Saturday, November 29, 2008

Vampires and Werewolves


Well, I should be:
1) Working on my culminating project for my MSU class
2) Grading papers
3) Planning for next week

but all this has taken a backseat to Bella, Edward, and Jacob. If you don't know who these beautiful people are, then you clearly don't have many teenagers in you life.

Twilight is all the rage among the adolescent set. I read the first book several years ago, and though I couldn't put it down, I thought it was a bit lame. Fast forward a few years - ALL the 13 year-olds in my life (which are many) think these are the greatest books written and can't wait to see the movie. I took Al on opening day, and she then convinced me to read the rest of the books.

So, one week later they have consumed my free time. I have read more in the last week than I probably have the rest of the school year (no small feat). But I hate it. The books aren't well written, they're predictable, Bella infuriates me with her devotion to her "Man", there is a total fairy-tale love-at-first-sight thing that is disturbing, and the characters are not super-bright - lots of plot "twists" that surprise them were so predictable that I didn't even know I figured them out - I just though they were obvious to everyone. Kind of like if tomorrow's headline was Scientists Discover - the Sky is Blue!

So what is so compelling about these books? Pure escapism? Avoidance (I do have a ton I'm avoiding - see list at the top)? I can't figure it out.

Let me know if you do.