Today I sat on my couch, my bookshelves in front of me, and the top shelf caught my attention. One of the few complete book series I own. Twilight. Dun-dun.
The Twilight books were, in my opinion, a huge game changer in the publishing industry. Of course books in general have been being made into movies for the longest time, but Twiligh began a trend… It marked a whole new era, the era of the YA rage. Whohoo!
For better or for worse, they do deserve some merit.
Then
I read the books in 2008, 12, and fresh out of elementary school. The Twilight saga were the first YA books I’d ever read, and I fell in love. I fell in love with the idea of sexy, older-than-my-grandparents, sparkling vampires; bare-chested, head-over-heels-in-love wolves and happy endings.
Now
Five movies, a Kristen Stewart, and 8 years later, it’s a little more complex than that.
- I no longer fall so easily for a story, having set the bar higher after each of the most wonderful books I’ve ever read. Cue, The Lumatere Chronicles, by Melina Marchetta.
- I do think it’s entertaining that Bella has to choose between Jacob and Edward, but I think the way the whole thing happened makes Bella look even more like a selfish bitch than a normal girl caught in a love triangle looks like. Selfishness is unavoidable, but she crosses a line. Even Elena in vampire diaries is more honest about her feelings and deals with things better. And the guys in question are BROTHERS.
Bella and Jacob all the time, metaphorically.
- I don’t really care about sparkle. I mean, sure, it’s weird for creatures who are supposed to be all dark and… not sparkly, but hey, she tried to make it different. I laugh when I see the sparkle in the movies, but I don’t loathe that aspect of vampirism.
It’s okay Eddie, it’s okay.
- I’m no longer so crazy about guys who are 100+ years old falling for teenage girls. Sure, you’re hot as hell but… ew. Exceptions are made in a case by case basis (i.e. Damon Salvatore).
- I think the story going on between Leah- Sam- Emily is way more interesting than Bella-Edward-Jacob.
- Edward seems to really be taken by Bella, by her awkwardness and sarcasm, and her overwhelming charm, so, you’re good Edward (We all have our tastes). But, I still consider Bella’s fixation with Edward as obsessive and the reason why some parents think vampire books are evil.
Sorry Bella
- New Moon could have done without SO. MUCH. WALLOWING, and more of Jacob’s abs.
Now that’s what I’m talking about.
- Breaking Dawn could’ve done without so many pages, and thus without splitting the story into two movies.
[alert type=”info” close=”false”]BONUS: The credits scene at the end of Breaking Down brings me to tears. The only part I like of that movie, or the entire franchise, to be honest.[/alert]
This was entertaining to read. You’re right about Bella and Edward. Her behaviour borders on obsession. Also her relationship with Jacob – she dragged him along for way longer than she should.
In hindsight, I also see these “issues”, but at the time I read it a few years ago, I loved it!
There was someone on twitter who said something about Twilight having a lot of potential, and I believe it too. Bella and Edward are so weird XD
I have a love-hate relationship with Twilight. It’s the book that got me reading again. However, as I look back I feel the same way you do. I have grown a lot, but Twilight still has a special place in my heart.
Haha, I’m pretty much like you! When I started reading Twilight and finished it, I was around third grade and was probably 9 or 10 years old. I can still remember how obsessed I was with the series back then! Especially how head over heels I was over Robert Pattinson… Ack. I even joined a lot of Twilight-based websites and stuff and basically dedicated myself to the fandom for a year.
Until I grew older and came to my senses… Heh.
Like you, now that I think back to how the book went, it isn’t really as amazing as I thought it was 5-6 years ago. And now that I also recall everything I’ve read about it before, I’ve basically switched lanes from Edward to Emmett – I mean, WHY DID I NEVER REALIZE HOW COOL HE WAS BACK THEN?!? And the sparkles. Lol! They make me laugh as well, but I like that Stephenie Meyer tried to make things different by including that about vampires. Oh, and Bella. I have no idea why I never realized how annoyingly stubborn she actually was… Then again, I was still a kid. Sigh.
I may not love the Twilight series as much as I love it now, but I’m glad that it was one of the books that introduced me to the YA genre and made me be the YA-loving bibliophile today. 🙂
Great post, Pamela!
Mara @ Mara Was Here recently posted this awesome thing…Champion: THE ENDING. AHHHHH.
Lol I joined a Twilight roleplay forum, and hey it was pretty awesome! I was a vampire from the irish coven XD
Yes, I feel exactly the same about these books. Maybe they weren’t the best, but they are the ones that initiated most of us in YA, and made me want to read more, and even write!
Ah, I really love this post, Pam!
It’s so interesting how time and reading more books can change the way we see a certain book series!
I think I’m the same with Twilight – I’m more interested in the Leah-Sam-Emily thing now, and I don’t necessarily find all 100+ years old guys who are teenagers attractive now haha 😀
Great post! 😀 Plus that gif of Bella punching Jacob…priceless! :’)
Geraldine @ Corralling Books recently posted this awesome thing…Feminist Princesses Are Real | In Defense of the Princess by Jerramy Fine
Oh, I love that punch. Of course, her breaking her hand takes away the impact -_- But yes! Imagine the drama of having a great relationship and then it turns out he’s destined to be with someone else. Of course the girl will be bitter and snarky!