Eclipse = OMG.

Acrosthec

Wow, you all have awful taste in music! 

I personally love the Twilight books.  The movies...Nyeh.  I love Alice and Jasper and Carlisle, and that's about it as far as the actors go.  And I didn't like Jasper until this last movie (though Jackson Rathbone is hot IMO).  The books are really good for me as far as winding down though.  I started reading them while studying for the bar exam, and the writing was so simplistic and easy to just pick up and read that it helped turn my brain off so I could actually go to sleep.  The story is interesting to me, even if the writing is probably beneath where I should be reading. 

So is Harry Potter though.  I mean think about it.  I'm 28 and I read teeny-bopper fiction (I read both Twilight and HP, for the record).  I think that's ok because of everything else I'm reading all day long, but it's definitely not the kind of stuff someone my age should be reading to try and expand their vocabulary or intellect.  It's fluff for entertainment; I don't see why people get so bent out of shape over it.  If you like that kind of fluff, then read them.  If you don't, then avoid them.  It's just like everything else in life.  ::shrugs::

The movies are a different story.  I actually really dislike the first one, and have only been mildly pleased with the other two because I went in knowing the first one didn't follow the book at all and the others probably wouldn't either.  Kristen Stewart's portrayl of Bella drives me batty, but Bella drives me nuts in the book as well.

I did see Remember Me yesterday though (another Robert Pattinson film) and I LOVED it.  The guy really can be a good actor...I think it just doesn't come through in these films.

catemeg

I hated JTT and Hanson.  Watched Backstreet Boys, but disliked N*Sync.  My locker was covered in pictures of Devin Sawa... anyone?  He was cute and fun.

Twilight is entertaining - I enjoyed reading the books, and I watch the movies when they come out on video.  I really get worried with how many young girls idolize these books - the relationships are SO FAR from healthy, it's ridiculous.  "Oh, I love you so much I'll give up my soul, the blood in my veins, even my humanity!  If I die, it's worth it.  Being with you is worth lying to my parents, sneaking around, avoiding my friends.  If you leave me, I will lose all will to live and curl up into a little coma-like ball until you return, meanwhile doing dangerous things because my life isn't worth living without you."

What about that do you want your little sisters, cousins, daughters to read and believe in?!  I do prefer stories with kick-butt women in healthy balanced relationships.

desertsun

Honestly? I agree with Cate on this.  I think the books (and movies) set up a horrible, horrible example for young girls. Maybe it's fluff to ADULTS who know better, but I don't think you can expect tween/teen girls to have the same judgment that adults do. I'm not judging anyone or trying to say what others should/shouldn't read. But I personally do not support the Twilight franchise. I will not buy the books, I will not spend money on a movie ticket. I choose not to support a franchise that I perceive to be damaging to young girls.

Hazel_B

I agree with Acro on this one. I have read both Twilight and HP and enjoyed them throughly. Yes, there are things about certain characters that drive me nuts and would never want them as role models for anyone. That being said, the type of reading I do on a daily basis for work almost requires these simplistic books to read in the evenings. I would really love to be able to make my way through the classic literature, but it just isn't happening. I can't tell you how long I've had Anna Karennina on my nightstand....sigh

katanne9

Ditto everything Acro said.

I can understand your point, Desert, but to me it's extreme. If you look at HP the same way it's a high schooler being encouraged to go on a suicide mission by his principal.

I WILL say that the creepyness factor of Twilight that you guys are suggesting was NEVER apparent to me until I started reading critics reviews. Also, the movies make him out to be super creepy. I never interpreted any of it that way from the books. Also, I have a hard time taking anyone's opinions seriously who haven't read the books. If you've read them and think that - fine by me. But too many people who haven't read them or have only seen the (B-rated) movies, I have I hard time taking their opinion to heart.

Acrosthec

I should have clarified:  when I said "fluff" I meant fluff for me, or any other mature adult that knows better.  Obviously (since I hate her) I would not want Bella, or her relationships with either Edward or Jacob, to be something that my goddaughter or future potential daughter thinks is OK.  ::thumbs up::

FWIW, Hazel, I'm just too dang tired to read classics the majority of the time.  Work wipes me out.  BUT, whenever FI and I have children, I fully intend to read the classics to them until they can read them to me.  I was just looking at school reading lists for our local area, because I judge the school by the things they require you to read for English class (so sue me, and yes I know cart before horse...I was curious), for middle school thru sophomore year (just about) they have kids reading good classic literature.  It's not until Junior/Senior year they give up. 

YES, TWILIGHT WAS ON TWO YEARS OF HIGHSCHOOL SUMMER READING LISTS. 

Gag.  I like the books, but come on.  I do not want to pay $XXXX for my child to attend your hoighty toighty private school (not hating on private schools btw, I attended one) so my children can read Twilight.  Sorry, I have better places to spend my money.

Hazel_B

Acro, I'm in total agreement. Maybe I can make it through Anna Karennina when I'm fully awake but I have difficulties with the Russian literary style when I'm tired (maybe awake too ). And that is in English, I can't even get the courage to read in French which is what I really should be doing.

I'm very much in agreement about children and reading. I don't care if they read fluffier books in their off time, but they need a good balance.

jeanacorina

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_eclipse-omg?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5c69216-833f-4d9a-a980-460e10d3805cPost:22287883-c696-477f-ace7-8c04dd14f82d">Re: Eclipse = OMG.</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, I have a hard time taking anyone's opinions seriously who haven't read the books. If you've read them and think that - fine by me. But too many people who haven't read them or have only seen the (B-rated) movies, I have I hard time taking their opinion to heart.
Posted by katanne9[/QUOTE]


That's a totally respectable position. But, to be honest, the thread was started about the movie. So that's why I answered in the first place. I haven't read the books.

However, watching the movie "Interview With a Vampire" made me WANT to read the book (which I did, and then read the rest of the collection). The Twilight movies made me never want to go anywhere NEAR the books. Nice special effects (but what doesn't have that, these days?) but the character portrayal and the basic plot just seem like a teenage version of a trashy Lifetime movie.

katanne9

Haha! Jeana I can get behind that. I loved the books way before the movie was in the making. Believe me, a glowering Rpatz and seasick looking Kristen Stewart was NOT what I had in mind, nor would it make me want to read the books either.

Acrosthec

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_eclipse-omg?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5c69216-833f-4d9a-a980-460e10d3805cPost:56b8503b-d949-41d7-9dd2-6f013e8beebd">Re: Eclipse = OMG.</a>:
[QUOTE]Haha! Jeana I can get behind that. I loved the books way before the movie was in the making. Believe me, a glowering Rpatz and seasick looking Kristen Stewart was NOT what I had in mind, nor would it make me want to read the books either.
Posted by katanne9[/QUOTE]

THIS x 1000000000000000.

Button5807

I Kat

catemeg

Comparing HP to Twilight is fair, but I'd say there are many more good values explored in HP than Twilight.  And it doesn't paint unhealthy, unbalanced relationships as to be admired or replicated - the female characters are strong and independent, and the relationships are age-appropriate.  In Twilight, the girl gets married in high school because she wants to be killed so she can turn into a vampire, and thus be able to get physical with her boyfriend.  There's just so much wrong with that.

I also can't handle classics after work - I read trashy, dirty romance novels.  With strong kick-butt female lead characters, usually FBI or CIA agents, who fall in love with the badass bad guys.  Or something like that.  The more raunchy the better.

I read Twilight and HP, and enjoyed both, but if I had a daughter I would talk to her about healthy relationships if she was reading Twilight at a young age. I wouldn't think twice if she was reading HP.  And she wouldn't be allowed to touch my dirty romance novels until she was 18!!!

catemeg

Oh, and Acro, about reading simplistic writing to wind down from law school studying, BF reads for about 30 mins to an hour every night before he goes to sleep.  He's got these SciFi books, kind of like the Lord of the Rings type stuff, and loves them.  I curl up next to him and fall asleep long before he turns off the light.

Button5807

LOTR = SciFi ?

katanne9

I would say Fantasy, not SciFi.

notquiteblushing

I don't have any strongly formed opinion of Twilight so I feel left out.  I read them all and yeah the writing is crap but sometimes I love reading crap (see Pretty Little Liars confession below).

catemeg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_eclipse-omg?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5c69216-833f-4d9a-a980-460e10d3805cPost:ca237e59-af4c-44bc-bb78-c150b6b7fabc">Re: Eclipse = OMG.</a>:
[QUOTE]I would say Fantasy, not SciFi.
Posted by katanne9[/QUOTE]

You're right - LOTR is Fantasy.  But these books are like SciFi-style LOTR.  Sorry for not being more clear.

Epic novels, lots of characters, simultaneous plots, and in this case with robots and droids.

He totally geeks out <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />  It helps him unwind from all the super-intense law reading.  Those books and his epic strategy games.

Acrosthec

Cate, please tell me he reads Warhammer 40K fiction to wind down at night.

If so, I'm pretty sure I'm marrying your BF.  Sorry! 

catemeg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_eclipse-omg?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:a5c69216-833f-4d9a-a980-460e10d3805cPost:5b35574a-d2d7-48c7-8af6-326431ec7674">Re: Eclipse = OMG.</a>:
[QUOTE]Cate, please tell me he reads Warhammer 40K fiction to wind down at night. If so, I'm pretty sure I'm marrying your BF.  Sorry! 
Posted by Acrosthec[/QUOTE]

Yes, I think that's it!  But nope, he's taken  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

We went engagement ring shopping on Saturday, and he said that we should book the venue while we're visiting my parents over Christmas (I don't know if he'll propose before then, but yay!)  So most definitely off the market!

Acrosthec

FI reads Warhammer 40K fiction for at least 30 minutes every night before bed.  I'm usually asleep before he is as well.  He LOVES it, and for the life of me I can't understand the appeal.  But he's gone with me to see the Twilight movies, so I'm going to sit through the Ultramarines movie for him when it comes out (straight to DVD I think).  He's pretty stoked about it.

His favorite is the Horus Heresy series.  Sound familiar?

catemeg

Oooooh you mean your FI is just like my BF!  Yes, sounds like it!  Anytime you're in Miami, we should grab a drink, I bet we'd all have a lot to chat about!  BF and FI about SciFi crazy action stuff (yeah, the ones about Space-Marines or whatever is a new one for BF, but he gets angry about the discrepencies with the real Marine policies), you and BF about law junk, and us about... well, girl stuff!  Like Twilight!