This One is NOT a Twi-Hard

Okay. I might be the only girl in the world who got bored with the "Twilight" series. At least it seems that way to me. But I just never really loved them. I don't think Stephanie Meyer is a good writer at all. Her frequent use of synonyms for the word "sparkle" grew old, and constantly made me laugh, but NOT because they were supposed to be funny. And Bella just bugged me. Smile, just once please, honey! But then again, I'm an English major, and I've been trained to analyze and break apart literature. However, I gave them a chance and read the first two. So here is what I think. This is just my opinion. Feel free to agree or disagree with me.

Here's my issue. I admit, I am a Harry Potter nut. I've read the books countless times (J.K. Rowling is SO much more talented than Meyer in my opinion), and the movies are wonderful. My point, however, is about the stark difference between the two series'. Harry Potter is a series about magic and enchantment. It's about watching good prevail over evil. Harry Potter wins in the end (sorry if you haven't read the last book and I gave it away). "Twilight," I feel, is about obsessive love and unrealistic expectations.

I know I haven't read the entire series, but I feel as though I've read enough to know what it's about, and I've heard what happens in the end. Yes, it's some easy summer reading, without much thought or concentration involved. That's all well and good. So if you choose to read it, great.

What worries me is watching how young girls and older women (mothers and grandmothers) are obsessed. If you're a teenage or college girl, fine. Be obsessed. But why in the world are MOTHERS (who have husbands of their own) lusting (yes, I said "lusting") after a 17 year old werewolf? Gross. I feel like "Twilight" gives girls and women an expectation of what perfect men should be like. And guess what? They don't exist! Yes, Taylor Lautner has a good body. But to get that body he gave his life to the gym for a long time. And he will be paid millions of dollars to do so. It's just not reality.

Today in my French class we were discussing this topic, and a girl mentioned that in her home stake, Elder and Sister Oaks came to speak to the youth and their parents recently. Sister Oaks told the audience that "Twilight" is almost like pornography is some ways. Not in what is said or what is happening in the books and movies, but in the same way that men get addicted to pornography, women and girls get addicted to these books. Both give an unrealistic expectation of what men and women should be, and people begin to lust after those things. Maybe that's a drastic example, but is it far from the truth? I know not every girl is like this, but I do know girls who compare guys they know to Edward or Jacob, and no one is ever good enough. "He's a nice person, but he's just no Edward." Really? REALLY? Yes, that's a true story.

I just feel that it's an unhealthy story for girls. Bella is obsessed with Edward, and when he leaves she can't move on. What does this show girls? Certainly not that they can be strong and enjoy their lives after a break-up. I feel as though it's teaching them that they have to have a boy, and when they don't life might as well end.

How is it unhealthy for mothers? Maybe I'm weird but I would be disturbed if I saw my own mother freak out over how hot Jacob is. Daughters look to their mothers as examples, even from a young age, and when they see moms get excited about teenage boys instead of their own husbands, what will they think?

I found this article on CNN.com that expresses some interesting points better than I can. Enjoy!


"Some Parents Wary of 'New Moon'"