On principle, I was opposed to reading Twilight because of the lunatic storyline communicated to me. Some sh*t about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire who then ends up with a werewolf (the girl, not the vampire), and then somehow has a child with the vampire (the girl, not the werewolf). Or something.
Opposed, on principle to reading this series of books because there are so many brilliant books waiting for attention, that I was extremely hesitant to instead surrender my precious hours to these ones.
I finally did. I went out to dinner with a girlfriend who was swooning over the storyline. She gave me her book and so I began.
But not for long.
As is often the case, I have extreme reactions to things or ideas or situations or people. I don’t half-ass most anything, let alone a response to sh*t such as this book.
If I could, I would have stabbed this book. This is how much I hated it. Nearly as much as The Devil Wears Prada.
Not only was this horribly written, it also had a weird sense of sexuality-but-not sterility about it that was simply creepy as the storyline was about A CHILD in (obsessive sexual-but-not-really-as-the-mum’s-reading-this-would-have-a-fit-if-these-two-got-groovy-in-this-first-of-three-sh*t-books) love with A VAMPIRE. Oh my God, looking at that sentence, I am ashamed to have given even 5 minutes to this book.
Obviously, I did not make it very far into the book; one afternoon wasted on a little under half of Twilight and I drove it back to my girlfriend’s place and had to control myself not to throw it with all my strength at her door repeatedly until she answered…only to keep throwing it at her as she stood in the doorway.
We grappled for a little and she pushed me down on to the sofa, forcing me to watch the film instead. (Thankfully for free. I wouldn’t give a cent to this stupid film.)
Much to her dismay, I lasted through the 2 hour comedy. She tried to turn it off, but I would have none of it, as I’d not laughed that hard in quite some time.
For the record no1: I think both the lead actors are equally sh*t. The girl looked as if she were in a perpetual state of stupid whereas the boy a perpetual state of puke.
For the record no2: Really? Seriously? How are any of you still believing in this unhealthy formula that is so repugnant?
Vampire = bad boy meets girl and she changes everything in order to be with him while he, nothing, though his true nature is of a lunatic sociopath.
This storyline, perpetuated by gender-based fu*k-nuttery is repugnant. It. Is. Vulgar. Does this make you sad? Do you think I’m cruel? Possibly. Go ahead and tell me I have poor taste in literature, please, or that I am heartless. Please – I invite you to.
Still, though, right now I wish to punch myself in my eyes.
P.S. If I had a daughter, I would rip this from her hands and burn it.
P.S. to the P.S. I must admit that the baseball sequence in the film version was absolutely beautifully shot.
13 Comments:
Blogger 7aki Fadi said…
Wow you hate it that much? every sinlge person I know is swooning over it.
I havn’t read it yet (I devour books , I LOOOVE to read) because I kinda thought it would be silly to pay 16 bucks for a “fad” book.
I am glad I didn’t buy it, I’ll have to just borrow so I can come back and tell you if I loved it and that “you are heartless” or if I hated it too
.
PS: the word verification I got was “undys” LOL
Tue Mar 10, 02:38:00 PM
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Anonymous NKL said…
Interesting! My creative writing students were in love with this book but I haven’t found the time to read it yet. They said it was absorbing and the easy to read. I really need to take a look, I think. The themes sound obnoxious, yes (I agree that the boy would eventually sink his teeth into that sweet white neck) but the writing? I must see this is for myself.
Tue Mar 10, 04:25:00 PM
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Anonymous Espy xoxox said…
I can’t buy the hype on this, and it does sound like complete muddy shit.
…I am a big fan of the Beauty and the Beast genre, though; hope you won’t hold that against me.
xoxox
Tue Mar 10, 04:51:00 PM
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Blogger lola said…
i thumbed through the book in the bookstore at the height of its hype and left it on the bookshelf. it is not for me. (nor for you apparently) and i gave the movie a very wide berth.
Tue Mar 10, 05:26:00 PM
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Anonymous michelle said…
Maha, we know the storyline doesn’t exist…that’s why they put it in movies and call it “entertainment.”
It’s the people who can’t separate the two that should be worrisome.
I’m with you on this one, though if there’s something to get pissed about, there are definitely worse things Mormons have given us (baptism by proxy being something that raises my hair higher than that sparkly neck biter’s could ever go).
Tue Mar 10, 10:38:00 PM
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Anonymous lily said…
Thank fucking GOD someone hates this and all the posters on here!
I walked out of the movie when the vampire was in that class and that girl walked in. He looked like he was about to throw up but I think he was supposed to look like he was attracted to her maybe.
Whatever, this whole Twilight craze is weird and yeah, it’s creepy.
“Entertainment” or not, considering the amount of money this shit pulls from people, it’s sick.
Maha, if you want to rant and think it’s worth getting pissed off about then go for it. You write enough politically and beautifully to “officially” rant once in a blue god damn moon. Not that anyone here is trying to tell you what you’re allowed to write about
I read that King slammed this book and the writing also. You’re in excellent company. -lily
Wed Mar 11, 12:35:00 AM
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Blogger Lisa said…
Oxymoron: I loved the books (the first one, anyway…lost steam by the last one) and liked the movie, but I agree with what you disliked about the books/movie.
???
I had to remember that the target audience is teens. These stories made me revisit life as a teenager…with the wisdom of an adult. Teenagers are cursed. Their nature is romantic, overdramatic, hormonally driven, rebellious, clumsy, and judgement-impaired.
I hated the lead-female character, but that hate might actually be counter-transference. Could I possibly have been as selfish, emotional and brainless when I was a teenager?
The books forced me to look at myself and try to accept aspects/traits limited by my age and experiences. Once I could do that, I could enjoy the stories.
Wed Mar 11, 11:17:00 AM
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Anonymous Melissa said…
Maha – I love you and I have not kept up on your blog recently. I need to go back and read some of your recent posts. Personally, I enjoyed the books (like Lisa above me said, I too lost steam by the last one). I’m a sucker for a cheesy/somewhat dark teen film or a vampire fantasy. It was by no means like ‘The Lost Boys’ or ‘Bram Stokers Dracula’, but it did the job for my weird fetish. Hahaha But, like I had said to you before….where the f*** are the fangs? That is my absolute biggest gripe about the film (can’t remember if they are mentioned in the books). Seriously, how can you be a vampire with no fang action going on?? The female lead, Bella….yeah, I’d like to slap her repeatedly. Just don’t like her.
I can see how people call Edward abusive (not physically, but mentally), controlling, etc. I think it was a little much and now all these teen girls are looking for that kind of guy. Hate to tell them, but an abusive/controlling guy can’t be a loving teddy bear on the inside. Just doesn’t work that way. Edward is NOT real. And it’s not just him, the other male lead, Jacob tends to get a little aggressive and persistant in the following books. I’m beginning to wonder if the author has daddy issues or something. Seriously.
I didn’t read the books or watch the film looking for some deep meaning or something to change my life, I just liked them. I can appreciate your dislike for the series, they’re not for everyone. I refused to give in to the hype, then my co-worker finally got me to read the first book. Dang it. I ended up liking it. Gah!
Wed Mar 11, 07:09:00 PM
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Blogger Clay said…
My friends convinced me to go watch it in theater. It was just as awful as any movie based around obsessive teen (vampire) crushes could be.
Sat Mar 14, 01:52:00 AM
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Blogger Jennifer said…
I have just stumbled upon your blog and I love it! I, too, refuse to read these books, but I thought that was at least in part because I am in my 30s. Then I found out that a bunch of my friends (also in their 30s) read the books, friends who usually read authors like Jhumpa Lahiri and Annie Proulx, and one friend even stood in line at midnight to buy the latest one. I don’t get it!!
Mon Mar 16, 04:17:00 PM
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Anonymous Maria Calvo said…
Dood this one really hit a nerve!! SO MAY NEW PEOPLE COMMENTING!!!!!!! I’m always so excited when people discover my One Female Canuck.
I don’t like fantasy novels and vampires scare me, so I’ll never go enar the book or the movie!
HI EVERYONE THAT’S NEW!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs,
Maria
Tue Mar 17, 10:33:00 PM
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Blogger one female canuck said…
Hi everyone – I am FINALLY responding to all comments made in the past little while.
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.
I will come back to this one and respond tomorrow, inshallah!!
Thank you for your brilliant thoughts…
A quickie welcome to Jennifer (Thank you for such nice words!!), NKL & 7aki Fadi (though you have commented here sporadically…but I still thought to re-welcome!)
I’ll be back tomorrow…xxoo
Wed Apr 15, 10:27:00 PM
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Anonymous mike said…
(*DISCLAMER*,everyones opinion should be read entierly)ok,
first of all,
i saw the movie first(that my girlfriend wanted me to watch) and as she was saying AWE at the appropriate momment i was thinking to myself (also in my drug induced walk around the block at 4 in the morning) “isnt he like centuries old and hes messing around with a real 17 year old girl? how does a teen girl find that tripe romantic, hes probably said all the shit hes said to her TO ANOTHER WOMAN BEFORE (and then drank the poor girls blood) also as far as the movie goes,everytime i saw edward cullen on the screen(just after my girlfriend explodes with the “O GOD HES SO HOT”)i was praying that dracula(A REAL VAMPIRE) or Blade would chop all the fruity, sparkling,american eagle vampires to ribbons because edward and his two psudo-brothers and the blonde sister(i exclude the red head sister because she didnt have the following trait) all have faces that make me want to hit them or smoke a blunt then blow the smoke in their faces.also the female lead was really getting on my nerves because she always spoke with bewilderment in her voice, it was like when a little kid asks you “are we there yet?”. terrible. ive read a bit of the book, i say a bit but thats because im not pleased with the writing, but if you see the forrest through the trees, the book is actually somewhat readable. other than that i have a few things to say so ill say it quick………
movie…….
shitty.
book…..
readable.
edward………..
lieing, sparkleing, american eagle clad punching bag.
bella……….
easy on the eyes, short in the upstairs.
meyre…..can write.
sparkling vampires………
pushovers.
real vampires…………
the good shit.
Blade………
should be in a twlight sequal and slice edwards head clean off cuz Blade is the bomb.
and finally,edward(again)…………
please come out of the closet, the fan girls are waiting.
thanks for listening.
everyones oppinion is welcome
Tue May 12, 07:18:00 PM
I like twilight! I could sit and watch all day long if I did not have school..or life to keep me from doing it! lol Superb Simply Amazing!