The almost completely unspoilery eval of my Twilight read.

[amanuensis1]

I read Twilight. Best quote I've heard about it was from dolorous_ett, who said, "It's neither as good as I hoped, nor as bad as I hoped." That's pretty much my take. I did read the whole thing, didn't hate it. Did skim the last eighty or so pages--about the time the story decided it needed more excitement. Didn't agree with that, no. It was doing better as a character piece, and I had liked the romantic development better, which--fair is fair--was not badly done. There was genuine showing, rather than telling, in a good percentage of the romance. And I don't think Bella's a Mary Sue. Mary Sues in my opinion radiate inescapable "I'm so special" self-knowledge, and Bella instead focuses on her shortcomings, which no Mary Sue worth her sparkly unicorn familiar would do. Edward is even appealing, and as for the claims of purple prose, well, maybe my exposure to genuine badfic (Summary Executions, Babb Chronicles, and ff.net, you still have no peer in entertainment) has made me grateful for any author able to string a credible sentence together, but I didn't think it was too terribly much. Not worth all the hype, nah. But not horrible.

Though when an immortal impossibly gorgeous vampire does decide I should become his lifemate, I hope it's for a deeper reason than that he's keyed on the way I smell. Meh.

Comments

twilight read

[tsuj.livejournal.com]

semi-lurker, here. :)


Bella instead focuses on her shortcomings, which no Mary Sue worth her sparkly unicorn familiar would do.

LOL!

I just can't bring myself to read the series. I am afraid it might just be because I resent the media's attempt to use it to usurp Harry Potter's place...

I know, that's horribly unfair. But I'm a hardcore HPer. ...which reminds me, do you think you will be writing any more HP fic?

Re: twilight read

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I never say never! I don't want to write HBP-and-DH-compliant fic, because I don't relish the idea of writing around the last two books. But I am still in love with the Harry/Draco I first fell in love with, as well as Harry/Sirius and Harry/Lucius, so, if the AU/AR plotbunnies bite, I won't say no to them. ^_^

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

Do you plan to read any of the rest of them, or is one volume of it quite enough?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Reading the next books would entail 1) buying them or 2) putting myself on the next huge waitlist at the library. Neither appeals, really.

[eibbil-libbie.livejournal.com]

IMHO, it's the weakest of them all. Her writing gets a lot tighter as the series progresses.

[bluemoon02.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of cracking open this series. I started on book 3 with Harry Potter and, later reading the whole series, was delighted that I did. If I'd started at the beginning, I would have tossed the book away in disgust. Children in cupboards under the stairs, get real! However, if I'd gone straight to book four, I wouldn't have a clue what was going on Book three was the optimum starting point, imho.

So, which book would you suggest I start on?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

That's different! Often it's the other way around.

[exbentley]

I felt essentially the same way, though I read Twilight a little before all the Sparkly Fandom Hubbub. Thing is, while I think the first book isn't inescapably horrendous, it's the clichéd love triangle and Bella's growing Mary Sue-iosity (and terrifyingly hideous self-image) in the next two books, and then the complete breaking of suspension of disbelief in the climax, that makes the series so ridiculous for me. I mean, a little mediocre supernatural romance, fine, whatever, I'm sure some Mills & Boon author did it first. Some of the bullshit Breaking Dawn pulls out, though, is worthy of the Pit of Voles.

My main problem with them being so popular is that they're very... heteronormative. The way Bella sees herself, as a woman, and the way all the other characters see her — as something which needs protection, as someone who needs to marry and pop out babies, it pings my feminist side something fierce. Unlike most of the people who mock Stephanie Meyer's series for its melodrama and purple prose, I find the themes which it is imparting to all those impressionable adolescent girls truly, truly frightening.

my html skills = fail.

[bluemoon02.livejournal.com]

I don't mind so much the idea of heterosexual teenagers being told you have to settle down and have babies. If any teenage girl is retarded enough to believe that, she deserves what's coming to her. What I don't like is that a teenage lesbian (be she out of otehrwise) is so entirely excluded from a book like that. Particularly in vampire fiction, the act of penetration is such an all-consuming theme that there's no room for anything else. It's why I liked Buffy, because I think it found a way to explore that very well, and make possibilities with it (I'm thinking, specifically, Vampire Willow). IT's something that you don't necessarily always find in hetero-normative or exclusively heterosexual fiction, but this seems to be overwhelmingly heteronormative to the point where it is exclusive.

[puella-nerdii.livejournal.com]

The way Bella sees herself, as a woman, and the way all the other characters see her — as something which needs protection, as someone who needs to marry and pop out babies, it pings my feminist side something fierce.
This.

The degree to which Bella subsumes her identity frightens me. Her entire conception of self is based on Edward, and the fact that this kind of relationship, and this massive power imbalance, is presented as True Love and as the ideal to which every girl should aspire is downright disturbing. If Bella and Edward's relationship were presented as dark or disturbing or destructive -- and I firmly believe it is, he stalks her for crying out loud -- or if she'd called her characters out on some of their bullshit, then I'd probably find it a lot more compelling. But Meyer's not just condoning Bella and Edward's relationship, she's not even acknowledging the troubling aspects of it and is instead holding it up as an example of True Sparkly Love. And that's what squicks me.

Though when an immortal impossibly gorgeous vampire does decide I should become his lifemate, I hope it's for a deeper reason than that he's keyed on the way I smell. Meh.
*sneeeerk*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Lordy, I'm not sure this series could ever get this much analysis from me! :D I can see how the themes would be a lot more distressing than the prose ever could be.

[who_la_hoop]

Oh, Bella's definitely a Sue in my book - she's a complete self-insert fantasy type - but she's just not an obnoxious one. Meyer presents her as pretty much perfect - all the boys instantly fall in love with her, but it's okay because she's modest about it. Her only failing is that she's clumsy - and everyone seems to think it's really cute/another reason to take care of her and love her, rather than it being an actual failing. The whole book reads to me as complete wish fulfillment - which is probably why it's so popular, because the desire to go to a new school and be terribly popular, with all the boys in love with you (including the school's 'out of everyone's league' hottie) has got to be a pretty common one, heh.

[gabe-speaks.livejournal.com]

The 'wish fulfillment' is nail-on. Most stories have a bit of it, in one respect or another. I mean, Harry Potter was rich because Rowling was not. As she grew richer, the emphasis--or even mention--of Harry's wealth dwindled to the point to where you have to REMIND many h/d writers that HARRY IS NOT POOR; and chances are, he's richer than Malfoy.

But it's whether or not the whole series reads like a wish fulfillment.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's an interesting extension of the Sue interpretation, yes! I suppose I didn't find it wish fulfillment because, though Bella is suddenly more popular in her new school, she neither enjoys it nor wanted it in the first place, and seems to remain oblivious to it for the most part.

[drgaellon]

Mary Sues in my opinion radiate inescapable "I'm so special" self-knowledge, and Bella instead focuses on her shortcomings, which no Mary Sue worth her sparkly unicorn familiar would do.

But that IS "I'm so special." It's all "boo-hoo, I'm such a mess no one will love me." It's MarySue-with-major-depressive-disorder.

[bluemoon02.livejournal.com]

IT'S EMO-SUE!

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

What about the Anti-Sue? Wouldn't she count as an anti-sue? The ones who are all negative, instead of all positive, but are just as bad? ;)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

The Anti-Sue! It makes one shudder to think. ^_^

[slumber.livejournal.com]

I would like to say that the first is perhaps the most decent of the lot, and the series goes on a downward spiral from there, but truth be told I've not had the nerve to touch the rest of the series and all of that is based on what I've heard happens. And for the sake of knowing for my own sake, I probably should read the rest (ew), but like you? I really don't want to pay for more of them, either. :\

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Actually, I sort of like the gruesomeness that I've heard hinted at in the last book, hee...

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I started reading it out of curiosity and I don't see what the big deal is or why SM engenders so much hatred (well, other than her making a billion kajillion dollars off her fanficcy-style writing while the rest of fandom hasn't). Also, I have to admit it amuses me to turn to any random page and see timeless prose like, "Inspiration struck me like a bolt of lightning."

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ah, timeless.

I admit I hope I wouldn't have used two giant adverbs in my blurb, if I'd written the thing. But notice I didn't write the thing. I've written nothing so large and coherent, so, I don't really feel right bitching.

[gabe-speaks.livejournal.com]

I thought that was a common "see-it's-not-a-mary-sue" trick to have said Sue 'acknowledge' some fault that is, quite honestly, irrelevent? I mean, if Meyers wrote HP fanfic with that character in it, and the fight for her affection was between a Gryff and a Slyth and not a glittery vamp and a pussy ******** [in case you haven't got to that part], wouldn't we all blast her as a Mary Sue?

Or is it simply because she's in 'her own world' that she isn't a Mary Sue?

Well, I'm glad it didn't annoy you, at least. There's nothing worse than getting a book and being annoyed by it. Especially when you read it all because you think it'll get better... and even buy the sequel[and throw it against the wall, only to read it all later]... and then get the THIRD IN THE SERIES...

Oh, you think I'm referring to Twilight? Nope. Warrior Heir/Wizard Heir/Dragon Heir.

GUH.

Please, don't read it.

Do. Not.

Read. It.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean about "see-it's-not-a-mary-sue" trick, though I suppose that way could lie madness. When are they tricks and when do they genuinely remove a character from Mary Sue-dom?

As for the Heir books--duly noted!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

*is very flattered at being referenced*

I agree with that the dawdling, plotless, pleasant stuff is a much easier read than the sudden action. Odd - it's usually the other way round. But I think even the most diehard Twilighters would recognise that this is not a usual book...

The thing that reminds me most of fanfiction is the way that plot takes second place to characters and information dumps, rather than being integrated into the story all the way through. If that makes any sense?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

The info dumps--yes, I was enjoying, to a degree, Bella finding out more and more about Edward and his clan, but then we got to the "Let me explain everything about myself" part and I could feel the interest slipping away.

[lycoris.livejournal.com]

I felt exactly the same about Twilight. In fact, since I was expecting it to be appalling, I actually quite enjoyed it (also, I liked the sparkling vampire thing, I thought that was an awesome different idea) It's nice not to have been alone anyway. Are you thinking of hunting up the rest? (I've read New Moon and Eclipse)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I am with you on the sparkling vampire thing! It's a neat take on the whole "why we aren't in the sun" myth, and I don't think anyone's ever done it. Don't know if I'm going on with the series, though.

[fer-de-lance.livejournal.com]

I have not read nearly the whole book yet, but I frankly hate Bella already (it's a low-grade, "someone shut this annoying kid up!" hate) and find Edward utterly boring.

What's special about him? He's chalk-white and has nice hair. Anything else? Personality? Humour? He's barely spoken a word. I don't find "sullen" attractive. (Or "chalky" either, but am willing to let that slide, as "differing taste".)

Bella... I can't decide which I like less, her continual obsession with skin colour, her shallowness, or her complete lack of connexion to her own actions. She obsesses over her shortcomings (well, if having a lily-white complexion is a shortcoming), but she doesn't actually DO anything about them, they're just fodder for WOE IZ I.

Maybe it will improve, toward the end?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Nah, I don't think it does! If you hate the characters I can't imagine there's going to be some huge turnaround for you.

However, there is some basis, on Bella's part, for falling for Edward other than that he's good-looking. Some of the story developments actually made me see it.

[curia-regis.livejournal.com]

I decided I wasn't going to read the book when one of my friends pointed out to me that she had random blank pages to show the passage of time and how nothing happened in four months. It was just a bit too pseudo-literary for me! *g*

least I think it was Twilight, not one of her other books!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I think that has to have been one of the other books! I don't remember that.