tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post135978172703264771..comments2023-05-05T07:13:26.894-04:00Comments on A Trip Down South: On "Twilight"triphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016509250780872972noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-9824901804061799542010-03-11T13:10:05.271-05:002010-03-11T13:10:05.271-05:00TAKE IVY! no comparison... most stylish!!!TAKE IVY! no comparison... most stylish!!!frenchie in NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03135909493257060201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-63256474175666530312009-07-23T23:30:39.104-04:002009-07-23T23:30:39.104-04:00I am a high school librarian, and while I have dee...I am a high school librarian, and while I have deep reservations about a 17-year-old who decides after a few short weeks that she wants to spend the rest of her life as a member of the undead, I'm delighted by any book that gets teens reading. I would be a very wealthy woman if I had a nickel for every kid who groans "I hate to read!" at me.<br /><br />No, these books aren't great literature. But they do, indeed, apparently speak to some fundamental need of the teenage soul. As long as the girls (and guys) listen when I voice some skepticism that 17 years is a bit short of the experience needed to determine one's life partner, I say let 'em read. It's just one more opportunity to engage my students in active dialogue and prompt them to support their opinions when I play Devil's advocate.<br /><br />I work very hard to make my library collection attractive and relevant to my users. (Yes, I add non-fiction titles - "Into the Wild" was popular this year.) I also work hard to develop relationships with my students, in order to add books that they actually <b><i>want</i></b> to read. And when I think back on my own experiences as an angst-y, hormonal, emotional teenager, <i>Twilight</i> doesn't seem so bad. Heck, some of the romances I read were more insipid and unrealistic than Bella and Edward could ever hope to be.<br /><br />I read all the <i>Twilight</i> books, and I did think the last was fairly entertaining, if a little long. As the saying goes, "chaqu'un à son goût;" if you don't like it, there are a million other books waiting to be discovered!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06633067958036582842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-21554315811092717882009-02-03T00:13:00.000-05:002009-02-03T00:13:00.000-05:00Carrie- Might you be taking the post a bit too ser...Carrie- <BR/>Might you be taking the post a bit too serious?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-80270217183536718522009-02-02T13:33:00.000-05:002009-02-02T13:33:00.000-05:00I have not read the books, but my 13-year-old daug...I have not read the books, but my 13-year-old daughter is addicted so my wife read Twilight to find out what the fuss was all about.<BR/><BR/>What I took away from my wife's experience was less about the book and more about what it says about 13 year old girls (and, by extension, my daughter). The poor things are just seething with romantic feelings. I'm not sure they're real concerned about the quality of the prose.<BR/><BR/>I am convinced that books like this -- books that achieve a popularity seemingly disproportionate to their literary merit -- somehow are speaking to what people need and want at a deep, emotional level. Which is to say, for all who are concerned about what this kind of book is "teaching our children," I'm not at all sure the kids are influenced by it; I think the needs, wants, and desires are already there, and the book simply connects with (or perhaps satisfies) them.Zingiberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280352710216868683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-89855008302074103322009-02-02T10:29:00.000-05:002009-02-02T10:29:00.000-05:00Maybe it's not such a great idea to post about boo...Maybe it's not such a great idea to post about books (or movies, like your chick flick post) that a huge segment of the population loves if you haven't even bothered to try to understand them?<BR/><BR/>Twilight is badly written, and I agree that the attraction is a little disturbing. I wondered why girls (women of all ages, really) are so attracted to them, so I actually read the books, not just the thoughts of another blogger.<BR/><BR/>I think Twilight is so addictive because Edward is strong and protective, and that's something that many women are missing in their own lives.<BR/><BR/>Also, just as Bella constantly feels clumsy, we all (and I think this applies to men, too) feel unattractive and unlovable at times. Edward makes Bella feel beautiful, even though she doesn't see herself that way. I think that's another thing women are attracted to.<BR/><BR/>(And I think so many people love the world of Harry Potter because we are drawn to mystery and purpose and those are concepts that are largely lacking in our science and reason-driven culture.)<BR/><BR/>I think that, before we point fingers at things we personally think are pointless, it might be best to step back and ask ourselves what's so attractive about them. Before writing people (and the hobbies and books they love) off as stupid, I'd rather see what I can learn from them.<BR/><BR/>For example, my first thoughts on reading a blog that dwells mostly on jacket cuts, old J. Crew clippings, and a strange obsession with preppiness, might be that it's a vapid waste of time.<BR/><BR/>After giving it a chance, however, I realize those topics can also be compelling and interesting, and that maybe bringing a little beauty and structure into my own life might not be such a bad thing.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521711018786101444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-32361660670678049352009-02-01T20:15:00.000-05:002009-02-01T20:15:00.000-05:00Trip, I've read all the books and couldn't stand t...Trip, I've read all the books and couldn't stand them. I kept hoping they would get better and maybe I could understand everyone's obsession with these books. Bella is insipid and Edward is a controlling psycho. Not exactly what I want my 14-year old daughter to read.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06831647179001277757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090426965177502805.post-65826047025817676752009-02-01T18:42:00.000-05:002009-02-01T18:42:00.000-05:00I teach at a small high school in Texas. The "Twil...I teach at a small high school in Texas. The "Twilight" book are all the rage. The high school library has a waiting list of the girls who want to read the "newest" book. <BR/>I guess they could be doing something worse?<BR/>The only problem is, I really wish they were spending the meager library budget for a few more selections in non-fiction. ( I am a history teacher.)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10713492538330186073noreply@blogger.com