offence caused. However, I do think that Twilight functions for teenage girls in a similar way that 'lads' mags' function for teenage boys (people who are not teens can enjoy these too, like I said I liked the books...at least the first three...but since I'm already generalising anyway).

So, no, not great classics but functional none the less. And I also think it is overreacting to say these novels are dangerous because of the anti-feminism sentiments. I don't think most girls are looking to these books for advice on their lives just for cheap thrills and a little escapism. Just like so many people say guys watching porn instills the mysongynist attitude that women are purely sexual objects there for their pleasure etc. I think you either have these issues or you don't and porn/novels will not give you these attitudes unless you already had them to begin with.

[kelby_lake]

I think there are some people that are more susceptible to Twilight than others. I'd read many classics and all sorts of books before I read it, but there are some people who have only read Twilight and other trashy books and devour that sort of thing. It's bad in that it purports to be on an equal with great literature when it is merely trash.

Let's face it, the uber-fans of Twilight will never enjoy 'proper' reading. They develop a taste only for that sort of simplistic soft-core pornography and if you showed them any classic they would probably dismiss it.

[MarkBastable]

Not it is more a personal preference like the authors we read

I think that he meant it was debatable that, as the original post asserted, 'we all' need to turn the mind off. We all don't. Some of us do.

However, I don't understand why the defence for crap is that it allows us to turn our minds off. It doesn't for me. It sends my mind into overdrive. I am astonished, frustrated, appalled, irritated, offended and generally wound up.

Crap is not in the least relaxing.