Okay, folks, so I think it’s time I come out of the closet and wave my Twilight flag a little. I’ve talked to many people about why they do or don’t like Twilight, and I feel that every person has a point. However, my own feelings had become muddy ever since the whole series exploded the way it has with all the crazy obsessed fans and too much merchandise. Anyway, I decided to go back to the beginning.
A little over a year ago, I didn’t read YA. It just wasn’t on my radar. (Harry Potter doesn’t count.) Further more, I had never read a romance novel. Stories with romance in them, yes, but romance was not my thing, in books or film. My friends and I had started a book club, and the first book we had to read was Stephen King’s “It”. The same friends had loaned me the Twilight books, saying that I should give them a try. I was psyching myself out about “It”, afraid it was going to be waaay scary (it wasn’t) and so I decided to start reading these silly teenage vampire romance novels right before bed to keep the Stephen King-induced nightmares away.
Before I read them, of three things I was certain: They were about a girl who falls in love with a vampire. There was some sort of love triangle with a werewolf. And Cedric Diggory was going to be in the movie version. (I was, at the time, happy to hear he had work.)
I began the first book at approximately 9:30pm on a Monday night, intending to read the first chapter. I blinked, and it was 3am. I finished Eclipse that Thursday night, and bought Breaking Dawn on Friday. My friends called to ask me how I liked them, and if they were too girly for me. I told them: “they are just girly enough.” I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!!! We had friends visiting that weekend, and I was a terrible hostess, because I COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THAT BOOK- sorry Sarah! I’m ashamed.
I grimaced through the fourth book- what is Bella thinking? would Edward really do that? Not to mention, the wedding, Isle Esme *shudders*, and three words: Renesmee Carlie Cullen. (Funny story: my dog is named Maudy, and her best friend is a bassett hound called “The Eel”. Upon reading Breaking Dawn, we started calling them ‘Renesmaude’ and ‘Carleel’, because if you don’t laugh, you might cry.) Anyway, the fourth book did wrap things up satisfactorily, but left me longing for what the first three had…. so I reread them immediately, momentarily caught in what I like to refer to as “the Twilight loop”. Thankfully, I was able to branch out into other YA genres, but I feel I have Stephenie Meyer to thank for opening my eyes to the awesomeness that is YA.
This hangs in our living room. Yes.
So here’s the main two controversial topics that have come up when I’ve talked to Twilight lovers and haters:
Bella- Is she one of the strongest female characters ever written, or a weak placeholder. This is what I see: Bella is a product of her environment- raising two parents, not ever actually getting to be a kid herself. Her idols are romantic girls of old- Elizabeth Bennett, Elinor Dashwood, Juliet. Whatever you think of her methods, Bella knows what she wants, she chooses, and she makes it happen.
Edward- Ultimate hero or controlling creep. Okay, so he’s a vampire. One wrong move, and he would actually kill the person he loves. Could his controlling personality be a byproduct of the self-control he has to maintain to be around her? (However, there’s sooo many things wrong with that whole sneaking into her bedroom to watch her sleep thing.)
edward cullen with mustache
In summation: Stephenie Meyer has an amazing imagination. She’s not a fantastic writer, but she told a story in a fashion that draws you in, and makes you care about her characters, even in Breaking Dawn, when she makes them do things that cause you to feel embarrassed for them.
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In the spirit of confession, I have read Mr Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy and Elizabeth. More than once. Google them if you don’t know what they are. They use the word “larydoodle” to sub in for “penis.”
I know from liking bad books, is what I’m saying.
That said, my main problem with Twilight is not the pacing, the characterization, the writing or the ridiculous plots. It’s merely the thread of casual mysogeny which winds its way through the novels. I mean, the creeping-into-Bella’s-bedroom-to-watch-her-sleep is bad enough (and I have actually had that happen to me by a former boyfriend. Dudes of the world: I assure you it’s not romantic. Just creepy.), but that is only part of Edward’s behavior that I find early-abuserific. The controlling nature, the “you make me want to be violent” . . . all of it, in a normal human, are big honking signs of abusive behavior, and I think it’s wrong to teach young girls that it’s romantic.
(Of course I also think Lloyd Dobbler is a stalker, so maybe I’m just touchy.)
ALSO, some of the events in the fourth book are just obscenely wrong. CHEWING A BABY OUT OF SOMEONE? An adult male “imprinting” on that same baby, which is basically the Twilight version of buying a kid and raising it up to be a child bride? Ugh, just the whole thing makes my skin crawl. I can’t figure out why Stephanie Meyer hates women so much. What’d we ever do to you, SMeyer?
However, your poster is the best thing ever. I need a poster of Edward that says “Buy: tampons” on it.
I am utterly ignorant of the Twilight universe! I love that you posted this, because I find it really intriguing: of all of my (lady) friends, all of whom are brilliant and well-read and feminist, half of them adore this series (ashamedly, as you do), and half of them really, seriously, angrily despise it like Sarah and Erin. I find it all so confusing! So I just choose to re-read Harry Potter for the 500th time and stay a Twilight-virgin.
I devoured the first three Twilight books and struggled through the fourth, which I like to pretend doesn’t even exist. The Bella question is a tough one–sometimes I admired her for her aversion to the idea of marriage, her occasional rebellions against Edward’s attempts to control her life, and her friendship with Jacob. Oh Jacob…I am SO team Jacob. Though he does turn into her protector eventually (disappointingly), I love their relationship in New Moon.
I annoy myself that I still was so entertained by the first three books, but I was. I can’t pretend otherwise. I hate Edward’s character and I totally agree that he sends the exact wrong message to young teens who see his obsessive controlling as romantic. Without Jacob (early Jacob, I should say), I’m not sure I’d have liked them as much.
All that said, yes, I do kind of think Stephenie Meyer hates women. And she spells her name stupidly. Have you read “The Host” by her? It’s a lot of the same male protector crap.
jenny, this is the PERFECT topic for discussion in the girls’ bathroom, since we can all be honest and speak without shame inside these hallowed walls of tile (p.s. boys are allowed in the FYA girls bathroom, in case you were wondering. think of it like “mean girls,” except not limited to boys too gay to function).
OH TWILIGHT. YOU DRIVE ME BANANAS AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
first of all, let me clarify: there is no shame in having read twilight. we’ve all done it (well, all of the FYA writers), and i’m not gonna be a hypocrite and judge other people for reading all of the books.
with that said, i cannot believe i read all of those books. well, i actually never finished “breaking dawn” cos after jacob imprinted on renessmehhhhh, i threw the book on the ground, where it stayed for about a week before i realized i should pick it up and return it to the friend who loaned it to me because i should never mistreat a book, no matter how bad it is.
GAH. EVERYTHING ERIN SAID x 100000!!!!!
i agree, jenny, that it’s impossible to read these books and NOT want to know what happens. i’ll give stephanie meyer a point for realizing that teenage girl + vampire = hot dramz.
however, i will take said point away, and deduct her about 500 more for creating the most effed up relationship ever and then spreading it like wildfire all over the world. in my opinion, bella is the least empowered heroine i’ve seen in a contemporary novel. i cringed every time she was described as “clumsy” cos that’s basically code for damsel in distress. and i actually snorted out loud every time jacob and edward fought over her like a freaking object cos WHAT CENTURY IS THIS?
honestly i can’t decide what i hate more about the series– the atrocious writing or the gender roles. or maybe it’s the fact that stephanie meyer is now a millionaire because WTF.
however, the silver lining, as illustrated by jenny, is that twilight has shoved a huge ole spotlight on YA as a genre. if more people discover actual talented writers like john green, sara zarr or e. lockhart via stephanie meyer, then maybe, just maybe, twilight and i can learn to coexist in peace.
Oh! But I will take that silver lining away as well, Sarah, because for about a year, I refused to read The Hunger Games, because it was recommended to me by a Twilight fan who called it, and I quote, “not as good as Twilight, but still pretty interesting.”
AN ENTIRE YEAR! I could have been fictitiously married to Peeta* an entire YEAR earlier, had the book not been rec’d by a Twilight fan (and then called “not as good as Twilight”), thus ensuring I’d never, ever, ever want to read it. I mean, yes, it turns out that the Twilight fan is just a total moron, but HOW WAS I TO KNOW.
So, in the case of SMeyer, she actually made me cringe away from good YA, because I dislike her and her crazy fans so much.
*However, during this year, I, through no influence of Suzanne Collins, nicknamed a boy who later became my gentleman caller “Peeta,” due mostly to his (British) accent (it’s sort of a long story). SYNERGY? perhaps.
Ooh, I had a similar experience! On Facebook, this girl who is actual friends with my younger sister and FB friends with me, updated:
“Just finished Wicked, it was really good.” Even though I don’t really know this girl, I was so excited and commented, “Wicked is my favorite book of all time!” and SHE REPLIED THE FOLLOWING:
“Well, it’s no Twilight, but I liked it.”
ARGH!
I am riding on Meredith’s coat-tails here. Though not as torn by my friends who like the books…I actually don’t have any friends besides Sarah and Erin who have read the books. I am far more willing to reread HP than dive into Twilight. My first reason is that the writer is Mormon and my friend’s Mormon parents reread this book over and over and over again. Like more times than they read the bible. Kreepikins. Second objection, which shouldn’t be as strong as it is, the color correction/over use of green filters in the movie make me want to die. It looks like a commersh strait up. Also, this Edward fellow that everyone seems to be in unison is an abusive bf, is sooooo creepy looking in the movie (please note, I have only seen the trailers…but it did the trick). I was watching HP 4 and thought, man that Cedric Diggory is one attractive fellow. My bf: Oh, that’s the guy from Twilight. Me: So. not. possible. Cedric is cute!
And finally in honor of FYA – I had never read a YA novel ever. Besides Christopher Pike, which doesn’t exactly count, and the explosion of Twilight only solidified my behavior (I also behaved this way w/ HP…I didn’t read it until after the 6th book came out!). But, due to FYA, I am reading my first one ever (and totally loving it), and this post almost made me want to read Twilight, at least so I wouldn’t be the uninformed asshole posting. But until then…
Sincerely,
Your Uninformed Asshole Comment Submitter
Plus, can we just take a second to recognize that vampires are kind of sacred?
Yes, every single author who writes a new vampire book has to put their own sort of “twist” on the mythology (although most of them just say, “Mine are like Anne Rice’s vampires except ______.”)
I tried to watch the movie, because being up on pop culture is part of my job, but there are simply not enough drugs in the world that will let me suffer Sparkly Vampires gladly.
And vampires going to high school?? Ug! No wonder he’s an abusive ass monkey!
That 200 year old dude dating a 15 year old girl kinda freaked me out even in the Buffyverse, but she was a slayer, and was all connected to other slayers, so you could give her a “wise beyond her years” benefit of the doubt. Bella is just a kid, and that’s just creepy.
I don’t think Stephenie hates women, though. She’s not self-aware enough of that. She hates sex, and true sensuality, because she has no idea what it is or what it could be. So instead she writes prolonged rape fantasies that include everything but the rape (unless that tearing the kid out with teeth thing counts, cause… gross!).
Good god, I’m never reading any of these books, and I can’t wait until the tweens who grew up on them are in their 30s and going to superlame conventions like the 21st century versions of Trekkies so we can all openly make fun of them.
In the meantime, movies like The Revenant that take the vampire myth back to the origins and then tweak it just enough to make it fit perfectly in the modern world don’t have distribution. It has Adam from Heroes/Sark from Alias in it! He’s hot, right? Girls should swoon over him instead!
Although to be fair, there’s no romance in The Revenant at all…
I, like Jenny, am kind of obsessed with the Twilight novels. I totally accept the opinions that Edward is creepy and Bella is weak and that their entire relationship is a little ridiculous, also Stephenie Meyer is a terrible writer. But, and there is a huge but, I totally don’t care. Because even though Meyer is not that great of a writer, she is a pretty awesome storyteller. And I think most girls can relate, in some way, to the feelings that Bella experiences in her relationship. Ya, it was pretty lame that she want catatonic after Edward left in New Moon, but I got how she felt, I totally felt that way when my high school boyfriend broke up with me (sob!) and I can still recall those feelings extremely vividly after 5 or 10 or whatever amount of years it has been since then. I can only imagine reading these books as a teenager and actually going through those kind of experiences along with Bella, I think it would have been nice to see someone who was going through the same thing I was. Of course, I was dumped on the day that the season 5 finale of Buffy ended, that was a hot mess of a night. Finally, I don’t really think that liking Twilight is anything to be ashamed of. I like a lot of really stupid things (Sweet Valley High anyone?) and people should be proud of their guilty pleasures!
talya, let me assure you that no matter how i feel about twilight, i don’t want anyone on this site feeling ashamed of their reading preferences. i mean, i love the fact that the girls bathroom allows us to rant and rave with utter honesty, but no matter what is said or how much we may disagree, no one’s gonna write something bad about you on the wall with permanent marker.
well, ok, there *might* be some graffiti concerning stephanie meyer around here somewhere but… it wasn’t me.
Mmm, Sark. He IS hot, Henri. And I do agree with you that SMeyer hates sex. Or maybe she’s just afraid of liking sex; I’m never really sure.
Oh, Tayla. I LOVE Sweet Valley High. In fact, I was thinking of rereading them all. For, um, totally SERIOUS reasons, like FYA reviews. Not because I love Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Nope. Not at all . . .
Anyway, I don’t have a problem with people liking Twilight, but I do have a problem with people holding up the Bella/Edward relationship as an ideal to which they should aspire. Why would anyone want a creepy boyfriend? Have these women ever had a creepy boyfriend?
(Also, I kind of think Jacob is a Nice Guy, and that’s just as creepy as Edward sulking around teenagers’ bedrooms.)
(ALSO, getting dumped on the day of the season 5 finale of Buffy? GIRL. I could not handle that. I can’t handle watching that episode NOW, and I’m a mostly-rational, cynical adult.)
I’m not gonna lie, I have every single Sweet Valley High book. And Sweet Valley University. And Sweet Valley Senior Year (the much overlooked final part to the franchise where Elizabeth ges WASTED) so if you ever come to Boston, Jenny can get them from me and you can read all 500 of them. For sure. It will probably only take a few days considering I could read like three of them during a 45 minute train ride. Oh Wakefield twins, I wish you were real.
YOU GUYS!!!! This is AWESOME!!!!
I love that we can all rant in the girl’s room! I know so many people whom I love and respect on both sides of the Twilight fence, and I agree with BOTH sides!
Henri, I agree. I don’t think S. Meyer hates women, but I think her life perspective is definitely colored by her religion, a religion that does hate women. Or at least wants to control them. Just like all extreme religions. What are they afraid of?
I also agree that it’s a bad idea to hold up obsessed love as an example for teenagers and tweens to aspire to, because I don’t think they need any encouragement in that area.
Still, I guiltlessly heart these books.
Oh, and Sark IS totally hot. I hope that movie gets some distribution. And soon.
p.s. Did anyone notice the ‘rpattz is a fang’ True Blood send-up/defacement my husband put on the poster? It makes me laugh every time I walk by it. (I had to help with the spelling, though.)
OH MY GOD!!! Jenny you need to make this poster available to download, seriously! Rpatzz is a fang! genious and oh so true!
Tayla, et al.,
Here’s my only hang-up with the she’s-a-great-story-teller-and-that’s-just-how-I-felt-when-I-was-16-and-had-a-serious-case-of-unrequited-love philosophy:
As someone who’s pretty well A, and not so Y, I have this “need” that I can’t shake to be responsible in my response to culture. If there were a young girl who I had occasion to talk to (at church, a niece, etc.) who had just been dumped and was suffering a major mojo setback, what would I do? I’d give her the pat answer we all do, “You’re better than him,” because–in truth–if a guy dumped you, you want to be told that you’ll get over it, that you’re still okay, that you’re still loveable, blah, blah, blah. I don’t think responsible adults (who are the ones writing for teens) should have put that out there into the universe. Because think about it: How did she get over her loss? Filling it with another guy. Lame.
(Also, Reneesmee is just a stupid name. But I’m not all juvenile or still bitter about having waited at a release party for 2 hours and spending nearly $25 on the monstrosity that is Breaking Dawn.)
literaturecrazy, i will bestow upon you my most fervent level of agreement by saying DOUBLE TRUE to the MAX.
YA authors truly walk a fine line between trying to speak from the heart of a teenager while inhabiting the more rational (well, usually) mind of an adult. i don’t like books that are preachy, but i also hate books that give readers lame, stereotypical heroes.
i mean, i’m an adult, and i *still* think i would probably head straight into a rebound if my boyfriend dumped me. even though i know i should be stronger and smarter than that.
so, i can sort of identify with bella’s actions towards jacob, and i think readers can learn more from imperfect characters than bright shining examples. but this truth is a double-edged sword that meyer doesn’t know how to wield, because none of her characters are dimensional enough to cross over into relatable realism. bella is imperfect, edward is perfect, and both of them are as flat as the paper they’re printed on.
Poshdeluxe,
A chorus of angels just started singing the “Hallelujah!” chorus around my desk at work. I couldn’t agree more that Meyer was too weak to use her characters well. I like a character who is fundamentally flawed, so I can see the weakness (and “learn” from it), but I don’t get the impression that Meyer ever intended the rebound to be seen as bad or hurtful or immature. (Or it could be that I don’t think that Meyer really did anything in her writing intentionally. Which is a shame.)
Bless you for writing this (and not in the religious way but more in the thank you for making me realize I’m not insane way)
I finally gave in to twilight after years of hearing about it (I’m a childrens/ya librarian) and now I’m a bit obsessed and have spent the last week stuck in the twilight loop. I’m so glad someone sent me your blog because now I feel a bit better about my newfound twilight love.
It’s so awfully bad and good all at once it makes me sad for literature but like you happy that I’ve now moved onto other more awesome YA authors.
Anyway thanks again for making me sightly better about being stuck in the twilight loop.