01 January 2008

Stuck in the Stephanie Meyers Twilight Zone


OK so I had heard a lot of good things about the Twilight books from a lot of people including my sister and my mother-in-law Carolyn. This didn't surprise me since it's basically a teenage romance novel and my sister is still sort of a teenager and Carolyn had previously sent me a whole shelf of romance novels. But then my good friend Jon Madsen also strongly recommended them. So I asked for the set for Christmas. Good thing I didn't have to work much because I started reading the set (3 book each book between 500 and 650 pages) on Dec 26th and finished on the 29th. That involved going to bed at around 5 am most mornings. 
So I really enjoyed these teenage vampire romance novels. The action wasn't the best being a little predictable and the romance wasn't the best being a little over the top. If Bella wasn't in a breathless stupor EVERY TIME she's with Edward it would have been better. But all in all it was a great set of books. It had to be. Otherwise I would have got more sleep. I think she does a great job of leaving chapters in such a way that you have to read the next chapter now. I call it the 24 effect. If you've ever watched a season of 24 on DVD you know what I mean. So the first book is slated to be realeased as a movie Dec 2008 b y Summit Entertainment with Katherine Hardwicke directing. I'm a little worried that Stephanie didn't hold out for a better studio. While halfway through the 1st book I started picturing all the chapters as scenes in a movie and I got excited. But I think it could get messed up pretty easily. 
So I wondered how Stephanie would handle the whole erotic vampire angle, she being LDS and all that (another concern I have for the film if she released too much control). There are a fair amount of make out scenes. So what she came up with is Edward can't "do it" with Bella cause he's afraid he will kill her - whether losing control of his passions will make it impossible to not go for the jugular (literally), or whether he will lose control of his strength and kill her. So they suck face a lot but he always pulls out his for Strength of youth pamphlet before anything happens. Then I was even more surprise when he agrees that they can try... after they are married. Ed's reasons being he doesn't want to put her standing with the big man upstairs in any jeopardy (even though he's consented to make her a vampire) and also he was actually born early in the 20th century so he's a little old fashioned. So that was interesting.
My favorite character is Alice. She is the cutest vampire ever. She's like Galinda from Wicked but with deadly vampire skills. 
OK now my big problem with these books is also my big problem with women in general. Apparently someone just has to be a good kisser and women have no choice but to give in and also decide that they don't feel at all the way they thought so darn sure they did. Read Eclipse and you'll know what I mean. Also Bella tries to juggle her love with her best-friend-with-benefits. Personally I think women do this to have a safety net. I was said safety net in High school for some crummy girl who shall never be mentioned by name. Ever.
Alright, enough bitterness. I really dug these books and recommend them to most people. These aren't pulitzer prize material. But think of it as Ann Rice where you won't feel guilty when  your parents find you reading it.  I think this was my most disorganized post ever.

12 comments:

Rhett said...

2 comments:

- Supposedly Steph Meyer is not very active LDS anymore. I have no way of backing this up and its a complete rumor that I heard, but its worth mentioning. (Unless you are Steph Meyer and are active and rumors like this upset you)
- You can read the 1st chapter of the new book online in PDF form. Its not the 4th book. Its a parallel novel to Twilight from Edwards perspective. Yes like Ender's Shadow. Just google it to find it.
Kinda weird that the only parallel novels I've ever heard of were written by LDS authors (but not LDS works, unless you count Lehi and Nephi, but I don't because I can't seem to find the book of Lehi in print). If anyone knows any other good parallel novels let me know. I'd be interested.

J.R. said...

Well that's too bad to hear. If I ever meet her I'll scold her and tell her to go back to church. So the new book just covers Twilight? I heard she is working on a 5th book. Is she doing parallels for all the books? I just freaking want to see Bella get changed. I need that closure.

Amanda said...

I read Twilight, but when I found out the second one was about the werewolves and not the vampires I didn't bother going on. People didn't give it the best reviews. But maybe now I'll have to. Although I'll have to beg my public library to get a copy. I'm too cheap to buy it.

J.R. said...

I see your Werewolf prejudice and I call you out. Read it. It's still about vampires in the end. And then the 3rd book is about both of course. The first was probably the best and then the third and then the second but all good.

joN. said...

i don't recall giving it that much of a recommendation. i think i told you to read it because i knew you eventually would anyway and i just wanted to hasten the process. it's nice you liked them, otherwise you'd blame me. i actually only finished the first book. i'm sure i'll gradually get to the others just like i gradually got to the harry potter books.

J.R. said...

Jon I remember you being in tears and saying that it was better than the scriptures. That's what I recall. Jon, what's better? Guitar Hero III or Rock Band? I only have GH3 (I'll post later), but I love it loud. Crappy Knights of Cydonia on Medium is nigh impossible though.

joN. said...

rockband is better IF you have the band. the drumming is truly fun and unique, but the guitar work alone in rockband isn't as good as the guitar in guitar hero. at our house the drumming is the in-demand seat of all time. strangely, just over new year's "knights of cydonia" became the first song i played all the way through on expert. try it on practice on expert. it will BLOW YOUR MIND.

Anonymous said...

Oh, JR. I thought you were Male. I suppose not. I feel nothing but disappointment.

jamirodana said...

I loved the books! I have actually been half way through Eclipse for a few months now because I found out the next book won't be done until Fall 2008, so what's the rush! Haha.
I tried to get Jake to read them but he refused.

jamirodana said...

By the way, I'm a firm safety nets. I can't tell you any more of the women's "code" but yes, we all believe in the safety net.

J.R. said...

One more piece of the puzzle. These "safety nets" are the key to unlocking the entire mystery. I can feel it!

jamirodana said...

Ok, whoops! I totally had a typo in my last comment.
"I'm a firm believer in the safety net theory."
thank you.