Twilight

Jennifer Doyle · Post by **Jennifer Doyle** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:48 am

Does anyone else get depressed when a long book series is over? I think that's the reason they are best sellers...it's four more books people can pour their lives into until they are finished and move on

I finished book II last night. I think the books aren't that well written but are fairly entertaining. I don't really like Edward's arrogance and Bella's low self-esteem though...kind of gets old. And I'm definately going to encourage everyone to not kill themselves if your "love" were to die or leave you, ok?

I liked the movie alright, could have done without the hundreds of girls pushing, shoving, screaming, and moaning though.

Ruthie · Post by **Ruthie** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:39 pm

I finished Breaking Dawn this morning, and I enjoyed the series. Breaking Dawn really helped me get 'out' of the series. Aka...not entirely in love with Jacob and thinking about more than just Twilight.

I didn't fall into the 'obsessed fan girl' category. Just, curiously entranced.

I think it ended VERY well. I loved the ending.

Everything wraps up perfectly...etc...

I listened to them all- so, I haven't noticed anything about writing style, because I have not been reading it. And it sounds great being listened to.

I think Twilight will stay around for a while, and then fade....it's nothing that will last a very long time. (aka..Harry Potter...etc..)

I haven't seen the movie, and I"m not dying to.

I might someday, but...we'll see.

Sherlock · Post by **Sherlock** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:03 pm

I saw the movie in vain hope that Hollywood would make up for the various flaws in the author's writing style.

It didn't.

Epic · Post by **Epic** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:22 am

I saw the movie last night I and I really liked it. But they did mess up the Meadow scene. Though the movie went really fast expeshally after James started chasing her. I wished they would have dragged that out a little more! Plus they didn't explain a lot like why their eyes change colors and stuff.

I alread knew why but I had to explain a lot to my boyfriend who hadn't read the books but saw the movie with me.

I really liked at the end where they had Victoria come back (even though it wasn't in the book) It put a little cliff hanger on it for you, even though she doesn't come in till the third book.

But I think Edward could defenalty been able to smell her and go after her so that wasn't very realistic. But over all I liked it! $\:D/$

Danielle Abigail Maxwell · Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:49 pm

I heard the contacts were annoying. Tidbits from my sister's annoying thing of knowing every detail... Though, they did well, rather not I noticed the contacts thing... oops... I need to see the movie again.... I REALLY didn't notice that... only heard about it...

We happen to be fighting over the fact that Multnomah Falls is in the movie, (SPOILER!) and how the baseball scene has it in the background, and we were going back to school today, passing by the falls and looking over across the Columbia River, and we just couldn't see how they could have been playing baseball and still have the falls in the background. Having a green screen and all is very tricky, apparently, so we don't think that was it. We also have this preference that MAYBE the falls in the background ain't Multnomah Falls. BUt, well, it certainly looked like the falls, after that one shot of it... (END SPOILER!). No one in my group got the $5 because we all saw it clearly.... I didn't think it would be that obvious... haha..

Okay, I know people keep talking about Victoria, and how she doesn't come around till the 3rd book.(SPOILTER! HOLD ON A SEC. If you've read two, RATHER SHE APPEARS OR NOT, SHE CERTAINLY IS TALKED ABOUT. WHY DO YOU THINK THOSE DARN WEREWOLVES APPEAR! (END SPOILER)

Sorry, people are bugging me about that... She hasn't appeared in 3rd yet, and I'm 300 pages into the 3rd...
Okay, so, they still set themselves up for 2... and 3... 2 will be filmed... So, if Tori doesn't show up in 2, they didn't set themselves up for 2 at all... nice... that went well... HP is still better!

I'm good... later!

Epic · Post by **Epic** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:47 pm

Wow DAM you sure did let it out!!!

I can't wait till the New Moon movie, though I can't stand that book.
I like Breaking Dawn best then Eclipse, Twilight, and last New Moon!
I thought Bella was SO annoing it that book and Jacob, don't even get me started!!

Anyone else excited or waiting?

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:58 pm

Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to see the movie until it comes out on DVD.

I did read the first book though...

...and thought it was a nice thought-provoking piece. I would've read more in the series, but all of the desires of my heart were unfortunately somewhat twisted around after reading that book, and so I decided that I'll have to wait until I'm happily married to read the rest of those books (Haha, which probably means that I'll never read it.

).

Over the Rainbow · Post by **Over the Rainbow** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:18 am

Am I the only one who found this book very dull and lifeless? It had potential, but it was very corny and unrealistic in my opinion.

Jugglah · Post by **Jugglah** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:10 am

Not to crash the party, but does anyone here get FOTF's Brio Magazine or Brio & Beyond Magazine? There was an article about "Twilight" in the latest issue - a rather scathing article. I was wondering (not having read "Twilight", nor do I ever plan to), how do you, as Christians, justify reading, liking, and even obsessing over these books?

Here's the link, if you haven't read the article.
http://www.briomag.com/briomagazine/ent ... 07866.html

Sherlock · Post by **Sherlock** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:40 pm

Jugglah wrote:Not to crash the party, but does anyone here get FOTF's Brio Magazine or Brio & Beyond Magazine? There was an article about "Twilight" in the latest issue - a rather scathing article. I was wondering (not having read "Twilight", nor do I ever plan to), how do you, as Christians, justify reading, liking, and even obsessing over these books?

Here's the link, if you haven't read the article.
http://www.briomag.com/briomagazine/ent ... 07866.html

While I certainly agree with the author of the article that one should be discerning in choice of literature and should endeavor not to become obsessed with fictional characters, I would have to also add that one should follow this model with every reading choice, not just the currently popular ones.

With so many Christian-authored articles springing up warning young adults of the dangers of reading books such as "Twilight" (and, before that, "Harry Potter" and the like) I have to wonder whether these authors consider that these themes (romantic obsession, the antihero, violence, death) have arisen since long before the dawn of "Twilight." (pardon the pun).

I recently finished Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" and wasn't suprised to find that the book was also referenced in Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" as the two are startlingly similar. If anything, the only real change is the time frame within which the books were written. Neither book has a "happy" ending per-se, and neither conveys an overtly Christian message or even a positive theme (for the most part). Yet, I am willing to guess that most Christian parents would be much more willing to let their young daughter read the former title than the latter because, well, the first is classic literature.

So, I suppose what really irks me is that we need to be consistent in reading choices. Either we are going to reject all those things which present to young readers anything other than a clear outline of the Christian message or we are not. Personally, I don't have a problem with letting a reasonably mature teenager read "Twilight", "Harry Potter", "Dracula" or other such books as long as they can do so having the right perspective. The good versus evil dichotomy is not always a clear one in literature and regardless of one's decision, it seems prudent not to allow children to stray into grey areas until they are able to competently grasp the difference.

Jugglah · Post by **Jugglah** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:05 pm

The thing is, some of my close friends have been sucked (pardon the pun) into the frenzy over these books, and they are absolutely obsessed. They are high-school seniors, and would be classified as mature teens. They're not immature about anything except "Twilight". And I think the difference between "Twilight" and "Wuthering Heights" is that there are no vampires or other truly supernatural elements about "Wuthering Heights", and I'm pretty sure that no teenage girl would drool over Heathcliff like they do over Edward. Also, to make a distinction between "Harry Potter" and "Twilight"...even though there is the issue of witches and wizards in "Harry Potter", I think it's pretty much a non-issue, because no matter what you call them, the characters are portrayed in stark moral contrast between right and wrong. There are "good guys" and "bad guys", I guess you could say. And they match up, for the most part, with the biblical notions of such things. However, in "Twilight" it seems that there are a lot of gray areas, at best, and "bad" being called "good", at worst. I haven't read the books, but I know all about them because that's all these friends ever talk about - or gush about, rather. But when a book skews ideas about guys, marriage, and even the idea of grace, that can shape a culture. And I didn't mean to write a thesis paper about it - sorry, guys. I didn't even want to share my opinion, but I do feel strongly about it. I'd say in conclusion to your point, Sherlock, that we should use discernment, I totally agree. But are we? My friends are strong Christians, yet they think that the books are okay. Maybe they are, and certainly they can make their own choices. But is it justifiable to get absorbed in books with so many negative elements, without even much literary value to make them worth it?

Danielle Abigail Maxwell · Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:08 pm

To me, I think people take stuff like this to extremes... Like The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, and now Twilight.

Somehow, what they wrote, to me, is not very spiritual and not at all an example to young girls. Why? Because "everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Reason: Because we all are going to read things, see things, and interpret them WAY differenly from others, and get something from it, or nothing.

Take Twilight. I don't really ingest what it happening, and I KNOW IT IS FICTION. It isn't real. And, there may be such a thing as witchcraft, but there is no such thing as a vampire. Like Harry Potter, it isn't real. It is fiction. Believing they are real characters and real is just... ridiculous. Yes, people do it, but would Christian girls really do it? Really think it is real? I doubt it. I'm a Christian girl, and I know it isn't real. I read it because well.... something to read. Why not? What else could I possibly read (other than the Bible) and the books that just get me outside of the world people FORCE me to be encircled by? I enjoy Harry Potter. So? Does that mean I'm not going to go to Heaven? Give me a break... plus, I think Twilight is just a little overrated, yes it is slightly boring, so, I don't think you ahve to be worried about me.

I think people are taking this to extremes, again, and seriously, can people not get any... lamer than that? It is also their own opinion... you can't speak for someone else. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. Plus, people could see the fight of good vs. evil in Harry Potter. That is usually the basis for any book. If you don't want all FLUFF! Good vs. Evil. Is that not the story of Satan and God? Good vs. Evil? Well, there we go....

(yes, I'm mad because of this... I'm glad I don't get Brio Mag. now...)

Jennifer Doyle · Post by **Jennifer Doyle** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:34 pm

People just want something to love and become obsessed over.

We see it again and again, movies, movie stars, books, etc.

People are trying to fill what nothing can ever fill. Nothing but God.

Oba-rai · Post by **Oba-rai** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:03 pm

Danielle Abigail Maxwell wrote:To me, I think people take stuff like this to extremes... Like The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, and now Twilight.

True, but to be the devil's advocate, this is because of things in and outside the books.

Somehow, what they wrote, to me, is not very spiritual and not at all an example to young girls. Why? Because "everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Reason: Because we all are going to read things, see things, and interpret them WAY differenly from others, and get something from it, or nothing.

So, interpreting differently/relatively different than another person is fine because we're all going to see it differently!

Take Twilight. I don't really ingest what it happening, and I KNOW IT IS FICTION. It isn't real. And, there may be such a thing as witchcraft, but there is no such thing as a vampire. Like Harry Potter, it isn't real. It is fiction. Believing they are real characters and real is just... ridiculous. Yes, people do it, but would Christian girls really do it? Really think it is real? I doubt it. I'm a Christian girl, and I know it isn't real. I read it because well.... something to read. Why not? What else could I possibly read (other than the Bible) and the books that just get me outside of the world people FORCE me to be encircled by? I enjoy Harry Potter. So? Does that mean I'm not going to go to Heaven? Give me a break... plus, I think Twilight is just a little overrated, yes it is slightly boring, so, I don't think you ahve to be worried about me.

*is terrified for DAM! shakes in her boots at the thought of another soul slipping away to the EEEEVILLLS OF TWILIGHT*

Fiction doesn't mean anything, if there's enough message in there to be blasphemous, profane, or pornographic. Is that what Twilight is? Hardly not. But something can be fiction and yet offensive to a belief system, or a set of values on a certain subject.

I think people are taking this to extremes, again, and seriously, can people not get any... lamer than that? It is also their own opinion... you can't speak for someone else. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. Plus, people could see the fight of good vs. evil in Harry Potter. That is usually the basis for any book. If you don't want all FLUFF! Good vs. Evil. Is that not the story of Satan and God? Good vs. Evil? Well, there we go....

Good vs. Evil is a timeless theme. Good conquering is the theme. But some things change it up. Who wins? What's the "dominant" force? That is the positive/negative aspect of a book.

People have the right to an opinion, and Brio Mag had a point in publishing that. It wasn't extremism.

(yes, I'm mad because of this... I'm glad I don't get Brio Mag. now...)

Well, you're not at all taking this to extremes.

disclaimer: I've read the first 3 books. I found nothing particularly astoundingly wrong in Smeyer's themes. Shallow interpretations of love, however, and Smeyer's prose which is ATROCIOUS at times, turned me off to the series. I just saw some loopholes in your thinking, that's all.

People just want something to love and become obsessed over.

We see it again and again, movies, movie stars, books, etc.

People are trying to fill what nothing can ever fill. Nothing but God.

QFT.

Follower of Christ · Post by **Follower of Christ** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:23 pm

I'm not allowed to read these books beause of the stuff that they contain. I have read the article on Brio and I agree with it.
One of my friends read a chapter of the bok to me and it didn't interest me at all...in fact it might have justified my not being allowed to read these-I didn't want to read them.

darcie · Post by **darcie** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:22 pm

I still haven't fallen to the dark side and started this yet... my library has been out with copies on reserve for ages. Then I saw the paperback at the grocery store (right next to The Tales of Beetle the Bard which I did buy) and I fought the urge. I'm afraid of being so trendy. My husband will make fun of me.

Reviews of the movie were less than inspiring...

Jugglah wrote:I'm pretty sure that no teenage girl would drool over Heathcliff like they do over Edward.

Perhaps not, but have you seen the numbers of Mr. Darcy devotees? I think, since the movie was in production during the recent peaking of the book's popularity, the actor cast has a bit to do with the swooning over Edward.

Jennifer Doyle wrote:Does anyone else get depressed when a long book series is over?

Yes. When I closed the last book of Harry Potter, I got this weird empty "what's next" feeling... which is why I almost have wanted to start this series.

Post by **StrongNChrist** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:50 pm

never read Twilight nor seen the movie. From what I've read on this forum and another forum I don't really want to read it....

Sweetie · Post by **Sweetie** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:55 pm

I haven't read the book but I saw the movie..the main reason I actually like the movie is because the guys are so cute..and the movie is romantic.

Battle Cry · Post by **Battle Cry** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:34 pm

you can watch the full movie on youtube.

I really didn't care for the first half of the movie, but after Bella found out about Edward being a vampire it was awesome. but the book is always better.

The Town of Odyssey

Twilight

Do you want to read it?