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Sep 05, 2006 20:59

Peeking in (I'm doing better at reading other LJs on a semi-regular basis but not so good with actually blogging myself ( Read more... )

censorship, books, stephenie meyer, fictional characters

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genealogygirl September 6 2006, 18:08:57 UTC
Ah, my scrapbooking trip was heavenly! I should have posted about that too. I'll do that now, actually. I got to wear my "I Love Edward Cullen" t-shirt too -- the girls all loved it (though I'm not sure they aren't questioning my sanity on some level). <*grins*>

Good advice on the book club --- I'm going to ask several other friends about their book clubs and start thinking about whether I want to stick with this one for other reasons or bag it.

Oh, I was hoping you would say that getting those reviews out of your head opened you up to moving on! Damn. :--D

I've re-read Twilight probably 4-5 times and have many favorite scenes that I re-read often. I forced Bryce to listen to the meadow scene in full, and he still has no interest in the story. He was tired at the time though, so maybe I'll try again.

I've read NM twice so far in full, and those last 200 pages or so () have gotten quite a few re-reads. Like you, I have a hard time with the beginning 1/3 --- it's just so painful. I'm dreading the audio, even though I know I'll want to hear it on some level.

Let me know how your signing/reading with Meyer goes -- she's not here until late October. I'm soooo excited though.

Squee about Edward? I can do that for the rest of my life!

Oh good! siriologist pinged me the other night and has read Twilight but only started NM. She sees the attractiveness, but is having some issues with his youthful age. I told her to get back to me after she's finished NM.

Have you read the New Moon Extras Stephenie posted on her sight? The one entitled Rosalie's News made me even more in love with Edward. *sigh* "Bella must have a life." He's just so perfect (except for that small problem of him being a vampire.. LOL!).

Yes, I found them based on threads at the Lexicon (and yeah, I've seen you posting there too!). I LOVED the Rosalie outtake ---- she sooooooooooo was in love with Edward in an earlier decade. I'm utterly convinced now.

What did you think about the Jacob "extra"? I liked understanding his POV better, but I'm still not liking him. I just ..... can't like him.

I registered on the Twilight Lexicon message boards and noticed that you've been posting there... are you sure you're not in the fandom already? *grins*

Sigh. Yes, unfortunately, I think I'm in denial. Though again, I'm really thinking another few weeks and maybe I'll be theorized out for awhile. Heh.

I actually can't believe it, but I'm booked evenings with other things until Sunday night! I think you'll see me on YM when I'm around, so just ping me when you can chat and we'll squee together. :)

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heart_of_wine September 6 2006, 21:46:24 UTC
I'm so glad you had such a fun weekend! I am jealous of your "I Love Edward Cullen" t-shirt. Once they are back in stock, I am definitely ordering one of them. Too bad I probably won't have one in time for the book signing.

I've read John a couple of my more favorite pieces of dialogue that I knew he'd like, but I don't think he's going to read the books. He is wary of anything that has romantic aspects to it. He's not a hopeless romantic like I am.

I just ordered the audio CD from Amazon. I couldn't get it at the book stores, it was really frustrating. I guess I'll just have to wait until the end of the week for it to arrive. I just hope I get it before my trip to the Cape this weekend, I'd love to have it to listen to as I sit in traffic.

I will definitel let you know how the book signing goes. I'm really looking forward to it. Having only been to one other (Jasper Fforde, which was lots of fun!), I am eager to hear what she has to say about the books in person.

I agree, Rosalie was sooooooo in love with Edward before. Of course. I just wonder if she was in love with him before she was changed... ooooh, wouldn't that be so interesting?

Like you, I still don't like Jacob any more than I did before. I mean, I like him as a *friend* to Bella, but nothing more. He seems like a nice guy, but not overly complex, you know? I didn't find anything that she wrote in that piece to reveal another dimension to Jacob that I hadn't already picked up from reading the books.

What did you think of the outtakes? I actually loved seeing them because as a writer it is so interesting to see how a writer I admire makes editing choices and plot changes. Imagine what a different book New Moon would have been if Bella hadn't learned from Jacob (indirectly, of course) about his secret? On the other hand, I loved the last line of her original Epilogue, it was so funny!

I will try to ping you soon. It would be great to have more discussion about the books now that I've had more time to read them over again. I hope that Carol becomes a true believer, because let's face it, Edward will never be of legal age, will he? ;) But he's older than all of us, and that's something, right? LOL!

On another topic - Wouldn't it be so great if Stephenie answered some of the questions that we've posed on that one forum?

I could write about this stuff for ages, but I better run. I gotta get home to the husband and kiddies. I hope to catch you soon!

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genealogygirl September 7 2006, 02:42:18 UTC
You said you've read John some bits of dialogue --- what did you share with him and did he enjoy it generally? Bryce just rolls his eyes, his typical reaction to romances.

I've been to see Jasper Fforde too!! I *loved* him --- he was so funny and charming. I got all my Fforde books signed too, and he had those really cool stamps.

I didn't find anything that she wrote in that piece to reveal another dimension to Jacob that I hadn't already picked up from reading the books.

*nods* He is very much a "what you see is what you get" kind of character I think. I'm having a hard time articulating it appropriately, but I can't even say that it's so much that I dislike Jacob as a person (though I certainly have lots of moments in NM where I did dislike him ... mostly when he is hurling insults at the Cullens .. grrrr).

I think though that my discomfort with him as a character is really more to do with what I see as his *role* in the story. I mean: is there *ANY* doubt that there will be a direct confrontation between Edward and Jacob at some point? I think it's beyond inevitable. She couldn't possibly foreshadow that any more heavily. And, it makes me incredibly nervous (despite her public assurances that she loves Edward and likes a happy ending). The Cullens, and Edward especially, are hugely over-confident in their own abilities. Yet, Jacob keeps getting bigger, is on his way to becoming alpha wolf *and* believes he could have finished off Laurent on his own. He says bluntly that the only thing keeping him from lunging at Edward's throat is the Treaty. And the Treaty is a thin wire at this point --- it could so easily get broken by one of the sides and then all bets are off. And, we have Bella's dream where Jacob morphs into a wolf and lunges at Edward's throat, with her screaming in fear for Edward. And yet consciously, she never once considers that *Edward* could get bested in a fight -- it's all about how Jacob might get himself killed. She repeats "They fight; Paris falls" how many times?

Jacob makes me nervous.

I *adored* the outtakes -- like you, I think it's incredible to see how different directions in small ways make such a difference in the overall story. But, yes, "you absolutely reek of werewolf" is fabulous. :D

We have to work on Carole -- she's more hung up on Bella's age actually than Edward's age (she said if he were falling for a thirty-something rather than a 17-yr old, that would make all the difference). I never think of Bella as a "teenager" and she's 18 at the beginning of NM anyway. I just see both Edward and Bella as sort of timeless .... but definitely mature beyond their "age" in any case.

Wouldn't it be so great if Stephenie answered some of the questions that we've posed on that one forum?

Yes! I'm hoping at least one of mine makes the Top 10. I'm curious to know whether Alphie will be selecting her favorite 10 questions or if she will end up setting up some sort of voting procedure. I feel like I'm totally spamming that thread, but I keep coming up with more and more questions, and I figure maybe Stephenie might come back and answer some of the others later, just because she seems to enjoy interacting with her fans on that forum so much.

I might be around on Friday night actually ---- so look for me then if you're available.

I like your icon, btw. :)

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heart_of_wine September 8 2006, 16:04:35 UTC
The other day, I read John the dialogue where Bella is trying to guess what Edward is. It goes something like this:

"No spider bites?"
"No."
"And no radioactivity?"
"No."
"Kryptonite doesn't bother me either," he added.
"Dang."

It made us both laugh. He likes the quick exchanges like that. I think the car element has him intrigued because he often serves as my car consultant for the novel I'm working on. LOL!

I didn't know that you were also a Jasper Fforde fan! He really was charming and funny, wasn't he? I loved his Thursday Next series. I haven't read the newer one with the Nursury Rhyme twist. John read it and thought it was clever.

On the Jacob front...I agree with you. It is very clear that the purpose he serves in the story is to be a threat to Edward and the Cullens. If (I should probably say when) a war breaks out, what will Bella do to keep Edward safe? Methinks she'll send Edward away for his own safety. She'll make him leave. We know she is capable of doing something like that to protect the ones she loves... look what she did to Charlie. She knows how to hit below the belt to get the desired reaction. It would kill her to hurt Edward, but it would hurt her more to know that she was responsible for the end of him.

What will cause war to break out? I think that one of the Cullens (not Edward) will die in this next book at the hands of one of Jacob's pack... maybe Jacob's friend who seems to have less control (can't remember his name). URGH... I just hope it isn't Alice, Esme, or Carlyle.

I'm with you on the age thing... I see Bella as very grown up for her age. Edward and she have a discussion about it in Twilight. Bella's mom thinks Bella was 35 when she was born. Bella seems like an old soul to me.

On a related topic - what do you think about the theory that Bella is also supernatural (or at least half). Do you think that she could be a witch? Half werewolf?

I will be going to the Cape this weekend, so my online time will be nonexistant. I try to buzz you Sunday night for more squeeing. I'm still so emersed in the Twilight universe. I keep listening to my Twilight and New Moon playlists that I have on my iPod.

Thanks for the compliment on my icon, it is one of my favorite quotes. There are so many good ones... like "Stupid, shiny Volvo owner." LOL!

Talk to you soon!

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genealogygirl September 9 2006, 01:29:50 UTC
You know I also tried Bryce on the "bears are out of season, you know" dialogue, which I find to be highly amusing, but I think he was *really* tired by then.

I too have only read the Thursday Next series, though I have the Nursery Crimes one and have been meaning to turn to it.

On the Jacob front...I agree with you. It is very clear that the purpose he serves in the story is to be a threat to Edward and the Cullens. If (I should probably say when) a war breaks out, what will Bella do to keep Edward safe? Methinks she'll send Edward away for his own safety. She'll make him leave. We know she is capable of doing something like that to protect the ones she loves... look what she did to Charlie. She knows how to hit below the belt to get the desired reaction. It would kill her to hurt Edward, but it would hurt her more to know that she was responsible for the end of him.

Yes, I think there must be symmetry to the conversation they had where he says he cares the most because he could leave her and hurt himself to keep her safe (that was played out in NM). In the next breath, she says she would do the same, and he argues that she'd never have to make that choice. Ah, Edward. Too bad I think you're wrong. <*grins*> I agree that she'll probably send him away, and the only way to do that will be to hurt him badly. So, good point about her ability to hit below the belt when necessary.

I also agree (sadly!) that one of the Cullens is likely to die in this next book. I cringe at the thought, but agree with your list of "must be spared" characters. I also really love Emmett and Jasper as well, so I suppose Rosalie is the only one I wouldn't be too fussed about losing at this point (though I bet she'll have more depth in Eclipse).

On a related topic - what do you think about the theory that Bella is also supernatural (or at least half). Do you think that she could be a witch? Half werewolf?

That's possible, definitely. Clearly there is some reason to think she has a link already to the vampires especially. So far, we don't know of any female werewolves in Stephenie's world, so I'd be inclined to write that one off for now. But, I think Bella is "special" in some way, though it could be just that she's "destined" to be a vampire and so she immediately feels a kinship with them (and has been set apart from other humans her whole life for this reason). I know you asked that on the questions thread, so maybe it'll be one of the chosen questions! :)

Hope you have/had a great weekend trip; I will be gone myself so maybe we will see each other online Sunday or next week!

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