You want some insanely scary vampire fiction that is actually well written? McCarthy's "Outer Dark" is it. When I was reading it, I couldn't sleep if the book was in the same room.
I think it's mostly #3. Most of the people reading this shit are teenyboppers who grew up with MTV Safe Sex specials playing 24/7; as a result, they're all either sluts or "good" girls who are somewhat fearful of sex now, so the whole vampire/dangerous sex thing makes sense to them. The good girls can have nice innocent parties together and play Clue and drink apple juice and talk about (ZOMG) Twilight and how that couple almost had sex and then a vampire ate them or whatever happens in these books, but it makes sense to them. (I'm basing all of that on my teenage cousin, btw.)
This is a phenomenon wholly different than Harry Potter because it's for the cool kids. It's about the distant, pointless, unjustifiable feelings we have for larger-than-life caricatures of sex and sexuality. The characters have no greater cause than themselves and no sophisticated way to express their selfish, aging needs beyond the "love" they supposedly have for each other. It's the first tween book phenomenon that wholly and totally captures the empty narcissism of our modern celebrity culture.
@ADismalScience: Ah, yes. The ancient ritual of I-sat-through-your-silly-game-now-sit-through-my-beloved-movie-and-if-you-snicker-I'll-cut-you. How I adore it!
"You know how reading a long book can make your limbs fall asleep because you get engrossed and sit in one place for too long? As Twilight ends you'll think you've done that at first, but it's actually diabetes."
Thanks for Theory 3, Richard. I just read a post somewhere else that pointed out that Bella's description of pasty, near- shirtless Edward runs parallel to Joseph Smith's description of the half-clad Angel Moroni. The idea that women can only be "perfected" through their husbands, will ascend into Godhood with them, and must refrain from all sexual contact until then is Mormon blather through and through. But then, without Mormon blather, we wouldn't have Battlestar Galactica.
You know that person in your writing workshop whose stories are all thinly veiled pieces about that "perfect" boyfriend who broke her heart when she was 16? And all of the stories are about how the world is against this couple, but somehow they defy the impossible and end up together, even though it's pretty clear that only one person in the story is excited about all this?
@hortense: Also the main character is immediately loved by all the boys and is "adorably clumsy" (but not clumsy enough to ever really embarrass herself).
Turgid is also the best word to describe Stephanie Myers writing style.
11/24/08
But, yeah, I read all the books, and as soon as those pimply losers get their fill, I'm running to see it. Don't judge me!
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Better?
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Seconded and Thirded.
11/21/08
Is there anything we can't ruin anymore? Really?
11/21/08
I'll be seeing the movie tonight at 7!
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No. It's some form of relationship payback for my Sunday football ritual, I suspect.
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And I'd advise you to get good and liquored up before 7:00!
11/21/08
"You know how reading a long book can make your limbs fall asleep because you get engrossed and sit in one place for too long? As Twilight ends you'll think you've done that at first, but it's actually diabetes."
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That comes in book form now!
11/21/08
Turgid is also the best word to describe Stephanie Myers writing style.
11/21/08
Yes. It's a book written in a style best described as inspired by Campbell's Chunky Soup. Or the water near Atlantic City. Take your pick!
11/21/08
And once again I say, Twilight is the fucked up submissive sex fantasy of a repressed Mormon suburbanite.
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