Comments | anna_the_fair: More Twilight Criticism

anna_the_fair

More Twilight Criticism

Jul 17, 2008 12:03

I've now read up to pg. 285, and it's getting cheesier by the sentence.

Anyway:

( Ugh............ )

Comments 38

monica_black November 19 2008, 03:42:54 UTC

Okay, this may seem weird, but I found this by typing in Twilight AND criticisms on Google because I was sick and tired of people constantly praising it.

And I agree with a lot of what you say. The Cullens being vampires is supposed to be a secret from the people of Forks (I just about died when I found out that it was a real town) and Bella found this out. Shouldn't he be freaking out.

A lot of things that Meyer says are horribly cliched (like the quote you use). Which you're supposed to avoid in writing.

I have to laugh, she holds an English degree and J.K. Rowling doesn't, yet Rowling writes much better. Not in a Kurt Vonnegut good, but better.

Me too! monica_black January 14 2009, 02:07:32 UTC

I am teaching for the first time this year and have graded about thirty book reports on Twilight. I was concerned by the things that the students were getting out of the book and thought it was time to look into the books myself. I typed in Twilight Criticism too and stumbled upon this. Great posts by the way! The thing I am most concerned about after reading the students' reaction (mind you I haven't read the books yet) is that they appear to be implying that Bella is in need of a man to save her. Am I misguided in reading their papers? Is Bella too flat of a character to be self-sufficient at all or is this a sign of deeper issues?

Re: Me too! monica_black April 30 2009, 05:07:32 UTC

It takes a bit of deeper reading to notice, but yes, Bella is seemingly unable to function without a man to save her. Or a man at all. I'm going to use New Moon as an example here, Edward leaves, and Bella seemingly can't live without him, so she throws herself off a cliff.

Not the best example to young girls, if you ask me.

Re: Me too! monica_black September 2 2009, 01:51:58 UTC

i agree. Bella is an insanely weak minded character. What was all that crap about in Breaking Dawn: "Of course i would keep my heart beating. Hadn't I promised them i would?" or something like that. Sorry Bella, did you forget that in the second book you "promised" Edward that you wouldnt do anything stupid/reckless? What does she do? She creashes a motorcycle-twice-and throws herself off a freaking cliff. And she doesn't find any of that ironic?????Stupid Bimbo.

copy rights anonymous December 11 2008, 14:19:35 UTC

i just watched the movie, i am beyond disgusted, half the plot is stolen from other authors, the whole werewolf vs vampire, glittery skin, and not being able to read her mind? The first two are from Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake, vampire hunter" (vamp vs werewolf for love of chick) and "Merry Gentry" series (glittery/glowing skin) and the 3rd is from the "Carpathian" series by Christine Feehan and "Argeneau" series by Lynsay Sands (not being able to read her mind therefor making her his mate).
The characters don't have character, they lack passion and lack motivation, i got the feeling they are both obsessed teens looking for love in the wrong place, shes in love with him being a vamp and him because he can't read her mind and she smells good...
In layman's terms, it sucks.

Re: copy rights anonymous June 24 2009, 17:55:25 UTC

In the Southern Vampire series (long preceeding Twilight) the main character (Sookie) is a telepath, and falls head over heels for a vampire (Bill) because she can't read his mind.

Who knows where the kid that wrote Twilight took the idea...unoriginal regardless.

anonymous January 2 2009, 21:26:24 UTC

I also found this post searching for "twilight criticism", though I was trying to look for some sort of literary criticism, someone trying to make sense out of why this is such a big pop cultural phenomenon when it clearly sucks... bad. I saw the movie first, and I literally laughed out loud so many times at the cheesy plot line (glittery skin, are you fucking kidding me!?) and horrible dialogue. Yep, you're 17 years old and totally 100% ready to commit your eternity to this guy you've never even had much of a conversation with. That's EXACTLY what we want 13 year old girls reading -- books that confirm their hormone fueled "I'll die for you!" obsessions that most of us look back on with some level of embarrassment once we're out of those years. Yeah, "eternal love" in high school, THAT is something we should be supporting. Since I had a few weeks to kill during winter break, I figured I might as well read the whole series, since my sister already owns the books. The second one was probably the best, mostly because OMG EDWARD!!!! is ( ... )

About the Author... anonymous January 26 2009, 22:46:57 UTC

I tried to read The Host... god this book was just as bad as Twilight. Do not read it, for it is just the same thing - filled with a girl obsessing over a guy.
Just a little advice... :)

Anne Rice anonymous January 12 2009, 21:34:13 UTC

I totally agree - If you want to read a good series about vampires, read the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, not this Twilight trash.

takemeto_utopia February 7 2009, 03:06:41 UTC

i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks that edward FOLLOWING BELLA AROUND is weird. like, i have a frikking problem with that? just because your in love with someone does not give you the right to eliminate their privacy. but apparently bella doesn't have a problem with it. i pretty much want to shoot her - there's actually nothing about her character that i like. i'm loving reading your reviews - it's nice to know i'm not alone in this!

takemeto_utopia April 19 2009, 18:29:07 UTC

Please forgive me, but I would just like to step in on your conversation for a moment. I don' disagree that the series may not be up to the same standards as some of the literary classics that we have all come to love and respect over the last few centuries, but I really think that critics should really relax a little. First of, there criticism "I could have written it better myself" doesn't stand, because if you could have or can--then why don't you? If published, I'll read it and offer you the same respect I would any author Nabokov or Meyer. BTW Nabokov--a revered author-irritates me and I can read him perfectly well in his native tongue, but each time I do (English or Russian), I feel like his "language rolls dislexic on my tongue (Nicholas Samaras quote). Anyway, just remind yourselves sometimes that even a badly written piece of fiction can be great fiction because of not necessarily how it is written, but how it makes the reader feel. Many young women have fallen in love with plenty of literary characters that were popularly ( ... )

takemeto_utopia April 19 2009, 23:25:12 UTC

i'm very sorry - i never meant to condescend! i'm sorry if that's how you took my comment. the truth is that i didn't like the books and i don't like stephanie meyer's writing or her characters - but that is my completely subjective view, and i understand that not everyone will share it. i don't understand the hype surrounding these books at all - but i have no problem with the fans, as long as they don't try to convince me to like it or abuse me for not agreeing with them. i have my opinion, they have theirs, and you have yours. i'm very sorry for any misunderstanding, and that you i'll definately be more careful with how i phrase my arguments in the future =)

Sweet merciful crap... takemeto_utopia May 11 2009, 06:54:17 UTC

We'll start with a mini bio. I'm a dad. My daughter is 13. Totally in love with these books, the film. All things Twilight. My friend who is in her 20's is also awe struck by all things Twilight... I've been published a few times myself. I DO NOT strive to be a writer, but some things just get written. Now.... my daughter is into the WORST tripe I've ever read or watched. My friend is now someone whose opinion I can no longer respect on literary or cinematic content. I can write better. I have written better, and yeah.. when I was 12. I wish for the purpose of letting girls mature without the enforcing of obsession over pretty dudes.. that this series of "books" never saw the light of day. To add. Nobokov..kinda sucked. Rawling... over rated but passable for the demographic with no negative enforcement. Tolkien...not that great either. Though to defend on the comment of not being original, please tell me when the last original main stream book was written. I'd love to think it happened after 1802... though I have my doubts. There is ( ... )

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