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Twilight Series
I have a 17 y.o. girl, and I really enjoyed Twilight, but I think it was the right book at the right time. You know, summer afternoon, nice and warm with a breeze (no humidity, thank you Lord), a little fruit smoothie....But once I got to New Moon, I couldn't finish it. It just got to be too "light" for the number of pages (so how long) the book was taking in terms of hours from my life.
So I decided to let my daughter read my copy of New Moon (wait list hold library), and now she updates me as to what is going on. Because I still want to know, it's just I don't want to spend all that time finding out.
I really enjoyed the series. I was in Borders w/ a friend one day and she picked up Twilight and said "I kinda wanna read this cuz its about vampires but I don't know cuz its a teen book." A month later I decided to buy it and read it. After I finished it I went and bought the other two. I then ended up getting that friend and then 3 others hooked on them. I am so glad I bought Twilight that day because I not only liked the series but I got 2 friends that hardly ever read back into reading.
Though the writing was flawed at times I really enjoyed the books. I've always been a fan of fantasy and vampire stories so this series was right up my alley.
The only thing I agreed with that teacher is what she said about Jacob imprinting on Renesmee. That was the only thing I thought was weird.What is he going to tell Renesmee when she grows old enough to date?
"Oh hey, I used to be deeply in mad with your mother, but don't worry about that."
Talk about weird.
Other than that, I absolutely adored the Twilight series.
Hi guys I'm new to this group, sorry to just jump in.I really liked the books, I had to keep in mind that they were written for preteens, but it's just a story. They're not suppose to be taken as literal as some people have. I might be wrong but I really don't think Stephenie Meyer had a second agenda about trying to promote a certain life style. But i love the story line, it's a really good entertainment series. It keeps you hanging on through all the books. One of favorite things is that they are so easy to read! I can read the series in a week. They are my detox books :)
I'm really interested to see how Midnight Sun turns out, to see if I pictures Edwards character the same as what Stephenie Meyer has him as.
I'm with you on the Jacob/Renesmee thing. The last book was definitely not my favorite.Overall, my 15 year old daughter and I read the books together, really enjoyed them, and had many, many talks about what does constitute a healthy relationship as a result. We also talked about the process of growing up and leaving home, kids taking care of their parents, etc.
I appreciate a series that can generate this kind of buzz- especially for kids who don't read much anyway. I also don't believe my brain will turn to mush if I read something fun and exciting- even if the writing isn't perfect.
It's a good story with romantic and fantastic characters, written by a woman who does remember what it is like to be a teenaged girl.
I was drawn to the Twilight series to see what all the buzz was about too. I just finished the series and despite all of the over-analyzing many people or parents have done...I liked them. It is a YA read and I gathered they are supposed to be nothing but entertaining, which they were. I was totally sucked in and flew through them.I personally didn't notice any grammatical errors, but I think I was too busy enjoying the story to notice if they were there.
Saved By Grace, I think you made some good points. I didn't completely agree with the article, but the comments the writer received were appalling. There is a certain level of fanatics generated by this series, similar to the HP books that I can't really explain or begin to comprehend. I understand disagreeing...I do it all the time, but not personally attacking someone because they wrote a bad review.Like I said before I’m not through with the series…still reading New Moon. My thoughts on Twilight were that the writing and plot were simple. There were grammatical errors and over usage of certain words. Both Edward and Bella had a tendency to get on my nerves after awhile- Bella with her constant tripping and idolization of Edward and Edward with his constant moody attitude. However, from what I’ve read so far I think Meyer captures a teen girl’s mind quite well. Maybe this is what girls and their moms are relating too. I’m not sure yet…I think I have to read more.
Personally, Bella’s perspective took me back to my own high school relationship when I thought I had met the man of my dreams. He wasn’t a bad person for me, unlike Edward who put Bella’s safety at stake, nor did he want to eat me. But, we adored each other and wanted to spend time constantly with each other (similar to Bella and Edward in the beginning chapters of New Moon). He dumped me a day before our 3rd year anniversary. For awhile I felt like Bella when she was trying to get over her relationship. As I read Twilight and part of New Moon I felt like I was taking an emotional journey with Bella and it struck a chord in me despite the bad writing. I appreciated that Meyer was able to capture the teenage angst when you think you’re so deep in love this is the person for you, and then boom it ends. Not everybody goes through this and some teenagers go through it on a constant basis. LOL.
Marsha, I think it’s great that you were able to use the books as a platform for deeper discussions. I agree these books should be seen for entertain value only, much like the Da Vinci Code (which I liked BTW). I think it's good that the series is getting people to read and that it can generate discussion...as long as the discussion is positive and not a bashing for those who don't like the series.
I loved the Twilight series and I can definitely relate to Bella. My DH and I started dating in high school and I remember feeling a lot like what Bella describes - wanting to spend as much time as possible with the one person who, in her eyes, could do no wrong and who was perfect for her. The fact that she was able to actually do it was unique to her situation because of what Edward could do. I didn't see Edward as a creepy stalker either - just a guy with a lot of time on his hands and a need to protect the love of his life. Really, they both felt the same way about each other and, from that point on, he didn't have any bad intentions toward Bella. I think Edward's actions make a lot more sense, too, once you've read Midnight Sun.
I agree with many of you and although I was not really crazy about Twilight I am currently reding New Moon. I probably not like this one much either but I will always give things a try espcially books. I aslo think that threads are good so we can talk about what we liked and what we didn't like it is why we do these things. We all don't have the same tastes and I think that we will disagree. That is what makes us human! If we all had the same tastes than we would all have read the same books and nothing would be different. I think that people should act their age and accept that not everyone is going to agree with you.People who read this series are people who like to read and if they like it then good for them!!! Keep on Readin'!!!!
I have to say these books are less than stellar. I'm currently on Breaking Dawn and reading it mostly because it's the last in the series. I have to agree with a lot of what Saved by Grace said. My sister is losing points for recommending this series to me, she should have told me it's a bad romance series with a vampire gimmick.
I picked up "Twilight" while subbing in a middle school one day and couldn't put it down! To me it was a unique story between a mortal and a vampire. I don't read many vampire stories so asked my daughter (who is 32 and reads A LOT) of vampire stories to see what she thought. She loved it also. "Twilight" and "Eclipse" were my favorites. "New Moon" was ok and "Breaking Dawn" was a let down for me. I'm glad I read it to finish up the series but the finality just was too pat in the last book. It had some good parts and some were just out there but I did like the series, it was different for me.
I just finished "Breaking Dawn" last night and I don't think I've ever been so dissapointed in a book. The ending was so anticlimatic I had to reread it to make sure I didn't miss something. That said, I was addicted to these books from the second I started Twilight despite some seriously flawed writing and perhaps the most annoying main characters ever. I have a strong Love-Hate relationship with the series. I agree Donna: if they got you reading, awesome! Also we all need a little vampire romance every once in a while!
I just started this and i am loving it. It makes me feel young...
I couldn't put Twilight down, but I didn't really like New Moon. I hate to say it, but I think I was just a little too old for it. I remember all those feelings, even the dazed, gray, heartbroken feelings, but I got tired of reading about them. And I kept thinking, "Bella, you are a smart girl. You can NOT be so dense that you don't see what he's doing." But I will read Eclipse when I finally catch it in at the library. That may be a while though. The movie seems to have sparked a huge waiting list for all the books.
Hellllllo people! I like TWILIGHT. It's fun. No, it's not literary genius, but it is fun. I love that most of my students who think "reading is boring" (direct quote) like reading TWILIGHT.New Moon was sooo annoying. BELLA would not literally DIE is Edward left her. I kept thinking, "GET OVER YOURSELF."
BUT .... I do love the series for what it is. I'm excited about the movie. A bunch of my students actually want me to go with them for some reason, so I'm really excited about that.
Carrie, I'm reading New Moon now. I'm about half way through now. I definitely understand what you're saying about Bella. She's getting on my nerves. I hate that she's putting her hopes on another guy to make her feel better. Anyway, regarding the movie...I'm a little hestitant. Edwards in some pics is not so attractive. lol.
Here is a link from MSN about Kristen Stewart who is playing Bella:
http://movies.msn.com/movies/hitlist/...
Basically, she's saying that Twilight fans are crazy...this is her quote: "I just didn't pay attention," Stewart recalls. "I was like, 'You guys are celebrating something that has not come true yet. So, you are really retarded and have nothing to do with this creative process and I really don't want to hear you celebrate in front of me. Get out of here! It's my responsibility!'" She said this in regards to the fans that were following them from location to location.
She comes off as ungrateful and bratty, so I'm not sure if I want to support the movie. Maybe I will wait for DVD.
Wow, Jackie. That interview with Kristen Stewart was very off-putting. I still want to see the movie, but it's going to be hard not to think about how snobby she really is while watching it. I also read Rob's interview, though, and he seemed to balance out her ungratefulness since he seems unaffected and thankful for the opportunities he's gotten.
So I Guess she fits Bella perfectly then, huh? Both are annoying a "bratty". At least I am not the only one who feels compelled to read them but also feels that it is not literary genius
PS Isn't Edward supposed to be absolutley gorgeous? I mean really? Because I wouldn't look twice at Rob if we passed on the street.
LOL. Donna, I thought the same thing. The movie posters don't do my imaginary Edward justice. I guess I couldn't believe that she voiced her negative opinions out loud. Sure, she can think what she wants, but she shouldn't promote the movie by calling the fans retards. Those "retards" are putting money in her bank account. I think she could at least put on a facade about the whole thing. I wonder if they would cast her for the sequel.
I did read Rob's interview. He's really humble and greatful about the whole thing.
Donna - I don't find Bella to be SO annoying, though she does act like a brat toward her father. She's gotten on my nerves a few times, but not enough to really have a negative impact on my regard for her. I agree with you that Edward doesn't look like what I'd imagined. Some pictures I've seen of Rob actually look pretty creepy, which I'm sure wasn't the intent. How about this one: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm236877286...Yikes!
I guess I imagined Edward to look more like Taylor Kitsch (though with different hair): http://www.flickr.com/photos/25093029...
Wow Jamie. I like your vision of Edward.
That Taylor pic is quite yummy!! More along the lines of what I envisioned. Maybe you need to be in charge of casting next time. =)
LOL! To me, he seems model-perfect, but brooding and mysterious all at the same time. Too bad!
Taylor would have been perfect. And that pic of Rob is VERY creepy!!! Thx Jamie. I thought that the guy who played James (can't remeber name) looked pretty darn good too.
I loved reading the Twilight series, I honestly can't judge whether the books were of "literary genius" or not... but, I definitely had a hard time putting them down. Also, I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the book, but grammar has never been my strong point. (I just plain stink at it)I am excited to see the movie, although the guy they cast as Jasper is a bit creepy looking. Rob Pattinson, is very close to what I imagined Edward would look like, a good-looking teenager, that would have only gotten better looking with age.
Donna the guy that plays James was Volchok on The O.C....his name is Cam Gigandet.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544217/
Lol @ OCD- Obsessive Cullen Disorder.I think I have it too...
Oh, Twilight. I have such mixed feelings about the series. I think my favorite books were 1 & 3 (1, because it was the first and I hadn't gotten all that absorbed into... the pandemonium that surrounds Twilight online). New Moon was slow, and Breaking Dawn was my least favorite by FAR. Meyer just got a little too wacky. I did have trouble keeping all four of them down, though. The writing is not that hot, but somehow, it sucks you in anyway. I can appreciate a book that sucks readers in and keeps them interested. I'd rather read a book like that than force myself to slog through something I'm not even interested in.That said... the more time that passes since I read Breaking Dawn, the more negatively I see certain aspects of the book. In retrospect, I don't like Bella & Edward's relationship very much at all. It was somewhat realistic -- I do remember feeling that need to spend all of my time with one person when I was in high school, and I remember the big gaping void when I got my heart broken for the first time. So, yeah, I could relate a little bit to Bella. But... I just don't think it's a healthy relationship. One of the reasons I broke up with my first boyfriend was because I was his *entire* life, pretty much, just like Bella and Edward are basically each other's entire life. I didn't want someone to be that dependant on me, and I certainly would never want my daughter (when/if I ever have one) to see that as a healthy thing. I realized, after this series, that I prefer reading about strong, independent women, who don't NEED a man. It's just not that appealing when the only thing they can talk about is how much they love a certain special someone. After a couple hundred pages, I got sick of hearing about how great Edward is and how attractive he is, etc.
Anyway, so that's pretty much my big beef with the series. I really enjoyed scenes with other characters - namely the Cullens and the LaPush pack - sometimse just because it was a nice change of pace from Bella's commentary. The final book was also completely anticlimatic. Ugh. But mostly, what would keep me from reading it again, is that relationship. I just wanted to shake Bella and be like "come on, grow up, you're not going to die because he's not around, you're going to be just fine."
Laura thank you I think you just help me figure out why I don't think this book would be my cup of tea. I have a adult daughter and I wouldn't want her to be so "focus" on a man like he was her entire life, that she couldn't think about anything or anyone else.Some of the ladies on another board I'm on have recommended giving the book a shot. So what I'm going to do is what one lady suggested-the next time I'm at Walmart I'm going to pick up Twilight and read part of the book(around 20 pages). If it still doesn't feel like it would fit my reading likes going to return it to the shelf.
I can't wait for the movie, November 21, I think!!!
THX Jaime I don't watch that show so I was completely unaware. But he sure is a looker!!!
I agree with Laura.I read Twilight (and the other three books in the series) not because I thought they were so great but because, as a YA writer, I read more YA books that my daughter thinks is good for me.
Anyway this is my take on Twilight:
Twilight is the story of the seemingly impossible love between an every day girl and a gorgeous mysterious stranger, who happens to be a 108 years old vampire. Although hardly an original premise, the huge success of this series shows how appealing the idea of forbidden love is, especially for young girls.
I must confess I was just as caught up as everybody else while reading it. Yet overall I found it deeply unsatisfying. Twilight glorifies a kind of romantic love that is not only unrealistic but sets the stage for abuse.
Literary speaking, Twilight is like a huge marshmallow: fluffy and sweet and addictive, yet hardly nutritious and, eaten in excess, bad for you.
I think Rob Pattinson is a great choice for Edward.He seems to be a pretty rooted person too.
Have anyone seen this interview?
http://community.livejournal.com/ohno...
I'm not all that crazy about Edward either in the movie. Why couldn't he have long hair like in the books? I told one of the middle schoolers that while we were discussing the books. I told her I like long hair on guys because of the "era" I grew up in. She said "60's or 80's" to which I replied 60's. She said "ewwww, that was more than I WANTED to know!!! LOL, boy did that make me feel about 100! LOL
I actually do like the choice for Edward... and while I certainly appreciate the more mature Taylor as a matter of personal taste, Edward IS supposed to look 17.I also really liked Rob Pattinson as Cedric Diggory- and I'm looking forward to seeing him in a non-dying role. :)
I was quite caught up in the books- which thrilled my teenager to no end. She was reading Twilight for the 2nd time when I took her to a dentist appointment and I had nothing with me to read and so started the book she had been so excited about. We ran out the next day to get New Moon- then picked up the other two when they came out.
There is definitely something about Edward to make a girl swoon.
Marsha - I'm thinking that Rob will probably be fine in the movie, but in the interviews I've seen him do, I don't see much Edward in him. The previews are another story, though, so I'm hoping for the best. On the other hand, I do think Taylor would've been good in the role, even as a teenager. To me, he's convincing as a high schooler on Friday Night Lights.
I loved the Twilight series. I read the first book while on vacation and I couldn't put it down. In two days I was searching Orcas Island for a book store to by the next book. I know that at times the series is rather "light" but the over all story is pretty good. I really like the fact that Bella is just an ordinary with flaws not some beautiful chick who could get anyone. Edward is "hot" and he could have picked anyone but chose her. Overall its just a cute love story that I wouldn't mind sharing with my daughter.
Jamie...I have to agree that I think taylor is more what I imagined for edward...What does everyone think of Jacobs character?? I think hes great as far as looks and age go but how the heck are they going to make him so huge if they decide to make new moon into a movie?? I'm kind of a sucker(no pun intended) for Jake=)
Oooh, I like your Edward, Jamie! I don't know if I'll check out the movie or not. I know that Edward's supposed to be only 17, but in my head he's my age. I don't know if I want to replace "my" Edward with someone about half my age. It might affect how I read the last two books--if I ever get my hands on them at the library, that is!
I'm taking my kids to the movie. I am almost done with Twilight. I just need to log off and read.
I love the actor they casted for Jacob. He's a cutey...although a bit small. I was wondering the same thing...how were they going to make him bigger? I heard that they are going to start filming New Moon soon.
Jackie - My kids just watched the movie Sharkboy and Lavagirl yesterday and the actor who plays Jacob was Sharkboy - it was SO funny to imagine him growing up to be Jacob!
I loved the series madly, deeply, and unhealthily up until Breaking Dawn. I didn't think the first three were well written, but they hooked me big time. Breaking Dawn just didn't deliver the same type of feel as the other three (for me). So, now when I go back and try to re read the others they are totally ruined. It's very sad, all I can see are the mistakes and bad descriptions now. Sigh.
The Jacob actor also plays the son on My Own Worst Enemy (yeah, 'cause he looks so much like Christian Slater).
i just started Twilight yesterday, i'm on page 375 right now.it's been a quick read, and i'm enjoying it. i'm not reading it for a "high-brow" experience, but because i like the story. also, the descriptions of Edward are smokin'......
i got into the book because i agreed to see the movie with a friend, and i won't see a movie if i haven't read the book. so, here i am. hoping ot finish it before bed tonight, if i vcan get off of the computer!
Anybody going tonight to watch the movie?
Saturday. We have other plans tonight.
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Ahem, anyway...
I wanted to know what others thought about the series. I've read Twilight and I'm currently reading New Moon. Honestly, I don't know what drew me to Twilight. I'm still trying to figure it out. But, while looking through other groups I found this review of Twilight by a teacher who thought the series was "craptastic." Although, I thought her review was harsh the backlash she received was even worse.
Here is the link:
http://tweenteacher.com/2008/09/26/bo...
Let me know what you guys think.