Twilight...

[starvinbohemian]

All right, seeing as how I'm officially on vacation for a few days with time to read, I finally broke down and bought Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. And when I say "finally" I mean "having only even heard of the series when f-list began commenting on the third installment, Eclipse." I figured that something that could displace Harry Potter from the top spot of the Best Selling list already had to be at least enjoyable. Also, a geeky bookstore employee (my brethren) assured me that it was good and gave me an undeserved discount. Much love to nerdy brethren! ^_^

I'm 130 pages in so far, and I'm still somewhat torn on a few things:

1. It's about vampires.
2. It's YA.
3. It's in the first person.
4. Mary-Sueism bells are going off. Yeah, I'm lookin' at you, Bella.



I would have been all over this book back when I was still in junior high. Unfortunately, I have long since lost my interest in both vampires and adolescent angst. Probably because I associate one with the other. Also, I really think my reading experience would have been hugely improved just by switching everything to third-person POV. Personal squick, I know. It's just distracting. I don't put up with it in fan fic, so I don't know why I should with published novels.

On the other hand, there is the occasional witty quip that makes me smile, and there is also the fact that I am still reading. So, the jury is still out. I really want to like this book just because Claire made the insinuation that I wouldn't because I'm too picky. :P

Comments

[roannaweenie.livejournal.com]

Haha, I'm glad you're reading it :)

But the Mary Sue-ness gets worse, though. Especially in Eclipse, which made me realize I should have just waited for it to arrive in the library rather than use my money @_@

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

But the Mary Sue-ness gets worse, though. Especially in Eclipse, which made me realize I should have just waited for it to arrive in the library rather than use my money

Oh God, yes.

I fully admit that I love and adore the first two books, despite the angst and the Mary Sueisms, because they're pretty and sweeping and wrapped me up in the story. But the third one killed quite a bit of that love. Primarily because I was kind of hoping Bella would die. That's how Mary Sue she gets.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Primarily because I was kind of hoping Bella would die. That's how Mary Sue she gets.

Uh-oh. ^^;

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

But the Mary Sue-ness gets worse, though.

Nooooes. :(

Of course, the fact that I'm even reading it to begin with is your fault. So, I'm holding you accountable. ;)

[roannaweenie.livejournal.com]

lmao, I feel honoured :)

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly. A few months ago I was searching for vampire books, because I'm writing one myself. All I found were a bunch of YA books that only served to tell me what not to do when writing teen books.

But Twilight isn't nearly as bad as "Vampire Kisses" by Ellen Schrieber. *shudders* At least Bella doesn't tell you what brands of clothing she wears.

I forgot that Eclipse was out, too. Huh. I'm only reading it for the sake of seeing what happens, because the writing is really okay. Stephenie Meyer knows how to get you hooked, and for all its faults, it's not a terrible book. I have so much to say about Twilight that I can't think of right now, but I'll leave you with this:

Ugh, first person POV is a personal squick of mine, too. It's like you're only getting half the story, you know? And it doesn't help that Bella compares Edward to Adonis on every. other. page. "Edward and his ochre eyes and tawny hair and marble face, ooooh!" It's like, we know he's attractive. Stop fangirling over him, Stephenie Meyer Bella.

It gets worse in New Moon, just you wait.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, unfortunately, vampires stories seem to be severely limited to YA and Anne Rice. Meaning self-indulgence to the max. :P

At least Bella doesn't tell you what brands of clothing she wears.

GAH! @_@

And it doesn't help that Bella compares Edward to Adonis on every. other. page.

NO JOKE!

P.S: You were so right about Fullmetal Alchemist! LOVING it! :D

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

I know! I've tried reading Anne Rice, but I don't even know where to start..

GAH! @_@
No, seriously! In "Vampire Kisses," the protagonist is Raven (RAVEN, for God's sake!), a goth girl who lives in "Dullsville" and just longs for people to understand her and her Edward Scissorhands lamp. Fortunately an extremely attractive and equally misunderstood vampire moves into the haunted mansion down the street...

NO JOKE!
Somehow I have a feeling that those comparisons would be in there no matter what POV the book is in, but third person POV would definitely be an improvement.

Huzzah for FMA! Are you reading the manga or watching the anime? XD

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Both! FMA is hilarious. ^_^ Although, Gluttony creeps the heck out of me!

Lol. Edward Scissorhands lamp? Okay... Won't be reading that anytime soon.

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Gluttony is far more creepy in the manga. D:

...Yeah, really. Or wait, maybe it was a Nightmare Before Christmas lamp and an Edward Scissorhands lightswitch. Either way. Oh, and Raven has an Olivia Outcast journal too, whatever the hell that is. The name is enough to make me steer clear of the new books... *shudders*

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

I've never read the book(s), but I'm getting a kick out of your flist's comments. XD Since I'm writing a YA novel in (uh-oh) first person POV, I'm trying to learn what I can from readers' experiences on what works and what doesn't.

I do notice an obscene number of vampire novels in the YA section of any given bookstore. What's up with that? Why only one or two historicals on the shelves? *grouses*

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

"Since I'm writing a YA novel in (uh-oh) first person POV..."

D'oh! Sorry about that. XD I did say that it was a personal squick.

My personal theory is that the whole "lonely, angsty, and misunderstood" thing really appeals to the Lonely, Angsty, and Misunderstood Teenagers Association. Hence, YA section. The lack of historical novels is just because the world is an unfair place. Especially for the Lonely, Angsty, and Misunderstood Teenagers Association. ;)

[ajmckay.livejournal.com]

I just finished that book a few days ago after a few people told me I had to read it. I found it okay, nothing wonderful, but nothing really terrible either. I was really sick of hearing how unbelievably gorgeous Edward was by the end. Yeah, first person POV from Bella's viewpoint, but it's grating. I don't think I would've loved this book even in junior high.

I don't think I'm going to read the other two.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

"I found it okay, nothing wonderful, but nothing really terrible either."

That seems to be the consensus. :(

"I was really sick of hearing how unbelievably gorgeous Edward was by the end."

Lol. I was rolling my eyes after the second time she started waxing poetic.

They are rather expensive for something that falls short of awesome.

[graycloud.livejournal.com]

Oi those books... people are crazy for them. Kiki loves them. The first one was "meh". That freaking girl bugs the piss out of me. Yeah, you're pathetic, we get it. I got through the first one, couldn't stand (had to be forces to finish) the second one. So if you are not in love with it by the end I say don't bother.

Really the only interest that remains for me is if they turn her into a vampire, and that is only because they say it is unbarably painful and I want to see her in agony....

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Why are people so crazy for them? Is everyone really so starved for decent enough writing that they're willing to be blinded by, well, everything else? :(

"I want to see her in agony..."

LOL! Uh-oh. People keep implying that she only gets more annoying as they go...

[graycloud.livejournal.com]

I really couldn't tell you why people like them. Kiki just loves vampires, and everyone else at Steve's just likes making fun of the fact that these vampires get all sparkly in the sun ^-^

She does just get more annoying, and whiney, and pathetic, and then she delves a little into the bitchy... and then a little bit more... and then she doesn't die, nad for some reason the people she comes into contact with continue to adore her... go figure.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! You just identified a Mary-Sue in its secondary habitat- its first being in fan fic. *Gives you a safari badge*

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Have you finished Twilight yet?

I just finished Eclipse (the third one) and after browsing numerous forums and websites, I have come to the conclusion that I am the only person on the planet who does not think that Stephenie Meyer is the best thing since sliced bread.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

That is disturbing to hear

No, I haven't finished yet. I just hit the part where you find out that the vampires are sparkly. @__@

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? I think you and the others who commented on this post are the only ones who thought it was lame. D:

...And oh God, that part? Is it the part where they're frolicking in the meadow? IT GETS WORSE.

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Nooooooooooooooes!! D: I'm barely holding onto my will to finish this thing as it is!

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

I take it you're not going to move on to read the rest?

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Uh, that's a negative. ;)

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

Good choice. I don't know why I was compelled to read the rest of them... ;_; But I did. I just have this thing about saying something a series is bad if I haven't read the whole thing.

Know how Bella is whiny in the first book? Well, in the second book, Edward leaves *to keep her safe omg* and she pretty much emos thought the entire book. It's a neverending wankfest. D:

[starvinbohemian.livejournal.com]

Oh, God. That settles it. She's bad enough whenever he doesn't come to freaking school. I can't take a whole book of that. D:

[kuridee.livejournal.com]

It just...it makes me want to barf. I don't even remember them falling in love at all, because it was like SNAP OMG I LUV U EDWARD I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU.

And when he's not around she spirals into depression.

The first-person narration oddly doesn't squick me quite as much as the lack of a strong, leading female character does. D:

(Aka dear Bella: please get a gun or something. Don't just stand there and be useless, and then emoing about how the Cullens always drop whatever they're doing and come to your rescue.)

*could go on forever*