06.09.08
Twilight – the book
I think I’m the last vampire afficionado in America (and possibly the English speaking world) to read Stephanie Meyer’s YA opus about blood and love in Forks, Washington. I’ve had the book for months now, but anticipating a fun read, I waited until summer vacation to read it when I’d have time to sit and enjoy. My analysis? Bella is a whiny twit and Edward is a dreary ponce, and their relationship shoves some religious and gender views that I really don’t agree with down the reader’s throat. And yet… I immediately bought the next two books (the third one in hardback, and I never buy hardback) and read all 1600 or so pages of the series in less than a week. I went to Meyers’ website and read the first chapter of Midnight Sun, her new WIP telling Twilight from Edward’s perspective. I checked out the imdb website to see if the actors matched the characters in my head (so-so… I’ll wait until it comes out to judge). The whole thing totally sends me. How does that happen?
I dunno. I’ve been thinking about it, trying to figure out where the magic comes from when I spend a large chunk of the series irritated at the narrator for being so single-mindedly dependent on her boyfriend, unnecessarily guilt-ridden, and occasionally stupid as a box of cookies. Is it because I love the way Edward and Jacob Black fight? Now those are some dern funny scenes. Does it come from how much I adore Jake? Maybe. He’s cool, and Bella frequently becomes much more like someone I can respect (minus the listening to voices) when she’s around him than she is with her “true love” Edward. But I’m easy on writers, and I’m rooting for Edward like I’m sure I’m “supposed to”. And I really want them to succeed. Seriously, why is that? Is it because, like with Princess Bride, I secretly want some brilliant, powerful man to “save” me even though my rational soul revolts against the idea? I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about the book that I love, but I’m excitedly waiting for the fourth title, and I’m sure I’ll pick it up in hardback as soon as I can.
The mysteries of art and our psyche. So… Twilight, the final verdict? Utterly against my will, I love it muchly.
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November 23, 2009 at 7:06 pm
[...] book, I’m not sure I’d like the movie. If that makes any sense. As I mentioned in my original review of Twilight (the novel), I really don’t like the way genders are portrayed in the book. Bella is too [...]