The Works of Stephenie Meyer

[qurtalain]

The characters are good, the writing's really very enthralling (I reread "Twilight" a few times, trying to tease out the rhythm), but after the first one I am officially skeptical of Meyers' plotting skills.

ITA. I loved all the tension between Bella and Edward in Twilight. The whole book had a dreamlike quality and she's never quite recaptured that in the rest of the series. Plus, the plotting and pacing of it was just plain wrong! Having said that, I re-read the series and I'm a little more sympathetic towards Ed and Bells. Although I think that's down to picturing Robert Pattison as Edward. Boy is gorgeous especially in his Edward get up.

[kiwi]

I think I'm too mercilessly practical. I mean, Bella's looking at giving up a huge amount. She's gone straight from Denial to Acceptance, and she's not even been bit yet.

In the first book, getting swept away by this romantic notion made sense. But as time went on, I know I would be pretty actively sketching out future possibilities. How you'd live, where you'd live, could you have kids in any way, how would that work... Logistics. And it's a fundamental issue I have with Bella's characterisation -- she seems very, very good at logistics until it involves post-bitey Edward, at which point everything goes out the window.

It's all fine and good for Bella to throw herself into the moment and be ready to give up everything in the first book, but I can't believe that there's no hesistation afterward. Especially with Jacob around.

Hey -- before I dive into the dissection, these books have been out a while. What's the rule with spoiler-bars? I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but it seems weird to spoiler plot points that have been available at the library for months...

[dangwhathaveu8]

kiwi said:

I think I'm too mercilessly practical. I mean, Bella's looking at giving up a huge amount. She's gone straight from Denial to Acceptance, and she's not even been bit yet.

In the first book, getting swept away by this romantic notion made sense. But as time went on, I know I would be pretty actively sketching out future possibilities. How you'd live, where you'd live, could you have kids in any way, how would that work... Logistics. And it's a fundamental issue I have with Bella's characterization -- she seems very, very good at logistics until it involves post-bitey Edward, at which point everything goes out the window.

It's all fine and good for Bella to throw herself into the moment and be ready to give up everything in the first book, but I can't believe that there's no hesitation afterward. Especially with Jacob around.

Hey -- before I dive into the dissection, these books have been out a while. What's the rule with spoiler-bars? I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but it seems weird to spoiler plot points that have been available at the library for months...

Honestly, I don't look to these books as literary masterpieces.. Meyer's plots and characters are full of problems that I don't even want to tackle. But ITA that Bella's over exuberant readiness to turn in the second and third books doesn't make any sort of sense. She is going to give up her family, friends (thats even a stretch to add because its implying that she even has any outside of the Cullen family), and her life all at the drop of a hat. I think that the first book really does sweep you up into the idea of their relationship and how she just wants to, in a way, preserve what they have then and there, forever. Every time Edward had asked her to wait a few more years, I was agreeing with him. I don't feel that Bella grasps what she is asking him to do. Meyer isn't giving us a solid character build, and she just automatically assumes that we will understand that Bella is just completely in love and that this sort of love is understandable. I feel that if she actually does write Bella waiting a few more years in the fourth book, until she is MENTALLY ready for the change, we would see a different Bella. High school kids tend to do a lot of rash things, or at least I did when I was in high school . I think that with a bit more of a worldly experience under the belt (and a little less Mary-Sue-ness) Bella will understand what she is giving up and what she is gaining.

As far as spoilers go, I think just for safe measure you still have to white them out. I think its the same rules as movie spoilers .

[chiquita]

kiwi said:

I think I'm too mercilessly practical. I mean, Bella's looking at giving up a huge amount. She's gone straight from Denial to Acceptance, and she's not even been bit yet.

In the first book, getting swept away by this romantic notion made sense. But as time went on, I know I would be pretty actively sketching out future possibilities. How you'd live, where you'd live, could you have kids in any way, how would that work... Logistics. And it's a fundamental issue I have with Bella's characterisation -- she seems very, very good at logistics until it involves post-bitey Edward, at which point everything goes out the window.

It's all fine and good for Bella to throw herself into the moment and be ready to give up everything in the first book, but I can't believe that there's no hesistation afterward. Especially with Jacob around.

I've only read the first book, but I think that Bella's lack of foresight or blindspot regarding what the reality of immortality would be is somewhat realistic for a teenage girl. She thinks she knows & understands it, but she doesn't truly grasp the reality of what the future life would be. It's all hearts & rainbows.

[kiwi]

I'm with you, I really am -- it's part of what made me so enthralled with the first book, the strength of the Bella characterisation, hearts and rainbows and all. But she's too smart to have been this heart and rainbowy for this long.

I hate to say it, but I find Jacob infinitely more interesting at this point. The point that Bella's got no friends outside of the Cullens is a good one, and sort of speaks to why she's just not that interesting to me anymore. When her entire story is her, Edward, and the lonely life they'll lead... well, where's the potential in that?

[dangwhathaveu8]

Yanno whats sad? A BIG reason why I like Bella/Edward and not Bella/Jacob is because I am a recovering Buffy/Angel shipper. And when I read New Moon, I about died when I read her emo depression because it reminded me of Buffy when Angel left, and the way he did it was so... heartless. Like it was "for her own good" ugh! Angel/Edward! Sorry I get a little bitter because it brought on that whole season 4 & 5 which I easily blocked out of my memory. But if it wasn't for that one little reason, I probably would be a Bella/Jacob girl, at least I felt their relationship was a bit more understandable and convincing. But, alas... I love Edward.

Have you guys been reading all the movie news at ONTD? They have been posting a lot of Twilight news and pics from the set and its a good laugh to read the comments there.. They've been laughing at the Twilight Moms who are the freakiest community I have ever seen.

[Deleted]

dangwhathaveu8 said:

A BIG reason why I like Bella/Edward and not Bella/Jacob is because I am a recovering Buffy/Angel shipper.

Yes.

"Twilight Moms"? I have a feeling this is going to be gold for the psychotic fans thread.

[dangwhathaveu8]

celest said:

"Twilight Moms"? I have a feeling this is going to be gold for the psychotic fans thread.

Oh yes, They're real. They're freaky. They've been going to the set aparently and bugging RPats, like making him take 349758294867 pictures and what not. If I was him, I would invest in a nice little taser.. Just incase one of them considers molestation.

[Deleted]

I think the absolute best part of the Twilight Moms front page is the completely unironic assertion that the Moms are vastly superior to those teenies with their netspeak. Shit, people, you're reading the exact same fuckin' books and having the same lusty reaction to teenage boys, what is it exactly that makes you better, again? What snotty hos.

[dangwhathaveu8]

So tonight in my Historical Writing class, we have to do a film critique and write a five paragraph essay.. And what was the film?...

The influenza outbreak of 1918. Goddamnit SMeyer. Damn you for making the first thing that I think about is Edward Cullen.

I think I am going to have to stop checkING for Twilight posts on ONTD, I am starting to "burn out" on them (although they do bring the lolz). I feel like I am going to be so up to date on filming by the time that the actual film get here I won't want anything to do with it. However, I should want nothing to do with it anyway, right? RIGHT??