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A Letter To Twilight Haters
Dear Twilight Haters,
The Twilight saga has been a bestseller since 2005. However, the series was not officially popular in till first movie release in late 2008, when sales sky rocketed selling 17 million copies. Currently the film adaptation of New Moon, the second storey in the saga, will be in theaters on November 20. The movie has been highly expected by primarily teenaged fans. Many teenagers are memorized by the concept of vampires, love, and lust. I think that the success of the novel is overrated. Stephanie Meyer has an eloquent voice as a writer, the plot and characters fail to meet the standards of a romance novel in my eyes. I also think that the films have cause the saga to become more like a franchise then novels (I notice more girls are infatuated with Edwards Cullen, and think that he is a reflection of Robert Pattinson.)
Not to be stereotypical, but romance novels target a female audience. Therefore the female protagonist must be dynamic and show growth through out the novel. Many examples of this are Scarlet O'Hara (Gone with the Wind) and Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice). Notice I did not mention Bella Swan. The book begins with Bella moving to Forks Washington, she is quiet and typical. Then when she meets Edward Cullen she learns the meaning of love. However after she learns the secret of the Cullen family she still thinks that the world would stop spinning if she could not have her precious Edward. She really doesn't grow as a protagonist which is a vital part of a novel. The characters also fall flat. In all novels there are round characters (main characters that can be described well.) and flat characters (minor characters that have a vague description.) In the book the Cullen Family is descried to be dazzling, and Edward is said to be beautiful. However intelligent word choice was used, Edward's description is superficial and vague.
The novel is also very anticlimactic. Most plots follow a simple structure where there are rising actions. An example in the novel would be when Bella moves to Forks, or when Bella and Edwards sit beside each other in class. Eventually these events rise to a point of suspense, also know as the climax. There, really is not a suspenseful climax nor is it poignant. (Bella doesn't really come to face with any danger after she learns the Cullen's secret because she is protected by Edward.) The premise of the plot is extremely generic. People are awed by creativity of a vampire love storey. However vampires were first created by Bram Stoker in 1897. Romance novels were around before even that. The combination of vampires and romance were first formed by L.J. Smith, writer of The Vampire Diaries. In the Vampire Diaries a high school girl is torn amoung the romance of two vampire brothers. Therefore the concept of vampires in love really is not that original and the plot is anti-climatic.
I cannot comprehend why Twilight gets the amount of praise that it does. The characters lack either roundness or diversity. The plot is shallow, and the concept is common. Therefore is all the success because it is a brilliantly orchestrated work, or because it has been a franchise .
Yours Truly, Blank
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 49 comments.
My name is Fernando, a convert to Christianity, or more specifically, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe in Christ, and state that He suffered, died, and then rose on the third day. I cannot deny the witness I've received for this truth. I believe God has set a path for me that will bring me and those I strive to help reach the same happiness He has. I have learned for myself that atheism is not true, and that and I will die for my beliefs.
I desire to I ask you a few questions: Do you believe I'm an idiot, or have become deranged, brainwashed, or stupid in anyway? Do you believe my views are dangerous to you or society?
Finally, what exactly do you expect to gain out of this life? Will it be worth anything?
I look forward to your responses. May God (or whomever being or thing you worship) benefit you in ways that please you. Don't be afraid to answer me.
Dear EVERYONE,
Why can't we all just get along, twilight haters and twilight lovers alike?! I'm not even going to say whether I like or dislike the books/movies because it's irrelevant. Why do we all have to argue? It's pointless. Why don't twilight haters stop complaining about it and just keep their mouths shut and why don't twilight lovers stop being overly obnoxious about it?
Russelsgirl... I have read the books. All four of them. (I'm not counting the short novella.)
And, I still stand by what I said before. The whole theme is bland and trite. It's nothing new. The Night World series by L.J. Smith are similar in plot and they were written in 1997.
Besides, Stephenie Meyer is not an amazing writer. Take Stephen King, for example. New York Times bestseller. He has been writing for a long time. He compared Stephenie Meyer to JK Rowling and said that Meyer "cannot write worth a darn."
Dear Blank,
I'm confused. You say that it's to the Twi-Haters, and yet you yourself are tearing it down. What point to the Twilight Haters are you trying to make? That it sucks and is completely unoriginal? Yeah, we already know that. So... Shouldn't your letter be to the Twi-hards? For those who don't know the term, Twi-hards are the rabid mobs of teenage girls (sometimes not so teenage) who fawn over the series like it's a deity. Other than a few spelling errors, it rocked! I agree with every points and would like to add on that Bella Swan set feminism back a few years by being a "helpless" girl who couldn't live without her "dear" Edward. Write on!
Sincerely, DinoN.
"As a teenage girl I don't understand much and I hated reading"? I'm sorry, but what!?? Try not to insult every teenage girl on the planet while you're admiting to have sub-par inteligence please.
Before you go around accusing others of being incapable of writing properly, I'd take a look at your own post- especially if you want to be a writer one day. Start with meaning, because every piece of writing- romance novel or textbook- has one. Mine for example, is to critize your absolute inability to make a point and put spaces properly in between your words.
Dear "Blank,"
I give this review a 100000/5. Twilight is the worst book/series/movie ever. It's overrated and bland. Twilight fans make me sick. You expressed my feelings in this letter. Thank you.
Sincerely,
mylifeisM6