I finished Twilight today and I am totally hooked! So much so that I ran to 5 stores to find New Moon. For those of you who have read Twilight, what do you think? Do you love it or not? Did you like the movie?
I saw the movie a few weeks ago and decided that I liked the story, but didn't think the characters were developed well. It made me want to read the book.
The book did make me uncomfortable when I thought about it putting my daughter in Bella's character.
The thing that made me the most uncomfortable was the two of them playing with fire so often and to such extremes. The guy thinks that she smells wonderful...so much so that he wants her blood. (Edward is a vampire, did you know?) He thinks that she is "hot" and wants her body, too. Whenever Bella is touched by Edward her pulse races and she wants Edward too, but she thinks Edward will keep things under control, so she doesn't need to worry. There is major chemistry and then Edward stays all night, many nights in a row while she sleeps. What?!
So, after knowing how attracted they are, they kiss while lying on her bed. Are you kidding me?! They are playing with animal instincts on both counts. Scary! It makes me worried that my daughter might think it is okay to behave this way as long as "nothing happens". I, on the other hand, am very much a fan of Joseph (You know, the one in the Bible who runs away from Potipher's sexy wife who wants him to lie with her?). Run away from temptation, don't just lie there!!
No, nothing ever happens, which makes me all the more worried, because how true to life is that? You have a gorgeous guy in your bed who can seduce you with his breath alone...and you SLEEP? What is wrong with you?
The story is great: good vs evil, very exciting plot, very sweet first love romance. (She is the first girl that Edward has fallen in love with, and he is over 100 years old! How flattering is that?) But I do worry about young people thinking that they can tempt themselves that much and not give in.
What did you think of the book? What about the romance/sensuality? Am I just a puritan or what?!
Anyway, I also saw a Kid's Interview on Farm Dream's today that I just had to do with my kids. Boy they think I am a blogging fiend! Take a look at our candid interview with Emily & Matt:
1. What is something your mom always says to you?
M - Don't fight with your sister.
E - Find Michael's shoes.
2.What makes your mom happy?
M - When I do the dishes.
E - Being with her honey (Dad).
3. What makes your mom sad?
M - saying that you hate her
E - fighting
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
M - tickling
E - tickling
5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
M - play with dolls
E - play with Barbies
6. How old is your mom?
M - 39
E - 39
7. How tall is your mom?
M - probably like 6 feet
E - I don't know
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
M - look at blogs
E - being on the computer
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
M - look at more blogs
E - relax
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
M - blogs
E - blogs
11. What is your mom really good at?
M - shooting (guns)
E - blogs
12. What is your mom not very good at?
M - staying off the computer
E - biking
13. What does your mom do for her job?
M - look at blogs (said laughing)
E - homeschool
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
M - Mexican
E - Mexican
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
M - keeping her temper
E - everything
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
M - a fairy god mother
E - Supermom
17. What do you and your mom do together?
M - homeschool
E - bake
18. How are you and your mom the same?
M - both have dry skin
E - I have her nose
19. How are you and your mom different?
M - I am a boy
E - ?
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
M - she makes food for me
E - because she tucks us in every night
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
M - everything
E - everything
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
M - zoo
E - her room (where her computer is)
There you have it. I blog, therefore I am.
So cute that he said a fairy godmother! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on the Twilight books (I actually haven't seen the movie but I've read all the books). They were really fun, but I would say definitely for an older reader-not young teenagers. Anyways, that's how I feel.
The sensuality really bothers me, too. The books are targeted for teenage girls, and I think the author is playing with fire telling girls Bella's and Edward's actions are acceptable.
ReplyDeleteMy older girls have read all the books, and I was surprised how easily they accepted the sensuality. And the whole having Edward spend the nights in Bella's room and in her bed freaked me out.
I'm not a prude in any means, but it did bother me. I think if it would have been a book for women and I let my daughters read it, I would have talked with them about it first. But this book is being read by many 9, 10, 11, and 12 year olds as well. It's just not appropriate for girls that age.
Anyway, that's my take on it.
The girls read all of the books and New Moon is their least favorite. They said they thought books 1 and 3 were the best.
The whole series has given us a lot of conversation, lol.
I liked the movie, thought it was humorous in places which was nice.
I haven't read The Twilight series. I tried and only got to pg. 13. My daughter read them all. She liked them, but didn't go crazy over them.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Q&A. It cracked me up with all the answers of Blogging. Sounds like the answers my kids would give. They know us too well. :)
♥
Joy
I read the first book and ranted about it for a whole day. There were innovative elements that I really liked, but on the whole, I thought it was irresponsible and dangerously naive. You expressed a lot of it very well. I personally believe the author has some issues accepting her own sexuality or she wouldn't fantasize about and promote such unhealthy relationships.
ReplyDeleteAs for the kid quiz, that is so cute. I miss you guys!
Love the "interview" I'll have to do it with my kids.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much agree with you on the Twilight Books. I read them because all the YW in my ward were reading them and that is my calling and I couldn't talk about any book without them saying, "have you read Twilight? Its so good!!!" Then my Aunt read it and said it was graphic. I thought "what are these girls reading? Do their parents know?" So I read it.
I was totally hooked and read them all.
I can't decide if it is graphic or not. It doesn't explicitly describe things like a harlequin, so that's good. But when Edward kisses Bella, I feel like he is kissing me. And if you think feelings are graphic, then it's graphic, because it is definitely exciting.
I am sure that 11 and 12 year-olds shouldn't be reading it. I'm sure that if my 16-18-year old read it, I would have to have a talk with her about how you can't actually do what Edward & Bella do because real people don't have that kind of restraint, especially boys. I attempted to tell this to my YW and most agreed with me, but a few seemed to think it would be "okay" if they were in college. Yikes. It just goes to show that you should know what your kids are reading and not just let them read a book because the Jones family let their daughter read it, and you trust them to not let their kids read trash.
That said, I still loved them and own them all. They are my soap opera books--I don't claim they are classic high quality literature, but double chocolate brownies aren't healthy food. I still eat them sometimes. I don't think they are bad, but I don't think they are appropriate for girls under the age of 14. And I think 14-18 only with caution. They feed too many silly romantic notions that could get a girl in serious trouble. (It is the same sort of thing as the YW want to wear low-cut necklines because they think it will make boys like them. Instead it makes boys think about their body, which is dangerous.)
Book 2 is pretty whiney so watch out.
Book 3 is my favorite because Bella finally gets past being a love-sick teenager (sort-of) and really looks at the consequences of what becoming a vampire would mean. She grows. In book 4 Stephanie Meyer throws that all away. I had real issues with book 4. But I don't want to post a spoiler. (and I still liked it).
I feel really conflicted about these books because part of me says, "if they aren't appropriate for the girls, they aren't appropriate for you either." But I don't want to give them up.