The Zaftig Chicks’ Guide to…Twilight?
by sylvia
Have y’all been to this Regretsy site? It is totally awesome. Bianca and I have been spending some time there lately, as it has deemed itself a notable waster-of-time.
But here’s the thing – what is the fascination with Twilight? And yes, I know I’m a little behind the times on this one, but now that the second movie is coming out and I actually forced myself to read what I could of the first book, I’ve got to ask the question.
See, there are these ladies at work that spent countless hours of countless days talking about the books and the movies. It was downright annoying. Bianca and I would joke them (behind their backs, of course) but while we were busy talking smack about D-list celebrities, they were going on about these fictional characters. Which I guess is kinda the same thing, but I digress.
Regardless, they were obsessed. And by looking at the Regretsy pages, walking by Hot Topic, and even looking for dresses at Torrid, so are thousands/millions(?) of other people.
But why?
Why has this series, these characters, struck such a chord with so many people? Is it because Bella is basically uncoordinated and mousey and then becomes the “belle of the ball” when she moves to a new school, and the cutest boy likes her? Do the people obsessed with this wish that would happen to them because they are essentially Bella?
Is it like a romance novel for the tweens, pre-teens, teens, and middle-aged women?
And to top it all off, I had a dream last night about the movie. Granted, I haven’t even seen the movie yet, but there they were, the two main characters, blabbing about something and vampires in my dream. I tend to have really boring dreams.
I remember when Harry Potter was a mad craze, too. And I actually read some of those books. Maybe I’m just not the kind of person to get all crazy about something, unless it is booze or food, so I can’t quite relate.
But what is it about Twilight that makes so many people obsessed? Bianca and I have determined that we need to watch the movie before we can really snark on it anymore (cuz Lord knows I could not get through that book, and it’s not just because of my short attention span).
But in the interim, if anyone can shed some light on the phenomenon that is the obsession with Twilight, I ask honestly – please do.
I agree that there is a Bella in all of us but I also think it is the eternal love, romanticism of it all. Its the same reason that Bram Stoker’s Dracula was so popular with women-its ROMANATIC to think that someone would want to spend an eternity with you and go to no ends to make it happen. Twilight also has a little bit of a man (Edward) with a dominating personality (not over the top you are my sex slave shit) and can control a situation. And seriously, the sex scenes (that had no sex in them) were very erotic. Trust me, read the book-its much better than the movie and allows you to use your own imagination to expand upon parts where you want more.
I’ll agree with the previous response that the books are definitely better than the movie.
I started reading the Twilight series because I’m a 9th grade English teacher, and I thought it was my duty to find out what my students found so fascinating about these books. At least, that was my excuse for reading the first book. After that, I’ll admit I temporarily got sucked into the madness, because if you can get into them, the story and the characters are oddly engrossing.
In retrospect, the books are kind of creepy, especially since they’re read by adolescents. Bella spends most of the time putting herself down and wondering why any male would be attracted to her. Edward is super-creepy, sneaking into her bedroom and watching her sleep before she even knows he’s interested, and then once they’re together, completely controlling who she interacts with (even taking apart her car engine so she can’t see a certain character he considers “dangerous,” a.k.a “competition”).
But partly for those same reasons, a certain demographic can’t get enough of these books. Who doesn’t, at least some of the time, feel unattrative and unworthy of notice? Who wouldn’t like to have not one, but two supernaturally hot guys, not to mention a sea of “normies” obsessing over your every breath and clamoring to “protect” you?
Like Harry Potter, the Twilight books involves characters who readers feel they can relate to, and who readers want to imagine themselves knowing. That’s probably why the whole fanfiction thing is so big with both series.
Sorry for the mini-lecture.
I have nothing nice to say about the Twilight books so I shall just keep my mouth shut.
CTJen – please don’t
I read the first book and I was so disappointed. I can understand why teenagers like the book but that’s about it. It’s a very easy read and not very well written. I found Bella to be a weak individual who constantly needs saving. She doesn’t really have much of a personality and her greatest skill seems to be that she has suddenly transformed into this beautiful, popular girl who gets a fresh start in a new town. What teenager wouldn’t want that? I also dislike how so much emphasis is put on looks and appearance. I think that’s one reason why the “love” between Edward and Bella comes across as so obsessive and shallow. I can understand being in middle school and longing for the one person who will truly understand you. I can even understand feeling like you “love” someone the way Bella and Edward do (been there, done that) but that’s not what real, mature love is like. I hope the people who read these books realize that.
I have never read the books, or have I seen the movie, but I am not one to let something like lack of knowledge stop me from spouting my opinion.
People who like Twilight are big fat losers.
Just kidding. Maybe.
I’m going to hop up on my superficial soap box for a second. Based on what I’ve read online, Bella was an ugly unpopular loser, who moves to Twilight Land to live with her father. It must be slim pickings in those parts, because suddenly all the boys are in love with her. I am pretty sire that has less to do with the fact that she is super pretty, and more that she is simply the least ugly. Kind of like Kristen Stewart.
Also the guy who plays Edward? Not cute.
Also, if you have not read this http://stoney321.livejournal.com/317176.html stop what you are doing and go read it now. It’s hysterical!
I usually just lurk around here but Twilight sort of hits a nerve with me.
I love Twilight. I love how Trashy and badly written it is. It’s campy and really fun to read when you take it that way.
However I don’t understand how any adult can take it as a serious piece of literature let alone a sweeping, epic romance. I really just don’t get it. Edward and Bella’s love is the stuff of middle school. Where you just mutually found each other attractive, had nothing in common, still thought someone being possessive was romantic and had known the person for only a few days, yet you were “So in love!”.
Also the idea that grown adults are swooning over 17 year olds (portrayed or otherwise) is really gross.
Two words: utter shite.
I have friends who are obsessed with the books/movies, and I’m just like, “WHY?!” These aren’t teenagers, either. These are women in their 30s and 40s. I decided to see why it was so AWESOME! and started reading the first book in Borders. I got through two pages before I threw it aside in disgust.
And the movies…oh the movies. I just want to throw my phone at the tv everytime I see a commercial for the new movie.
I think I’m done now.
Twilight makes me embarrassed for mankind.
I read all the books obsessively and then started re-reading them all again when I finished and I still don’t know why. I hated them, but was slightly obsessed all at the same time. Edward is a stalker, seriously creepy who “falls in love” with a girl cause he can’t read her thoughts and she smells delicious.
Anyways I think the allure comes from the idea that Edward is just SO passionately (and obsessively) in love with Bella in an all consuming hs way. But he doesn’t want to have sex with her and in fact barely lets himself kiss her, making him this perfect, non-scary, non-threatening boyfriend for a 12 year old girl.
I think it’s just a romance novel for young folks thing really.
I like vampire romance, but I’m not interested in Twilight, there’s plenty of other things to pick from. (Fatal Hearts, for one!)
I personally do not care for Twilight. It’s a valid enough romantic escapist fantasy, which is how a couple of my friends who like it see it. I prefer to write my own romantic escapist fantasies, 100% emo stalker vampire free.
As for the masses who are really into it, my theory is that Bella is painfully bland enough that she’s perfect for readers, especially the preteen set, to project themselves onto. I’ve even heard people online say that the books are so much better when you imagine Bella speaking or acting differently. Stephanie Meyer is either a godawful writer or a genius.
I have no explanations for the middle-aged women who genuinely hold up Edward as the ultimate of romantic devotion, though, as he’s a massive creeper.
I love it for how bad it is. I make fun of it constantly but I still enjoy them for the brainlessness of it all.
Does anyone else miss Sweet Valley High? In retrospect they seem like really good books, compared to some of today’s teen books. Elizabeth was a really good, strong female character and a good role model for young girls.
I refuse to watch the movies or read the books because I am not a 13 year old girl.
I vlogged about this awhile ago.
In terms of reading Twlight, I just couldn’t endure it.
I can totally understand why kids ages 10 to 16 (maybe even 18) would really like this or why the books would appeal to them.
But when I went and seen the first movie in theatre recommended by my 35 year old friend I just didn’t get why she thought it was so great.
Most people I know in the mid twenties don’t like it, but I know tons of women my age 30-35 range who love the movie and thinks it’s the best book ever.
That is what I don’t get. I don’t get that at all.
There was no way I was turned on by a 17 year old vampire who sparkles in the sun. It just wasn’t happening!
Give me Dracula any day
can’t say I’m really familiar with much about twilight other than they sell t-shirts at Torrid, but I do find it sad the obsessions that so many adults get with reading books like this and Harry Potter that are written for children and hold them up as great literature.. not to say that all adults should have super high reading levels and shouldn’t read things fun and simply sometimes.. but I just don’t get things like my 30-yr-old friend getting her Master to be an English teacher thinks that they’re fabulous reading.. personally I just don’t find literature directed at juveniles to be all that fascinating.. I prefer my reading to be adult-level.
I have no idea, never having seen the movie. I did, however, just check the bookout of the library a couple of days ago.
bs7, sorry you feel that way, some of the best written books I’ve ever read as an adult were youth fiction. I have been reading since I was about 3, and am still an avid reader. I read Jurrasic Park in 27 hours, and Shogun in 4 1/2 days, so I even outrun the library’s ability to keep me in good reading material, and I live in a huge city. So I read the youth books sometimes, and enjoy them. Not every book/reading experience has to be some great profound Dostoyevsky moment. Sometimes a fast food meal can be as satisfying as a 5 star gourmet meal, if that’s what you are in the mood for. Each to his own, however. I have known people who were literate, but went their whole lives without ever reading anything except instructions and such, not even a magazine article or newspaper.
I was an avid Sweet Valley High reader in middle school. The town seemed so perfect—as soon as school is done, you can hit the beach! But so many of the characters were so over-the-top. My favorite was Enid Rollins, because she was the most normal of the bunch. Not rich, attractive, but not outrageously beautiful and was a genuinely good person. But when they started turning Elizabeth and Jessica into mystery investigators, I lost interest. That’s what Nancy Drew was for.
I also loved R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books. I was too old for Goosebumps, but Fear Street was right up my alley. Demon-possessed cheerleaders, knife-wielding teenage slashers, insane parents—makes Twilight look like Sesame Street. His adult suspense novels are pretty decent too. But now I’m into true crime fiction.
A good friend of mine is part of a tutoring program for inner city kids. When she realized how many of the girls were reading and swooning over the Twilight books, she decided to read one and see what they were like. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her spit so many nails across the room as when parsing out Bella and Edward’s ‘romance.’
OTOH, my fifty-year-old brother has no problem with that aspect. He just prefers his vampires non-sparkly. Apparently he has no beef with a teenage girl who gets carted around by her stalker boyfriend until her legs nearly atrophy, or with said boyfriend DISABLING HER TRUCK so she can’t go visit a boy she’s friends with, or with the TEN BLANK PAGES of Bella’s life after Edward leaves her because she doesn’t really exist without him.
I have to say that insight into my brother’s mind was the scariest thing I’ve heard in yonks.
These books are horrible. They’re filled with toxic messages. If I had a daughter who was reading the Twilight boosk, I would make sure I sat down with her and had a good talk…and then make very certain there were some books with better messages readily available to her.
Oh, and bs7, I read War and Peace for the first time when I was fourteen, but I still love Harry Potter, too. There’s room for both on my bookshelves.
The thing that offends me about Twilight is that Stephanie Meyer said the first book was based on Pride and Prejudice. (I could see if she accidentally meant “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” Maybe she misspoke.) That made me want to vomit. Lizzie Bennett was a strong woman who (spoiler alert!) turned down a very rich man because she thought at the time he was an ass. Bella Swan, on the other hand, became comatose when rejected by her love. Oh yes, I see the similarities there.
The sad thing is I really feel I should watch the movies just to be culturally literate, but they offend my feminist sensibilities to no end.
Twistie, it’s not just the Twilight books that are bad. My 13 yr old son is reading a required book in English class called Roll Of Thunder, Hear Me Roar, an older youth book set in the 30’s about a black girl, and her trying to deal with the absolute bigotry at that time. The book talks about racism at its finest, two black boys doused with kerocene and set on fire because they looked at a white girl from across the street, another beaten to death by grown white men, because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, etc. I had to read the book, because my son was failing all the assignments, and I needed to read it so I could quiz him and such. I was pretty horrified. And it’s written in first person, and the dialog of the black American at that time period is nothing like modern English. Turns out not only did my son not understand the lauguage the book was written in, he didn’t understand the racism, or the graphic violence. He thought those kinds of things were only in movies and video games. And he’s not a sheltered child, we’re just lucky to live somewhere that it seldom happens, not like when I was growing up, and getting beat up on a regular basis because I’m not white. I’m glad for him that he didn’t understand this stuff at 13.
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