BOOK CLUB FOR Twilight series - Page 3

[candipooh]

Stephanie said in an inerview once about how she never really had a goal to be a wonderful author, about how she knew that she would never win awards for her art of writing. She just wanted to be a good story teller. And she is. Her writing is no where near "the greats" But dang she is a great story teller. She "painted" the pictures and made up some great characters.

[battymama]

i just finished reading twighlight last week. They are addicting, its like crack you know its probably eating your brain away and its not good for you, but you just cant stop. On the whole they are enjoyable, i dont find them overly well written, it does read like a first novel, needs a bit of polish, although i am hoping that she continues to write as there is a lot of potential there. For all that the story really does take your imagination and runs away with it.

Originally Posted by rockportmama

So, to start a friendly debate/discussion:
1) Does the Twilight series have more or less chance of becoming classics than the Harry Potter series?

2) The books are written for young adults, but appeal to many adults as well. Are any men/boys reading these books? If so, what would they take away as messages of ideal manhood and whether they could ever hope to measure up?

3) For us adults in adult relationships, what does the series say to you about your relationship/partner. Do you see them in a different light now? Which character do they remind you of most?

Can't wait to read Book 4!

1. no, she really lacks the writing skills and polish that J.K has, the potter books have a lot more depth and sweep then the twilight series. Harry potter really is an epic, and i think bound to be a classic, these i think will die off.

2. i dont know any men that would read them, i could try to get my DH to read them if you like they really are like YA mills and boons with a few vampires thrown in for good measure. Honestly i dont find Edward to be much of a gentle man, is tis just me? he seems up himself and aloof, always going on about how he could hurt bella but chooses not to, and always treating her like the "little woman" who needs protecting and is incapable of thinking or making her own desisions.

3. Hasn't affected it. Really these books are just a bit of an escape for me, but real life is so different. Honestly i married a good steady loving man, none of this i dont hurt you because i love you crap, nice to visit for the duration of the book, but its nice to come back and have a snuggle with my man.

Originally Posted by Leilamus

hmm, i used to be able to do it, you just have to have a black text and then highlight it in black. Then people can't read it unless they highlight it in thread. Where oh where is the black highlight button though?

****New Moon "Spoiler"*****
Do the similarities to Aro of the Volturri and Armand from Interview with the Vampire bother anyone else?! read that Meyers said she didn't read any of Anne Rice's books before writing the series but I'm having my doubts. She said she was flattered by the comparisons but I don't think they were necessarily compliments, I think they were people pointing out the copying.

That said, I'm still reading New Moon (hope to finish tonight) and I plan to buy Eclipse this weekend so I'm still very much enjoying the series, but I really just found the last few chapters I was reading about Aro, Jane, Alec etc really, REALLY familiar and it annoyed me.

Anyone else?

i have only read twilight but i must say this niggles at me too, just the powers and rules that govern the vampires, it is very rice. I am not overly concerned, rice's books are so much a part of peoples ideals of vampires these days, it could just be a coincidence.

[cabo]

Originally Posted by Leilamus

SPOILER QUESTION!!!
* Why does Bella say no when Edward proposes at the end of New Moon? I'm thoroughly freaking befuddled at this! She wants to spend eternity with him, keeps begging him to change her over, complains about he's her world and then he asks to marry her and she says no. Is she thinking there will be a better deal in a few centuries or something? Did I miss a major piece of this? I was reading it at 1am last night so maybe it didn't process correctly.

She thought that her mother would freak out, since Renee married Charly at a very young age and it didn't work out, she walked out on him when Bella was a toddler, so her mom kept telling her what a huge mistake it was. I guess Bella was raised with a rather negative image of marriage, at least early marriage that is.
And she's also concerned about people talking about her. She says something along the lines of "I am not THAT kind of girl". The whole getting married straight out of highschool is only for loosers, blah...

I think you are right, it is strange. After all, she pretty much cut off Renee from her life altogether in Breaking Dawn and the townfolks gossip is about the last concern I would have if I were about to turn into a bloodsucking vampire.
Oh well. I guess the whole issue is about making the storyline more interesting, it adds some nice little not-so-serious conflict between Edward and Bella.

[boricuaqueen327]

So after reading the first three books I am converted to Team Jacob. I loved Edward in all the books but his relationship with Bella is not nearly as natural and healthy as Jacob's. It really made me sad to read about Bella choosing Edward and hte pain her and Jacob go through because of this. Jacob can protect just as well as Edward can (if not better I think) and he is not immortal. They can live a long, happy life together without living forever.

[AngieB]

I loved Jacob but I never wanted him to end up with Bella. I hated the way Bella treated him. She totally used him. Even when Edward came back I felt like she was just trying to keep Jacob around in case she ever needed him again.

I also could not figure out why Bella would not marry Edward. Wasn't she pretty much committing to marriage when she asked him to make her a vampire and spend the rest of forever with him?

[JTA Mom]

I've only read the first book, but I just don't like Edward. He's to passively violent for my tastes. I get how 'consuming' love is, but I still get squigged out whenever he goes all "mind over matter" "I want to kill you but I don't know how I keep myself from doing it". Ick.

So, as far as that goes, yea, Jacob is a LOT better, lol.

Ami

[alaskaberry]

Originally Posted by AngieB

I hated the way Bella treated him[Jacob]. She totally used him. Even when Edward came back I felt like she was just trying to keep Jacob around in case she ever needed him again.

I didn't like that either. It made me really start to dislike Bella. By the time I finished book 4...well, I really hated her. But then I just remind myself that if I met my teenage self today, I would feel the same way about her because I was the same way about my first boyfriend that Bella is about Edward.

Yay for Team Jacob!

[AlmostAPpropriate]

Hi everyone - I just finished book 2 and started book 3.

About Bella refusing to marry Edwards, It feels very contrived and not at all a natural response from the character. Like The author was fishing around for some kind of conflict to add interest their relationship and picked it at random.

I dont have a problem with the "negative role model" part of the book. As I see it, this is a FANTASY romance series. It's not just Edward who is more than human, their love is supernatural. To bind it with all the usual expectations lessens it.

I doubt that the majority of teenage girls will tolerate "vampire" characteristics in their boyfriends any more than I would start looking for a UPS guy to blow after watching Samantha do it in Sex in the City. And those who do, inlcluding women who are trapped in those situations, have many deeper reasons for it than a paranormal romance novel.

[the_lissa]

Am I the only one who found Bella`s refusal to marry Edward to be believableÉ If anything, I found Edward`s insistence on the marriage odd.

[AlmostAPpropriate]

I felt like the motive for his insistence was clear - to postpone Bella's conversion. He knew she would balk at the idea, thus buying him time.

[davidsmama]

I also think Edward's proposal was to postpone her conversion... You also have to remember that when he "came of age", marriage at that age was considered normal and expected.

I married my high school sweetheart and although I think our relationship was much heathier... I still related to her! That first love is sooo consuming

I was teetering on the Edward/Jacob wagon until she brought up the simple fact that there was no imprinting btw her and Jacob! She knew that her and Edward had a real chance of loving each other forever (if she converted) whereas Jacob still likely had someone out there who would steal his devotion from her! Nothing like worrying every time some new girl came in to the picture!

I have finally started to keep up on the laundry and all my other duties
I only started the series for a 4th time... I told my DH that it is like watching a favorite movie over and over... cept that it takes a bit longer!

I saw the movie and I loved it for what it was! Yes, I missed the slow progression of their relationship but I think Hardwicke tried. I would have gladly sat thru another hour if it allowed more of the book to be portrayed accurately... but sadly it wasn't the book (which I can look at when ever I want) and I still loved the movie! It sounds like New Moon is a go and hopefully a bigger budget will help with some of the cheese factor!

Nothing like a little fantasy... OME

[cabo]

I am Team Edward. Sorry, but I think that Jacob is immature. He keeps pressuring her into a relationship and also kisses her against her will, which is so not cool. Bella is an old soul and she matches well with someone older. There was a period during Eclipse when Edward was annoyingly protective and pushy towards Bella, but he realized soon enough that she could make her own choices after she bailed out on him and Alice. She got stronger over the course of the series and thus became a more equal match for Edward. Edward kept his cool towards the end of Eclipse (the whole tent scene and the kiss), whereas Jake had trouble keeping his temper under control even on Bellas wedding day. I really didn't like that episode.

I liked who Jacob ended up with though (although I feel that the child imprinting is icky). He is happy and content. It makes sense that he is Bellas family now. I hope Stephenie will write more from Jacobs point of view sometime. Reading his part in BD was hillarious, especially the titles of the chapters.

[Oriole]

Originally Posted by AlmostAPpropriate

I doubt that the majority of teenage girls will tolerate "vampire" characteristics in their boyfriends any more than I would start looking for a UPS guy to blow after watching Samantha do it in Sex in the City. And those who do, inlcluding women who are trapped in those situations, have many deeper reasons for it than a paranormal romance novel.

*nod*

I agree wholeheartedly.

[txdancer]

Originally Posted by AlmostAPpropriate

I doubt that the majority of teenage girls will tolerate "vampire" characteristics in their boyfriends any more than I would start looking for a UPS guy to blow after watching Samantha do it in Sex in the City. And those who do, inlcluding women who are trapped in those situations, have many deeper reasons for it than a paranormal romance novel.

Wait You mean I wasn't supposed to blow the UPS guy? But I saw Samantha do it. Aren't I supposed to do everthing Samantha does? Didn't everyone do this after they watched that episode? Does that mean that wearing the fake nipples out to pick up guys wasn't right either?

[AlmostAPpropriate]

Originally Posted by txdancer

Wait Does that mean that wearing the fake nipples out to pick up guys wasn't right either?

haha - I dont know, did it work??

[PapayaVagina]

I'll join. I bought the first book a week ago Friday and am currently halfway through the third book. I am completely fascinated by Edward. I haven't seen the movie yet but would really, really love to. Does anyone else think that the actor they've cast for Edward was a really good choice?

[candipooh]

Originally Posted by PapayaVagina

I'll join. I bought the first book a week ago Friday and am currently halfway through the third book. I am completely fascinated by Edward. I haven't seen the movie yet but would really, really love to. Does anyone else think that the actor they've cast for Edward was a really good choice?

Yes I thought the choice was perfect. He did great with an American accent.

[Stayseeliz]

I finished the first book yesterday and I'm almost halfway through the second today thanks to a long road trip this weekend! It's SOOOOO addicting!! How did I miss these????? I'm loving them...I don't think it's "brain candy" at all..Is it Tolstoy or Shakespeare? No, but it's fabulous..I can't stop reading!!

I saw the movie Friday night and enjoyed it. I thought they stuck to the story fairly well and the characters looked as I imagined them. My only issue was that I think it should have been narrated by Bella throughout. You would've gotten more detail about her connection to Edward, etc. I enjoyed it though! Mush better than the HP adaptations!

[the_lissa]

Originally Posted by candipooh

Yes I thought the choice was perfect. He did great with an American accent.

See I didn't think his accent was that good, and kept hearing some British accent, but I think it worked since he was supposed to be born in 1900 and speak differently.

[AlmostAPpropriate]

I have only the last book to go - woohoo. My mental obsession will finally end.

I agree that they are addictive, in fact, I was "jonesing' so bad for the 4th I had to go online and read a spoiler just so I wouldnt drop everything obsess about the book instead of family this week.

Cant wait to get the emotion of the book though!!