I read the Twi.light series when I was alarmed at the number of junior high kids (and teachers) reading 
the series at the Catholic school where I taught. I found some themes which were true, good, and beautiful, such as chastity and Edward's decision to do what was best for Bella rather than what he desired, and certainly would focus on those if I was discussing the book with a girl (or her mother) who enjoyed the series. But I hasten to add that this book presented multiple problems- the least of which were vampires themselves! The obsessive, stalker- like "love" of Edward presented as normal and healthy is quite alarming. It's not a good thing- it's creepy, obsessive and controlling. Edward's perfection, beauty and intelligence are also note-worthy. The number of facebook "fan" groups with titles such as "I press my cheek against the tile floor and dream of laying my head on Edward's chest" impress upon me the desperate need of girls for love from our Heavenly Father. The only perfect man we will ever encounter is Christ, yet by encouraging these romance novels, we set up false ideals of men, love and passion that cannot last in the human level. By introducing girls to obsessive love of this sort (and teasing their mothers with this as the "norm"), we are reinforcing the world's view of love and trying to find fulfillment and Heaven on earth- not using the grace-filled Sacrament to point towards the Lord.
Overall, the obsessiveness with the books points to a deeper problem: a society that is desperate for the love of the Lord and deeply in a crisis of masculinity and femininity.
Therefore, I highly recommend people avoid this series in the book and movie form. It is a colossal waste of time.
13 comments:
I hvaen't read them for the reasons you listed, at least that it was I heard. I completely agree with you!
Plus, from a literary angle, the writing is atrocious. I read the series, and while some plot lines were somewhat enjoyable, the poor quality of the writing and the disturbing "love" in the book made me ready to be finished with it. You did a great job of laying out reasons for encouraging young adults (and especially their parents) to steer clear.
I second Kaitlin. I haven't read them since I saw so much obsession, plus I do hear the writing is poor.
Adam and decided it was not a good idea for Emma to read these for the same reasons you listed. We figured there are better books out there.
I haven't read them either, and I truly have zero interest. I'm glad to hear your perspective on this.
haha! "colossal waste of time"! intriguing. i'll be honest, I originally stayed away from the book because it had pretty strong mormon undertones. I finally read it after it started to catch on in the non-mormon world, and while it was mildly entertaining, i confirmed those mormon undertones! i'd do a post on it but I don't want to offend some friends...but seriously! some are good, like chastity and waiting for marriage, but new and improved vampires that live forever ? old evil vampires...from Rome? imprinting? the sacrifices you have to make to become a vampire and everyone not understanding? anyway, those are the themes I'd be concerned about kids catching on to, in addition to obsessive stalker type love of course :)
Well...I'll be the rebel once again. I love the books! They are fun and cute and lovey and most of all fiction! They weren't written by a Pulitzer prize winner and that's ok. There are grammatical errors all over the place (if I notice them, they are blatantly bad, because I have horrible grammar!). I was raised Mormon, so maybe that's why I didn't catch all the Mormon undertones everyone talks about (other than chastity).
They are cute! That's all. Would I want my 10 year old daughter reading them...no not quite. But a teenager...why not? I would like to think my parents would've taught me better than to think I would meet a perfect vampire to love and get involved in a three way with a werewolf...but I guess you never know?
As far as the silly little groups people are part of...I don't get.
I'm with Kaitilin! I also just couldn't understand the craze. It's a bit creepy and strange to me. I wouldn't want my daughter to be that obsessed over a caracter. I just couldn't being myself to jump on that bandwagon.
I read the first of the series when I saw that all of my high school girls (I was a youth minister at the time) were so into it. I saw why they liked it; it was pretty "sugary" and teenage girls drool over that stuff, but it does have it's drawbacks, like you mentioned.
Plus, the writing is awful and for anyone of a certain level of maturity, this is not a series they would enjoy. But alas, I find a lot of my peers (in their mid-twenties!) virtually obsessed with it. Our society has some things to work on...
I agree with CL here, I think if adults are reading and enjoying this stuff it's a sad sign for our society! i have friends (early 20's) that are among the obsessed. I'm trying not to hold it against them. From all I've heard you are right in your thoughts on the downfalls of the movies/books but my fear is the absolutely craziness that people have for these things. Its sad.
I have never read them, but I have two teen daughters whose friends love them. For some reason, the obsession with them really turns my daughters off, and they both refuse to read the books!! It's like a badge of honor to them! If they have to be rebels, I don't mind if it's on this issue. Saves me a lot of reading about vampires.
Well put - the obsessiveness it draws out in the readers was a warning for me that there was something little off. The chastity message is good but there is little else of substance in the series.
I'll finish my comment with a quote from Stephen King (not that he's great shakes either): "The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good."
Amen to all the above.
Incidentally, I did see the most recent film. As someone who works in the film industry I found it ugly. Shot with a colorless, cold dull grey filter throughout the film, it is the visual equivalent of an endless, low drone.
No help is given from the acting - moody looks that convey no discernible emotions - or the writing - something between a bad soap opera and a pastiche of Dawson's Creek. It is awful, mind-sucking trash - a complete waste of time.
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