Blogging Twilight: Part 2

Chapters 5-9

I’m only a section through the first book and already I realize that much of the criticism leveled at this story could very well be unfounded. There ARE problems to be sure, but it may not be to the extent that some say. I’ll have to see how the stories play out to be sure though.

First, the bad. The writing in this book continues to suck. Like, CSI Miami suck. Check out this clip that will make you laugh.

Yeah, I picture this type of scene in the book all the time. Let me share a couple of the worst sections.

“I didn’t feel like mentioning that my stomach was already full—of butterflies.” (YEEAAAHHHH!)

“The decision was ridiculously easy to live with. Dangerously easy.” (YEEAAAHHHH!)

Plus there were a ton of coma splices, tense confusion, and other mistakes that can be forgiven in a common blog, like mine, but not in a published novel. All other things this book does right are hidden behind confusing language.

Okay. I won’t complain about the bad writing every time unless it’s particularly funny.

Here the reader is introduced to Jacob who, if the Burger King ads are to be believed, becomes a major character. Major enough to have a whole team named after him. I fear that he will end up the perpetual good guy who is actually, you know, nice to the girl who he likes which enables the girl to use him and string him along while giving all her love to the jerk. Jacob seemed likeable enough, at least compared to everyone else in the story. Too bad I’m fairly sure Bella is going to treat him like crap.

And here is a major criticism against the book I think may be wrong. I’ve heard over and over that Bella is a simple character who is good at everything but given that one fault to make her seem more accessible, in her case it’s her clumsiness. I don’t think that’s the case.

I’m giving Stephenie Meyer a huge benefit of the doubt by saying this, but it is possible Bella is more complex that I gave her credit for. I see Bella as a little scared girl who forces herself to act older and ‘above it all’ when in reality she isn’t. She always acts like the flighty little problems of high school are below her, but whenever Edward is in the picture; she not only reverts to high school, but to elementary. He says jump, she says how high… while jumping. He says bark, she barks.

He forcefully grabs her and, against her will, pulls her across the parking lot toward his car, refusing to let go even though she tells him to stop, and she’s okay with it.

Yeah, it’s nearly an abusive relationship, I’d be surprised if Edward doesn’t smack her sometime in the series, it fits his character so far, but it’s defiantly manipulative and unhealthy, which taps into the whole sick and stupid ‘bad boy attraction’ some girls seem to have. Daddy issues play a part. Mommy issues too. Bella says herself that she had to be the adult in the relationship with her mother, which could make her socially retarded. She never dated and she obviously doesn’t know how to handle herself on the beach or on the girl’s shopping day.

In a real way, this is like pornography in the fact that it presents an unhealthy and unrealistic expectation to girls about their relationship to guys which can never happen in real life, but the draw is too alluring to ignore, though the objectifying of men, though very much present and harmful, can’t compare to how much porn degrades women.

So let’s talk about Edward for a moment. He too could be more complex then I gave him credit for, though it’s hard to tell because he is written in a way meant for the reader to fall in love with him. As I am not in love with him all I see is the dangerous and dreamy man-animal (manamal) Bella wants him to be. And he is socially retarded in his own way: unable to handle conflict, quick to anger, demanding, demeaning. He’s a grade A jerk, but he sees he is a jerk, and he hates it, which is a little bit interesting.

Two social retards dating though… I don’t know…. it doesn’t seem to bode well, and this is where I have my hesitation.

I can’t see either character pulling the other one up in order to go through a dynamic change which could form real and honest characters. Both are wallowing in their own dysfunction and both completely self obsessed (If Bella really cared about Edward, she would have honored his wishes to stay away from him and if Edward really loved Bella, he wouldn’t treat her like a toy poodle).

Here’s the deal. I need to see some dynamic action with these characters or the story is bad. Not only does the action need to be dynamic, it needs to be honest. It can happen, I’m just wondering how. It’s very possible that this story will floor me with unexpected goodness I could never expect.

But I’m not going to hold my breath.