Chatty discussion

Technically I am not in American Fork, Utah. It's where I grew up. Goodreads chooses not to recognize my current zip in Arizona.

Anyway.

Does anyone else find that they are hated for disliking Twilight? Or am I amgonst Twilight fans?

I actually haven't tried Twilight. I think their reputation turned me off...and I've read at least a dozen Anne Rice books.

accually ive been turndoff my good reads people.

I've only read one Anne Rice book, and I would hate to even begin the comparison. I'm not sure there is one. I mean, Meyers vampires sparkle.

I love Anne Rice and read a ton of her stuff starting back in 8th grade. I like Twilight as well. I wouldnt say that the writing is in the same category (Anne Rice has a way of creating images that stay with you long after you've finished the book - even smells!) but I like the books Meyers wrote. I dont see how any one would judge someone else for their tastes in reading. I mean, if you love a book by Hitler and agree with his ideology, then sure, hate the person. But you're not hating the person because of the book, but rather their frame of mind.

I say give everybook a try and decide for yourself.
Olin suggested Ender's Game, which I would never have picked up eventhough I own a class set. So I picked up the book and decided for myself. Great book btw :oD

Okay Im gonna go now cuz my kids are testing :oS

Note: I never said I was judging people by what they read.I'm the girl that adores Dr. Seuss. Though I, myself, really dislike Twilight.

Ahh I misunderstood. I thought that people had judged you when I read your comment:
Does anyone else find that they are hated for disliking Twilight?

No, no, no. I completely misunderstood you. I'm sorry! Good point.(Yeah. This is me on no sleep. I make absolutely no sense.)

I'm with you Mckenzie. I hate those books.

Hate, is fairly strong. But I couldn't get past the first few chapters of her first book. Her writing was very predictable and completely uninteresting to me. But I'm sure I'm not the demographic she was aiming for when she wrote this series.

I'm puzzled by the large number of books and movies circling the subject of vampires. What does this say about our culture that pop art has embraced this subject with such gusto? Is it that vampires often represent sexual symbols that are masked? What are your thoughts/?

I suppose I'm not the one to ask, because I never liked vampires. I have a slight fear of being bitten.

Imageseer:

Interesting point. What is it that makes the vampire so seductive, anyway? Is it the way that literature has simply evolved?

I have a lot of thoughts in answer to your questions, but I don't have much time, so it'll have to wait 'til later.

M.

I think the whold undead fascination also taps into our fear of death -the uncertanty of what happens after we close our eyes for the final time.

Or the fact that you get to live forever. But that's just stupid

It is interesting that the cost of living forever, for a vampire, comes at the cost of victimising and becoming 'less than human'. The idea that you have to prey upon others for your own personal gain is distasteful at best. But I'm I alone and thinking there are overt sexual overtones to the whole vampire thing?

nope, even Anne Rice's vamps are sexual beings, but the intimacy comes from the actually taking of blood rather than a sexual act they can no longer preform. Meyer's vamps are fully functioning tho. So does that mean that today's generation cant deal with a non-sexual existance?

Or was the existance before simply repressed? Look at Bram Stoker's, Dracula. It's filled with sexual repression.

As for the attraction vamps hold, it goes back to the "bad boy" complex from which some of us suffer. The "forbidden fruit" concept comes into play as well. Wanting what we cant have, or what we shouldnt have, is always there. The best way to be free of temptation is to give in to it!

As for the Bram's, I would need to go back and reread it. I havent picked it up since freshmen year in high school - eek!

McKenzie and Eliza you've raised interesting issues...It would appear, from the recent angle of most vampire novels coming out now (twilight, the historian, etc.) that this seems to attach women readers more than men. I'm not sure why.

And where it attracts more women readers, what is that saying about femininity today?

...I'm much too polite to suggest anything ;)

Bahahah!

:)

For that matter, what does it then say about masculinity? Hm?

what do you think it might say?

dont be a wimp! say it like ya mean it. No sense in discussion if you're worried about hurting someone's feelings :oP
as for the audience, blame the authors. I havent read The Historian, but Twilight was specifically targeted towards hormone-ridden teens. Uncomplicated storyline, hunky guys (I call dibs on Jacob! hahah)and nothing requiring any real deep thinking. But I dont think its stereotypical of all books for this demographic. I just think that it attracted mostly girls because it is your basic love story ntold from the chick's perspective. And girls this age are just begging for romance and acceptance. Which teen wouldnt want some hunky guy picking her, and only her, for all eternity. Which would explain why some older women were gushing over this book too (hahah no pun intended!)
And as for guys reading it, I lent the book to a male coworker and a chapter into it, he was all, "Why didnt you tell me it was a chick flic book?" go figure!

lol, whimp you say?...lol. You're too funny, well... Would agree with your call on young women begging for romance and acceptance...and stories told from the woman's perspective. What did you think of the historian? I found the plot a little drawn out and pulled out like a piece of taffy. However, the historical background on the 'real dracula' was a nice twist.

Dunno bout the Historian, since I have yet to read it. Who wrote it?

And BTW, your sketches are pretty cool. They remind me of that crazy artist (I know, which one wasnt crazy) with those crazy sketches, not Rube Goldburg, though. UGH! It's going to be bothering me until I remember the guy's name. Oh well.

Twilight is a Rated G Harlequin Romance. I haven't read The Historian. Have any of you seen that made-for-television movie on thie historical Dracula?

Twilight was written for helpless romantics. Horribly obsessive girls that can't help themselves for some idol to look up to as the perfect girl that gets true love.

Eliza wrote: "Dunno bout the Historian, since I have yet to read it. Who wrote it?

And BTW, your sketches are pretty cool. They remind me of that crazy artist (I know, which one wasnt crazy) with those crazy..."

It was written by Elizabeth Kostova. Not a bad read, just longer than it needed to be..perhaps to prolong the potential passion. Honestly I read it because my father loved to tell us stories of vlad the impaler (aka vlad Dracula) from whom all these vampiric stories originate.

Thanks for the kudos on my drawings...I sell my work professionally, these drawings are completely different and are from my sketchbooks. They're created just to keep my mind in the play of thought.

I still can't remember the artist! ARGH! It will eventually come to me (prolly 3 weeks later tho)

Whats the most you've gotten for your work, if you dont mind me asking?

Heartache...lol, okay seriously. I'm a printmaker and works on paper do not sell for as much as prints. But a had a large drawing sell for 7600. My smaller paintings currently sell for $3000. You can see some of my prints at agalleryonline.com.

sweet! but I can't find your stuff unless you give me some clues: medium, subject, or your name :oP Russell or James?

james

I like the third one. Theres something sad about it.

If you want to check out an interesting book on Vampires/vamp lore, try out "The Dead Travel Fast" by Eric Nuzum. I just finished it, and it was fascinating!

Heather, I'm definately going to check it out. I'm always interested in learning something more. Thanks!

You're welcome. Hehe. I honestly coudln't stop giggling during the entire book.

Heather, have you read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman? I just finished the first chapter. I think it's something you'd like.

Probably. *grins* It's one I am very interested in, but I haven't ordered it for the library yet.

It's so creative! I love Neil Gaiman, though. He takes something cliche and twists it to make something new.