Writer's Block: Crepuscular Drama

[matrixrefugee]

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Will not be seeing it. At all. Tried reading the books and I couldn't get past the first three chapters: Bella has to be the most whiny protagonist imaginable. Thanks for perpetuating the "vampire fiction = emo" trend, Stephanie Meyers. Also, a few opinions I've formed based on what I've heard:

--Vampires do *NOT* sparkle. What part of "children of the night" goes well with having skin that sparkles?! If there's any fantasy creature that sparkles, it's probably either elves or mermaids.

--Also, I can't help seeing Bella as being analogous to those sort of girls who stay with meth users or abusive guys "because I love him". I'm not throwing stones, because I used to be that girl myself, till I learned I needed to love myself enough realized I needed to be with a guy who really loved me and wasn't using me emotionally.

Comments

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

"...unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him," I believe the black cover blurb reads. *gah!*

[cercenightshade.livejournal.com]

and doesn't irrevocably and unconditionally mean the same thing?? XD

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

:: Impersonating Penelope Garcia on "Criminal Minds":: Paging the Department of Redundancy Department... :: laughs::

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

What it means to me is a moronic view of "love." It's been my experience that "unconditional" and "irrevocable" love is the product of many years rather than something one instantly feels. Of course, bearing in mind that this is a book intended for young readers. *sigh* I'm feeling old and curmudgeonly.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Agreed on it taking many years to love someone unconditionally. And no, I wouldn't say your attitude is curmudgeonly, I'd say it's a mature and realistic view on love and relationships.

[aloof-photos.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I am intruding here, but I saw your answer to the writer's block, and basically I feel exactly the same way as you do.
I couldn't get through the first three chapters either. Bella annoyed the living hell out of me. And Stephanie Meyers needs to be shot for making vampires sparkle. That was just... wrong. In fantasy literature the only thing that is allowed to sparkle is Tinker Bell. Period.

I have to agree about the whole "loving an abusive guy" as well. I think that is a really terrible idea to portray for 14 year old girls who think they can relate so much to Bella.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Hee, no intruding at all: after being on a bus yesterday and listening to girls squeeing over the books and the movie, it's a relief to see I'm not alone in having the same reaction.

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Tinkerbelle! I love your comment.

I used to be in an abusive relationship. It was a lot like that. "He's rude, crude and mean, but I WUV him! *wails*" I was 17. I'm glad I grew out of that.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Urgh, now I have the mental image of Tinkerbell with little vampire fangs. O.O

[cercenightshade.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Saw your writers' block answer :)

Although I haven't read the book, I'm kinda glad now I skipped it. Vampires sparkling?? Egads!!

And I agree with you - portraying a female character like that is NOT a good image for teenage girls...

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I want to get back the half-hour of my life that I wasted on the first three chapters >.

[ladyneferankh.livejournal.com]

You know--I came across the first book in a library back before it had become famous (about two years + ago?), and gave it a try.

I made it about mid-way through the book but somehow--I don't know, just couldn't get into it.

P.S.
Also, rather than feeling that Bella "put up with too much" she seemed kinda spoiled to me :P . But of course that was just my perception...

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Heh, agreed on that last bit: She's gone through no more than the average American teenager who goes onto MySpace whinging about how mean their parents are. When I posted an review on Amazon of the first, I tagged the book "Mary Sue".

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

Heh. Did you know that the guy who plays Edward doesn't even like the character? I think that says quite a bit. Personally, I'm trying to write an urban fantasy story of my own with the intention of subverting as many cliches as possible, and I wonder if I could get away with a scene where a vampiric character, who reads vampire novels for giggles, chucks a book across the room, shouting "We're not Tinkerbell dammit."

~Weaver

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

I've seen that actor quoted as saying he's not comfortable with the books and that he felt like reading them was reading Stephanie Meyers's "sexual fantasies". Ew... but I can't help agreeing with him.

And hee, I *love* the sound of that story idea! There's a Dresden Files fanfic where Harry's psy-vampire half-brother gets jumped by a bunch of crazy fangirls at a Twilight book release party that it reminds me of.

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

Which fanfic? *is curious* As for my own idea, as much as I'd love to include that scene, there is the problem of copyright, plus the possibility of getting sued by a pissy author. Incidently, the vamp in question would probably knock the tar out of Edward for being both an insult to the species and a creepy stalker (even bloodsuckers have standards).
~Weaver

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

That fic would be "All That glitters", found here: http://www.theninemuses.net/archive/viewstory.php?sid=243

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

*reads* *laughs* That fan girl must've thought it was her lucky year.
~Weaver

[anivad.livejournal.com]

Yeah; that... that... whatsisname... GAH HOW HAVE I FORGOTTEN IT ;_; said that the more he read about him, the more he hated Edward. Kudos to him for that at least.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

There's a vid somewhere, in which he talks about how uncomfortable the books made him, but unfortunately, he had his hands tied and couldn't say how much he really hated the role. Watch and see him disclose more of how he felt when the movie comes to DVD...