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Judging Readers By Their Beach Books
92 Comments | Posted by Marin in beach books
On the train to the Hamptons the other weekend, scores of twentysomething women marched by with their oversized beach bags and their pastel hardcover books sticking out. I saw Confessions of a Beauty Addict and Hedge Fund Wives in an Orla Kiely bag and Marc Jacobs bag, respectively, and I saw a another reading Pretty in Plain: A Life, a Witch and a Wardrobe. And I judged them. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover — but nobody ever said you shouldn’t judge a reader by his or her book selection. Get a load of some of high- and low-brow books people on the Jersey shore are reading this summer.
I do not understand why people would waste their time on crappy, mind-crack books when there are millions of other, worthy books out there. (Full disclosure: I’m reading The City of Falling Angels now about the fire at the Fenice opera house in Venice).Yes, I’m aware that it’s beach season, but I want to read a quality book regardless of my tropical location. Doesn’t everybody else?
Last time I was on the Beach I was reading Stranger In A Strange Land (completely voluntarily not like HS summer reading). I judge people depending on what books they read too. I’m a literary snob I guess…
Since Heinlein is my favorite author, I’d have to judge you “awesome” for that one…
My PhD is in English literature and science fiction is my area of expertise. I get so much shit from my Hemingway, Shakespeare, and Milton co-workers for having a “fluff” area. I tell them they’re old and canon bound.
Science Fiction is the best genre that there is! I get really annoyed when it’s put with those stupid fantasy books in the book store. (I kid you not I found Heinlein amongst books about dragons and wizards) Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author though, forever. =]
I do love Vonnegut too. And Joan Vinge. It’s pretty obvious that I like Sci-Fi…
Vonnegut is my favorite too!
Me and my fiance are getting “So it goes” tattoos on our wrists =]
Awesome!
(that’s not too short. it’s exactly what i wanted to say)
(This is actually in reply to your message below but there isn’t any reply button on it.)
I have a problem with your particular brand of literary snobbery. I love fantasy and don’t really have a taste for Sci-Fi books (even though I do like Sci-Fi television) but I don’t go around saying “I kid you not I found Heinlein amongst books about dragons and wizards” There is nothing wrong with fantasy as a genre. Read some Terry Pratchett books with a more open mind and just accept the Trolls and Dwarfs as real characters and you will she that fantasy is just as worthy a genre as any other.
I agree that bookstores should probably be more careful in categorizing their books but only for categorical reasons.
Or maybe your comment above – oops!
I am actually so stressed out at the moment, that I am reading a chick flick by Marian Keyes :-D
In the end, books can be read for different reasons…sometimes I read to take my mind of reality, sometimes I read because I love the use of language by the author, and sometimes I read because it is part of my life-long aim to read all the classics that are out there.
Plus how do you define quality? For example many adults turn their noses upon Harry Potter books, although I think these books are just well-written and well quality.
I agree with you 100% Berit. I think instead of being “literary snobs” as Abbi put it, I think we should just be happy that people are reading regardless of the genre. Reading is not popular as it used to be, now everyone just spends time watching T.V & playing video games.
It’s like gossip blogs. Some could say why read gossip blogs when there’s so much legit news out there. However, sometimes it’s just more fun to read Evil Beet than CNN.com, etc.
Nothing wrong with a fun escape :-).
I agree with “southernsweety,” too. Just be happy people are reading!
Hey it’s not to say I haven’t read my fair share of crappy books =]
I also have really poor movie taste most of the time. I’m just a hypocritical snob =]
Book snobs suck, sometimes people just want to laugh. I just read Wild Swans and it was really sad. I’m totally ready for something stupid and funny.
I usually have absolutely no tolerance for poorly written books that offer me nothing to think about once I’m done reading them. Or the people that read them, for that matter.
However, since my dad died two months ago, I’ll read anything to keep from thinking sometimes. Even books that give me nothing to think about when I’m done reading them. (i’ve been borrowing books from my mom)
But not poorly written books, apparently. I just gave up on one that was such a piece of crap that it couldn’t keep me interested.
I do usually judge people by the books that they read, but I guess I’ve learned that maybe there are special circumstances that make reading stupid books acceptable. But when you see an entire beach full of chicks reading bad books, I’d say it’s ok to judge.
I will read just about anything. My book collection is probably about 80% good quality stuff but the other 20% is just mind candy like Dirk Pitt, Harry Potter, and Twilight. That’s just my fiction library; I also have the kids library for DS and my non-fiction library.
I read insanely fast so I get through books very quickly; one year in HS our teacher required us to keep track of every book we read on a chart (title, author, date started and finished, and a couple of sentences of review) and I had a separate binder for my record sheets because I read over 600 books over the span of the school year. Sure some of them were trashy like Point Horror and Sweet Valley High but I was also big on Dickens that year and I read everything on the second year recommended list then the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth year reading lists too. When you’re in the habit of reading a couple of novels between dinner and bedtime you need to take a break and read something trashy once in a while.
I don’t read as much now, just don’t have the time, but I still like to balance the heavy stuff with the trashy stuff. I’m currently re-reading the Harry Potter series for a little light relief and then I’m going to dive in to a box of books my MIL is passing on to me and she only reads heavy stuff because she only has time for about one book a month.
I have to say, Harry Potter and Twilight don’t belong in the same category. JK Rowling is a good author. Stephanie Meyer is not. This is coming from a girl who’s read all the Twilight books. Twice.
They are different but when you’re just splitting books in to ‘hard’ and ‘easy’ then they’re both firmly in the easy category. Honestly I don’t consider either of them to be particularly good authors. Both series have gaping plot holes and sub-standard writing (Rowling got better towards the end but the early books are poorly written) and their own special irritations like Rowlings love of adverbs and Meyer’s love of the word ‘chagrin’. Both make me grit my teeth on occasion but they’re good stories. It’s so rare to find a good story and good writing in the same book so I’m willing to read books that offer either of those things.
And this is coming from a girl who’s read Twilight at least 6 or 7 times (lost count) and Harry Potter over a dozen times.
Oh and don’t forget Jk’s overwhelming use of alliteration!
I don’t think the storyline in Twilight is anywhere near as good as Harry Potters. When you break it down Twilight is just a teen romance novel (BELLA EDWARD BELLA OMG EDWARD JACOBB!!!!). Harry Potter is so much more and can appeal to a much wider audience. It has romantic aspects but they’re not the focus of the books the focus is growing up. Maybe it’s more special because I grew up with Harry (the first book came out when I was 11, totally waiting for my Hogwarts letter), but I just feel like they’re much better books. Twilight feels like a rip off of a bunch of different things.
Ha, love the comparisons between beach reads and gossip blogs. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, now!
Why do we all have to read top rate literature? Sometimes people just want an easy, fun read and I really don’t think that’s something we should criticize people for. Reading those type of books are fun and they make you laugh, which is something we could all use!
I think the real issue is that we’re judging the books by their covers. And by that I mean I think most people would assume that girls wearing the latest expensive suits and carrying the latest expensive bags probably only read the crappy books we see them reading.
But maybe we’re wrong. Maybe they spend their time at home reading something of literary worth and only read the crappy books at the beach where we can see them.
I used to be a major literary snob, but when I started dealing with some serious shit in my real life, I was comforted by reading lighter fare (Harry Potter, Lipstick Jungle, etc.). Sometimes you just need to be entertained and transported into a different world. Of course, in general I prefer “worthy” books (to quote Marin), but sometimes “crap” just hits the spot.
I read depending on my mood and what I want to get out of the book. With the type of mind that needs to be occupied due to constant over-thinking and over-analyzing sometimes something stupid is just what I need to feel better.
Spend five years pursuing a PhD in English and then tell me that light-weight reading isn’t valuable. Life’s too short to be a literary snob. Not all classics and not all “great” writers really are. Reading should be about enjoyment and if you enjoy chick lit, go for it. Myself, my brain candy takes the form of mysteries, true crime, and occasionally–chick lit.
“Not all classics and not all ‘great’ writers really are.” I totally agree with you on that one. Moreover, you can find excellent writing in surprising places!
I concur. I know Jane Austen is meant to be this awesome author and all but I just can’t stand her writing. I’ve tried but I rarely get more than a chapter in to any of her books before I get the urge to throw it out a window. I know it’s not just me because one of my HS English teachers loathed her with a passion.
Also, Stephen King. I know he’s not a great author but he sells so many copies and has so many devoted fans. I just don’t get it. He has some vaguely interesting ideas that make good B movies but his writing sucks.
Stephen King is a douche bag that think he’s god’s gift to literature.
Jane Austen is just stuck in a style from another time… like Emily Brontë.
Pretend I can speak English. I just spent the last 6 hours going through medical records and my head hurts.
Parlez-vous Français?
I’m just kidding. That’s a minor error, but one more reason we need an edit function.
I rather liked Jane Austen. I liked Pride and Prejudice, at least.
My favorite authors are, in descending order of favoritism: George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Jacqueline Carey, China Mieville, Jay Lake, Scott Lynch, and Michael Swanwick. I used to include Orson Scott Card, then I found out what a hateful homophobe he is. Oh I do like Anne Rice, but mostly for the vampire sex, but then she went off the deep end and I can’t read her anymore. Her gay son is fucking HOT, though. And he lives in New Orleans.
I don’t like anything that sells out. Like Grisham or King. Things that pedestrian are usually bad.
I don’t think I have a favorite author… I just pick books up and read. My favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby!
(Does HTML work with these comments?)
Ooh, I love Gaiman and Carey…
Jeremy – have you read any of the Anita Blake series? That’s some seriously hot vampire sex. And werewolf sex. And various other shapeshifting sex. Straight, gay, 3 in a bed, outright orgies, the works. The earlier ones are kinda tame but by about the fifth book they start getting crazy kinky.
No, I have not, but now I might need to pick them just to read the naughty bits. Jacqueline Carey writes really awesome erotic fiction, that also happens to be a good read. I can’t recommend her enough, really.
I do like the Great Gatsby. I’ve read most of the classics, I just don’t read them over and over when I’m feeling depressed, so I can’t call them my favorites. Hehe.
Gaiman just can’t write anything that I don’t like. I loved Sandman, American Gods, Neverwhere, Stardust, Fragile Things…all of it.
My favorite author of all time is Lewis Carroll. Other authors I rate highly are Jeff Noon, Jacqueline Carey, Joan Vinge, JD Salinger, Tom Robbins, Robert Heinlein, Neal Stephenson, and Kurt Vonnegut.
I do appreciate Austen and Bronte, but I think Faulkner, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald are over rated. I adore Steinbeck from that era.
Shakespeare bores me to tears, as does Chaucer, Milton, James Joyce.
I go to university in Oxford, MS, which is Faulkner’s hometown. You can tour his house here and everything…so I have a fondness for him that extends past his literature.
I loved Chaucer. The language was thick, but it was so funny. Hemingway is over-rated. I like watching Shakespeare performed. It was never meant to be just read, and it doesn’t make any sense to do so.
I rather liked what I read of Milton, which was only an excerpt, but I think people harp on about him too much.
That’s how I feel about JK Rowling, too. I get she has fantastic characters and ideas, but her writing (at the sentence level) is not good. I gave up on the series after the third book, so maybe her writing improved as the series went on, I don’t know.
I know a lot of people who hate Jane Austen, she’s a bit overrated. I love English Romances though like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre are two of my favorite books.
If anyone can read Jane Eyre and not cry when Mr. Rochester and Jane reunite, I swear them to be heartless.
I was camped out by the pool the other day reading “A Good and Happy Child.” Love a good exorcism story in the summer.
Tell us what you think of “City of Falling Angels” when you’re done. I’ve been debating over that one at the B&N for a while now.
So regardless of what I read otherwise, no matter how intellectual I am, no matter how smart I am, if I ever just want to turn off my brain for a bit and chill, I’m a bad person for choosing ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ over ‘War and Peace?’
Nice to know that my worth as an intelligent human being is judged solely on the types of books I might read while chilling out by the pool. Fuck the education, I read a chick lit book once or twice, and was entertained! Time to crucify me!
Also, Harriet: I resent ‘Harry Potter’ being lumped in with crap. It may not be the greatest literary work ever, but it’s also a far cry from vapid lists of what someone is wearing and all the men she had sex with. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with the latter, but Harry Potter (at least through the fifth installment; six and seven were poorly written) is not in the same league.
I totally agree with you, Syd. I thought the Harry Potter books were very well-written (although I agree with you regarding the seventh book, at least). But I doubt that some literary snobs would agree, which is why I lumped it in with the “crap” (and why crap is in quotation marks).
Wow, having re-read my comment, I have realized that if I were a published author, I would no doubt be lumped in with the “crap” due to my inability to come up with a synonym for the word “agree.”
Eh, the thing is, you’re writing a comment online, not trying to be a bestselling author. ;)
And I just have such a high opinion of the Harry Potter books a) because most of my grade and high school career was spent fangirling, and b) the books are aimed at children (though not specifically written for the) and as far as children or young adult books, they are spectacular. And what’s wrong with reading children’s or YA books? If they’re interesting, they’re interesting (Louis Sachar, Lemony Snicket, and Todd Strasser have been my favorites since I was a kid, and who DOESN’T have a soft spot for Judy Blume?). But of course, regardless of how well written, interesting, and substantial their books are, if anyone over 14 reads them, it’s treated as if they are somehow mentally retarded. Though those four and J.K. Rowling, along with C. S. Lewis, taught me more that Shakespeare ever did. And I can still read many of those books and still be captivated. They’re much better than many of the ‘adult’ books available nowadays at any rate.
But it’s still okay if I read them, because as badly written and pointless as things like ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ are, they’re still entertaining. We watch crappy romantic comedies and action movies, and no one ever asks why we don’t exclusively watch French existentialist film, do they?
That’s exactly what I was thinking when I read the article. I wondered if Marin watches sitcoms or rom-coms…
Ooh, I love Lemony Snicket! There’s just something about them, they’re like a slightly insane friend. Nice to have around but always surprising you. Also they’re short enough so I can read a whole novel over breakfast or in the bath without feeling guilty about neglecting other things I should be doing.
I also confess to a soft spot for Meg Cabot, the Princess Diary books. Total fluff and I’d never bother buying them but I’ve read them all.
I also adore Mo Willems. Yes they’re picture books and I’d have never bothered buying them if I didn’t have a kid but they’ve exceptional. I love the Pigeon books and the two Knuffle Bunny books.
Never heard of Mo Williems, but I do have the first several Princess Diaries books. They came into popularity when I was in junior high, and they’re hilarious. I still pick them up if I need something that feels good to read, but doesn’t have a super-sappy happy ending (more like a content ending). Fluff that they are, they’re pretty representative of how teenage girls think. Meg Cabot also wrote ‘1-800-where-r-u’ which while written in the same style, is a bit more substantial for a YA book, if you’re interested.
And Lemony Snicket remains quite possibly the most clever set of books, children’s or adults, that can be read over breakfast. ;) Before I gave them away, I’d sometimes use a lazy day to read a few in quick succession.
Mo Willems used to write for Sesame St among other things. He writes books mostly aimed at the preschool and early elementary set, picture books and some early reader type stuff. Very simple illustrations and text but remarkably clever and witty. They’ve been my son’s favorites since he was a tiny baby and he’s almost 4 now and still adores them.
Also, if the Princess Diaries came out when you were in middle school you are way younger than I thought you were!
Yep, I’m just a youngin. I actually think they came out when I was in grade school, but just didn’t gain popularity until the movie came out a couple years later. Then again, I can’t for the life of me remember when the movie came out (despite owning it…somewhere).
TWILIGHT!!!
Twilight is the most amazing book ever, I mean, look at this, “My primary motivation behind buying a car, despite the scarcity of my funds, was that I refused to be driven around town in a car with red and blue lights on top. Nothing slows down traffic like a cop.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 1, p.5″
It reads like stereo instructions!
Bella’s dialog rings true with me, it doesn’t sound stilted at all. Then again, I have been accused of being a pretentious snob on a few occasions because I use words of more then 2 syllables. I’m a voracious reader and I’ve read dictionaries and encyclopedias for pleasure on a few occasions. It’s not that I try to slip big words in, I just naturally use phrases like ’superfluous to requirements’ and yes, ’scarcity of funds’ in conversation. Bella really does remind me of myself as a teenager.
“…despite the scarcity of my funds..” Who the fuck says that, besides maybe investment bankers? What an awkward turn of phrase. It sounds like Stephanie Meyers is trying to write like Dawson’s Creek and failing.
Oh lord! Dawson’s Creek was the pinnacle of teenagers who don’t talk like real people, wasn’t it? What’s sad is that some of these reality shows with teens seem to have been hyper influenced by Dawson’s Creek as they speak with a forced self-awareness.
I like when people try to be Carrie Bradshaw.
“It was then that I realized, maybe, just maybe, Mr. Big and I were never going to get married. When it comes down to it, what is marriage? Is asking for love, and marriage, too much for a forty-something in New York?”
The answer is: SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU ASK THAT EVERY DAMN EPISODE!
I actually was very self-aware in high school, but I never acted like the kids on Dawson’s Creek. I was too busy reading quietly in a corner and missing out on a typical high school experience. Except when I went on spring break with a friend who turned out to be drug dealer, but whatevs.
I never watched Sex and the City. Weren’t they supposed to be in their 30s, though?
Wow, I’m surprised that anyone remembers the writing on Dawson’s Creek. All I remember is sitting there drooling over my favorite little blondie in the whole wide world.
Dawson or … what was her name…. Jen? Michelle Williams?
Oh Dawson of course. He still looks absolutely delicious 6 years after the show!
I liked Jack the best. Omg yum.
I personally love Stephanie Myers use of certain words OVER and OVER again. Like… really? Have you ever heard of a thesaurus? I dunno I’m too much of a Buffy fan to just submit to sparkling vegetarian vampires.
It’s pretty much accepted that Stephenie Meyer is a horrible writer who should never have been published. I read the first Twilight book, and at the end I turned to my friend and said ’she came up with an AMAZING story. WHY THE HELL IS A TALENTED STORYTELLER MAKING UP WORDS AND USING ALL THIS PURPLE PROSE?’ Honestly, ‘greenly’ is not a legitimate word, even if my spell check says it is.
Ugh, I know. I tried reading her books, I really didd, but honestly……it’s badly written, insipid trash.
And, in regards to one of your earlier comments, Lemony Snicket is awesome! I know I’m technically too old for teen lit, but I doubt I’m going to stop reading it anytime soon since that’s my focus area (I write YA lit….and poetry).
Oops, “didd” should be “did”. Damn typos.
The sad thing is, while reading, I always thought things like ‘OH, Carlisle’s story is so interesting, I hope he goes more in depth….oh wait. He stopped talking and nothing of it is ever mentioned again.’ All kind of fantastic subplots had the potential to turn this sappy teen Mary Sue romance into a story that would rival Harry Potter and Pendragon (another guilty pleasure….not FANTASTICALLY written, but decent, with a lot of incredibly interesting subplots and ideas explored), but noooo. Who cares about the intricate storylines that would follow immortal beings who must feast on blood? As long as the really boring, pretentious ‘protagonist’ gets to say something in her flowery, unrealistic language and swoon over her sparkly boyfriend and be really, really careless, reckless, selfish, and stupid. Oh, and almost get raped by every man she meets and half the women, barring those directly related to her. (Literally, I counted. At a certain point, she had met 10 males so far in the books, one of whom was her father, and 9 of them were clearly in love with her, or stated by Stephenie Meyer to be)
My idea is to write a story that deals with immortalism in a more realistic way. Maybe then the twitards will see….except i’m not that great of a writer, so it might just end up the same.
I would say that! Although I might be weird like that because twice in one morning one of my co-workers asked me what I meant by certain words. Those words being ominous and concierge. Is that weird? Don’t people know those words normally?
It’s not a question of vocabulary, my issue is that Bella’s voice is very stilted and awkward.
The quote that Kevin provided is an awkward piece of dialogue. She alternates between an advanced vocabulary and a simplistic manner of description at odds with the inferred depth and breadth of knowledge she possesses.
One would expect her to say something like, “despite my scarcity of funds.”
What Jeremy says. It’s also not so much ‘I read a lot and studied intensely for the SAT’ vocabulary, so much as ‘I raped my thesaurus’ vocabulary (although I always thought ominous and concierge fit into neither of those categories, more like typical vocabulary for those over the age of 10. Your coworkers need some lessons!).
Also, most teenage girls, despite often having creepy, obsessive crushes on guys, would not write entire paragraphs describing their glittering Adonis the way she does. I was Bella’s age like, a year ago. Surrounded by people who were stuck up and had incredible vocabularies. They way she talks doesn’t imply cleverness, it implies an idiot who thinks she’s clever. The type of person who uses ‘chagrin’ in every other sentence, but can think of no other way to describe the light in Washington state but ‘greenly.’ An issue I had because this word is not a real one, and the use of it could be avoided by simply rearranging the sentence into a less awkward one.
First of all, everyone has their guilty pleasures. I know I do. I may be an English major with a love of fine literature, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy Harry Potter and similar works.
Second, the last time I was on a beach (approximately three weeks ago), I was reading the complete works of Oscar Wilde. ^_^
Oh, good. This means that if you ever see me reading one of my “unworthy” romance novels, I’ll get an extra bonus:
A light, enjoyable read AND the knowledge that it kept a smug twit from bothering me with her pretentious chatter!
It’s almost like a “gift with purchase”!
I used to judge women who read trashy harlequin romance novels. Then I realized that my grandmother who was an English professor, has a law degree and a bachelor’s in history…reads them almost as often as she’s read Shakespeare. I’m still not a fan, but you can’t judge a reader by his or her book.
I’ve read twilight, it’s bad…but addicting. I totally agree with those complaining of her lack of thesaurus use. (Seriously – ‘chagrin’ has like 50 synonyms. Use them.) My favorite books range from deeply philosophical authors like Ayn Rand and Richard Bach to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry series. (Brings whole new meaning to “I wanna be a Faerie Princess when I grow up!”)
Don’t judge a book by it’s reader…or vice versa, sometimes we just want something entertaining to occupy our minds. I’d insert a random comparison here of reality TV vs. History channel…but I think the above poster’s reference to Gossip Blogs vs. CNN works better.
I totally agree that Stephanie Meyer created an amazing story. But she’s a horrible, horrible writer. I like to be able to draw literary parallels myself instead of having them laid out in the dialogue for me. I mean, the Romeo and Juliet references were obvious enough! But I couldn’t put them down and really enjoyed the escapism. Perfect subway reading.
I read for my mood and my setting. Somewhere like the beach is supposed to be an escape so I will choose something light that takes me away from reality. I do the same when work/life is stressful. If I’m feeling like I want to be challenged I’ll read something more thought-provoking. Currently I’m reading Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jaret Diamond. It was on the list of recommended readings in my college biogeography class and I never quite got around to finishing it then. But next on my list is probably going to be some kind of fluff, just to take me through summer camping season.
I think one of my absolute favourite books is Jayne Eyre. I really loved the gothic setting and the writing style. Abbi, I sobbed like a baby when Jayne and Rochester reunite. It’s such a beautiful ending! Frankenstein, however, was drivel. The prose was so flowery it was hard to want to stay with it. Great story lost in too much language.
I forced myself to read Twilight to appease a friend who is a big fan. It’s as if the internet ran out of capacity for fan-wank and allowed this one to slosh over into the publishing world. It’s one of the few books I’ve actually yelled at while reading.
But I’m a huge Stephen King fan, so what do I know? In my defense I read Rand, Heinlein, and Bradbury when I’m not engaging in trash-horror.
Ayn Rand? Good golly miss Molly. How could anyone finish a work of hers?
I LOVE Ayn Rand. I have read the Fountain Head at least a dozen times.
^ WHY?????????????
The difference between Stephen King (and J.K. Rowling) and Stephenie Meyer is that King and Rowling aren’t good writers….but nor are they BAD writers. They’re good storytellers with passable writing skills and great ideas (in King’s case, maybe only sometimes, but for as much as he writes, that’s enough). Meyer, however, is a bad writer with a passable story and a good idea. The reason I love Rowling and like King so much is, well, regardless of the mediocre narration, the characters tend to be well developed and believable. You love them because they remind you of your best friend, or hate them, because they remind you of your grade school bully. As opposed to Bella Swan, who Meyer explicitly stated was just a placeholder for the wet dreams of the girls reading the books. If I wanted to read about myself, I’d read my high school diary.
Lol, I found a great article that ties in with what you’re saying. Here’s a quote from Robert Pattinson after he read the book:
“‘When I read it I was convinced Stephenie was convinced she was Bella and it was like it was a book that wasn’t supposed to be published. It was like reading her sexual fantasy, especially when she said it was based on a dream and it was like, ‘Oh I’ve had this dream about this really sexy guy,’ and she just writes this book about it. Like some things about Edward are so specific, I was just convinced, like, ‘This woman is mad. She’s completely mad and she’s in love with her own fictional creation.’ And sometimes you would feel uncomfortable reading this thing.’”
Source Link: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/pattinson-gets-to-the-heart-of-stephenie-meyer-and-her-twilight-series
Hahahahah That made me so happy.
Nice! That’s it exactly.
Except I sorta hate Bella. Her absolute selflessness is fucking irritating.
I have, honestly, never heard of people in a movie-of-the-book complain about their jobs so heartily. Kristen Stewart hates it too. I never heard Dan Radcliffe or Tom Felton saying that ‘Harry Potter’ is trash.
A disturbing realization came to me: my friend, who is a huge twifan, showed me the preview to ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and my thought was ‘this is a lazy, cheap ripoff of Twilight, except the male lead is slightly less of an ass.’ Apparently, these books have actually been around for more than a decade before Meyer’s wet dream. But from what I’ve seen, some scenes are EXACTLY like Twilight, with a bit less vomit-inducing sparklyness. Which means the books are not only poorly written, but not even a truly original story.
Ohmygosh believe it or not, I actually OWN the Vampire Diaries books. I got them from the library’s Summer Reading Program when I was…..I don’t know, 12? I thought they were great at the time.
Even now, I find them to be slightly less nausea-inducing than the Twilight books. The female lead was still somewhat lamentable, but at least the other characters had some interest to them.
Haha, oh I haven’t thought of those books in years. I should dig around in some boxes and see if I still have them…
I was obsessed with the Vampire Diaries back in middle school – I gave my original copies to one of my younger sisters, but found them on sale at Walmart just a few months ago, bought them, and read them again. Not as good as I remember, but definitely better than Twilight.
They did seem that way to me. My mother might have a set (she teaches 12 year olds) so I may eventually check them out.
I do!
I think these “summer books” are silly. Why read trash and fluff just because it’s warm? Is your brain overheated so that it can’t stand up to intellectual content? I’ll stick with my Stephen King, thank you.
Um….maybe you’re being sarcastic and it’s flying over my head, but…
While King is interesting, it’s certainly not ‘intellectual.’ Just about as pop culture as ‘Lipstick Jungle’ or whatever, with a bit of different content. It’s pretty trashy and often fluffy. Reading ‘Carrie’ or ‘Firestarter’ isn’t exactly a challenge.
And people do it because, well, sometimes you just want to relax. Chick-lit books aren’t mentally pressing, nor are they fast paced and action-packed. Some shopping, some sex, some work, some snarky conversations. Who wants to be on the edge of their seat or pondering humanity while in a bikini sitting on a floatie in the pool?
I was actually being partially sarcastic. King happens to be my equivalent of a girly beach read- interesting, but not a lot of intellectual content.
I’m assuming you’re being sarcastic here. King is so far past fluff, I need to be pretty desperate to resort to that. OK, the Dark Tower series wasn’t bad (worst ending ever though) but the rest of the stuff is just trash.
See response to Syd.
Am not a literary snob as I don’t judge people on what they read. but I still hate chick-lit, it’s generic and silly!