...and now I want to read this book. It's been sitting in my 'to-be-read' pile for months now, and I think you just motivated me to bust it out and love it or hate it.
PS Have you read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld? Another sci-fi/fantasy YA series of novels I think came out around the same time. They're within a year of each other, anyway.
I read Uglies (and the two sequels, and apparently there's a fourth one coming out), and enjoyed them (I'm 32). While I didn't feel like they suffered from the "bland" problem of Twilight, I do feel like in some cases they suffered from lack of character development
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The fourth one is called Extras--I have it, if you want to borrow it. It's not bad.
I esteem Uglies far above Twilight for various reasons, not the least of which because things actually happen in Uglies that then cause other things to happen, as opposed to pages and pages of 'I ate lunch, I went to Science, I sat next to a hot vampire guy. Then I went home and fried some fish,' which is how the bulk of Twilight 'develops.'
I've read the first two books and looking forward to the third. I do enjoy the series, but I agree that Tandy leaves much to be desired, The fourth book, Extras, is already out as far as I know; I've seen it around.
I haven't read these books, but I was enthralled to the last word. I have basically been itching to get your review since you said you ordered this book. XD AND IT IS ALL THAT I HOPED FOR YAAY.
Ahem. I confess that despite generally avoiding most YA fantasy in my formative years (a tragic mistake which I am still slowly struggling to correct), I did read a handful of YA vampire love stories and although none were quite so twinky - er, I mean, twinkly as Twilight seems to be, your general observations - that they're a tiny step up from a Choose Your Own Vampire Love Adventure with Everygirl and her constant wantit/don'twantit with the penetration angle - are, as always, incredibly astute. I was also reminded when reading this of the painfully bad romance novels I've subjected myself to recently, wherein the heroines have some personality but generally it can be summed up as "fiery" and of course, no matter how "independent" they think they is, they all turn into the same puddle of goo the second the guy touches them. Barf
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I have to admit that I do like the Twilight books, flaws and moments of extreme anger they inspire in me and all. But a thought about Edward- did you hear that she's working on a book called Midnight Sun, which is basically Twilight from Edward's point of view? She has the first chapter of it up at her website, and I read it a long time ago but from what I remember it provides a really astonishing look at Edward. In his first meeting with Bella he literally sits there planning how he can kill everyone to get to her and then escape. I remember someone else writing about Twilight who made many of the same points you did and went on to add that from the looks of that chapter Edward would be a lot more interesting if we weren't seeing him from Bella's point of view.
i did read about that, but the thing is, even if such a book is published, it probably wouldn't change my opinion--regardless of whatever murderous plots ed devised in his mind, in terms of actual action and consequence, his judgment remains rock-solid throughout. he doesn't even go for a nibble; not once. at least his thoughts sound slightly more compelling than bella's though (but it's not hard to be more compelling than a void).
Girls with no definition, girls who spend their own stories being saved by their perfect male mate, girls who display a complete lack of agency or influence over their own destinies?
Have you encountered the Mormon religion? This is the absolute ideal for girls, and this is also the religion that the author belongs to. (Or should I say cult?)
BEL: Ed, you're awesome. ED: No, Bel. YOU'RE awesome. And your veins smell like lilacs :) BEL: (blush) No, I'm ordinary and dull~! ED: AND AWESOME.
Reading this absolutely made my day. I laughed and laughed. You have absolutely pegged for me why I personally wanted to expose the book to gasoline and match. Bella was a turnip, and Edward was a turnip who sparkled.
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PS Have you read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld? Another sci-fi/fantasy YA series of novels I think came out around the same time. They're within a year of each other, anyway.
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I esteem Uglies far above Twilight for various reasons, not the least of which because things actually happen in Uglies that then cause other things to happen, as opposed to pages and pages of 'I ate lunch, I went to Science, I sat next to a hot vampire guy. Then I went home and fried some fish,' which is how the bulk of Twilight 'develops.'
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Ahem. I confess that despite generally avoiding most YA fantasy in my formative years (a tragic mistake which I am still slowly struggling to correct), I did read a handful of YA vampire love stories and although none were quite so twinky - er, I mean, twinkly as Twilight seems to be, your general observations - that they're a tiny step up from a Choose Your Own Vampire Love Adventure with Everygirl and her constant wantit/don'twantit with the penetration angle - are, as always, incredibly astute. I was also reminded when reading this of the painfully bad romance novels I've subjected myself to recently, wherein the heroines have some personality but generally it can be summed up as "fiery" and of course, no matter how "independent" they think they is, they all turn into the same puddle of goo the second the guy touches them. Barf ( ... )
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Have you encountered the Mormon religion? This is the absolute ideal for girls, and this is also the religion that the author belongs to. (Or should I say cult?)
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ED: No, Bel. YOU'RE awesome. And your veins smell like lilacs :)
BEL: (blush) No, I'm ordinary and dull~!
ED: AND AWESOME.
Reading this absolutely made my day. I laughed and laughed. You have absolutely pegged for me why I personally wanted to expose the book to gasoline and match. Bella was a turnip, and Edward was a turnip who sparkled.
~THEY FOUGHT CRIME~
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