yeah, not my style...

[orangerful]

I finally finished 'Twilight'. Or, at least, as close as I was going to get to finishing (I think I had 20 pages left, then a patron came looking for it and I just gave it to them to get it away from me...far far away!). I really am not a romance reader, that is what this book made me realize. I didn't know it was SUCH a romance novel, I thought it just had a relationship in it. But this book was so not my style.



I did not care for the author's writing at all. She seemed to think that we would forget what characters looked like for page to page, describing them over and over. Not in new and interesting ways, but the same way each time (Edward was beautiful, gorgeous, his eyes flashing here and there, always with a crooked smile). She was so obsessed with the physical beauty of her two main people that neither of them actually had any character.

As always, being a Joss Whedon fangirl, most of my ire is directed towards Bella - the main character who is a girl. And what a waste of space she is. She just sits around, moping, and then she meets Edward and that's her whole life. HER WHOLE LIFE. Babe, live a little! You're 17 and you're telling me that your ready to settle down? And I'm supposed to think that's so romantic? Honestly, I think it's a bit pathetic. So, I had trouble getting past that (when, at the end, she asked Edward to bite her, that was where I really got ticked).

And this guy is kind of a tool - he's constantly talking down to her. I don't care if he's 200+ years old, if this chick is your soulmate, treat her like an equal. He always sounded so condescending. Or maybe that was just the author's horrible dialogue. There were moments where I thought Bella sounded like a normal person, and then others where she was just photocopying lines from a Cassie Edwards romance.

So, in conclusion. I'm not a romance fan. I like a bit of romance in my stories, but the romance cannot be the whole story. (And, honestly, if you're going to force me to read a whole story that is all romance, then I demand some pr0n!!!! Or at least a little sexin'. All that trouble, reading 200 pages and I just get a couple light kisses?)



Scott Westerfeld for the WIN! Uglies/Pretties/Specials PWNS this book of blech. Tally may have her slow moments, but at least she can kick some ass when she needs to.

Comments

[lostacanthus.livejournal.com]

haha, yeah, Twilight did have it's bad moments. But I totally don't care XP I'm all for all that stupid stuff. (Except for the describing Edward a million times. I just kind of pretend that didn't happen...)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

yeah, I'm just not a romance reader. I'm happy I picked it up though, at least I know what it's about so if someone asks for a similar book, I won't give them 'Peeps'! I'll look for something with a bit more smoochies.

[destertale.livejournal.com]

Ah, you know I've had this one recommended to me a few times, but it sounds like I'd probably share your opinion. Those are all things that would have bugged me too. =P

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you'd be annoyed too. After heroines like Leia, Buffy, and Hermione, I just can't stomach female characters that spend all their time mooning over boys - especially one boy (come on baby, play the field! You're frakkin 16!)

[jellibean.livejournal.com]

I can't read romance either. The Notebook nearly made me gouge my eyes out with a blunt object.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much why I've avoided it. Sooooo many girls have ordered that one. Hm...'Twilight' might be a good thing to recommend for someone who enjoyed 'Notebook'....hm...

[impalalove]

I have to agree-- it does get a little annoying with the character description and how Bella constantly comes off as a weak person. I like strong female types. ^_^

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really felt like there was a lot of missed opportunity to make Bella seems stronger and smarter. There was a good chunk of story in the middle that I found just boring. I would have liked her and Edward to have a deeper conversation beyond "oh how pretty am I?" "oh you are sooo very pretty!" "o rly?" "ya rly"