Saturday, October 25, 2008

Go ahead and hate me.

I realize that by writing this post I am opening myself up for a stoning. I know this and yet that is part of the very reason why I want to write this. Maybe the traumatic move has made me crave misery, it liking company and all. Maybe I just want to get it off my chest. Maybe I just want to see how many people will respond. So here it is:

I don't like Twilight.

I read the book. Every teenaged girl in my ward was aflutter about it and talked of nothing else. My sister, Tori, said it changed her life and she (self admittedly) doesn't like to read!
I. Was. Bored.
How many times can you compare skin to marble? How many times can you try to make stalker-like behavior seem romantic? How can you possibly think about a 400+ year old man (we are going to let it slide that he is a vampire, which is a whole other issue) pursuing a 17-year-old girl and not be creeped out?
I saw no reason for Bella and Edward to be in love. Bella is so painfully desperate and self patronizing it made me ill. Edward is not nice. And it was boring! I admit, the last third of the book was easier to digest. I actually wanted to finish reading it. The getting to that point, though, was painful. I did start the second book while we were house-sitting (they owned two copies). I haven't felt any rush to finish it although I did like it better than the first. At least Edward was gone for most of it and there was some plot right from the start.
I guess what I don't understand is the outright infatuation of this book by people like me: Stay at home moms in their late twenties and thirties! I can understand high school girls swooning over a perfect "bad boy" and falling head over heels for no reason. That is what people who have never been in real relationships think that love is. Or should be. Or could be. But really? It is really that popular with us older gals?
Maybe I just had my hopes up. I guess I heard how good it was and how much better than Harry Potter (gasp!) it was and that it was the most well written, edge of your seat, page turning novel ever. And it wasn't. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great.
On a somewhat unrelated note: Isn't the basis for the entirety of Bella and Edward's relationship is that E is so hot he is painful to look at? Then why, oh why, is he so ugly here?

Cedric was cute, so what happened?

15 comments:

Brooke said...

I've never read it... I'm not a big reader because I do not like all the neglect my family gets when I get into a book. I turn into the "don't you dare bother me" mom, so I just don't even start.
But while we are on the topic of not liking books... I DIDN'T like Harry Potter, so what do you think of that!

Meg said...

Ha ha! My aunt didn't like HP either. No haters here, everyone can have their own opinions. I guess that is why there are so many books! I loved Golden Compass and some people think I can't be a good member of The Church because of it.

Russ said...

This is interesting! I refuse to read Twilight because I feel like those that do read it get a stitch crazy. When they talk about it, their eyes get glazed over and it creeps me out.

So, I know I should read it and give it a chance, but the thought of doing so makes me want to barf.

And my mom says the same thing about the teenage and vamp relationship. How it's acceptable pedophilia.

Claudia said...

Wow...I hadn't thought of some of your points (but DID think of others). As to it being life-changing? Hell no! I read the whole series this summer because my book club was on hiatus. It was purely an "entertainment read". And I would NEVER say it was better than HP. I liked the first 2 Twilight books the best...book 4 is, well, even more disturbing than what you didn't like about the first one! I sadly gave in to the pressure--I mean, I work at the library, where those books pass through my hands multiple times a day, not to mention the recomendation from so many people I know/work with. Now I've read them, yes, I will go see the movie, but it is not necessary for me to have them in my permenant library, and it is doubtful that I will ever read them again. It was just mindless reading for the summer. As for the (simple?) writing style...it WAS written for teenagers, after all.

Meg said...

I know it was written for teens! That is my point. Why then, do so many grown women think it is the best book they have ever read?

Angi said...

I am a twilight virgin and I plan to stay that way.

Diana Hickman said...

First of all I'd like to say I'm a long time reader, first time poster. HUGE fan. Miss you ALOT!
I liked the book. It kept me enterteained the week n a half it took me to read the whole series. Lets face it...most of our hubbies don't come close to being romantic and so that is why we go to chick flicks and or read romance novels. Didn't like the books? Try chocolate...or pumpkin pie ;) There are other books that are better, Golden Compass series is one of them. Pride and Prejudice is a glorious book. The movie came out and we all rushed to see it in hopes it would be just as good (it has been done!) Sadly it wasn't (the dvd tv series is far better,) but we bought the dvd and we watch it now and then. About the obssesed part...well, the people whose eyes glazed over and dressed up for the last book are the same kind of people who collected beannie babies when that was going on. Nuff said.

The Williams Family said...

I've read the whole series...I liked them, though I felt a little overwhelmed with the amount of mushy/romance in it. I had to take a break between each book. Most of the people I know who've read them have read them at least 2 or 3 times but I'm not sure I can. Once was enough. My favorite part of the series was in book 4 where Jacob narrates rather than Bella...the whole series should've been his point of view! I am going to watch the movie and I have low expectations...I think the chick who's playing Bella is lacking in the acting department. I LOVE the Harry Potter books and I don't see how anyone could compare the two series...HP is far better in my opinion =). I was actually introduced to the Twilight Series by my mother in law which really surprised me. I think one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS would have to be....GONE WITH THE WIND! Now THAT is a novel! If you haven't read it...ya should! =)!

Erin said...

Meg, I loved reading your post because I feel the exact same way - the repetition, the sickeningly sweet sentiments...Many a student recommended it, but I read it because of the 40-somethings that sung its praises. What I wanted to poke myself in the eye over is the "I will kill myself if you go" - "No, I'll kill myself more" conversation over....and over....and over...again. My favorite was also the fourth - Jacob is far more interesting, not to mention warm. That is until the fourth book when....UGH! I was so disgusted with the fourth book, but I finished it because of many prodings by others but...UGH! Oh, and the health teacher here at the school said that what happens in a man's brain when he watches porn is the same thing that happens in women's brains while they read Twilight and other romance novels. Makes ya think...

Erin said...

Sorry - my favorite is the second, not the fourth. I repeat, NOT THE FOURTH!

Rich, Britt, Nate, and Tate said...

The fourth book drug on and on and on and on. I think it took me over a month and half to read it. My favorite was the 1st book, something completly differnet then I have read in a long time.

momwouldgo said...

I couldn't resist...the whole vampire thing is just creepy...the first book was okay, not steller and yes, Edward is ugly in the movie poster, too bad at least that could have been fun. Never did 2-4? I was done at one.

Meg...you need to go swimming!

Me

Claudia said...

I just thought I'd check your page to see if there was a new post, and when there wasn't, I was curious as to what other people said about this one... and wow! 12 (this one makes 13) responses! I guess you really hit a nerve! I don't think i've EVER had 12 responses to a post I've made. Then again, I don't even think I have 12 readers...

Brianne said...

I am sad to say that I loved the Twilight books. They were innocent and sweet, and I am obviously starved for romance. Just about everyone around here--in my single's branch especially--has read them, it was a way bigger deal than Harry. Sorry you didn't enjoy them, and I'm sad to admit the movie will probably only make the Twilight-mania worse. I love your blog by the way!

susannah said...

Meg I am going to leave a comment because the reason I could not finish the book 1 is because I was rasied on a Indian reservation and all that part about the tribe up there being in on the whole vampire/ werewolf thing creeped me. The indians where I was raised still really believe in that, so she did her homework on researching Indian beliefs.