I've written about the year I spent playing WoW. I think I've hinted more than once about how I get hooked: I won't play a video game until it's complete, or I'll watch a TV series obsessively until I have finished. These obsessions will interfere with my eating, socializing and sleep time. Of my obsessions, there is one that I indulge in less than the others, because it is far more addictive than any of the others: reading. Once I have started an interesting book, I will not stop.
Note the use of the word, "Interesting." I do not read good books obsessively, I read interesting, though sometimes bad books.
Leah had been pushing me to read The Hunger Games and I refused because I did not want to be drawn in while so busy with work. Friday night I was bored and wanted to read. However, I wanted to read something that wouldn't draw me in, since Mike and I were visiting his parents for Saturday through Monday. So I decided to read a book that I had both heard criticized and criticized myself. I figured I might as well read it so that I had a basis for my opinions. Friday evening, I began reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer: the love story about a teenage girl and a vampire with a werewolf and whatnot.
By Monday afternoon, I had read all four and a half books (the fourth was an incomplete re-writing of the first book from another point of view.) I spent the past week re-reading them, just because they were that interesting and I wanted to see if I missed anything in my semi sleep deprived state last weekend.
So, I would like to give you my opinion of these novels now that I have read them and can back my judgement.
First, let me say this: Anyone who thinks that these books can even compare to any Harry Potter book as an idiot. Twilight is good as one thing only: a romance. It is a chick flick in novel form. Harry Potter is a story of good vs. evil, of making the right choices in hard places, of fighting adversity because it is the right thing to do, even when it is not the easy thing to do. It's one of the best kinds of stories there is. Twilight is about a teenage girl finding her true love and falling head over heels. It's comparable to Wuthering Heights or Romeo and Juliet (possibly because it makes those comparisons within the book) though it is not as timeless or universal as those stories. However, it does focus on the same silly sort of self-destructive love. (Note: This is a bit of a stretch comparing this book to more timeless classics: I focus ONLY on the fact that all three center on such a strong love. I know that it in no way lives up to these books. Don't think that I'm saying that at all.)
As a romance, however, Twilight is exceptionally good. It's definitely enjoyable for those qualities: finding true love, being uncertain because of a rival for your love, high school drama, marriage, etc. I think it was better because I had such low expectations and have read far worse interesting books. As long as you take it as a romance and don't expect it to live up to anything more, it's good.
My biggest criticism, honestly, would be the audience to whom it is targeted: teenage girls. As an adult with a somewhat clearer head, it is easier to distance myself from her story. As a teenage girl, however, it is teaching no more than this: find true love. Even if you're only 17. And don't be afraid to turn your life on all of your friends and family just for this one single person (even if this person is somewhat dangerous... maybe especially so.) I do not want any teenage girls I know believing this, especially having once been a teenage girl. I would prefer them believe that they should be careful about finding true love and that they remember that having friends is especially healthy when you are in a relationship.
I also watched the movies: they , unfortunately, were as bad as I had heard. The first one had me laughing in the wrong places: the acting was terrible and most of the dialogue just felt awkward to watch. By the fourth one there was some decent background music, CGI and acting lessons, so it wasn't quite so painful, but still: the movie characters lack the vibrancy that the book gave them.
Anyways, after having spent 8 days wrapped up inside of this story, analyzing it and coming to these conclusions (and having already discussed them with Mike and Leah and Jess,) I can finally stop mulling over them in my mind because I have written them down in this blog.
Sometimes I think that's why I have this blog: so that i can stop thinking about something in circles in my head.
Anyways, I'm not proofreading this, I've just written as I thought and posted it.
