Twi-Hard
School June 5th, 2010
Can we just call a truce?? Like, for this post at least, can we just pretend that I’m smart and I might know what I’m saying?? Because I am fully aware that I don’t know everything about what I’m saying, and I can already see the backlash from this post, and I just want to pretend.
I was perfectly content to go to my grave without the entire world wide web knowing just how much of a freak I am…the truth is, if you don’t spend a lot of time around me, when I have free time, then you wouldn’t know this about me…I read Twilight. And I say “read” as in the present tense. Like, continually. I have read each of the four books of the Twilight saga multiple times (more than twice each), I’m currently reading Breaking Dawn again (pg 561), I finished Eclipse a day ago, and while I have no intention to right now, I know it’s only a matter of time before my fingers find themselves back in the comfortable pages of the first two books again. When I’m done reading about how it ends, I’ll want to relive how it began…
I would have liked to pretend that the books did not have that kind of hold on my life, or that if I was going to defend a hold like that, it would have been about a pile of books a little more prestigious…I mean, if you were in my close circle in high school, you already knew that I spent a good chunk of senior year with one of the books in my desk. Or if you lived any short amount of time in my house, you knew that the books were on the shelf above my bed. But it would have been nice to hide the…let’s say friendship, rather than mere acquaintance…I have with the books from the people who didn’t already know.
But…here we are. Are you confused? Emily started reading the books recently, which is why I restarted reading them. We rented the movies, and now Hannah is reading one of them. It’s actually pretty comical. Three girls glued to a bed, to a book. It might even be a nice change of pace from the TV or computer we’re usually glued to. But it’s sort of rubbing some people here the wrong way, people who voice their objections, which rub me just a little bit the wrong way. Pair this with the movie coming out soon, and it’s like I can’t escape people hating on Twilight.
But these people are my friends, so I feel like I have to defend them. I think we have all grown accustomed to how I frequently consider my favourite TV characters as my friends, people I watch because they feel familiar. But it’s different when it’s in a book, you know? The characters are described to you, but you make them your own. My interpretation of the book is different than Emily’s. The people in these book are mine…they feel familiar to me.
There’s also the fact that any kind of reading is good for your brain. I looked for the source without luck, but I distinctly remember that stat. So reading any kind of book is good for your brain. And Emily and Hannah feel proud of themselves that they’re tackling books in the 400+ pages department.
Then there is the issue of “ruining mythology”. I realized today that the mythology in the books is actually one of my favourite parts. Firstly, the books look at werewolf mythology in a really interesting way. And werewolf mythology isn’t really something that I’ve looked into, but it’s interesting. Secondly, Stephenie Meyer was not the first person to re-imagine vampire mythology. The original vampires were cruel monsters, and then in the 80’s Anne Rice turned them into these brooding creatures, and then there was Buffy. So let’s face it, vampire mythology is not some sacred, untouchable subject. And I got that from my mythology professor, so it’s not just garbage from Katherine’s brain.
And something, no matter how juvenile or silly, that brings me Emily and Hannah together laughing and joking, can not possibly be horrible. I think we have spent more time in the same room together talking this past week than the whole beginning of the summer. And they bring more than just family together…they have brought me quite a few friends and fun experiences. They’re important.
I know I don’t exactly get a lot of say here…I’m the kind of girl whose highlight of the 2008 year was screaming alongside of hundreds of younger girls at a Jonas Brothers concert, who sings Justin Bieber at full volume, who watches Hannah Montana…but just maybe this once pretend I know what I’m saying?
Don’t get me wrong…at the end of the day, it’s still about a human girl who fell in love with a vampire who wants to suuuck heer blooood (said in Transylvanian accent of course), and don’t even get me started on the abomination that are the movies, but I think it’s also an interesting mythological story. One that shouldn’t be so easily dismissed because of how horrible it sounds.
That’s it…I’m done, haha.
3 Responses to “Twi-Hard”
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June 5th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I’m glad that you said all of that Katherine:) All the mythology sort things really enchanted me, especially during New Moon, otherwise I might have skipped to the end or plead insanity!
If we can keep our focus clear and pure then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Thinking about imprinting still gives me goosebumps. I’m proud of you for proclaiming this:)
June 8th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
longest post ever! haha
June 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
We have all sorts of interesting “Twilight” conversations around our house – because Edison would be a “hater.” Although, he’s never read a page. I think it’s probably the “hugeness” of it with his female counterparts at school. . . ? I don’t know.
I do find it oddly amusing (?) or disturbing (?) to have grown women (you know. . . over the age of 27) going totally ga-ga over these books and movies.
So, any comments I make are made in utter ignorance, because I haven’t seen anything more than a movie trailer or two. . . .and the countless book covers at Walmart!
I may try to pick one up and read it . . but I’m kinda in a covenant to read either ‘The Hobbit’ or the ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ this summer.
Old bet – I owe it to Mark.