Sunday, August 10, 2008

Twilight (part two) Possible Spoilers

In this post I'd like to engage those of my blog readers who have read or are interested in reading Twilight.

First off, I'm going to ask those of you who haven't read it- have reading my posts changed your opinions on any aspects of the series? If so, what? Also, what concerns remain unresolved? Is there anything else you'd like to see me cover?

That last question would go for the Twilight lovers as well. Are there any Twilight topics that I have not yet covered, that you would like to see one Christain's opinion on?

Moving on.

1. What first drew you to Twilight? The Vampires? The fact that all of your friends were reading it? The really cool covers? (I admit it. Those covers are breathtakingly cool.)

2. What do you think of Bella? How has your perception of her changed over the series? Like all of us, she isn't perfect, but she really seemed to grow and mature in "Breaking Dawn."

3. How do you view Edward Cullen? Are you one of his fan girls (honestly, now!) or do you simply think he's a cool character? Is he unrealistic? Or does 100 years of self-restraint seem like a plausible excuse for his many qualities?

4. Which of the other vampires is your favorite and why? I enjoy Alice for her spunk, Carlisle for his conscience, Jasper because he's, well, cool, and Emmet because he's hilarious.

5. How has your perception of vampires changed over reading this series? As I pointed out in my first post, I think this "vampire-with-a-conscience" idea makes more sense than traditional "garlic-and-crucifix" vampire idea. Do you agree with that? (Random thought that I've been dealing with- probably influenced by so many Catholic friends. Could a vampire be "cured" if they drank Communion wine? You know- the blood of Christ that eternally satisfies their curse? Could be an interesting story to explore someday.)

6. Did you noticed how the idea of free will is subtly (or not so subtly) played with throughout the series? Essentially, it is all about free will. The free will of the vampires to choose whether they will be good or evil, the binding of the werewolves to the will of their leader or the love of the subject of their imprint, etc.

7. Do you think Meyers pushes too many boundries when it comes to violence, sex, etc? I personally think it really depends on the age range. I think the series is meant to be read by 16+ and it really bothers me that younger readers are among her biggest fans. Breaking Dawn is so not appropriete for 13-year-olds. However, I think for the 18, 19+ audience it is quite tastefully done. I don't read much fiction intended for younger teens- how do you think this compares?

8. Did you find the ending of Breaking Dawn disappointing? Not in the romance catagory- I think Bella/Edward and Jacob/Renesmee were very nicely resolved. But rather with the Volturi. Did it feel wrong to leave them still in power? Or realistic? Do you think there should be a book about Jacob and Renesmee as "adults" challanging the Volturi's power?

9. What did you think of Carlisle's decision to "vampirize" Esme, Rosalie, Edward and Emmett? And Edward's decision to save Bella? Do you think it was right? Do you think that vampires have souls? I find the biggest proof that they still have souls in the fact that they still have consciences and free will. If they didn't have those (as vampires of traditional legand do) I think it would be evidence that they no longer have souls.

10. Has this series changed your thinking in any other ways? The way you view romance? Parenting? Life and death?

Note this- if I get enough interesting replies to this, I will publish and interact with them in another post. So "your name could be here" if you take the time to respond! (I hope you do- I'm pretty intrigued by these questions.)

3 comments:

MJ said...

. What first drew you to Twilight? The Vampires? The fact that all of your friends were reading it? The really cool covers? (I admit it. Those covers are breathtakingly cool.)

Two things were the reason I was drawn, one was at my small library I was quickly reading through the appropriate teen books. The cover of twilight jumped out at me so I decided to give it a chance. The other was I’d seen some reviews of it and it sounded really interesting.

2. What do you think of Bella? How has your perception of her changed over the series? Like all of us, she isn't perfect, but she really seemed to grow and mature in "Breaking Dawn."
I find Bella a good interpretation of a secular teenage girl. She is awkward about herself and her appearance. She wants a personal connection with a guy even if it comes to losing her virginity. This is actually what she wants most. I did find Bella grew up in Breaking Dawn. She forgot about what she wanted and focused on the life of her child. She was willing to die forever just to save her child. I found this a huge time of maturity for Bella.

3. How do you view Edward Cullen? Are you one of his fan girls (honestly, now!) or do you simply think he's a cool character? Is he unrealistic? Or does 100 years of self-restraint seem like a plausible excuse for his many qualities?

I am a fangirl of Edward. I find him to be the perfect guy with a un earthly amount of self control. I do know he is unrealistic and I will never find a guy who can watch me fall asleep but keep his purity intact. I think the 100 years helps but I still think Edward is unrealistic.

4. Which of the other vampires is your favorite and why? I enjoy Alice for her spunk, Carlisle for his conscience, Jasper because he's, well, cool, and Emmet because he's hilarious.
Carlisle is probably my favorite because he showed you can change who you are. HE works around blood all day but doesn’t have a problem. I also love how he loves his family. Alice is amazing because she is just so sweet. Emmett is also amazing esp. because he deals with Rosalie. I feel sorry for Jasper because he doesn’t have the self control of the other vampires.

5. How has your perception of vampires changed over reading this series? As I pointed out in my first post, I think this "vampire-with-a-conscience" idea makes more sense than traditional "garlic-and-crucifix" vampire idea. Do you agree with that? (Random thought that I've been dealing with- probably influenced by so many Catholic friends. Could a vampire be "cured" if they drank Communion wine? You know- the blood of Christ that eternally satisfies their curse? Could be an interesting story to explore someday.)
I think I now view that there are two different types of literary vampires. There are the vampires who can control and change and then there are Dracula style vampires who just have this huge blood lust they cannot control. I do think your idea about the communion blood is interesting. If that even could work I think the vampire would die almost as if they were human and then live and eternal life in heaven. But because vampires aren’t real we don’t need to worry about that.

6. Did you noticed how the idea of free will is subtly (or not so subtly) played with throughout the series? Essentially, it is all about free will. The free will of the vampires to choose whether they will be good or evil, the binding of the werewolves to the will of their leader or the love of the subject of their imprint, etc.
I love the idea of free will in the story. I found that the vampires could choose free will but most lived on their instinct. The werewolves on the other hand wanted free will but had to live on their instincts. It really makes you appreciate free will.

7. Do you think Meyers pushes too many boundries when it comes to violence, sex, etc? I think she doesn’t push boundries for how the books is marketed. It is marketed for older teens. I find her use of violence find and although Bella’s mentions of sex get annoying I did like how she did the sex scenes in Breaking Dawn. I appreciated that they were no actual sex scenes. I’d say 15 and up is fine for this book if they are ready to read about married life. I found the sex scenes not that much different from some Catholic fiction I have read.

8. Did you find the ending of Breaking Dawn disappointing? Not in the romance catagory- I think Bella/Edward and Jacob/Renesmee were very nicely resolved. But rather with the Volturi. Did it feel wrong to leave them still in power? Or realistic? Do you think there should be a book about Jacob and Renesmee as "adults" challanging the Volturi's power?

9. What did you think of Carlisle's decision to "vampirize" Esme, Rosalie, Edward and Emmett? And Edward's decision to save Bella? Do you think it was right? Do you think that vampires have souls? I find the biggest proof that they still have souls in the fact that they still have consciences and free will. If they didn't have those (as vampires of traditional legand do) I think it would be evidence that they no longer have souls.
I find the vampirizing in order to save them and live a vegetarian vampire life noble. I find it similar to a person giving CPR. If they were raising newborn vampires to eat humans I would dislike it but Carlisle and Edward only do it when they are almost dead and only to be “good” vampires. I don’t think they lose their souls I just think it’s harder to use them. IT as if sin has clouded their soul and made it harder to see the truth but they still know what the truth is.

10. Has this series changed your thinking in any other ways? The way you view romance? Parenting? Life and death?
I haven’t found that its changed my mind but it has totally given me even more of a want to save my virginity until marriage.

Ms. Adelaide said...

i just wanted to add to the part about the whole sex thing, i haven't read the final book but i thought it was really cool at the end of eclipse that when edward offered her all that she'd been asking for, for the entire book, she turned it down to do the right thing... even though they are just secular characters i thought that was pretty cool of meyer to have a character who has a chance at getting what she wants and turns it down even if its just for the sake of others... end of my comment :)

Bekah said...

I am not going to read Twilight because it seems really demonic. And I just stay away from any books with "sex scenes".

Bekah