tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post2604170178131521014..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.057-04:00Comments on Word-Whores: Defending TwilightK.A. Krantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-44467678541789022672013-03-02T17:00:39.029-05:002013-03-02T17:00:39.029-05:00I get your opinion, but Dracula could actually go ...I get your opinion, but Dracula could actually go out in the sunlight no problem, along with many other vampires. Bella is not a Mary-Sue (and many literature academics can't even come to an agreement on what a Mary-Sue actually is). And as for the sparkling, it's not really a focal point of the book series enough for me to hate a entire series over it. <br /><br />With all do respect,<br />Lay<br /><br />Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07570488522005277463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-34817821151890808012012-08-08T08:52:38.060-04:002012-08-08T08:52:38.060-04:00I guess that's the bit that bothers me, B.E. -...I guess that's the bit that bothers me, B.E. - all the people who just honestly love it. It's a pretty cheap shot at this point.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-53104711567288870722012-08-08T08:02:40.694-04:002012-08-08T08:02:40.694-04:00Wow. Loads of comments while I was off twiddling ...Wow. Loads of comments while I was off twiddling my thumbs. Cool. <br /><br />I never read Twilight. It's on my list and I'll try to read it with an open mind, though. My daughter has read them all and loves them. (Okay, maybe not the last book as much as the others, but still...) And like you, she's really tired of all the Twilight bashing out there.B.E. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336115135400388268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-56846260088670183242012-08-06T15:21:10.294-04:002012-08-06T15:21:10.294-04:00here, here for the gateway books! For they will br...here, here for the gateway books! For they will bring them to your doorstep eventually ;)Sharon Stognerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732141088637958862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-1789327935334057192012-08-06T07:24:09.525-04:002012-08-06T07:24:09.525-04:00short and sweet - thanks!short and sweet - thanks!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-39550145547622474172012-08-06T03:24:05.712-04:002012-08-06T03:24:05.712-04:00Totally agreeTotally agreesassenach888https://www.blogger.com/profile/02582921295908720289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-48610777451622414162012-08-05T22:56:52.937-04:002012-08-05T22:56:52.937-04:00I read Fifty Shades, and I think it's powerful...I read Fifty Shades, and I think it's powerful for a lot of the same reasons Twilight is - no surprise there. I agree, Sharon, that both rely a lot on the newbie reader.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-32898551015581022872012-08-05T22:52:16.163-04:002012-08-05T22:52:16.163-04:00I agree, Stacy - we should be so lucky!I agree, Stacy - we should be so lucky!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-24922095817755935952012-08-05T22:51:51.875-04:002012-08-05T22:51:51.875-04:00LOL, Sharon. I love a good gateway series! I agree...LOL, Sharon. I love a good gateway series! I agree - hard core PNR/UF readers won't get much from these books. But for a newbie? Whole new world!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-23372217100808774602012-08-05T22:50:24.607-04:002012-08-05T22:50:24.607-04:00I agree that the first was the best. I was forced ...I agree that the first was the best. I was forced to read Book 4, by one of the very people I gave Book 1 to, so we could talk about it. Paying for my sins!<br /><br />I've heard other people say that - that Bella just reacts. I didn't tweak to that, so it didn't bother me. But I can see how it would!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-62419563741290575952012-08-05T22:47:22.782-04:002012-08-05T22:47:22.782-04:00loved Hunger Games...it was so depressing, but pow...loved Hunger Games...it was so depressing, but powerful...my 11 year old daughter read them and now she runs around making bow and arrows in the woods :)Sharon Stognerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732141088637958862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-86621622607965330562012-08-05T22:46:23.573-04:002012-08-05T22:46:23.573-04:00I haven't read 50 Shades and I don't think...I haven't read 50 Shades and I don't think I will. I think that is like Twilight. If you have nothing else to compare it too then it is probably OMG! kind of how I felt when I first read Anita Blake's series can't wait to hear what you have to say about 50 Shades CarolynSharon Stognerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732141088637958862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-79126130691271891222012-08-05T22:45:17.009-04:002012-08-05T22:45:17.009-04:00I totally get your opinion and respect it, as one ...I totally get your opinion and respect it, as one big girl to another. An honestly-arrived at take is always worth listening to - and debating. Cuz these vampires DO drink blood and have a good reason to not go out in the daylight. Just saying... for the sake of argument. ;-)Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-30005190296952746152012-08-05T22:39:13.904-04:002012-08-05T22:39:13.904-04:00lol - yay!lol - yay!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-67105020992862166512012-08-05T21:16:30.787-04:002012-08-05T21:16:30.787-04:00I'll be doing my post on 50 shades. lol. Unles...I'll be doing my post on 50 shades. lol. Unless somebody beats me to it!! Looks like it won't be you!Carolyn Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195853833116263029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-33175209033713009272012-08-05T21:14:45.523-04:002012-08-05T21:14:45.523-04:00Thanks, but you don't have to! I picked up a c...Thanks, but you don't have to! I picked up a copy at a garage sale recently! Yay!Carolyn Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195853833116263029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-40442701432766079822012-08-05T19:08:17.128-04:002012-08-05T19:08:17.128-04:00I've read the first page of Twilight. I put it...I've read the first page of Twilight. I put it down and walked away and that was that. I may attempt it again at some point, but there's a perverse side of me that doesn't like reading "blockbusters" when they're super hot. I haven't read Hunger Games yet. I refused to read Harry Potter until book 5 or 6 came out. I didn't have anything against it, but I part of me just didn't want to deal with the hype. (And obviously the hype hadn't died down by the time I *did* read it, but some of the initial stuff did.) I read it and liked it - not to the same extent as some, but they were enjoyable. <br /><br />So it could be I will pick up Twilight again at some point, but there are other books on my TBR that I'll definitely get to first.<br /><br />And don't get me started on 50 Shades. I've read enough passages of that on Tumblr to realize that I have no desire to ever read it - but chances are, even if I *did* want to read it, I wouldn't. Principle of the matter - I have a real issue with stealing people's IP and making a profit off of it. <br /><br />(I don't judge people by what they like or don't like, btw - as long as you find them enjoyable and they make you happy? Works for me.) :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810952821295312008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-738718469770696352012-08-05T19:03:58.057-04:002012-08-05T19:03:58.057-04:00I read them. I loved them. I read them again (and ...I read them. I loved them. I read them again (and again and again). I am not ashamed, either. Stephenie Meyer wrote characters that gripped me and I couldn't get them out of my head. I only hope some day my characters affect readers in the same way.Stacy McKitrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-28047919881636790402012-08-05T18:57:16.282-04:002012-08-05T18:57:16.282-04:00Twilight was my gateway series. I discovered it ri...Twilight was my gateway series. I discovered it right as the last one came out. I read all 4 books within a week and then went looking for more! I think those who had already read some awesome PNR and UF might be disappointed in Twilight, but for someone like me who hadn't read anything like it since Interview with a Vampire (20 years earlier) I was spellbound, there was nothing else to compare it too at the time. I raise my hand and say YES, I LOVED TWILIGHT! but the movies suckSharon Stognerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732141088637958862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-87755957896615967942012-08-05T18:39:21.315-04:002012-08-05T18:39:21.315-04:00I've read them all. I felt the first one was a...I've read them all. I felt the first one was a good effort but it just went downhill from there. (Don't even get me started on the over-explanations and boatload of tertiary characters in the fourth book.)<br />Regarding Twilight specifically: it reads very "Mary Sue". I get why teen/tweens love this plot. It's what every girl dreams of: "I'd be popular and well-liked if I just lived somewhere else." So said girl moves to new place and voila, instant boy-magnet. Not only is said girl a boy magnet, she meets the man of her dreams who will not pressure her into a physical relationship. His family adores her, oh and let's add a big bad villain that instantly sends dream-man into protection mode. It's trite to the point of nearly being a Disney vehicle. <br />I get that when you're writing about vampires and werewolves there's an expectation of reality suspension, but that doesn't need to be at the cost of character development. I always felt like Bella was the pawn being moved about, always reacting. I've read many other fantasy books that really engaged me via the depth of the characters that I just didn't get here. <br />Do I hate these books? No. <br />But I do dislike the very low standard of writing and character.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02988978456891365285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-25346512026476900812012-08-05T18:22:00.441-04:002012-08-05T18:22:00.441-04:00I did read it. I hated it. I'm allowed.
It...I did read it. I hated it. I'm allowed.<br /><br />It's not because a teenager is in love. It's not because it's a wildly successful book and I feel a need to sneer in hipster fashion at it. It's not even because the vampires sparkle, per se.<br /><br />It's because I've never liked obvious Mary Sues. I'll sneer at any obvious Mary Sue. It's because the writing was far too embroidered for my taste and far too contrived. <br /><br />And the vampires sparkling? I've loved the vampire myth since I was tiny. My vampires have weakness and they can't go out in daylight. I don't have to like Twilight vampires just because they're called "vampires" for the convenience of the story. And what really embodies the difference between the vampires I love and the Twilight vampires I hate is the sparkles. So... stupid, sparkly vampires.<br /><br />So let me assure you I'm not just piling on hate of some cultural phenomenon I never personally experienced. Let me assure you I know vampires are fictional, but I'm allowed to enjoy the archetypical vampire. And let me assure you I neither feel ashamed, nor do I feel I should keep my opinion to myself.<br /><br />As a wise woman once said, "I'm a big girl and I stand by my opinions."Marin (AntiM)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06169366794914669666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-6227049794687691752012-08-05T17:43:39.995-04:002012-08-05T17:43:39.995-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Marin (AntiM)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06169366794914669666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-35864564399484135302012-08-05T16:02:10.308-04:002012-08-05T16:02:10.308-04:00What a great response, Kinley! I think a lot peopl...What a great response, Kinley! I think a lot people forget how many young women - and men - in their 20s discovered these genres via the Twilight books. I've been thinking more since I wrote this and the Katniss vs. Bella comparisons often seem to honor Katniss's more masculine qualities and pursuits while vilifying Bella's more feminine ones. Does a girl have to stick to a feminine role? Absolutely not. But does dealing with more feminine struggles make Bella a weak heroine? I really feel that females should not have to be like males in order to be interesting or admirable.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-3429197103009946512012-08-05T15:56:32.941-04:002012-08-05T15:56:32.941-04:00Yeah... that part is annoying. But - it is justifi...Yeah... that part is annoying. But - it is justified by the circumstances of the story and it's really a small part of the events, overall. I was able to overlook it.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-53097279884896669002012-08-05T15:32:54.156-04:002012-08-05T15:32:54.156-04:00You keep fighting the good fight, Jeffe! This is e...You keep fighting the good fight, Jeffe! This is everything I never put into words. I read Twilight when it wasn't huge. I re-read it, loved it, and couldn't quite figure out how to move on from it. It was my first paranormal romance and it led me to other paranormal YA, which led me to adult paranormal romance. Eventually I moved on, created my own stories, etc. But I thank Harry Potter and Twilight for being an inspiration when I was a teen/young twenties.<br /><br />We want to show strong heroines in YA to inspire young women, but I think we need to take a long look at what strength means. There is vulnerability and a lack of confidence inherent with youth. Giving a teenager a weapon/destined prophecy/witch powers isn't going to erase their internal struggle. I hope we don't forget that. I hope in our pursuit of pushing what should be, we don't lose sight of what is.Kinley Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421729190244218532noreply@blogger.com