WARNING: The following contains commentary that may seem blasphemous to Stephanie Meyer literary cult followers
So when I was in Palau I kept reading about Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. It was on everyone's blogs and it seemed to be the "new Harry Potter." All my sister-in-laws were reading them, and people at church and down the street, these books were everywhere. When i would ask readers (all of which were women) there always seemed to be a sigh of hope and longing that followed the emphatic urges to read this series of books. EVERYONE was reading them and reccomending them, so of course, I was curious. I like many other Harry Potter fans was going through that rebound stage after having finished the last and final Rowling book and was looking for a good rebound/quickie novel to lift my spirits. Having an insane amount of time on my hands, being practically bed ridden with morning sickness I did alot of reading. After having read all three-I've come to the conclusion that while I think the story line and plot have been fantastic, I was terribly dissapointed with the character development. I think in the second and especially the third novels, the main characted Bella becomes incredibly annoying and I could care less what happens to her. Book two was such a waste of time, it took over three hundred pages to develop what was painfully obvious when hints were revealed in the first novel. (I'm trying to be broad so as not to ruin the experience for someone who is determined to find out for themselves the emptiness that is left with the reader after reading these books.)
Now tell me-does anyone feel the same as I do? Is there anyone out there who is tired of saying they see the emperor's clothing when we all know he's naked??? Or am I alone on this one?
While I'm addressing literature-I would like to thank my friend Susie who so thoughtfully sent me a thought provoking, and emotionally stirring novel while I was in Palau. That was a well told story with well developed characters.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts and or feelings on the Stephanie Meyer's series. Post away.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse
Posted by Sheryl at 10:47 PM
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6 comments:
Go see emily haycock's blog and you will see my feelings. You are like the third person out of hundreds I have talked to who don't really like the books (myself included). Most people who love the books admit it's not very good writing, but say they like it as an escape and stuff like that. I can't even take it like that, though- it's just too shallow for my taste. My friend's cousin is Stephanie Meyer. She is a really nice person.
I happen to really enjoy the books. I guess I'm one of those people who just likes to read it because it's easy. Right now I'm reading "The Road" and sometimes I just find myself lost because of the writing (I get it, it's just different) and that was one thing I loved about Twilight, etc. I could just read and it didn't take a lot of thought. Plus, I really loved the love triangle with Edward, Bella, and Jacob. Bella never bugged me but I didn't pay too close attention to notice that she was whiny and whatever else people say about her. It's just entertaining. Plus, I think wolves and vampires are so intriguing.
Sheryl, I think you're putting too much thought into these books. They're not supposed to be deep - just entertaining.
Sheryl,
I think the same way as you about the books. I really liked the first one, and after that I like them, but it seems like it takes the WHOLE book to get some place. I skipped a lot of the third one. I'm going to read the fourth one just to find out what happens. So I liked them but I don't know that they deserved all the rants and raves, I think it's because she's Mormon that she gets all of that.
Thanks for the shoutout, Sheryl. I feel touched! I personally think you're having a boy (since Jack Bauer got you to admit girl in the other post, I'm saying boy now so either way I'll be right). Am I right? By the way, I don't know if I told you about A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, but you will not be disappointed with that one!
I haven't read them, but I felt that way about Harry Potter. She (JK Rowling)only partially develops the characters and spends most of the time on Harry. I tried to read the first book along time ago but only got through 6 chapters. This past summer I finally bit the bullet, and having watched the movies a few times I read the first book. I think because there were so many characters and creatures with strange names they become all confused and I always want to know what is going on. So many of my 4th graders read the books that I decided I had to too. My mom is finishing up the second and then I will read it just to make my former student Hailey happy. Everyday at school she bounces up to me and asks me if I have finished Harry Potter yet. Of course don't get me started on the Work and the Glory series! Take care- Love, Janene
You should ask my sister for book recommendations. She read around 20 books this summer (although she does like to read the same books over and over. She thought the best of these three books was the first and the others were drawn out too much.
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