The Twilight Craze from Dawn to Dusk

April 10, 2011 | 31 Comments

Before I begin, I will say that I know this is a tender topic for both sides. This post is not about how great Edward Cullen is or how horrible Stephenie Meyer’s books are (I hate articles like that). These are only my observations and personal opinions organized on a page, so hopefully you will hear me out and not click the [X] just because of this title.

I wanted to post something new since my last two posts: Niños Tontos and Young Blood, Old War were quite depressing and deep, about a child’s naivety and the horrors of war with innocence being destroyed in the making of child soldiers.

Let me start by saying that I appreciate good writing. Although I was not thrilled by books at an early age (in fact I loathed the very idea of reading), but have long since become an avid reader, based in fantasy (although I have started branching off into other genres; I will get to why later on).

Twilight was first published in 2005. I was 12 at the time, and blooming reader/writer, and deep into my fantasy fanaticism. I saw Twilight at the back of my school’s annual book order under ‘Recently Published’. It looked interesting and I always loved dark fantasy and vampires (something that had set me apart from many people). I found that this was one of the books that needed a book cover, because many times, when asked what it was about, I would say “vampires” and the person would make a face and walk away. Who knew that within a few years this book would sweep the world in a vampire craze phenomenon?

For all your critics out there, I have to say that Twilight is a wonderful book. I say this in my own right as a reader. I respect good writing, something that I say with admiration, Stephenie Meyer has. She has strong imagery, superb characterization and an ability that all authors envy: the power to get into the reader’s head so that even though the characters, setting and situation may be so remotely separated from the reader in reality, they feel right at home. That is one reason why I believe Stephenie Meyer has managed to capture the minds and hearts of so many people from so many ages. (Although you may not enjoy her Twilight Saga, this is shown in her other adult novel, The Host, which remains on my Top 10 favorite books).
I admit that many criticize her writing style. It is different, but for me this is a pleasant change. Throughout the series, her writing continues to impress me. You may or may not agree with the plot of the book, and I do have some scruples myself, but she finishes up as well as any other author could without ruining it beyond belief (I have seen many awesome book fall to shambles by the destruction of a plot. Such a pity!). I shall not go into the plot and how good or bad it is or what issues there are. You can never please every one with what you do, so you should strive to please yourself. Stephenie Meyer has done this and obviously has pleased many people. So to all who hate on Meyer, unless you have a good reason or opinion to bash her writings, I think you should keep your opinion yourself.

As a well-read and experienced reader in fantasy and vampire fiction, I must say the idea of “vampire and human in love” is an old one. Too many times it is overused and not even executed well. This can be applied to any fantasy plot of “human and ‘other’”. The whole ‘Forbidden Love’ concept that when used right can be enthralling, but when used wrong, can lead to disaster. I have read it countless times, so I can say without a doubt that it is not this baseline plot of a vampire and a human in love that makes the book so appealing, but her writing.
Going on about the concepts in the novel, the whole “vampire sparkles”, which was surprising, fit well into the setting and biology of the Twilight world. Read any large array of vampire fiction and you will see that these outliers are what makes a book unique as well as interesting (see Peeps and The Vampire Chronicles in the book list below)

The AFTERMATH.
Following this massive Twilight craze, there has been (or is it just me) an increasing number of bad young adult fantasy literature being put on the shelves. In a feeble attempt to keep up with Twilight and to fill the vacuum that it has created and to fulfill the demand for vampire or other related fantasy, publishers throw any old book up there. I walk into Borders (which actually, if you didn’t know has filed for bankruptcy) and or Barns and Noble, and what do I see on the shelves, but stockpiled books of lame fantasy. Where has the good literature vanished to? It has been pushed to the bottom, unnoticeable shelf, or even worse no longer has the honored position to sit at the front of the store.

In an attempt to wash the bad taste from my mouth, I have taken a hiatus from my usual fantasy and turned down other avenues. Over the past year I have begun to read historical fiction (I am picky, but there are amazing books out there!), different mystery or adventure adult literature, as well as delving back into the great classics such as Last of the Mohicans, The Count of Monte Cristo, Moby Dick, and an all time favorite The Call of the Wild.

If you, like me are in this position, here is a mini-book list of my recommendations of some MUST READ books. These are some of my ultimate favorites and are also a refreshing breath of air along the literature avenue.
This is just a small list of titles and authors that I have pulled together off dusty shelves, as well as an attempt to highlight the good modern, young adult fantasy/science fiction in the midst of all the bad.

Share

Tags: Entertainment, Literature, Media, Writing
31 Comments | Trackback




Host: CBD
Statistical data collected by Statpress SEOlution (blogcraft).