Oh, Stephanie. This is not how you book...
Stayed up late last night watching Nerimon's series "Alex reads Twilight" and became quite amused that he had several of my reactions to the prose in that particular book. (Namely: Oh God, this got published?)
Here's my problem with Bella Swan. Well. Lots of things bother me about Bella Swan, but mostly she makes my feminist hackles rise. She only exists as a vehicle for this relationship that defines her. She has no meaningful existence outside of Edward Cullen: before she knows him, really, they've had a conversation or something, she's convinced that she loves him.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF CRAP WE'RE FEEDING OUR TEENAGED GIRLS.
RAWR RAWR RAWR.
Why do we lie about stuff like this? Why do we lie to our girls (and our boys) about what romantic love is like? Why don't we say: Listen, it's awkward, okay? And sometimes it hurts. And it's not gonna work out the first couple of times you try and sometimes your partner isn't gonna know magically what to say to make you feel better. Sometimes you're gonna break someone else's heart. Sometimes... sometimes life just sucks, okay? But sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, despite all that awkwardness, and pain, and trying and failing... It's really good.
It's better than Edward and Bella, because they don't have to try. Knowing that someone's putting effort into a relationship with you -- that's worth it.
AND MORE THAN THAT.
Romantic love does not have to define you. Neither does a lack of it, really. You are something other than an object for a man's sexual desire. You have a purpose. Abilities you can use. A Brain, for God's sake.
Go out and be awesome on your own. It's totally possible.
**
I think I'd be a lot better as a writer if I could get over this... really crushing self-loathing that's come over me lately. Some really lovely things have been said to me and about me in the past week, but I can't... absorb any of it.
You know -- I don't think I can blame Dad for this. He's been this person my whole life. He's always teased me. The fact that I can't, for whatever reason, shake off his snide remarks lately is my own fault.
But still -- you know that feeling? That niggling little voice in the back of your head that says "People wouldn't like you if they knew x,y and z..."
That voice is going into overdrive lately. *shrug*
Here's my problem with Bella Swan. Well. Lots of things bother me about Bella Swan, but mostly she makes my feminist hackles rise. She only exists as a vehicle for this relationship that defines her. She has no meaningful existence outside of Edward Cullen: before she knows him, really, they've had a conversation or something, she's convinced that she loves him.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF CRAP WE'RE FEEDING OUR TEENAGED GIRLS.
RAWR RAWR RAWR.
Why do we lie about stuff like this? Why do we lie to our girls (and our boys) about what romantic love is like? Why don't we say: Listen, it's awkward, okay? And sometimes it hurts. And it's not gonna work out the first couple of times you try and sometimes your partner isn't gonna know magically what to say to make you feel better. Sometimes you're gonna break someone else's heart. Sometimes... sometimes life just sucks, okay? But sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, despite all that awkwardness, and pain, and trying and failing... It's really good.
It's better than Edward and Bella, because they don't have to try. Knowing that someone's putting effort into a relationship with you -- that's worth it.
AND MORE THAN THAT.
Romantic love does not have to define you. Neither does a lack of it, really. You are something other than an object for a man's sexual desire. You have a purpose. Abilities you can use. A Brain, for God's sake.
Go out and be awesome on your own. It's totally possible.
**
I think I'd be a lot better as a writer if I could get over this... really crushing self-loathing that's come over me lately. Some really lovely things have been said to me and about me in the past week, but I can't... absorb any of it.
You know -- I don't think I can blame Dad for this. He's been this person my whole life. He's always teased me. The fact that I can't, for whatever reason, shake off his snide remarks lately is my own fault.
But still -- you know that feeling? That niggling little voice in the back of your head that says "People wouldn't like you if they knew x,y and z..."
That voice is going into overdrive lately. *shrug*