Twilight! Isn't that strange? I stayed up making some muffins for a back to school breakfast our church is doing for a local elementary school. As I was waiting for them to come out I was flipping through the channels and stopped on E news for a sneak peak at New Moon. That was the last thing in my head when I lay down and for the next few hours I analyzed the story and decided I am no longer a huge Twilight fan. I know this will shock some of you since I personally handed many of you the book. Yes, I was the one who chose it for book club and I was the one who secretly passed it to some of you hidden in a gift bag at church because I didn't want everyone to know the preacher's wife read books about vampires. Don't get me wrong, I still like the books and I'm sure I'll go see New Moon. However, in my late night ponderings I began to wonder WHY do I like the books...and why do YOU????
It all started the other night when I rented the movie for Taylor to watch with me. I thought since I got it in Blu Ray he would like it more. I was wrong! Granted, it isn't a great movie. It isn't even a good movie, but I thought he might want to understand the mania that is Twilight. As he sat mocking the movie I started thinking about the fun days ahead when Sophie can watch chick flicks with me. That got me thinking about her watching this specific movie with me. The more I thought about it the less I liked it. I even commented to Taylor, "I hope Sophie never reads this stuff. Bella is so weak!"
So last night when I couldn't sleep that is where my thoughts went. I have had these thoughts about the book before. I think they give teenagers a false idea of what love is. But I've never thought about my own daughter reading them and what she might learn from them. Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read the books and don't want the movies ruined for you, don't read on. Like I said before, Bella is so weak. She is definitely not a character I want my daughter obsessed with. I'm wondering if the New Moon movie will be as painful to read as the book. I wanted to yell, "Snap out of it! Get out of bed and get back to your life!" But she couldn't because she had no life outside of Edward. Is this healthy? And Edward isn't any better. He basically stalks Bella throughout the entire first book, then he abandons her. Throughout the first 3 books you think Bella is going to have to sacrifice greatly for love. This is an admirable theme even if I hope Sophie never has to give us and the chance for a normal life up for the guy she loves. However, I liked that that difficult concept was in there. Love isn't always easy, nor does it always end in a happy ending...except then it did. Bella didn't have to give up ANYTHING in the end. She got her man, she got her baby, and she got to keep her parents too. I hated that ending, it was too easy (plus I wanted a big fight scene).
Anyway, I've had all these thoughts before as I read the book, but last night I wondered why we are all so taken with a weak heroine and bad story telling? Maybe it's the idea that the perfect man (or vampire) can fall for the average girl. Maybe it's the idea of being someone else's life (although again, is this healthy????). What do you think? And don't pretend you haven't read it because I know most of you have AND and I know most of you liked it. I fell asleep before I figured it all out, but I'm sure you all have great thoughts.
Look at that cute little bottom!
