Posted on 08/18/2009 11:43:02 AM PDT by pastorbillrandles
One of my high school students asked me to read the books, so I did. I think they simply feed into teenage fantasies about love. Here’s a brief summary (SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading here if you don’t want to know!):
Bella falls in love with unattainable vampire Edward. They just can’t help their feelings for each other despite personal danger. Both of them are gorgeous. They struggle to stay apart but can’t live without each other. In the end, Bella gives up everything to become a vampire so that she can be with Edward for eternity. They are very happy. It’s nicely written but rather sophomoric.
My biggest concern with it is that Bella gives up her humanity so easily and doesn’t spend much time worrying about what it will do to her parents. She is not very connected to either of them, despite loving them. I think part of the popularity of this book series is that lots of children of divorce relate to Bella.
Yeah Fred definitely contributed.
You are a wise woman!
And again, this has been going on since the beginning of time, imo.
Maybe it’s more so now with more access to tv, cable, internet, etc. And parents being busy or two income families or whatever. But, it’s really not all that difficult to stay up to date and to parent our kids.
I’m especially amused by those who advocate getting rid of the TV...hmmmm. Maybe they should get rid of the internet, ya know, something THEY enjoy, lol.
Forever Knight is probably one of the best sources to bring up in this discussion.
Nicholas Knight was a vampire who realized much too late that he had lost his soul.
There were several shockingly “Christian” moments in the series (before it went to USA).
In the first episode the Medical Examiner who discovered his secret asks him about all the “myths” and why they exists. When she asks him about the Cross he explains “Because the Cross is the truth and our lives are lies”.
Nick Knight was at the fore-front of the pentitant vampire protagonist era, but he was also one of the most honest: he knew he had lost his soul.
Pirates, the really hot ones, were romance fodder too. Damn, just about anything could be. And of course, those hot pirates, or just insert the current fad, were not only hot but so strong and protective, etc.
I really liked Forever Knight, good show. Played around with the concept of vampires in interesting ways, the humor the penitence. And then of course in Buffy you get Angel in that same penitent vampire mold, and is another step in the romance as Buffy fall for him in about 8 seconds.
I read all 4 Twilight books and have seen the movie. Enjoyed them all very much. The storylines are great and the characters are interesting. I was also a big fan of the Buffy and Angel shows on tv. I am a devout christian (divorced, 50+ woman!) and fight spiritual battles all the time. Although there is some occultic symbolism (shapeshifting from human to wolf)this series is pretty much fantasy stuff. What makes it such a powerful draw, I think, is the love story. Edward is the perfect man - devoted, caring, self-sacrificing, giving, etc. What girl wouldn’t want that? And there’s a lot of humor in the books that is missing in the movie. What gripes me the most about all of this is that there is very little if any equivalent that could and should be written or made into a movie about christian characters and the spiritual warfare that is being waged and fought and so many people INCLUDING christians have no idea its going on or how to fight and win the battles. That’s my two cents worth.
Once fiction writers of the world figured out that chicks dig bad boys, especially fictional bad boys, then the list of “reformed” character types became potentially endless. And sexy pirates have a long tradition, good old Errol Flynn.
So you have no examples.
It’s pretty clear you’re not very sharp.
In some vague way, you're sure that I'm fuzzy on reality and stupid to boot, but can't quite show it?
What a clear and convincing argument you've given. I'm overwhelmed.
I think part of the popularity to this book series and the movie and upcoming movies is pure entertainment value.
Back in the late 70s/early 80s, I read a book called Sweet Savage Love (can’t recall the author, Rosemary?). Most of my friends were reading this same book. We were 14 or so, 9th graders. At the time, quite a few of the book’s passages were completely lost on me. Then I read it again in the early 90s when I had two kids. It was a WTH moment for me. No wonder I couldn’t understand it when I was 14 or 15.
But it didn’t damage me since I knew at 14/15 that it was fiction! Just like I knew tv shows and movies were fiction.
I know ;) I still like those fictional bad boys. They make the most interesting characters, especially if they’re hot.
As a teen/college student, I dated a few “bad boys” without trying to “change” them. Hey, not all young people are stupid. And I even married what some may call a bad boy, depending on the perspective or what one considers “bad.”
No, I can’t be bothered.
I’ve dealt with too many stupid people today.
So there is proof out there. You just can't be bothered to show any because you'd rather make pointless personal attacks.
I wonder why this tactic seems familiar...
It’s probably familiar because you read it in a book and thought it was real.
Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you were being sarcastic or something. My apologies.
As for Harry Piper, I have seen the movies, but haven’t read the books. I was talking about another series when I was real little. I have heard they are good though...should make time to read them. :)
(we’re into Harry Potter. Can’t tell anyone at church. shhhhhhh)
Read them! I didn’t think I would like them, but once you get past the first two books (or just watch the movies for those, they are pretty juvenile), they are GREAT!
I thought it was boring. Ann Rice is better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.