Twilight Series

Sean's Wife · 08-10-2008, 12:10 AM

I just finished Breaking Dawn. I'm curious about people's thoughts, perspectives, and insight on the series as a whole, the individual books themselves, and also reactions to the storyline (from any/all books, but definitely from Breaking Dawn, as it's freshest in my memory).

And discuss.

**mtlmouth** · 08-10-2008, 12:33 AM

These books are kind of irresistible. They're like crack mixed with estrogen.

I finished Breaking Dawn on Tuesday. The plot felt a bit rushed in parts, especially at the beginning, but I still really enjoyed it.

**Sean** · 08-10-2008, 12:37 AM

Sean's Wife tried to explain the plot to Sean, but that didn't go over well.

Sean's Wife · 08-10-2008, 12:54 AM

I only tried to explain part of the plot to Sean, and I did my best to keep it simple...but, since I had to beg for the opportunity to discuss that one section, I was pretty much destined to fail.

**meatfinger** · 08-10-2008, 11:27 PM

Sean's kind of a pig-man sometimes.

**Sean** · 08-10-2008, 11:46 PM

The story was just so confusing and involved so many people with magic powers.

Jeffrey · 08-11-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

The story was just so confusing and involved so many people with magic powers.

So it's like Buffy or Angel? Or Star Wars, if we just admit that "the force" is code for "making magick okay for sci-fi folks."

I kid, I kid - or I'm remarkably perceptive.

I have a friend who's reading them because he needs to fill the hulking void left by Hogwart's closure.

Jeffrey · 08-11-2008, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean's Wife

I just finished Breaking Dawn. I'm curious about people's thoughts, perspectives, and insight on the series as a whole, the individual books themselves, and also reactions to the storyline (from any/all books, but definitely from Breaking Dawn, as it's freshest in my memory).

Aren't these about vampires? My knowledge of vampires is limited to folklore, Stoker, and Lost Boys, so I always told myself that I'd read the Anne Rice series before I touch any other modern vampire stories.

**Sean** · 08-11-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

So it's like Buffy or Angel? Or Star Wars, if we just admit that "the force" is code for "making magick okay for sci-fi folks."

Come to think of it...yes. They're both mixes of vampires, melodrama, and popular culture. The author (a Mormon) is apparently an absurdly large fan of Muse. She claims Muse inspired her to write these books.

Jeffrey · 08-11-2008, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Come to think of it...yes. They're both mixes of vampires, melodrama, and popular culture. The author (a Mormon) is apparently an absurdly large fan of Muse. She claims Muse inspired her to write these books.

Really? That's so bizarrely intriguing. I wonder what Muse thinks...anyway, I can only really critique the quality of the writing & originality for those sorts of magick/vampire books and shows, because I do read superhero comics. My big problem with Harry Potter was the poor writing and derivative storytelling, but my big stack of X-Men comics and Robin comics means I can't mock the idea of wanting to read a bunch of hormonally-charged super-powered folks always in danger.

Of course, the last place I want to be is Xavier's academy, and I haven't written reams of "What if I met Wolverine" fan fiction (hint: we'd share a pitcher, and then find we have nothing to talk about).

Sean's Wife · 08-12-2008, 11:34 PM

POSSIBLE MILD SPOILERS (more generic plot than specifics)

Yeah, the books are about vampires (and werewolves), but with a twist on the "traditional" mythology. For example, vampires don't go out in the sun, but it's because their skin becomes incandescent/sparkly, and their true nature would be revealed were they to be seen that way (which violates the #1 rule of vampirism); they don't avoid the sun because they would melt or burn to ash. Other than the sparkling, I rather like most of the twists she introduced...intriguing, and makes for an imaginative story, if nothing else. There is, of course, the element that makes it young adult, and that's all the romance and sentimentality, of course. The whole, "how could he, a perfect immortal, love me, a homely human as much as I love him," as well as from his perspective. That part gets old to me, personally, though I assume that to be the draw for many of Meyer's readers.

I find the thoughts introduced on immortality to be intriguing, and I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere between the werewolves and the vampires. I feel the characters (for the most part) are well written, commonplace yet extraordinary, fantasy in and of themselves, and yet very easy to relate to. I enjoy their vulnerability and transparency. As is to be somewhat expected from reading below your age group, there were a few plot lines in particular that I guessed early on where they were leading, and that made me anxious to get to where she revealed that part, and move past it.

As much as I enjoyed this series (and will likely read all four again in the near future, as well continue to follow Meyer's work), I was more impressed with The Host. But that belongs in another thread, I assume.
The Twilight series will probably remain a favorite choice of mine for pleasure reading.

leenieweenie · 08-30-2008, 03:35 AM

I read the Twilight Series, and I really enjoyed it. It's not the most well written book in the world, but I definitely found it intriguing.

My sister handed me the first book just before Breaking Dawn came out. I read the first three almost without stopping to eat and sleep, etc. I am not really sure why, to be honest, but I genuinely felt drawn to the story and characters.

And, for some reason all of my friends give me crap for reading a "chick book." Well, they can eat their own toes for all I care. I really enjoyed the series.

I agree with MtlMouth that some parts of the plot seemed rushed Breaking Dawn. I set the book down a few more times than the others, but it still pulled me in.

There was more I was going to say, but it's late and my brain isn't quite functioning properly.

Sean's Wife · 09-04-2008, 06:28 PM

It took me longer to get into Breaking Dawn than it did the others. And yeah, the series isn't the best writing of all time, but the concept fascinates me to no end.
I think it's refreshing to hear of guys that read and actually enjoy (even to some extent) the books for their characters. I'm a girl, and I get really irritated when it's categorized as a "chick book" (though I understand where the idea comes from). I guess I also get annoyed when people (mainly girls) just gush over Edward vs. Jacob, and seem to skim over the whole mythological and historical aspects of the plot that intrigue me so. I know that many people enjoy the Twilight series, I just don't like being generalized into a "stereotypical Twilight reader"...which leads me to hope that I am, in some regard, a higher level of "fan."

Ax · 11-10-2008, 11:24 PM

I am at this moment trying to force myself thru the first book in the series... I'm hating it so far.... It's not a writing style I'm anything used to... so... it's hard... and I was expecting something a little more... mature...

**mtlmouth** · 11-10-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AX

I am at this moment trying to force myself thru the first book in the series... I'm hating it so far.... It's not a writing style I'm anything used to... so... it's hard... and I was expecting something a little more... mature...

Then why the heck are you reading it?