As the reading world -- at least the part occupied by teen girls and possibly their moms -- knows, the next book in the Twilight series drops Aug. 2. For those not in the know on this, the Twilight books, of which the new one, Breaking Dawn, will be the fourth, focus on a teen girl named Bella, who moves in with her dad, and falls madly for the super-duper, super-good, super-handsome Edward, a vampire, who is even crazier for her than she is for him. Further complicating the situation is the fact that she also develops a yen for Jake, the super-cool, super-cute, super-strong werewolf boy who is wild for her.
I'll admit to having read the books, rather compulsively, in the last month or so. The stories have a momentum that carries the reader along. Sadly, though, the character of Bella, the "heroine" of the series, is not inspiring. Yes, I said it. Bella is the most insipid, dull, wimpy character I've come across in a long time. How could it be possible that two incredibly powerful super-guys like Edward and Jake could fall for her? Well, in Edward's case, Bella's SMELL is an underlying factor.
What does all of this have to do with fairy tales? Three connections come to mind:
1) The stories have supernatural characters. Like "Snow White," "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," the Twilight books are populated with "people" who can shift shapes and make magical transformations happen. True, I've yet to come across any Twilight fairies, but the vampires and werewolves are able to move swiftly, communicate telepathically and generally make ordinary people seem very ordinary indeed. They are also pretty helpful -- or at least they try to be.
2) The heroine of the story has super bad guys after her. In many fairy tales, heroes are persecuted by supernatural creatures (and often helped by them as well). Same with the Twilight books.
3) The male characters in Twilight, like the male characters in some fairy tales, have the power to rescue and transform Bella's life. Example: Cinderella gets her prince and ends up rich, happy and powerful. Similarity: Edward, the super-vampire, is rich, rich, rich, and wants to marry Bella.
How Twilight is not like fairy tales:
1) Although critics often take fairy tale characters to task for their alleged passivity, many fairy tale heroines are pretty active in their own stories. Snow White disobeys the dwarfs three times and puts hot iron shoes on the queen at the end of the story. Cinderella is willing to collude with a fairy godmother and flee a ball very publicly (which must embarrass the prince), and Sleeping Beauty? Just try reading the original version of that story. She's kind of an unusual girl.
2) Fairy tale heroines often (though not always, see Snow White) are nice people. They are kind, generous and thoughtful. Bella isn't a good friend, really. She is mean to her dad. She whines a lot. She's more like the "bad" sister in some fairy tales.
3) Fairy tales are delightfully, briskly short. The Twilight series screams out "This book needs editing, stat!"
Having said all of this, I will be reading Breaking Dawn this weekend. But it won't be a fairy tale. For that, I'll stick to The Brothers Grimm.
31 comments:
I happened across your blog and I love the Twilight series. I guess I'll read the blog now, but when I saw that it was about Twilight I got a bit excited.
Sorry to disappoint, but I hope you found something to enjoy anyway. Sadly, I am having a ton of trouble getting through Breaking Dawn. However, I did see a first chapter from Meyer's book from Edward's perspective and it looks very promising. It's on a blog somewhere. I hope Breaking Dawn is a good read for you!
Well is much as I liked the books I do agree with the need for editing, and fixing up-but again I suppose nothing can ever be as great as Harry Potter. The last book was good but I think she needed more than a year to write that bad boy.
Boy, are you right. I honestly think that if she'd taken more time, the book would have been a lot better. I liked Twilight and LOVED the second book.
I know what you mean about the Harry Potter books. I really miss the excitement of waiting for those books, then literally inhabiting them until the last page.
I think SM got a lot of pressure. I really do. Do you think it is possible that she might go back someday and rework BD?
I don't think it would be a bad idea in the least because although I didn't think it was that bad, I do think she had a lot more potential with that book. I don't think she will however redo it-at least at this point. She seems to be perfectly happy with it, though she has said she would probably do more on people of the Forks. Hopefully Jacob as I did in the end like him. She's doing Edward's point of view- the companion to Twilight which will no doubt be good. As for Jo Rowling, she's SUPPOSED to be working on a new book and she's said she is as excited for this one as she was for Harry. The Tales of Beedle the Bard will be out in time for Christmas, so this year won't be too lacking of a good book.
So glad to hear your insight on the Twilight books. I haven't read them, and have no desire to. I'll stick to all the other truly fairy tales that I have on my reading list, and revisiting others (like Brothers Grimm as you mentioned!)
I read the first 3 books and loved them, but HATED Breaking Dawn! If you didn't enjoy the first three all that much,then I'm sorry to say you will have a terrible read ahead of you.
-Bethany
I have to admit to also reading this book series. It is a good light read to break up the monotonous biology reading (and whatever other college level reading I have to do.) I also fully agree with you about Bella. I can't understand why Stephenie Meyer made her main character so boring and idiotic. Perhaps a lot of people like Bella for this reason. They feel like they connect with her and realize Bella is just a normal girl like them. And If a perfect-in-every-way superbeing can fall for her then maybe it gives others hope.
Aside from how tacky I think Bella's character is, I never realized how closely connected the Twilight series can be with fairy tales. Though that in no way makes it as compelling as anything written by the Brothers Grimm. Just because twilight uses characters such as vampires and werewolves, It is still no cigar when it comes to creating an impact. We are still reading fairy tales today. Will people still read the Twilight series hundreds of years from now? Doubt it. Twilight appeals to me for completely different reasons than fairy tales.
When I read a fairy tale I read between the lines for hidden clues and context. When I read Twilight I read it for just what it is, a modern day twist on "vampire falling for human" romance with no real deep underlying meaning except abstinence.
I would like to start my comment by saying, I have not read Breaking Dawn or anything by Stephenie Meyer. I have however heard my girlfriend go on and on about the twilight series, so i basically know the entire story word for word without having read them. My girlfriend is a huge fan of the series, but is not afraid to say that Breaking Dawn sucked. The way that I see it, Stephenie Meyer got so hung up on what the fans wanted that she turned out a third rate novel. She tried so hard to please everyone in what they wanted, Bella becoming a vampire, Bella and Edwards wedding, a conflict between the werewolves and the vampires, etc. that the book turned into something in massive need of editing and improvement. The thing reads like a fanfiction and transforms Bella's character from a steadfast, somewhat strong, relatively independent girl into a crazed sex maniac who wants nothing more than to please her man. I believe the series would have been much better as a trilogy ending with eclipse. This would allow the fans to form their own futures for Bella and Edward and write their own crappy fan fictions.
Lucas Dietz W131
The last comment was my opinion on Breaking Dawn alone, I also have an opinion on the entire Twilight series. This comment is not based on my girlfriends opinions but rather my own based on what I know of the storyline. The first thing i would like to say is, I do not care for Stephenie Meyers rules about vampire logistics. As an avid fan of vampire movies and novels, particularly Anne Rice novels, I was incredibly taken aback by Stephenie's blatant disregard for the established rules about vampires. I.E. going out in the sunlight, having sexual desires, and even impregnating humans. These things just don't happen, being a vampire means being dead, the only thing keeping you alive is blood, which is the only fluid in your body. Anne Rice pretty much set the standard for vampire rules, her vampires spit and cry with blood, because it is all they have, they get stronger over time, and sunlight can kill them. This is what I grew up knowing about vampires, then along came Stephenie Meyer. She admits to never having read anything by Anne Rice, or even Bram Stoker, and she is to frightened to watch a vampire movie. Why then is she writing about them? And her explanations about her rules drive me even more insane you can view them here http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/bd_faq.html
Venom that lubricates cells and acts as sperm? Where did she come up with that one? A baby cannot be a vampire because vampires don't age and a baby would remain a baby. Why then does Bella's "Vampire Baby" grow and age? I understand taking poetic license and artistic liberties but i think she has gone a little too far. What happened to the Verisimilitude of Anne Rice? At least her vampires seemed plausible.
Lucas Dietz W131
I am going to be totally honest with you all. I have not read the Twilight series at all. All of my friends are way too into it and I honestly don't see what the big deal about Edward Cullen is. From what I hear, he is the ideal boyfriend, except for the fact that he is not real! haha but anyways, my best friend is totally obsessed and I think that she is crazy. As for myself, I am a Harry Potter fan and in my opinion nothing will surpass the Harry Potter series. I have yet to go see the Twilight movie, but I guess I will go see it at some point. Who knows, maybe I will end up liking it. That is what happened to me with the Harry Potter series. I am not a big reader, and as of right now I am so busy with school assignments and work that I surely do not have time to read Twilight, but I am sure over Christmas break I might be forced to read it haha! As for now, I am happy with just being a Harry Potter fan!
I had no interest in the Twilight series whatsoever until I found out that the actor playing Edward Cullen played Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter movies. Then I decided to give the movie a chance and I loved it and therefore had to read the books. I read all four in five days and did little else. I do not even understand what I like about them because I am also a huge fan of Anne Rice and the two are like opposites. But I try not to compare different authors too much because they are just writing their own ideas. I applaud SM for taking an old idea and making it her own. I like having versatility with my beloved vampire stories. I think there is such a gap between AR and SM because of the intended audiences of their works. I liked Breaking Dawn but I like happy endings but I wouldn't mind hearing what other people think should have happened.
c.schedler
While it is true that the Twilight series have some similarities to fairytales, what we have to keep in mind is that they are not meant to be fairytales. I do agree with the fact that Bella does not play a very active role in the story, but I think that must be kept in mind is that in her case, she does not possess any special powers to make her as proactive as Jacob Black or Edward Cullen. In the fairytales—like Cinderella and Snow White—they had someone to help them throughout the development of their role in their stories. Bella, like it’s said in the book, is nothing but a fragile human.
If her character is truly and fairly analyzed, you will see that she is the one who made the most sacrifices throughout her role. She is the one who sacrificed herself for her mother’s happiness and moved to Forks with her father. She sacrificed her friendship with Jacob as well as her relationship with her father when she fell for Edward. She sacrificed her life when she thought her mother’s was at stake. I can easily come up with several more scenarios to where she had to give up something for someone. Isn’t that what the true meaning of fairytales is about? Sacrifice in the name of love? At least that is what I think fairytales should be about.
Talhia Flores T390
I agree with the point that Talhia made in her comment about sacrifices in fairy tales, however I don't consider "Twilight" a fairytale. First of all, "Twilight" is a novel not a tale, it is not just a book but rather a series of books. Fairytales do have similar versions of themselves depending on the culture and region they come from but they are fairly short.
Also, when I think of what classifies as a fairytale, I think of somthing that has been passed down for years and years. Not something that was written five years ago and was practically born. An authentic fairytale has put in its time and lasted orally as it was told generation to generation.
I do like the Twilight series but in my book and in my eyes, it just does not fall in the fairytale category.
D.Giles
The fact that people think "Twilight" will go down in history as a fairy tale is laughable. I mean it's a story of vampires and werewolves competing for the affection of some strange girl. How are there any fairy tale qualities in this story? Granted there is a DID(damsel in distress) a hero, a trickster, and a wanna be hero.Its a novel written to make pre-teens happy and make them feel like they have made that transition from children's books to adult novels. Its a polite way of saying your teens aren't ready for adult content but here is a little making out between an awkward teen and a creep vampire. I did not read the books and in no way do I intend to because of the fact that everyone either loves them or hates them and I want to be like Switzerland on this. I really don't care about the "Twilight" series. Besides those elements that I talked about before there is no warrant for "Twilight" to be considered a fairy tale. There is no moral to the story, except to not let a vampire touch your neck they might want a bite. That's it. I don't find them to have literary value either, but that is my own opinion.
~Julia Easton T390
The first point I’d like to make is that I’ve never read the books in the Twilight series, nor do I have an uncontrollable desire to do so. My mother, who is in her 50’s, has read every single book and raves about them. Go figure. With that being said, I bought her the Twilight movie for a gift last year and watched it for the first time.
Based on what I saw in the movie and what I’ve heard others tell me about the books, I don’t think that Twilight would qualify for a fairy tale, although it most certainly does have some fairy tale aspects to it. Yes, Edward is magical and he “rescues” her from her terribly normal unhappy life, and Jacob is just as magical transforming into a werewolf by magic powers, but that is not enough to convince me of fairytale status.
There are many similarities I’ve seen from this blog post regarding to its validity as a fairytale, but my opinion is that it is just a vampire story. A new kind of vampire story perhaps, but definitely not a fairy tale. Unless you’re my teenage daughter and she would argue it’s a fairy tale for teens.
Kristi S. T390
I have to start out by admitting that I have read the first two books and I am going on into the third and it never came across my mind as thinking as Twilight being a fairy tale. I can now see how it could possibly tie into a fairy tale, but honestly, I do not think it would cut all the way. What is being said about Bella here is entirely true. She is stubborn and somewhat annoying. I would not want my little girl looking up to a girl like her. However, as it goes for it being close to a fairy tale, I can see it with her being chased my bad guys, being in love with someone she almost cannot completely have unless she becomes one of them, and money is definitely involved here. However, I can see this as not being close to a fairy tale because like I said before she is not that typical princess girl we see in most fairy tales, she most definitely could be seen as the evil stepsister.
Brittany C.
I think that one aspect where fairy tales and Twilight are in accordance is the emphasis on romantic love. I have not read Twilight, but due to the rediculous hype and dissemination into pop culture, it has seeped into my brain, try as I might to keep it out.
Twilight reinforces the idea that all teen girls should spend energy on is boys. This is oftentimes reinforced in fairy tales as well, example being the quick conculsion in tales where the marriage is a "happy ending." Most people understand this paradox: Culture tells us that all the work must happen in order to get married, but in reality, the work happens once one is married.
Twilight takes the worst parts of fairy tales (incidents of female dependency, obcessive romance, and violence) and turns it into an all out project which aims to normalize damaging teen romantic relationships in the name of "love."
I never really thought of “Twilight” series as fairy tales. I did not even know about the books until I saw commercials for the first movie Twilight, then my friend loaned me her copy and I fell in love. They are the books that boosted my reading enthusiasm. I will admit to also disliking Bella as the heroine of the series, because she is a weak and annoying character. I must also say that I think the movies do no justice for any of the books so far, and I don’t like Kirsten Stewart for Bella… at all! Anyways, this blog is a little older which is cool to see what “Twilight” has done to entertainment, as far as the discussion about vampire rules “Twilight” was one of the first I have seen that totally messed them up but others are following the trend, take the new series Vampire Diaries; Elena falls for Stephan, the amazing friendly vampire with the crazy bad vampire brother Damien. Their rules are also off, but I don’t know when that book series was published, so it could have been before the “Twilight” series. Nonetheless the Twilight trend hit hard in starting the huge boom of all things vampire. I can’t wait to see Breaking Dawn, just like New Moon and Eclipse I will be at the midnight showing November 2011!
Abby T.
I can definitely see Twilight in very close relation to fairy tales. The whole supernatural part of the story really helps as you mentioned. However beyond that, it really isn’t much different from how love develops and is fought for within the fairy tale realm. Only in Twilight it seems to be more open and dramatized. For example, Bella is somewhat of a rebel when compared to the role we usually equate with the “heroine” of the story. Please take into consideration I have not read the books, but have watched the movies.
I remember after watching New Moon all I could really remember about the film was her being reckless (and shirtless Jacob). She would disregard her supposed best friend and jump on the back of a motorcycle with random strange men in an alley. Of course this was all because she was driven mad without Edward around. Is this at all like fairy tales? The scenario does not translate exactly perfectly. In no fairy tale I can recall does the heroine of the story beat herself up the way Bella does. Sure we see Cinderella and other fairy tale characters self-deprecating from time to time, but none are driven to completely adopt a new persona. Of course there is always a transformation of sorts by the end of the story; however it seems Bella goes through multiple phases directly tied with the hero.
After thinking some about my previous blog post I realized I forgot about "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Anderson. The LM's persona change had more to do with going to desperate lengths to fit the mold of the prince. Plus, I don't really see the LM's change all that related to "persona". Her physical form changes, she loses her voice, but her character stays consistent throughout. It is nonetheless greatly degraded by the end. With Bella, she finds some solace (although she is still tormented) in rebelling against Edward because he is not around. The Little Mermaid doesn't so much as "rebel" as she is reckless with her own well being. Both characters can be justified in this way. Although Bella obviously has a happier ending.
I read the Twilight series in the late fall and early winter of 2008 so it’s hard for me to even remember where the story stops in one book and starts again in another. But, I was a compulsive Twilight reader. Then again, if you liked the books I don’t think it was possible to read them any other way. I do agree that Bella is a very unexciting character. She makes bad choices, jumping off cliffs to have hallucinations, and is really quite selfish. Although she does a good job of keeping her mother and father in mind when obsessing over Edward, when it comes down to it, she’ll do anything to keep him for herself. I think the twilight books can also be blamed for being a little bit responsible for teaching young girls that being “in love” with the super-attractive, super-rich, slightly outcast boy in their high school will really work out for them. Bella has never dated anyone else, and she gives Jacob a worthless shot because she doesn’t want to be alone and Jacob is very persistent to say the least. I’ll just go ahead and admit that I’m Team Edward. But I’ll admit, even if he had at least a few flaws he would have been more appealing to the realistic side of me. Which, being Team Edward, I don’t know if it’s possible for him to be flawed.
Rachel P.
I am so happy that this was posted. I am an avid fan. I see the point that it is fairytale-like. There are insinuation of fairytale like things that goes on within the books. Bella’s character is very flawed. Don’t even get me started on the movie. I cannot stand how whiney she is. Plus her character doesn’t progress, she just relies on Edward. Her character is similar to those in fairytales. She’s smart, but a clutz who is just a plain beauty. On the other hand, Edward who is an idealistic form of “prince charming.” The heroes in fairytale do have guidance from some sort of symbolic supernatural creature. For instance, the dove is a biblical creature of peace and guidance. She herself turns into a supernatural being in the end of the book. I honestly liked this book a lot, however I felt that everything was shoved in to fit the needs of the fans. -Amy F.
I would not characterize myself as a twilight freak. I do not have posters of Edward and Jacob on my bedroom wall and I have not stooped to the notion that wearing the Bella perfume will attract me a handsome man of the night. However, I do enjoy the story and have read all four books a time or too. And I would have to argue that Bella is very much like the heroines in the classic fairy tales. You said that Bella was weak and basically boring. But when I look at the heroines in other fairy tales I see them as weak and basically boring. The heroines of these stories are weak they don't fight themselves, someone does it for them. Cinderella never stood up to her sisters, ran to her father, or ran away, instead she wished upon a tree and magical bird gave her everything she asked for. Then a strong prince came and rescued her. Snow White was saved by dwarves and a prince whisked her away to his castle. When we look at Bella we see a girl who is hunted by the super natural and until the last book, Breaking Dawn, she has to be saved by some knight in shinny armor, or in Edward's case skin.
Sara J
I have read the Twilight Books and I think they are a lot like fairy tales. I actually enjoyed them, but I have to admit the Bella character is a weak character. Her whole life depends on Edward, she literally thinks she has nothing without him. When he leaves her for those several months she cuts everyone out of her life, even her own family. She stops talking to her friends. It is not healthy to be that reliant on someone else for your happiness and well being. I might be wrong but I think a couple of times she actually says she would rather die than be without Edward. A little over-dramatic if you ask me, and most stories with that end all be all type of love end badly and tragically, like in the classic example of Romeo and Juliet. In the Twilight books though this obsessive love ends with the fairy tale type ending: Bella joins Edward as a vampire but before that she has a baby so they even get to have a half vampire child and establish a loop hole in the vampires can't ever have children scenario. So essentially everything ends up perfect for them, like in the fairy tales that end happily, at least for the heroine, like in Snow White for example. Snow white gets her prince and her castle, even though she turns out just as bad as her stepmother. But she still gets that happy ending for herself at that point in the story.
I think these books are also a lot like fairy tales in the sense that often the female character basically has to give up everything and who she was to be with this guy, essentially losing a lot of herself and her identity. This aspect of the books reminds me of the Little Mermaid. She gives up everything to be with the prince, and even though she doesn't end up with him she still was willing to sacrifice everything for him. Bella similarly gives up her family, her friends, and even her own species to be with Edward. She literally becomes a whole different person for him. This concept of the transformation for the one you love can also be seen in The Little Mermaid, who turns into a human for the prince. Although some fairy tale heroines are likable and strong, they aren't all that way, as you pointed out in the Snow White example. Also the element of magic and the supernatural is present in most fairy tales.
It is only after Bella is made into a vampire that she becomes a stronger female, but this too happens because Edward turned her, so she once again indirectly relies on him. However, this type of rescuing is common in fairy tales so it really only reinforces my opinion that these books are just fairy tales with vampires. The female protagonist often ends up with the rich prince who leads her into a happily ever after which is what Edward was for Bella. These books are like the Disney versions of fairy tales but with vampires.
Ashley S.
The Twilight series has mixed reviews in my eyes. Of course it is easy to enjoy the hunks infatuated with Bella and the Cullen family, but Bella herself I find quite annoying and quite frankly stupid. Her character is constantly helpless, pathetic, needy, and yet desirable which is beyond me. However, when the story is broken down I think it is correct to be seen to have fairy tale qualities. I do agree with the length, except for Breaking Dawn, half the time I went to skip chapters ahead to just get to the point and maybe that explains why most fairy tales are short. They get to the point and many of the meanings are left for analysis and critical thinking- Twilight lays all the cards out on the table, nothing besides the sex is left to the imagination.
However another vampire series that has fairy tale qualities including fairies themselves is Trueblood. I have read all the books and seen all the episodes. The heroine, however, is a strong and not so helpless heroine (also part fairy) while being involved with the supernatural world of vampires, shape-shifters, witches, and werewolves. The ironic part of this series is that it is many times the humans who are the villains prosecuting the supernatural world. Maybe I am attracted to this thought because it coincides with what my third paper will be about, or maybe it’s the vampire Eric who is so bad yet so good. I think it is the stories with supernatural that first attracts the idea that it is similar to a fairy tale because it is not what someone is used to thinking of in their daily life.
Another interesting aspect of Trueblood which I have discussed with my mom is the whole idea of it. The basis is that vampires have come out of the coffin and have an alternate life source than human blood- synthetic blood. Therefore the argument is that vampires coexist with humans now who are fully aware of their existence. So I think to myself I may be attracted to them now, but what if they really did exist and we had to live beside them… would I be okay with it then? I really don’t know. Hence, I will appreciate the fact it’s a great show and an even better series of books, with fairy tale like qualities.
I admit I probably read the Twilight series just as compulsively as you did. They weren’t my favorite books, by far in the lower end of books that I like, but I understand what you mean by the momentum that they have. I definitely never thought that the ‘Twilight’ series was like a fairy tale though. When I think of fairy tales I think of princesses, ogres, castles, and evil step mothers. Never had I ever considered vampires and werewolves to be similar to fairy tale characters. You mentioned that the ‘Twilight’ series doesn’t have fairies in it, but I still don’t think that having fairies would have made it any more like a fairy tale. I had read a series of books about a teenage girl who can see fairies. Never considered them to be anything like a fairy tale, but they contained so much Irish folklore; which made them all the more interesting.
On another note about the ‘Twilight’ series, I mentioned that the books are ok but the movies they are absolutely dreadful. It’s not that the plot gets completely butchered, like most book to movie do, it’s the acting. I’m sorry to all of you who love the movie, but you have to admit, its is like going to a high school production.
Stacey B. T390
When I saw this listed under blog topics, I knew I had to comment. I, like many others, LOVE the Twilight Series. I’ve read every book multiple times, have seen the movies, and of course, was at the midnight showings. With that said, I could see arguments for both sides. There is a “mystical” aspect to Twilight. The idea of vampires and werewolves adds a “magical” flair to the books and an argument that this could fall under the fairy tales category. Also, the fact that it’s a love story adds to the argument in favor of this classification. However, in thinking about the heroine of the story, I don’t think Bella falls into the same category as the heroines of popular fairy tales like “Cinderella”. While she is show to be a book-smart girl, it doesn’t seem like she has much drive or ambition. She’s perfectly content with “ending” her life after she graduates from high school even though she is pushed by Edward to experience college. In my opinion, Cinderella has drive. She has to deal with her stepmother constantly breathing down her back and forcing her to complete tasks that she shouldn’t have to do. If it wasn’t for her drive, she would’ve stopped obeying her stepmother.
-Emily C.
I love the twilight series and I believe that is much like fairy tales. Maybe this is because I think of fairy tales in a more broad sense than people who analyze fairy tales for a living. To me, fairy tales are any made up stories that are meant to let a reader dream, be free, fall in love if only in their heads. In Twilight, Bella is the girl who we dream to be. Bella and Edwards connection is like no human connection could ever be. He can hear every one in the world’s thoughts, except Bella's. I do not believe that was by chance. Edward is my ultimate Fairy Tale love! He is so in love with her that he will let her go for her own safety. I do not believe that Bella is weak, like say for instance Snow White. Snow White is simply gullible and doesn't seem like a strong woman. Bella however is only weak when Edward leaves. I do not believe this makes her weak. It simply shows how much of an un-human like connection her and Edward share. She eventually picks herself up and meets Jacob. Jacob and Edward then battle for Bella's love. I cannot imagine a more "fairy tale" way to live.
The Twilight Series has given us young girls to know of a new fairy tale that can be shared and read to our future children. The book series has given us the chance to fall in love with a modern day prince (who is not a prince, but a vampire) and get our young girl minds to wonder into thinking there is an actual guy out there like Edward. Fairy tales over generations have made women to believe there is a prince charming out there and now that we have a new somewhat fairy tale, The Twilight Saga, has now made us go even crazier over the “ideal guy”. Deep down us women have known that we will never marry a prince and live happily ever after like told in the many fairy tale stories, but we have hoped for something close to it and Edward is that guy besides the whole vampire thing. C Guy
I will be honest here. Yes, I have read the Twilight series. Yes, I ate them up. Are they my favorite books? Not close. The Twilight books were something that were quite enjoyable, hoverer Stephenie Meyer is nowhere near a good author. I have no clue how these books have made it so big when there are many others out there that are much better, but have not received the same recognition. I mean, I do understand. The story she had was a good start. What happened with the story in the end was a huge let down. I agree that if she possibly spent more time writing Breaking Dawn it could have been better. I do understand that the publishers, and the whole fan base, etc, were breathing down her neck. My biggest problem with SM is her actual writing. Ugh, the grammar, the over-use of adjectives such as dazzling (and many more!), the awful heroine, the pedophile-like Edward, etc. The list really does go on. All I know is that I am ecstatic that J.K. Rowling is writing again and I will gladly read anything that woman produces. It will be extremely difficult to top Harry Potter and the marvelous world that she has created, but at least I know her writing will be good.
Gabrielle H.
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