I'm sure the buzz has reached just about everyone who isn't living under a rock (yep, even me) and the Stephenie Meyers books have come under your radar. What's the big deal, you may ask? Well, since Harry Potter is yesterday's news, the literary world is trying to create a new phenomenon.
Unfortunately for them, I'm not sure the Twilight series has that kind of caliber.
Stephenie Meyers is a break-out author who published her first book "Twilight" in 2004 (I believe) with the sequel following in 2006 and the third in 2007.
I heard about "Twilight" through an LDS online group -- incidentally, the author is also LDS --and decided to give it a try. I like vampire stories. I thought it would be a good fantasy read that I could share with my daughters. However, by the middle of the book, I realized this was not really written for children. It's marketed for children and young adults, but (in my opinion) it's a little old (read: mature) for them. Perhaps I had an unrealistic expectation that this would be up to LDS standards, but the more I read, the more I realized it really wasn't.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I'll choose my words carefully. The main gist of the story is about a plain, all-American girl who falls in love with a vampire and how their relationship progresses. As I read I was surprised at how "familiar" (in the words of my father in law) this couple acted. I would be appalled if one of my daughters had a boyfriend sneak in her room at night to sleep with her (no sex, just sleeping, but still....) And, I found all the talk of his lust for her blood as disturbing as if it were lust for her body (which occurs subtly as well). Vampires, by nature, are erotic creatures... they've been portrayed that way for eons, and Edward is no exception.
Did I put my expectations too high hoping this was a good LDS book? Maybe. Am I reading too much into the story? Perhaps. Will I read the books all the way to the end? Yes, because I'm curious to know how the story unfolds. Will I let my girls read it? Maybe when they are older... I'd definitely give these a PG-13 rating.
All-in-all Mrs. Meyers is a good storyteller. She's no JK Rowling, but then again, talent like THAT is hard to come by. But, she writes in a way that you can relate to how Bella feels and thinks and puts the reader right into the story. I enjoy that.
I'll let you know if my opinion changes once I've finished the trilogy but for the time being, it is a nice story that takes me away from housework and laundry, and that's good enough for me!
Unfortunately for them, I'm not sure the Twilight series has that kind of caliber.
Stephenie Meyers is a break-out author who published her first book "Twilight" in 2004 (I believe) with the sequel following in 2006 and the third in 2007.
I heard about "Twilight" through an LDS online group -- incidentally, the author is also LDS --and decided to give it a try. I like vampire stories. I thought it would be a good fantasy read that I could share with my daughters. However, by the middle of the book, I realized this was not really written for children. It's marketed for children and young adults, but (in my opinion) it's a little old (read: mature) for them. Perhaps I had an unrealistic expectation that this would be up to LDS standards, but the more I read, the more I realized it really wasn't.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I'll choose my words carefully. The main gist of the story is about a plain, all-American girl who falls in love with a vampire and how their relationship progresses. As I read I was surprised at how "familiar" (in the words of my father in law) this couple acted. I would be appalled if one of my daughters had a boyfriend sneak in her room at night to sleep with her (no sex, just sleeping, but still....) And, I found all the talk of his lust for her blood as disturbing as if it were lust for her body (which occurs subtly as well). Vampires, by nature, are erotic creatures... they've been portrayed that way for eons, and Edward is no exception.
Did I put my expectations too high hoping this was a good LDS book? Maybe. Am I reading too much into the story? Perhaps. Will I read the books all the way to the end? Yes, because I'm curious to know how the story unfolds. Will I let my girls read it? Maybe when they are older... I'd definitely give these a PG-13 rating.
All-in-all Mrs. Meyers is a good storyteller. She's no JK Rowling, but then again, talent like THAT is hard to come by. But, she writes in a way that you can relate to how Bella feels and thinks and puts the reader right into the story. I enjoy that.
I'll let you know if my opinion changes once I've finished the trilogy but for the time being, it is a nice story that takes me away from housework and laundry, and that's good enough for me!
1 comment:
You also commented on my review of the book, and we had a similar feeling about it, but I think you put it in better words than I did... All I'm trying to say is that's exactly what I was trying to say! I agree! Now it makes me think that the book is overrated.
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